Finland Invites Travellers to “Chill Like a Finn” in New Challenge

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world once again in the United Nations’ World Happiness Report 2026, marking its ninth consecutive year at the top. To celebrate, Visit Finland is inviting international travellers to discover this lifestyle through the Chill Like a Finn challenge, offering the chance to win a seven-day summer stay in Finnish Lakeland, one of Europe’s largest lake regions.

Finland’s message is clear: true happiness begins by disconnecting, ideally beside a lake and away from constant notifications.

“In Finland, we don’t really chase happiness – we tend to find it in small, ordinary moments,” says Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Visit Finland, “When life feels overwhelming, sometimes the best way to feel better is simply to slow down, step outside and chill a little – like a Finn.”

The 2026 report highlights the growing impact of social media and continuous connectivity on wellbeing, showing that excessive online time can reduce life satisfaction. Finland, renowned for its strong ties to nature and balanced lifestyle, embodies the opposite approach: slowing down, stepping away from screens, and spending time outdoors.

Finnish wellbeing is rooted in everyday moments—a swim in a clear lake, a sauna session, a forest walk, or sharing meals with friends at a summer cottage.

Over seven days in Lakeland, visitors can explore thousands of lakes, expansive forests, and the tranquility of cottage life, gaining first-hand experience of routines designed to rest, reset, and reconnect with nature.

Rather than a packed itinerary, the experience focuses on mastering the essentials of Finnish relaxation:

• Lakeside cottage living

• Traditional sauna and refreshing lake swims

• Time spent in forests and nature

• Seasonal food and good company

• And, perhaps most importantly, putting the phone away for a while

Applications for the Chill Like a Finn challenge are now open. People around the world are invited to apply and explain why they could benefit from a proper summer reset.

Selected participants will travel to Finland this summer with a plus one to spend seven days learning how to truly chill like a Finn in the Finnish Lakeland, experiencing everyday rituals often linked to Finnish wellbeing, from sauna culture to long, quiet days by the water. The application period runs until 29 March 2026, after which the chosen participants will be announced.

More information about the challenge and the application process can be found on Visit Finland’s campaign website.