Finland

Capital: Helsinki

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Languages: Finnish & Swedish

Best time: May–Sep; Dec–Mar for winter experiences

Weather: Cool temperate; cold winters and mild summers

Top attractions: Helsinki • Rovaniemi • Finnish Lapland • Turku • Suomenlinna

Nature: thousands of lakes • forests • Baltic archipelago • Lapland • national parks

Quick fact: Finland is renowned for its vast forests, lakes, saunas and spectacular Northern Lights in Lapland.