January 4, 2021
Chill Out: Why Finland May be the Happiest Place on Earth (And Makes Great Vodka, Too)
Ryan Leeds READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Earlier this year, Finland was crowned "the world's happiest country" for the third year in a row by the United Nations World Happiness Report.
With legislation that protects both LGBTQ residents and visitors, it is no surprise that this small, Northern European country is one of the safest and most appealing destinations. Not only is acceptance visible in the capital city of Helsinki, but it extends throughout rural areas as well. The first same-sex marriage occurred in Finland on March 1, 2017.
Forest covers 70 percent of Finland. The country is surrounded by water, making it an attractive spot for outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, boating, and for the much less adventurous, foraging native foods like bilberries, cloudberries, lingonberries, and wild mushrooms.
It's hard to be a jaded adult after a visit to Rovaniemi, home to Santa Claus. The world's original jolly bear has a year-round office in this city, which is also the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Saunas are a huge part of Finnish culture, though they are rarely used as hook-up spots. Here, the focus is on health, renewal and connection to nature.
Finns generally take at least one sauna per week and the country boasts approximately three million facilities that can be heated electrically or by wood. Although the pandemic has temporarily closed many public saunas, UNESCO recently added Finnish sauna culture to its list of intangible cultural heritages.
Looking for more travel ideas? Check out Visit Gay Finland and the LGBTQ-friendly Hotelli Kalevala, located in small town of Kuhmo.
READ: Gay Travel Awards Announces 2020 Winners
Getting There and Getting Around
Helsinki Airport, located in the capital city, offers 350 international flights per day. Additionally, Finland boasts a comprehensive train system that travels throughout the whole country. It's also part of Eurail, which just released its highly-anticipated mobile app for contactless, multi-country travel.
For those that want to explore the region by water, Tallink Silja's fleet of ships service the Baltic sea region, providing mini, overnight cruises from Helsinki to Stockholm. Each vessel is equipped with two restaurants and other food options tailored to a variety of budgets. Duty-free shopping for local and luxury brands is also available, along with on-board entertainment, live music, and shows. In true Finnish tradition, guests can enjoy a sauna with a sea view.
For shorter day trips, Tallink Silja has six daily departures from Helsinki to Tallin, Estonia. Travel time to and from each location is two hours.
Earlier this year, the cruise group earned the Sustainable Travel Finland label, an award achieved when companies adhere to strict sustainability principles, including a zero-spill policy, low sulfur fuel used on-board and no wastewater spilled into the sea. They are also the first cruise company in the world to offer certified sustainable seafood.
The company is currently building its new ship, My Star, slated to debut in early 2022. The 695-foot vessel will carry 2,800 passengers through the Baltic. Construction costs will be just over 305 million dollars.
Raise a Glass with Tom of Finland
One of Finland's most recognizable exports among the LGBTQ community has been Touko Laaksonen's art, better known as "Tom of Finland."
Laaksonen's legacy continues through the Tom of Finland Foundation, which just released Tom of Finland vodka in the United States. Lignell & Piispanen, the second oldest family-operated company in Finland, manufactures the wheat and rye spirit in small batches, distilling it five times.
Ironically, gin was Laaksonen's favorite beverage, but if vodka sales are steady, there is a chance for a Tom of Finland gin to emerge. Currently, the eye-catching, award-winning vodka can be purchased in 23 states, or online.
