Imagine wandering through a Finnish forest — the scent of pine in the air, the famous and beloved ‘silence’ Finns enjoy, and your hands stained blue from fresh, wild blueberries.
Welcome to one of Finland’s most cherished summer traditions: blueberry picking!
Learn how to pick wild blueberries (aka bilberries!) in Finland — including forest safety tips, the best season, what to bring, and why locals love this peaceful and tasty tradition.
Imagine wandering through a Finnish forest — the scent of pine in the air, the famous and beloved ‘silence’ Finns enjoy, and your hands stained blue from fresh, wild blueberries.
Welcome to one of Finland’s most cherished summer traditions: blueberry picking!
What’s Inside This Guide
Where to go blueberry picking?
Do You Need to Go to Lapland or a National Park for the Best Experience? Can I Pick Blueberries in Helsinki, Espoo, or Vantaa?
No, you really don’t!
You don’t need to travel all the way to Lapland or hike deep into a national park to have an amazing blueberry-picking experience.
Yes, Finnish people love berrberries just 500 meters from my home, sometimes even near a playground. For people who have never seen blueberries growing wild, even a small patch feels magical.
Local tip: Try to pick berries at least 300 meters away from main roads — this is something Finns often recommend to avoid roadside pollution and ensure the berries are clean.
Warning about Lapland: The mosquitoes up there? WILD. Trust me — you don’t want to meet them unprepared. Bring repellent, wear long sleeves, or choose a less buggy area if you’re not used to it.
So yes, Lapland is amazing. But don’t wait for a trip up north — start right where you are, especially if you’re in the capital region. You’ll still get a beautiful, memorable experience!and you’ll still have a beautiful experience.
🍄 Interested in mushroom picking too? While exploring Finnish forests for berries, you might also enjoy another classic pastime — mushroom picking! Check out my full guide: Mushroom Picking in Finland: A Local’s Guide to Wild Harvesting to learn when and where to find chanterelles, black trumpets, and other edible treasures in Finnish forests.
Blueberry Picking in Finland: City, National Parks vs. Lapland — Pros & Cons
| Options |  Pros |  Cons |
|---|---|---|
Picking Near Home (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, playground forests, general forest ) | – Easy access (great with kids) – Beginner-friendly – Less mosquitoes – Perfect for a quick adventure | – Smaller berries – Lower quantity during peak season |
| Going to Lapland or National Parks | – Bigger, more abundant berries – Clean, remote forests – “Authentic” wilderness experience | – Longer travel – Intense mosquitoes (especially in Lapland) – Not ideal for beginners or short trips |
Do I Need a Permit to Pick Blueberries in Finland?
No! Thanks to Everyman’s Right (jokamiehenoikeus), everyone is allowed to pick wild berries for personal use — even on private forest* land.
That means you can wander through forests, pick as many blueberries as you like (for yourself), and enjoy nature freely. Just respect the land, don’t damage plants, and leave no trash behind.
*In the north, you may not even realize you’re walking through someone’s forest — and that’s totally normal. As long as you’re respectful, it’s allowed.
When Is Blueberry Season in Finland?
The blueberry season in the south has started! (Espoo, 8.7.2025)
| Region | Season Starts | Best Time to Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Finland | Mid-July | Late July–Mid Aug |
| Central Finland | Mid-July | Late July–August |
| Lapland | Late July | Early–Mid September |
What Are You Actually Picking? Blueberries vs. Bilberries
Technically, the berries we pick in Finland are BILBERRIES (Vaccinium myrtillus), not the big and most of the time sweet cultivated blueberries you buy at the supermarket. Bilberries or Finnish blueberries are smaller, darker, and pack way more flavor but not so sweet—and yes, they’ll stain your fingers, your mouth—and even your white sneakers! 
The marks might never come out… but luckily, this stain is a good sign of their rich antioxidant content.
But let’s be real: 99.99% of people still call them “blueberries,” so I’ll go with that too.
Berry Picker vs. Hand Picking – Which Is Better?
Berry pickers (those plastic hand-held scoops with metal teeth) are often the first tool kids use to get excited about berry picking. It helps them collect more berries quickly — and makes the experience feel fun and productive!
Some people, including many adults, prefer picking by hand. It’s more peaceful and gentle, and you’re less likely to collect unwanted leaves, twigs, or break delicate berries.
That said, many adults use berry pickers too — myself included! Especially when I go with my kids and we want to collect enough berries for a fresh blueberry pie or mustikka rahka (blueberry quark dessert). Pickers can really speed things up.
The downside? You’ll often scoop up leaves, stems, or pine needles, and cheap pickers can break easily if you press too hard or use them on tough bushes.
Still, it’s really up to you! Try both and see what feels right.
Pro tip: Berry pickers are especially helpful for lingonberries, which are tougher and harder to pick by hand.
Berry Blindness Is Real: Why You Suddenly Can’t See the Berries
Have you ever been picking for a while and suddenly… the berries vanish? You scan the same bush over and over, but it’s like your eyes just stopped working. Don’t worry—you’re not going crazy. It’s a real thing.
After a while, your brain gets used to spotting a certain pattern, and it starts to tune out the tiny blue dots. The good news? All you need to do is shift your position or take a few steps, and—magic!—the berries reappear.
It’s nature’s optical illusion… and a gentle reminder that sometimes you just need a new perspective. 
7 Essential Tips for a Safe and Magical Berry-Picking Experience in Finland
Start Close, Go Deeper Later
Finns grow up with nature—it’s part of their lifestyle. For us foreigners, it takes time!
My best advice: start small. Visit the forest near your home and go a little deeper each time. As you return to the same place, you’ll get familiar with it—and that means less chance of getting lost.
