Don´t miss out - Mökki

As I went to a Finnish Mökki, a cottage, last weekend for my second time, I thought it was time to start a new category on this blog called Don´t miss out. In this category I will let you know about activities, places or things you don´t want to miss out on when visiting Finland.

Things to do in a Mökki

Grab your friends or a hand full of strangers and book yourselves a beautiful weekend getaway. If you have a car you have the possibility to go even further outside of the city and enjoy the lonesomeness in the nature. However, as I got last weekend my second opportunity to go on a weekend trip with some of my friends, I can tell you, that also when staying inside of cities you can have a great time. Me and my friends went to Espoo, Finland´s second biggest city and just a 20-minute train ride from Helsinki. What made this experience special was that, even though we couldn´t have parties as we were living door to door with the neighbours, we had a lake right outside the house. As we were just coming out of a period with constantly negative temperatures, we got to walk all over the lake, have some sleigh rides and have a dip in the ice hole just a few meters away from the house.

-> Advice #1: Enjoy the surrounding nature.

And of course, every good Mökki contains a sauna, often in a little hut, the basement or if it is just a small house it may also just be included in the bathroom. When you plan on using it, don´t forget to start heating it at least an hour before you plan on going, so it´s nice and warm when you are ready for it.

-> Advice #2: Clean yourself with a visit of the sauna.

When doing all these activities you will get hungry quite soon. Luckily you have a ton of time in the Mökki to prepare some great meals. In the summer month a nice BBQ and having dinner outside are a must, whilst in winter a hot soup, potatoes or any other comfort food you may have are the perfect go-tos. Another dish I can recommend when being on a trip with a lot of different people are wraps and tacos. Everyone can create their own favourite and it is also a great way to utilize your leftovers on Sunday.

-> Advice #3: Take the time to cook and enjoy nice meals.

Although doing absolutely nothing is a completely acceptable thing when being on a weekend away in a Mökki, there are a ton of things to do for those who cannot just sit around. In the summer month you can sing songs around a bonfire, in the winter you may want to watch a movie or a show you could not find the time before to watch. One of my favourite things to do all year round is to play games. No matter if UNO (even though Finns have to me very weird UNO rules), normal cards or an interactive roleplay gaming during the whole weekend. It´s impossible not to connect with your friends and have a good time when playing some games together.

-> Advice #4: Find out what the most relaxing activity is to you.

Enjoy your next cottage trip!

-Lotte “Do not dare not to dare.”

-C.S. Lewis