Finland road trip: The midnight sun in a glass villa

Midsummer in Finland – just thinking about the endless days in the wilderness in the Arctic Circle gives you goosebumps! And good news: your wait for this unique adventure is finally over. You get going, and soon it's time to say hello to Helsinki! Once on Finnish soil, you make your way to where you're staying.

When you get there, you barely put your bags away before heading right back out the door and diving into your city adventure. Senate Square and the Helsinki Cathedral, which towers majestically over the city, are definite must-sees. Even from afar, you're able to make out the large dome and snow-white columns – and the Uspenski Cathedral is no less impressive. Be sure to take a look inside, as the elaborate ceiling paintings are sure to impress! And then? Kick back in the Helsinki's green oasis Esplandi or round off the day with a drink in the Design District.

Nature vibes in the heart of the city? No problem in Helsinki! The waterside Kaivopuisto Park is the perfect spot for just that. From the granite hills, you have a fantastic view across the archipelago to the fortress island of Suomenlinna. The 'Castle of Finland' looks impressive even from a distance! And if you want to see it up close, you can reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site by ferry from the east side of Market Square and be there within 15 minutes (optional, payable on site). Stomach growling? Then zip over to the Old Market Hall, which offers everything a foodie's heart desires. From local to international dishes to fresh seafood and even sweets and baked goods, you can try your way through it all!

No matter how you've spent the day so far, it's about to get adventurous! Where are you going? To the railway station, where the night train to Oulu is just now rolling to a halt. You make yourself comfortable in your private sleeping compartment, and – if the midnight sun allows it – your pass quite some time staring out the window as Finland's dreamlike nature passes you by. Then you're out like a light, dreaming of your adventures in the Arctic Circle just a few hours before they come true. 

You sleepily rub your eyes as the tracks rattle beneath you. One glance at the endless expanse of Finland and you know you're almost there. Next stop: Oulu! Time for a road trip! You make a little detour to the airport in Oulu, pick up your hire car, adjust your rear-view mirror and off you go. And after just a few minutes, Finland's rugged wilderness and dense forests are already taking your breath away.

The next highlight is already waiting for you. Tonight, you're staying in a glass villa! Almost all the walls and even the roof are made entirely of glass. You can hardly get closer to nature than this! The question now: chill for a bit or head outside and start exploring nature?

No matter what you choose, at the end of the day, you'll be lying in bed with a big grin on your face as the stars twinkle above you and, with a bit of luck, the northern lights turn the night sky into a spectacular display of colour. And if you can't take your eyes off it, you're in luck, because by no means do you have to!

Can't wait to immerse yourself in the wild nature you're so close to in your glass villa? Perfect! Because a real must-do awaits you in the middle of the wilderness: hiking in the footsteps of brown bears! What sounds dangerous turns out to be a wonderful hiking route in Oulanka National Park (optional, entrance fee payable on site). Cross rivers on suspension bridges, follow the roar of waterfalls that plunge dramatically into the depths and hike through canyon-like expanses and dense forests to crystal-clear lakes. Or instead, hop into a kayak and paddle through the wilderness on the rivers and lakes. And if you want even more action, get your adrenaline pumping with some white water rafting on the rapids of the Oulankajoki River (optional, payable on site).