Press release, Helsinki, March 2026
As travellers increasingly seek cooler, calmer options for their summer holidays and a slower way of switching off, Visit Finland is inviting a select number of people to experience summer as the locals do: immersed in nature, unhurried and in a ´Do Not Disturb´.
Having been named the happiest country in the world for eight consecutive years by the UN World Happiness Report, Finns understand the importance of balance. One of the key contributors to this enduring happiness is the Finnish ability to reset and recharge through time spent in nature. Each summer, many retreat to their lakeside cottages to slow down, switch off and reconnect with nature, away from the increasingly hectic world.
Now, Visit Finland is offering a small group of international travellers the chance to do the same, with a week-long escape to one of Europe’s most serene and natural regions: the Finnish Lakeland.
“An increasing number of international tourists come to Finland searching for the secret to happiness, yet Lakeland is still an undiscovered gem for many,” says Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland. “It’s the region Finns themselves return to when they want to relax truly, and the perfect destination for anyone looking to step away from the noise of everyday life.”
To share this way of life, Visit Finland is launching a new challenge inviting travellers to learn the art of Finnish holidaying in the same landscapes where the world’s happiest people unwind. Six lucky duos will be selected to take part in a seven-day, all-expenses-paid trip to the Finnish Lakeland, where they will discover the secret to chilling like a Finn.
The Finnish Lakeland is Europe’s largest lake district, home to hundreds of lakes and islands surrounded by tranquil forests. The pleasant northern climate brings warm summer days and refreshingly cool evenings, offering perfect conditions for hiking through the Kolovesi National Park, fishing on Lake Saimaa or foraging in the Koli National Park, allowing visitors to enjoy the calming effect nature can have on their nerves. It’s a form of luxury defined not by excess, but by space, stillness and serenity.
“In an increasingly hectic world that expects us to be constantly online, chilling like a Finn is about rediscovering balance that many Finns consider a core part of their life”, Jimenez explains. “It’s a mindset that’s deeply rooted in Finnish life: unplugging, slowing down and allowing nature to do its work. We want to share this experience with travellers seeking meaningful, restorative travel and a gentler pace amidst a hectic modern life. Lakeland offers travellers the experience of a pleasant Northern summer in a quintessentially Finnish destination.”
Finnish summer holidays follow a beautifully simple recipe. Finns head to their lakeside cottages to bathe in saunas, take cold dips in the refreshing lake water, go on gentle forest walks, take lazy hammock naps and enjoy local countryside food. There’s no noise, no notifications, and no pressure to be always available – just space to breathe.
The lakeside experience will take place in June 2026. To apply, hopeful participants are invited to take part in a two-step application process. Applicants must first complete a social media challenge on Instagram or TikTok by sharing a short video introducing themselves and explaining what a Finnish summer escape in Lakeland would mean to them.
In addition, all applicants must visit ChillLikeaFinn.com to complete the mandatory application form. Applications close on 29 March 2026 at 23:59 EEST (Eastern European Summer Time), and the full details, including the Terms & Conditions, can be found at ChillLikeaFinn.com.
This action is part of Eastern Finland Sustainable Tourism Growth Program and is funded by South Savo Regional Council from Appropriation for Sustainable Growth and Vitality in Regions (Finnish AKKE funding).