thisisFINLAND

A cyclist whizzes past. Then another. In Oulu, they're everywhere - even in the depths of winter. When snow falls, the city clears and maintains its bike paths, and people still cycle to work and school as if it were the most natural thing in the world. W

In Finland, swimming is considered a civic skill that supports safety, wellbeing and equality. Knowing how to swim is essential in a country with thousands of lakes and a long coastline. Swimming is taught in schools as a basic life skill, helping childre

Red curtains open like the entrance to a circus tent. Above them hangs a single word: Huimaa! - Finnish for "dizzying," "breathtaking" or "amazing." Inside the exhibition hall, oversized clown trousers dangle from suspenders beside colourful costumes, jug

When you walk into Rushan Nasretdin's art studio in the southern Finnish town of Järvenpää, you don't see paint tubes, palettes and canvases. Instead, birch bark, branches and rocks line the shelves. There's a woodsy, fresh smell and you feel your shoulde

When Katja Pantzar moved from Canada to Finland in the early 2000s, she planned to stay for one year to explore her Finnish roots. More than 20 years later, she is still there and thriving. "I fell in love with the lifestyle and the many aspects of life i

Finland's internationally acclaimed architectural heritage has received its latest global recognition as Aalto Works, a collection of 13 buildings and sites designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto, joins the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Aalto Works en

Lifting off Born in a barn in Finland, Kelluu is redefining how humanity observes the planet. For Jiri Jormakka, cofounder and head of sales, their northern roots are a strength. "Our airships complement existing methods like drones, helicopters and satel

On the shores of Lake Rikkavesi in North Savo, a region in eastern Finland, an age-old Finnish tradition continues to thrive: a smoke sauna heated every Wednesday during summer, open to everyone. At Kaavinkoski Saunapirtti (Kaavinkoski sauna cabin) on a t

For many foreigners in Finland, first names are an early puzzle. Try saying the name Pyry and the man will smile politely, even though his name means "blizzard" and you've just reduced it to a pathetic drizzle. Add secret baby names and a calendar devoted

The Finnish sauna is enjoying a surge in popularity abroad, with growing interest in the UK and the US driven by a desire for wellbeing and real-world connection. "One of the main factors driving the sauna boom in the UK and the US is the sense of communi