While some cities rush through the day and seize at night, collapsing to sleep, Helsinki moves differently. The rest is quiet, intentional, and deeply valued.
It’s a cultural priority. The Finnish approach to rest is rooted in stillness, simplicity, and a steady connection with nature. Whether it’s the soft glow of a sauna or the hush of snow-covered woods, Helsinki offers sleep as a way of life, not a luxury.
Ask anyone in Helsinki about their sleep routine, and the sauna will likely come first. Most locals indulge in at least one sauna session weekly, often paired with a cold water plunge. That contrast of hot and cold relaxes the muscles, boosts circulation, and signals to the body it’s time to rest.
“Oh, I love cold plunges,” says Sofia Mäkelä, 25, born and raised in the city. “I stay a lot with a friend outside the city, and we are close to a lake, which is very good for that.”
Even in the city, the sauna culture is alive and well. “There are cold plunge baths and saunas that simulate the cold, hot experience. There is one in my apartment building, though it is not the most high-tech,” she adds.
A significant part of Helsinki’s success in sleep comes down to its design philosophy. Homes and hotels contain calming materials: linen bedding, wooden frames, and soft, indirect lighting. Bedroom decor is alluringly pragmatic rather than distracting.
“Yeah, I think a lot of people’s rooms are a lot less busy than in other countries; bedrooms are for sleeping,” Sofia says.
The average Finnish bedroom isn’t cluttered with electronics. It’s a minimalist mindset that encourages switching off. And when summer brings nearly endless daylight, blackout curtains do the heavy lifting.
“The sun stays for a very long time in the summer; it is not as bad as places further north. They get sun all day round. We got a couple of hours off. Good thing the curtains are thick,” she laughs.
Locals value what they call *metsäkävely* – a forest walk – to decompress after work or before bed. It’s not uncommon for residents to have quick access to the sea, a lake, or a park, even in the city centre, and spending time in nature becomes an integral part of their nighttime routine.
These quiet, natural spaces help lower stress and improve sleep quality. It’s not about stacking endless habits, but about enjoying slowing down.
In many parts of the world, napping still feels blameworthy. Not in Finland.
“Finland is very nap-friendly, though from my experience, England is in the minority here; most places have always loved a napping culture,” says Sofia.
While you rarely see people dozing off in public, rest is still respected. Workplaces and universities sometimes offer designated nap spaces, and public health campaigns educate people on healthy sleep habits.
What sets the culture apart, though, is the mindset; it is just generally a very restful place. It’s a mindset shared by all.
“We are a low-pressure type of people, and I think that shines through with our approach to sleep,” Sofia reflects.
Finland’s social environment is famously low-stress. There’s little emphasis on hustle culture, and people respect each other’s personal space. That relaxed approach trickles down to how people prepare for bed: calmly, quietly, and without pressure.
Whether you’re there for a weekend or a season, sleeping in Helsinki feels less like a routine and more like a return to rhythm. Helsinki shows the world how to slow down, make something of nothing, and derive luxury from simplicity, never more apparent than in their approach to sleep.
To see more of sleeping around the world, click here.
