What does it mean to be truly happy? Each year the United Nations ranks the world’s happiest countries, comparing incomes, healthcare, generosity and corruption levels. For the eighth year in a row, Finland tops the list, praised for its people’s friendliness, freedom of choice and high life expectancy.
Now Finland wants to share its secret. Visit Finland is offering a select number of people the chance to immerse themselves in Finnish culture and discover how Finns find balance and contentment. The tourism board will invite a small group to spend a week in the Finnish Lakeland, a landscape of shimmering lakes, dense forests and gentle hills.
“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 of 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.”
Six duos will be chosen for the initiative, titled Chill Like a Finn, to enjoy a seven-day, all-expenses-paid stay aimed at uncovering how to be as happy as a Finn. Winners will be asked to embrace Lakeland life: mornings spent outdoors hiking in Kolovesi National Park or wild swimming in tranquil lakes; afternoons for sweating in saunas, reading or napping in a swinging hammock; and evenings for candlelit dinners and crackling fires.
“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 travelers seeking meaningful, restorative travel and a gentler pace amidst a hectic modern life. Lakeland offers travelers the experience of a pleasant Northern summer in a quintessentially Finnish destination.”
Applicants must complete a two-step process, including a social media video challenge, at ChillLikeaFinn.com. Successful participants will travel in June for a week. Applications close on 29 March 2026. Full details are available at ChillLikeaFinn.com.
