Finland

Finland is a Nordic country in northern Europe next to the Baltic Sea. It has some 5.5 million inhabitants and has been recognized as the happiest country in the world. Often described as the ‘Land of a Thousand Lakes,’ where natural wonders abound. Winter months welcome the Northern Lights, whose magical display of colors is visible from various locations in Lapland; summer’s midnight sun makes hiking, swimming, and exploring possible. The capital, Helsinki, is a hub of architecture, modern design and smart city with cutting-edge public transportation and digital services.

Highlights

Helsinki

National parks

Metsähallitus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Timo Newton-Syms, Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Lapland and Sami culture

morsan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castles and medieval towns

HENKKA5, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ninara, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Åland islands

Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Håkan Skogsjö, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coastal villages and archipelagos

Defenders FIN, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Antonio Caiazzo, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

When to go

Finland is a year-round destination. Winters are great for outdoor activities like downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, skating, and ice-swimming. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to see the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland. Late summer and autumn are ideal for foraging and enjoying colourful autumn foliage. The spring months (until early May) offer the best skiing in Lapland, in the south, the snow will be gone by then. The summer months across Finland are known for their white nights, and in Lapland, as a time when the sun never sets.

Christmas markets and Santa Claus Village: around the Arctic Circle, deep in snowy Lapland, we found in the city of Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village. The best time to visit occurs in early November when is the Grand Opening of the Christmas Season. Besides, on December 23, Santa Claus departs from Rovaniemi. Christmas markets typically run from late November through late December.

Winter activities: Finland offers lots of various opportunities for snowy scenery. The best time is from December to April.

Northern lights: the season is quite long and stretches from September through March. Autumn and early spring are the best time for catching the northern lights, as solar activity is quite intense and reliable. March is also considered to be the month with the clearest skies.

Wildlife: Saimaa ringed seals are visible on the shore during mid-to-late May, warming themselves in the sun. The period between May and August offers ideal weather and lighting for seal-watchers. The best way to see a wild wolf is to take one of the specially organised overnight wildlife-watching excursions in Finland’s eastern borderlands. Finland is home to more than 1,500 bears, several wildlife tour operators run excursions into the forests of eastern Finland.

Reindeer Migration: the reindeer migration from Norway to Finland can be best witnessed from January to February. The reindeer, raised by the indigenous Sami herders across northern Europe, are semi-nomadic animals that migrate over vast distances between their winter and summer grazing areas.

The Autumn foliage: forests and parks are covered with warm red, orange, and gold, known here as ‘ruska’. In most of the territory fall comes on the last week of September, and in Lapland on the last week of August.

Birdwatching: the best time to observe is from April to May when they start returning to the country. Birds migrate back again in September, which is also a good time to observe them. The best time to see owls in Finland is during their nesting season around March to April. During their courtship season mainly in May and June, you may also spot them.

Hiking: the best season is between May and October. During this period, the weather is warm, and the daylight lasts much longer.

Practical information

Currency

The Euro is the Finland’s official currency. The exchange rate approximately is 1 UD Dollar is between 0,98 – 1,22 euros.

Language

The two main official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. There are also several official minority languages: three variants of Sami, Romani, Finnish Sign Language and Karelian. English is spoken widely. Many also speak German.

Visa

You need a valid national passport or another equivalent that satisfactorily establishes your identity and nationality. If you are not a citizen of Finland or another European Economic Area (EEA) country, you may also need a visa. A Schengen visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary visit of less than 90 days in any 180-day period. The Schengen states have jointly agreed which countries’ citizens are required to present a visa. Each Schengen state decides which passports and travel documents it accepts from different countries’ citizens. Even if you did not need a visa to visit Finland, you need a valid passport or some other travel document accepted by Finland. It must be valid for at least ninety days after your intended date of departure from the Schengen area. In addition, the passport or other travel document must have been issued no later than ten years ago. You will find country-specific instructions and document requirements on this website. For more information about entering Finland and travelling visit this website.

ATM & credit card

The ATMs available in Finland are called OTTO and Nosto and can be found in department stores like Stockmann and Sokos, outside, in bank offices, in shopping centres like Kamppi and Kämp Galleria. You can pay with credit or debit cards at most places (even small amounts). US, UK, and Australian cards are widely accepted in Finnish hotels, restaurants, stores, and markets. Visa, Mastercard and Maestro are most common, and American Express is accepted in some places. Otto and Nosto ATMs do not charge fees for use. Your bank may charge a flat fee or percentage as a withdrawal fee, or a foreign transaction fee. Check with your bank to see what fees it charges.

Opening times

Shops are usually open Mondays-Fridays from 9am-6pm and Saturdays 9am-4pm.Shopping malls normally have longer opened hours. Please note that most stores will be closed on Sundays. Bars and restaurants, normally from 11:30 to 14:30 and 17:00 to 0:00.

