{"id":10879,"date":"2018-03-20T07:15:24","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T06:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=10879"},"modified":"2025-10-07T03:36:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T02:36:46","slug":"makes-finland-worlds-happiest-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/makes-finland-worlds-happiest-country\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes Finland the world&#8217;s happiest country?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left\">Finland topped the charts of the World Happiness Index this year \u2013 here are five more reasons to bump it to the top of your bucket list.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Snagging the title as the globe&#8217;s happiest country in 2018 for its impressive rankings in well-being, income, freedom, life expectancy, social support and generosity, Finland is worth a visit for its top-notch quality of life alone \u2013 but what else makes this Nordic country appealing for the curious traveller? We&#8217;ve compiled our favourite Finnish experiences from our Nordic Adventure trip to kick your endorphins into high gear.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Hunt for the Northern Lights<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10883\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Lights GettyImages-642567444\" width=\"1698\" height=\"1137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444-330x221.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northern-Lights-GettyImages-642567444-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1698px) 100vw, 1698px\" \/>There&#8217;s nothing quite like seeing the colours of the rainbow dance across the night sky \u2013 and Finland is one of the best spots to catch a glimpse of this pinch-me natural wonder. Although there&#8217;s no guarantee for catching the nighttime spectacle (as it&#8217;s largely weather dependent), you can up your chances by travelling during the peak winter season and checking the forecast beforehand to plan your visit for the nights with the clearest skies.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>READ NEXT:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are the 14 best places to see the northern lights<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Spot a reindeer in the wild<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087.jpg\" alt=\"reindeer GettyImages-650011087\" width=\"1698\" height=\"1135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087-330x221.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/reindeer-GettyImages-650011087-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1698px) 100vw, 1698px\" \/>Spotting a reindeer in the wild is like witnessing nature hold its breath. Blink and you&#8217;ll miss it. While these furry creatures are most famous for pulling Santa&#8217;s sleigh, reindeer meat is a popular delicacy in Scandinavia \u2013 and an expensive one at that. Make like a local by putting reindeer on your plate, and listen to tales of reindeer farming in Rovaniemi at a family-run reindeer farm that&#8217;s been in operation for over 30 years.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Discover Helsinki<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10882\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance.jpg\" alt=\"HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance\" width=\"1698\" height=\"1132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance-330x220.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/HelsinkiRS9993_Finland-HelsinkiCathedral-2016-r-181050990-OldTimeElegance-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1698px) 100vw, 1698px\" \/>Feed your soul in the country&#8217;s capital, a heaven for architecture enthusiasts and culture vultures alike. From Neoclassical buildings to funky art galleries and plenty of places to fuel up with quality coffee, this city has an abundance to offer. Join a <strong>Local\u00a0<\/strong><b>Specialist<\/b>\u00a0on a walking tour that&#8217;ll take you past the Sibelius Monument, Olympic Stadium, Lutheran Cathedral, Opera House and modern marble fa\u00e7ades of Finlandia Hall.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Visit Santa Claus Village<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774.jpg\" alt=\"Santa Claus Village GettyImages-672600774\" width=\"1698\" height=\"1132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774-330x220.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Santa-Claus-Village-GettyImages-672600774-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1698px) 100vw, 1698px\" \/>Channel your inner child with a visit to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and official home of the man in the big red suit. Tell Santa how good you&#8217;ve been this year when you visit him at Santa Claus Village, an amusement park (of sorts) that features shops, restaurants and a Post Office where visitors can buy souvenirs and send Christmas mail marked with a special Santa Claus postmark. You can even have your photo taken with big guy in his official Office!<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Explore &#8216;The Athens of Finland&#8217;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-10881\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432.jpg\" alt=\"Athens of Finland' GettyImages-505240432\" width=\"1698\" height=\"1132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432-330x220.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Athens-of-Finland-GettyImages-505240432-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1698px) 100vw, 1698px\" \/>Tricky to say, but lovely to explore, Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 (yu-vass-ky-la) is known as the &#8216;Athens of Finland&#8217; due to its reputation as an educational hub. Thanks to over 30% of the population being students, a noticeable lean towards sport, recreation and culture can be felt through the lakeside city \u2013 in fact, Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 is often considered a pioneer in sport and movement. When you&#8217;re not getting active in the great outdoors, trace the footsteps of world-famous architect (and local) Alvar Aalto, whose finest work can be spotted throughout the city.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em>Keen to see what all the fuss is about? Discover The Good Life in Finland on the <\/em><em>Nordic Adventure<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>Best of Finland, Russia and the Baltic States<\/em><em> and <\/em><em>Capitals of the North<\/em><em> trips.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em>All images \u00a9 Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finland topped the charts of the World Happiness Index this year \u2013 here are five more reasons to bump it to the top of your bucket list. Snagging the title as the globe&#8217;s happiest country in 2018 for its impressive rankings in well-being, income, freedom, life expectancy, social support and generosity, Finland is worth a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4908],"tags":[201,371,1298],"class_list":["post-10879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips-news","tag-europe","tag-finland","tag-world-happiness-index"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What makes Finland the world&#039;s happiest country? 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