Finland may be a northern European country, but it does have some sandy beaches that are perfect for a relaxing summer vacation by the water, especially after a long and harsh winter. You’ll find beaches perfect for sunbathing, playing volleyball, and surfing across the country. Summer beach holidays are as Finnish as saunas in winter! Temperatures in southern Finland can easily reach the upper 80s Fahrenheit, and there’s no better way to cool off than a refreshing dip on the beach.
Playa Hietaniemi (Hietsu) in Helsinki
Hietaniemi Beach is the most popular beach in the Finnish capital Helsinki, located in the Töölö district. Called “Hietsu” by the locals, it has a wide stretch of sand and is lined with beach cafes. It is a popular place to play beach volleyball and even hosts an annual tournament.
Fun fact: this is not a natural beach. The area used to be a landfill, then used to store barge-hauled sand. Not all of the sand was used, and tons of it remained in the lot; eventually, people started using it as a beach.
To get there, take bus line 55A from Kamppi.
Suomenlinna Beaches near Helsinki
Suomenlinna is a fortress on an island of the same name that has several beaches. This location is ideal for spending a day swimming, eating, and sightseeing.
Suomenlinna Fortress (which translates to “Finnish Castle”) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, originally built in 1748 to protect Sweden against Russia. Today, it is a popular tourist destination (although the locals love it too) and a great place for a picnic. However, it can get quite crowded in the summer.
You can get to the island using a 15-minute ferry from Helsinki. Just walk around the island until you find the best place to hang out.
Yyteri Beach in Western Finland
Yyteri Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand in a tourist area on the west coast of Finland. Here, you can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, surfing, and playing volleyball. There is also a section that is a nude beach to get a full tan.
The white sands are very clean, and the water is warm and shallow in many parts, making it a great place for families. Here are convenient amenities such as public restrooms, a restaurant, and snacks. If you want to extend your trip overnight, there are also accommodations nearby, including the well-known Yyteri Hotel & Spa, profitable cottages, and a beachside camping area. There is also an 18-hole golf course in town, plus many hiking trails.
The beach is located just outside the town of Pori, and there is a direct bus from the town center to the beach. You will find the city 90 minutes east of Tampere or two hours north of Turku.
Playa Nallikari en Oulu
This beach is a popular summer vacation destination, offering many amenities such as snack kiosks, restaurants, water sports rentals, a hotel, and even small cabins for rent. There is also a pier that you can walk to and enjoy the beautiful view.
Although most visitors come in the summer, there is also fun in the winter. When the sea freezes you can take an adventurous walk through the water, just make sure with the locals that it is safe to do so. You can even see people ice skating in the sea.
Playa Tennisranta (Tease) and Hanko
The port city of Hanko in southern Finland receives tons of sunlight in summer, making it a popular tourist destination with numerous beaches. Tennisranta, also called Plagen, is one of the most popular beaches in the city. It is noted for its “water carousel”, from which children and adults can swing from the ropes in shallow water.
On the beach, you will find amenities such as a cafeteria, restrooms, volleyball courts, a playground, and beach huts.
Bellevue Beach in Hanko
Another great Hanko beach is Bellevue, which is not usually as crowded as Tennisrata. It has fewer amenities, just bathrooms and a few beach huts, but the sand is fine and the waters are shallow. The beach is surrounded by pine trees, so it feels very isolated. It is a great place for a quiet sunbathing or swimming.
Playa Rauhaniemi en Tampere
Not all the beaches in Finland are on the sea. Rauhaniemi Beach in Tampere, about two hours north of Helsinki, is a small but beautiful stretch of sand on Lake Näsijärvi. Although the area is most famous for its public sauna, in summer you will find soloists and swimmers on the beach. And when the weather is nice, there is also a cafe next to the beach.
