Finland remains a minor player in religious tourism, says professor

Only Valamo Monastery stands out as an authentic destination for spiritual travellers in Finland, while most visitors to churches seek peace, culture, and architecture rather than religious experience, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The country’s sole Orthodox monastery and Helsinki’s Temppeliaukio Church rely heavily on tourism revenue to fund operations, including staff salaries. Yet experts say Finland struggles to attract international pilgrims, who tend to travel more frequently and spend more than average tourists.

“We have roughly one genuine site—Valamo” Finland’s religious tourism sector is dwarfed by global standards, according to Juho Pesonen, professor of tourism at the University of Eastern Finland. He calls the country’s appeal to international faith-based travellers “extremely limited,” with Valamo Monastery in Heinävesi standing as the only truly authentic destination.

Domestic tourism to churches remains largely secular, Pesonen notes. “It’s worldly travel in a worldly land,” he says, even as sites like Temppeliaukio Church rank among Helsinki’s top three attractions, drawing over half a million visitors annually alongside nearly 100,000 concertgoers.

“A place to pause and reflect” At Valamo, where 100,000 people visit each year—most during the summer—guests like Tuuli Pollari from Lempäälä return repeatedly for the monastery’s tranquil atmosphere. “Here, you can step outside daily life and find spiritual well-being,” she says. The monastery’s cultural centre, which hosts rotating exhibitions, actively courts tourists to sustain its operations.

Similarly, Temppeliaukio Church’s entry fees and rental income—from events like concerts—fund the Töölö parish’s core activities. “Ticket sales and venue rentals cover our facility costs and salaries,” explains vicar Hilkka Niemistö. The church closes to tourists only during services such as weddings or funerals.

For many visitors, like Australian Lisa Harvey-Smith, churches offer respite from modern life. “They’re beautiful spaces to sit quietly, think, and unwind,” she says, despite not identifying as Christian. Others, like Piia Martikainen, an Orthodox believer from Kuopio, engage with traditions like decorating Easter eggs using ancient pisanka beeswax techniques during her frequent stays at Valamo.

“Tourism is part of monastic life” Valamo’s abbot, Igumen Mikael, emphasises that hospitality aligns with the monastery’s mission. “Pilgrims have always visited monasteries,” he notes, adding that exhibitions—such as a recent Rudolf Koivu showcase—aim to draw record crowds.

Yet for couples like Kristiina and Paavo Kolu from Oulu, Temppeliaukio’s appeal lies in its architecture, not spirituality. “Religion isn’t the main draw,” Paavo says. “We’re here for the culture and the stunning design.”

Visit Finland data shows that spiritually motivated travellers globally tend to spend more and travel more often. But Pesonen warns that Finland’s limited authentic offerings—beyond Valamo—make it a tough sell for this niche market.