Stick to Trails in National Parks
If you’re visiting national parks like Nuuksio (near Helsinki), stay near marked trails. These areas are popular and safe, especially for beginners.
3️⃣Finding the perfect spot?- Don’t Stress Over “Secret” Berry Locations
Have you heard that Finns don’t share their berry-picking, mushroom-hunting, or fishing spots? It’s true! But do not need to worry or waste your time asking the locals, Finnish friends or your co-workers anymore! Finland is over 75% forest, there are plenty of blueberries for everyone, even for foreign and beginer pickers. Finns prefer quiet, remote spots, while we might consider the forest right behind our house. That’s how you find your perfect spot! Seriously! Have you seen how many blueberries are next to the lakes you usually visit? or next to the paths you walk when you take your kids to the park or you walk from the bus stop to home? If you’re heading to national parks, my advice is the same: stay near the walking trails, bring your phone fully charged, mark where you parked or started your route, and go with a friend!
4️⃣ Know The Everyman’s Right – Right to Forage Freely and Respectfully
Did you know you can pick wild berries in Finland completely free of charge? That’s thanks to Finland’s unique law called “Everyman’s Right” (jokamiehenoikeus). It gives everyone—locals, visitors, and newcomers alike—the freedom to enjoy the forest and gather berries, even on private land*, as long as you respect nature and follow a few simple rules.
🍃 You don’t need permission to pick berries, but you should avoid causing any harm to the land, plants, or animals—and always leave the forest as you found it.
If you’re new to forest adventures or simply want a more relaxed experience, you can also join a guided berry-picking tour. A local guide can show you where to go, teach you how to identify the berries, and make sure you feel safe and confident.
Dress properly — especially in Lapland
Long pants, sleeves, and good walking shoes are essential. And if you’re heading north:
DO NOT WEAR WHITE CLOTHING OR WHITE SNEAKERS: Blueberries will stain them. Blueberry stains are notoriously stubborn and frustrating to remove from fabric, leaving unsightly marks that can spoil your favorite clothes.
What to Bring for Berry Picking
- Small bucket or basket
- Berry picker (optional)
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots
- Long sleeves & pants (especially in mosquito areas)
- Mosquito repellent
- Phone with full battery
- An easy to carry bottle of water
- Snacks (optional)
- A map or app (if you’re going deeper into the forest)
- Waterproof boots are also a good idea, as the forest can be damp
- Mosquito hat
7️⃣ Enjoy the moment!
My father-in-law has a rule: enjoy the taste of the berries for 10 minutes before leaving the forest. They taste different when you’re surrounded by silence and pine trees.
Savor Your Harvest: What to Do With Your Blueberries
Here’s my best advice — and it’s what many Finns do too:
Do NOT rinse your wild blueberries!
Bilberries (the wild blueberries in Finland) are often considered naturally organic, especially if you’ve picked them in remote areas like Lapland. Washing them can remove the natural “bloom” — that powdery, antioxidant-rich coating — and even shorten their shelf life.
How to Enjoy Your Blueberries Like a Local:
-
Bake them into a classic mustikkapiirakka (Finnish blueberry pie)- Try: Traditional Mustikkapiirakka and use the same recipe to make blueberry muffins
- Or: Blueberry Mascarpone Pie (creamy & rich!)
-
Mix into breakfast favorites- Add them fresh to yogurt, porridge, or smoothies
- Make mustikkarahka – a delicious blueberry-quark dessert
-
Freeze them for winter- Use freezer bags or small jars
- A taste of Finnish summer in February — or a treat for your guests!
Make homemade blueberry jam-
It’s simple, delicious, and makes a perfect Finnish-style gift
-
Finnish Language Tip:
In Finnish, jam is called hilloa, and marmeladi usually refers to citrus-style jelly candies — not berry jam.
So when you make blueberry jam, you’re actually making mustikkahilloa, not marmeladi!
Pro tip: Homemade jam or frozen berries make great little gifts for visitors or family abroad.
Not a Master Chef? No Problem!
I’ve gathered 4 easy, authentic Finnish blueberry recipes that anyone can make —
even my sister, and believe me… she’s not exactly known for her kitchen skills! 
- Traditional Mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie)
- Mascarpone-Blueberry Pie
- Mustikkarahka (blueberry quark dessert)
- Blueberry Quark Buns
FAQ: Blueberry Picking in Finland
Q: Do I need a permit to pick blueberries in Finland?
A: No! Thanks to Finland’s “Everyman’s Right” (jokamiehenoikeus), anyone is allowed to pick wild berries for personal use — even on privately owned forest land* — as long as you respect nature and avoid damaging the environment.
🍃 In northern Finland, you might be stepping on someone’s land* without realizing it — and that’s totally normal! What matters is that you follow the basic rules: don’t disturb wildlife, don’t break branches, and leave no trace.
Q: What’s the difference between Finnish blueberries and store-bought ones?
A: Finnish “blueberries” are actually bilberries. They’re smaller, darker, and packed with antioxidants—but not as sweet as cultivated ones.
Q: Can I go berry picking with kids?
A: Absolutely! Finnish families often take even toddlers. Just choose an easy trail and pack snacks, water, and extra clothes.
Q: Can I pick berries in national parks?
A: Yes, as long as you follow the rules. Stay on marked trails, and don’t damage plants or wildlife.
Q: When’s the best time to pick blueberries in Finland?
A: From late June to early September. The season may shift slightly depending on weather and location.
Picking blueberries in Finland is not just about the berries—it’s about immersing yourself in the Finnish way of life and connecting with nature.
Let me know if this post inspires you to go picking blueberries!
Happy picking season 2025!
