Finland deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with unique sights and landscapes stretching between the world’s largest archipelago and very quiet Lapland, while Helsinki, the capital , is vibrant and lively.
However, beautiful sights are not all Finland has to offer, as the country is one of the friendliest destinations in the world for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“Finland is not only a safe travel destination, but also extremely beautiful. The peace, calm and immensity of nature are unparalleled. From Helsinki, the capital of Finland, it only takes an hour to get to the middle of a national park. Hannu Medina, founder of We Speak Gay and Gay Travel Finland, blogger and LGBTQIA+ travel expert, says.
A report from the Willams Institute reveals that Finland is a country very aware of the rights of this community and one of the safest places in the world for LBTQIA+ members.
The survey, which collected responses from respondents in all 175 countries around the world, reveals that the most accepting countries in the world between 2014 and 2017 were Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada and Spain . The same study highlights that the most tolerant countries become more and more tolerant over time.
“Yet even though Finland is often seen as an oasis of peace and calm, it also appears. The number of gay bars is declining in most major cities, but not in Helsinki. Our numbers are growing and we are actually going to host Finland’s largest gay club, DTM, in the Meatpacking District of Helsinki this summer. Medina summarizes.
Pride festivals are always celebrated during the summer in big cities like Helsinki, Turku and Tampere, but in smaller towns there are also celebrations, with over 40 pride events held in Finland.
The Tom of Finland exhibition, which opened on April 28 at the Kiasma Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, showcases the artistic mastery of Touko Valio Laaksonen.
Another place worth visiting during your trip to Finland is Kuori, a woman-owned and LBTQIA+ vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the city of Turku. It offers menus of mixed raw materials, mixed toilets and evenings on Wednesdays.
Aurora holidays to Utsjoki should also be considered, as visitors will be able to travel with the most LGBTQIA+ friendly operator in all of Lapland. Located in Utsjoki, Aurora Holidays offers visitors unique experiences of northern lights hunting and outdoor activities in Finnish Lapland.