4 Best stays for families who want to experience the Finnish outdoors without pitching a tent
I’m going to be straight up: if you travel to Finland without spending some time in nature, you’ve missed part of what it means to have a Finnish experience. The Finns have a strong connection to nature, and the country is really set up well for visitors to enjoy the Great Outdoors. (Fun fact: in the national parks, free chopped firewood is provided at all picnic areas.)
While in Finland, I’d really encourage you to spend some time in one of Finland’s 40 national parks. In this article, I’ve decided to focus on Nuuksio National Park for two reasons: 1) For international visitors flying into Helsinki, it’s the easiest national park to access. It’s just a short, 45-minute drive from the airport. While I’d personally recommend renting a car for maximum flexibility, it’s possible to take public transportation to the park, and 2) As an international visitor, you can stay in this park without having to haul your camping gear – tent, sleeping bags, and camp kitchen – with you. At these four glamping sites, everything is either provided or can be easily rented on site.
Note: At other national parks, you’ll find similar accommodations. Lake cottages are common on Finland’s 188,000 lakes, and other national parks have wilderness huts. Some are free; others are reservable.
So whether you enjoy biking, canoeing, forest foraging, hiking or kayaking, there’s something for you to do and plenty of interesting places to rest your head when you’re done.
1. Hawkhill
Uusimaa near Nuuksio National Park
Run by the third generation of this Finnish family, Hawkhill is a lakeside cottage retreat on the edge of Nuuksio National Park. Spend any time in Finland, and you’ll discover that Finns embrace lake life and either own a cottage or regularly vacation with someone who does, so spending time on a lake is a Finnish thing to do.
Hawkhill is the perfect place to stay for two or three nights. We were warmly greeted by owner Annu and shown to our cabin, Villa Eino. The cabin was hand-carved by her father and named after her grandfather. The four-bed, two-room cabin was impeccably kept and equipped. As is the case with all the cottages, it had its own shower room and large sauna. Annu had left footbaths for us with packs of fresh Finnish herbs. Outside the cabin, we had our own private dock and rowboat to use on the quiet, placid lake. We even took Annu’s advice and jumped into the frigid water (we visited in autumn) and then did a mad dash to the sauna! In the winter, Annu cuts holes in the ice for ice swimming… another very Finnish thing to do.
The property has five other cottages plus a traditional house, ranging in size (four to eight guests) that all require a two-night reservation.
But that’s ok because you’ll find there’s plenty to do here and in the national park: canoeing, fat tire biking, hiking, horseback riding, and forest yoga. We actually went on a foraging hike with Annu where we gathered wild blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries, and mushrooms (lots of poisonous ones, too, so go with an expert) that we later used in a traditional Finnish cookout that Annu organized.
Honestly, I can’t imagine our trip to Finland without a stay at Hawkhill. Rate starts at about $319/night, depending on the exchange rate.
KidTripster Tip: In addition to vacationers, Hawkhill also hosts large groups, so make sure to reserve your cottage well in advance.
KidTripster Tip: Make sure to consult with Annu about Hawkhill’s location in relationship to other attractions in the national park. Sometimes, it’s actually shorter to hike to a destination rather than drive.
2. Tentsile Experience at Eco Camp Nuuksio
Espoo near Nuuksio National Park
I have always wanted to try a Tentsile tree tent, and Eco Camp near Nuuksio National Park seemed like the perfect spot! What is a Tentsile? It’s a tent that’s suspended like a hammock between three trees and can sleep three people.
What makes this such a great experience is that Eco Camp provides nearly everything you’ll need. So if you’re an international traveler, you don’t need to worry about sleeping bags, towels, head lamps, drinking water or campfire wood. It’s all provided! You have access to indoor bathrooms, showers, and a sauna (must reserve) just a short walk away. Plus you get breakfast at nearby Restaurant Haltia and tickets to the Haltia, the Finnish Nature Centre. I recommend adding the dinner basket for about $22. Cost: 2 campers about $198/night; 3 campers about $264/night, depending on the exchange rate.
You have a private beach at Eco Camp, though Nuuksio Long Lake can be pretty nippy for a swim. Instead you can rent a canoe or fat tire bike at Haltia or simply go hiking.
KidTripster Tip: I’d only recommend a stay here during the summer. Autumn temperatures overnight can get pretty cold.
3. Reindeer Igluhut
Nuuksio Reindeer Park
Not all of Finland’s reindeer live with Santa in Lapland. Some hang out at the Nuuksio Reindeer Park. Especially appealing to young families, spend the night in an igluhut where you can fling open the windows and feed the reindeer by hand; buckets of lichen are provided. Each igluhut sleeps two people, so a family of four would have to rent both huts on the property. These hobbit-like homes are absolutely adorable on the inside with a double bed (linens provided), ecotoilet, small sink, mini fridge, and electric kettle. Rate is about $325/night, depending on the exchange rate.
Additionally, you can order an evening snack basket and breakfast basket. You also can book dinner at the nearby White Reindeer Teepee Restaurant. End your day with a soak in the private outdoor hot tub or good sweat in the wood-heated sauna.
4. Tikankolo Wilderness Hut
Nuuksio National Park
Could you do rustic? Then I’ve got the place for you. Spend a night in Tikankolo, a wilderness hut inside Nuuksio National Park. This two-room hut was built in the 1950s and used by lumberjacks logging the area. There’s no electricity or running water, but it does have a propane stove for cooking and a wood stove for heat. It can accommodate six people in two sets of bunk beds (double on the bottom, single on top). And of course – in true Finnish style – it has a large sauna house. The biggest downside? The outhouse, but I will say, that it’s clean.
What the hut lacks in amenities is makes up for in setting. Located on the shore of Lake Saarilampi, you’ll likely be the only family on its shores. Bring some headlamps and a deck of cards, and settle in for a night of solitude. Cost: about $93/night, depending on the exchange rate.
KidTripster Tip: The camping site is stocked with campfire wood, but you’ll want to bring matches and a knife to prep the kindling. Also, there’s no refrigerator, so don’t bring anything that needs to be kept cold unless you have a cooler. Bring drinking water. You can use water from the clean lake for dish washing.
KidTripster Tip: To unlock the cabin, you’ll get a code to a combination box. Make sure you write this code down before you leave, as you many not have cell service to retrieve the code on your phone.
KidTripster Tip: The hut is not supplied with sleeping bags. We rented them from the same place that rents the hut, Natura Viva.
KidTripster Tip: The nearest parking area is about a half mile away, so park and hike in. There is another hut that you can rent in the park called Oravankolo, but it’s about 2-1/2 miles from the nearest parking area.
This writer received some complimentary stays for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
Pin to Pinterest & Read Later
