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5 Reasons Why Finland Is Worth Traveling to in 2017

December 6, 2016

Finland, oh Finland, how I love thee! In case you haven’t heard, Finland is celebrating a full 100 years of being an independent state throughout all of 2017 – Finland’s National Day is December 6. To celebrate, the Finland 100 campaign has put together a diverse array of celebratory programing in Finland and abroad.

Going along with the theme of the centenary celebration, “Together,” and with the help of our ISEP Finnish coordinators, staff and alumni, we’ve made a short list of some the best things about Finland, and why you’ll need to go there in 2017:

1. Finland is ranked #1 as the greenest country in the world

View from Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by student Karina V
View from Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by student Karina V
“I love the lakes, the forests and the creative Finnish language.“ – Jenna, ISEP Coordinator at the University of Eastern Finland

According to the Environmental Performance Index, Finland is the greenest country in the world. Finland’s top ranking is mostly based on country’s societal commitment to achieve carbon-neutral society that does not exceed nature’s carrying capacity by 2050.

2. Finland is ranked #1 for best quality of life

Swimming in the Arctic.
Swimming in the Arctic.
“It feels very safe, and everybody is taken care of in the society. Health care is available for everyone.” – Icca, ISEP Coordinator at Åbo Akademi University

Eurostat, the statistical oce of the European Union, ranks Finland as the best country for quality of life together with Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Switzerland.

3. Finland ranks third for best air quality in the world

“I love our four seasons: the crunchy sparkling snow on a frosty winter day, the miraculously blooming spring, the amount of light in summer, and the quiet quality of darkening autumn.” – Päivi, ISEP Coordinator and ISEP Council of Advisors members from the University of Eastern Finland.

In addition to excellent air quality, Finland is also one of the best places to spot the northern lights. In the Finnish Lapland, the northern lights appear more than 200 nights a year, which guarantees you a great view all winter long.

4. Finland ranks the second best country for girls (Who runs the world?!)

“Kintulampi” – Finland (Photo by Alejandra Lissette Paz, University of Tampere)
“Kintulampi” – Finland (Photo by Alejandra Lissette Paz, University of Tampere)
“Finland is quirky and functional; gutsy and pragmatic; sustainable and conscientious.” - Amanda Batista, ISEP Program Officer for Finland and the Nordic Countries.

Finland is a country that knows how to treat a lady right. Ranking the second best country for girls in the report, Every Last Girl, by Save the Children, the index uses indicators such as child marriage, teen pregnancies, maternal deaths and the percentage of women MPs to rank countries.

5. Finland made Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Best Places To Travel in 2017

Photo by Simona Gabriele, University of Jyväskylä.
Photo by Simona Gabriele, University of Jyväskylä.
“My exchange to Jyväskylä, Finland was an experience that changed me in every way imaginable. An eye opening experience which has taught me so much personally as well as spiritually. The exchange has given me the opportunity of exploration along with growth, which is the foundation of success and greatness.“ - Simona Gabriela, ISEP Alumna who studied at the University of Jyväskylä.

Finland was the only European nation to make it into Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Best of Travel 2017 list, ranking third. The list looks at the globe’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for next year.

How to get there in 2017

If you’re into celebrating Finland’s centenary by studying abroad there in 2017, from Oulu up North, to Vaasa, Turku, Åbo, Tampere, Joensuu and Kuopio, Jyväskylä, and down to Helsinki, ISEP can help.

For more on our programs in Finland, check out our Finland Country Handbook page with more details on what the culture is like.

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