Summer Cottage and Sauna Escape

Route overview

Cottages are available across the whole country, but the lakeland around Mikkeli or the archipelago near Turku are both popular, easy-to-reach choices with plenty of rental options. Either works well as a base with day trips to a nearby town for markets and museums.

Example itinerary

1. Day 1

   Settling in

   Collect keys and groceries, then spend the rest of the day getting oriented: find the woodshed, check the boat if there is one, and light the sauna stove for the first time.

2. Days 2-3

   Falling into a rhythm

   Mornings for a swim and coffee on the jetty, afternoons for reading, fishing or a short walk in the nearby forest, and evenings for sauna followed by a lake swim. Repeat as needed.

3. Day 4

   A trip to town

   Head to the nearest small town for a market visit, a look at a local museum or church, and to restock the cottage kitchen with fresh produce and fish.

4. Day 5

   Foraging and fishing

   Try picking wild berries or mushrooms if the season allows, or borrow fishing gear for an afternoon on the water. Even a modest catch of perch makes a good dinner.

5. Days 6-7

   Slowing down further

   Use the last days to do as little as possible: more sauna, more swimming, and perhaps a barbecue on the last evening before handing back the keys.

Practical considerations

• Book cottages several months ahead for July and Midsummer week, which fill up first.
• Most cottages are self-catering and stocked minimally, so plan your first grocery shop before arriving if possible.
• Ask the owner in advance how the sauna stove works, since wood-fired stoves need lead time to heat up properly.
• Mosquitoes and midges are part of lake life in summer; bring repellent and consider a cottage with screened windows.
• Many cottages have limited or no wifi by design, which is worth embracing rather than fighting.