World / Europe / Finland

Northern Lights, reindeer and Father Christmas are what most holidaymakers associate with Finland. Tourism in this northerly nation has been built around winter breaks, but there's plenty more to see in this sparkling land of saunas and snow. On holidays in Finland, you can also hike through swathes of dense forest, kayak across one of thousands of crisp, clean lakes, spend the night in an igloo and enjoy the summer sun for 24 continuous hours. But despite being a land of ancient landscapes and traditions, Finland is also surprisingly high-tech, with more Internet connections per person than the UK or USA. And with the Nokia brand hailing from Finland, it's no surprise that telecommunications is one of its biggest industries.

Just as leisure travellers are attracted to Finland's pristine forests, business visitors have been drawn to the traditional timber industry that springs from it. Within these forests and national parks are brown bear, elk, and further north, reindeer and lynx, which attract wildlife watchers. Finland has excellent rail connections between its major towns and beyond, to neighbouring Sweden and Russia.  The smart capital, Helsinki, with its wide, elegant streets, shops, museums, magnificent buildings and, in warmer months, its vibrant café culture, is also a must-see for leisure visitors.