In September and October, the country’s majestic trees turn vibrant shades of yellows, reds, and oranges during the ruska season, which moves from the north to the south with a speed of 500 kilometres in just a couple of weeks. With the autumn foliage live map from Visit Finland, keen leaf peepers can keep up to date on where ruska is strongest across the country. From Lapland to Lakeland, artificial intelligence forecasts where the colours are the most breathtaking and how long the peak will last. 

Visitors keen to get outdoors and soak up ruska can get the most out of the autumn season with insider tips from the locals.   

To me, ruska is an incredibly meaningful and beautiful season in Finland. I love spending time in nature with my dogs as the leaves start to change colour and the traditional hunting season begins.

The mixture of colours during the season is particularly captivating and my favourite part is the ground ruska – when low-lying bushes and plants change their colours, which is truly something special in Lapland. I would recommend trying to see as many different regions of our country as possible to get the most out of the changing season. The ruska season also marks the beginning of the northern lights season in Lapland, making autumn one of the best times to see them. The colorful palette of ruska is only enhanced by the incredible show put on by the northern lights.

Petri Kokkonen is a wilderness guide who lives in the remote Vätsäri area on the shores of Lake Inari. He has always been fascinated by the natural beauty of the forests and lakes of Lapland, and his love for nature led him to pursue a career as a guide and entrepreneur.

As a chef and restaurant owner, the first thing that comes to mind when I think about autumn is all the goods that nature has to offer. Many would say that summer is their favorite season when it comes to ingredients for cooking, but mine is autumn when mushrooms, berries, and game meat are in abundance. I love to walk in the fresh air of our beautiful forests while looking for mushrooms and sit under the tree with a cup of hot coffee. I always start to crave warm dishes, such as mushroom pasta and risotto, in Autumn. It's also the perfect time to sit by the fire with my family and just relax.

Head Chef and owner of Restaurant Solitary Remi Trémouille has traveled the world cooking in many of the most prestige restaurants but has now returned to his hometown Rantasalmi. Their passion for cooking is reflected in everything he does. Remi’s cooking brings together the best flavors of Finland and the world.

Experience a Finnish Forest Mushroom Weekend with Saimi Hoyer in Helsinki

Autumn is the peak season for mushroom lovers. Experience the season with Saimi Hoyer, a supermodel and media personality, and writer Jarkko Korhonen during a foraging weekend in the Finnish capital. The beautiful Hotel St. George will welcome visitors for this unique opportunity on two autumn weekends, 19-20 August, and 23-24 September.

Walk amongst the jack-o’-lanterns during Pumpkin Weeks in Salo. Autumn brings an explosion of rich colours as well as an abundant harvest. The Pumpkin Weeks in Salo, located on Finland’s southwest coast, is a celebration of the iconic fall vegetable. From October 7-22, visitors can soak up the autumnal atmosphere - tasting delicious pumpkin-inspired delicacies in the region’s cafés and restaurants before exploring the pumpkin park at Rannikko Garden, walking amongst thousands of jack-o’-lanterns.

Admire Northern Lights from the lakes in Rovaniemi. The best time to see the phenomenon of the Northern Lights is during Autumn and Spring. In Rovaniemi, the adventurous at heart can view the aurora borealis directly from the frozen waters with Autumn Aurora Floating. With a high-quality, full-body rescue suit, keeping guests dry and afloat, they can gaze up at the Northern Lights relaxing in the otherwise chilly current.

Island Yoga in the middle of Lake Saimaa. A meditative yoga session is only a short boat trip away from Savonlinna in the Saimaa archipelago. Visitors can enjoy peaceful yoga on the beautiful rocks in one of the thousand islands of Lake Saimaa while admiring the autumn color galore. On the island, guests may calm down and gather energy with gentle Vinyasa or relax with Yin yoga when the body and mind need rest. After the soothing session, a picnic lunch can be enjoyed in the middle of the peaceful lake nature filled with autumn colors.

A Finnish premium outdoor clothing and equipment brand, Halti, is partnering with Visit Finland to organize an exciting competition for outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Participants have the chance to win a trip to Finland and witness the captivating autumn foliage in high-quality gear provided by Halti. Take part in the Autumn Trip to Finland competition here.

Explore the colour galore with Autumn Foliage Live.

Visit our contacts page.

Visit Finland, a unit of Business Finland, is a national authority on tourism and an active force in promoting international travel to Finland. Its main goal is to develop Finland’s international image as a destination. Visit Finland supports the travel industry through research and helps businesses and groups develop products and services for the international market. For more information, please visit www.visitfinland.com.