Finland is inviting food lovers from around the world to experience its regional cuisine firsthand. Through a new culinary tourism initiative, selected travelers will enjoy an all-expenses-paid journey exploring the flavors, traditions and landscapes of the Nordic country this September.
Finland is best known for its saunas, pristine lakes, northern lights and, for the ninth consecutive year, its title as the world’s happiest country. Now, the Nordic nation is putting another aspect of its identity into the spotlight: its culinary culture.
Through a new initiative called Finland’s Official Tasting Table, the national tourism organization Visit Finland is offering 16 international travelers an all-expenses-paid gastronomic journey this September. The four-day experience aims to showcase the country’s regional food traditions, local ingredients and the landscapes that shape them.
Participants can apply for one of two curated itineraries. The first explores Finland’s southern coast and archipelago, where Baltic seafood, rye bread and seasonal produce define the local cuisine. The second takes travelers to Finnish Lapland, where Arctic ingredients such as reindeer, Arctic char, wild berries and foraged mushrooms play a central role.
Each experience will host eight guests and feature menus created by leading Finnish chefs. The coastal programme is led by Erik Mansikka, founder of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Kaskis in Turku, while the Lapland menu has been designed by Joel Manninen, one of Finland’s most promising young culinary talents.
Beyond the dining table, visitors will also experience Finnish culture through sauna rituals, nature excursions and regional sightseeing, offering a deeper understanding of the country’s way of life.
Applications are open globally until 9 June via HaveSomeFinnish.com, with selected participants travelling to Finland in September. For a country increasingly eager to tell its story through food, the campaign marks a bold invitation to taste Finland beyond the clichés.