Time: GMT +3 hours/ GMT +2 hours

Main airports

Helsinki Vantaa Airport (located in the city of Vantaa, north of Helsinki. The distance from the airport to the centre of Helsinki is 20 kilometres. By car, it takes 30 minutes to get to the centre)

Oulunsalo Airport (is Finland’s third largest airport in terms of passengers. The airport is located southwest of Oulu city. The distance from the airport to the centre of Oulu is 15 kilometres. By car, it takes 20 minutes to get to the centre)

Rovaniemi Airport (is located near the Arctic Circle and is one of the northernmost airports in Finland. The airport is nowadays very popular with holidaymakers, especially in the winter period. The distance from the airport to the centre of Rovaniemi is 9 kilometres. By car, it takes 15 minutes to get to the centre)

Kittilä International Airport (is one of four international airports in Finnish Lapland. Kittilä Airport has grown in popularity in recent years, because there are many more things to do besides winter sports, such as tours with huskies and reindeer, snowmobile driving and ice fishing. The airport is located north of Kittilä. The distance from the airport to the centre of Levi/Sirkka is 13 kilometres. By car, it takes 15 minutes to get to the centre).

Public transport

Finland is a large and sparsely populated country, but getting from point A to B is no hassle, everything runs like clockwork. Air, rail, road, and water transport networks are comprehensive and reliable. Helsinki has an excellent public transport system (HSL) comprising bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services. With a single ticket you can hop aboard trams, buses, the metro and even the municipal ferry to Suomenlinna. You can even change from one mode of transport to another if your ticket is still valid. Single tickets can be purchased using the HSL mobile app or from HSL ticket machines, R-kiosks and other HSL sales points. The HSL public transport region is divided into four zones identified by the letters A, B, C and D starting from the city centre. Purchase a ticket for all the zones in which you plan to travel. For more information about routes, times and tickets visit this website.

By train: Finnish trains are spacious, comfortable, and clean. The rail network extents over the country, from Helsinki to Lapland. The well-developed Finnish railway network offers not only domestic but also cross-border connections and an extensive schedule for each route to match any travel plans. All trains in Finland are designed to meet modern standards and are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable ride. For more information visit this website.

By car: Finland has right-handed traffic and a polite driving culture. There is a good network of petrol stations. Driving in Finland in the summer is a breeze, but it can be tricky in the winter, if you do not have prior experience. Roads get slippery and snow tyres are required from November to March.

By boat: Finland has thousands of lakes and is surrounded by sea, so there are all kinds of boat services on offer. Cruise ships and ferries to and from Finland operate around the year on a regular basis. You can reach destinations in Sweden, Estonia, and Germany, as well as the popular Åland Islands. Your options range from one-way tickets to roundtrips and day cruises. It is possible to tailor your cruise experience according to your needs. Both biggest passenger cruise companies operating to and from Finland, Tallink-Silja and Viking Line, have daily round-trips from Helsinki and Turku to Stockholm, Sweden.

By bus, Finland´s coach network is one of the most complete in Europe, covering more than 90% of public roads. Long distance bus and coach services are regular and frequent, even to remote parts of the country. Buses are clean and modern. Onnibus offers cheap long-distance bus fares Finland-wide, with routes extending as far north as Levi in Lapland. The bigger destinations include Helsinki, Turku, Pori, Tampere, Vaasa, Jyväskylä, Oulu, Kajaani, Kuopio and Kotka, with stops at smaller towns in between. Ticket purchases can be made online or with the app, with numerous payment options (credit card, online banking etc. Matkahuolto, offers season or multiple-trip tickets loaded onto a Travel Card. Travel Cards can be topped up at R Kiosks and onboard most buses. Ticket purchases can be made online or from Matkahuolto terminals, Matkahuolto agents and many travel agencies.

Things to avoid

Wearing clothes in the sauna

Wearing your outside shoes in someone’s home or apartment is a big no-no in Finland

A lot of Finnish people are quiet and calm, so being noisy in a public area is discouraged

Avoid wild reindeer entirely between September and November as males become highly aggressive at this time and fight each other over mating rights, as well leaving food out for wild animals such as bears, wolves, and moose makes them less wary of humans, brings them towards human habitation, and results in danger to public safety

Finns value their personal space. Standing too close to someone can feel uncomfortable. Maintain a respectful distance when talking

Finns appreciate punctuality, always arrive on time for your reservation or meeting. It is considered rude to be late

Food

One of the greatest factors defining the Finnish cuisine is geography. Finland is in northern Europe and has a long coastline on the Baltic Sea. That is why seafood is a major component of Finnish cuisine, with fish such as salmon, herring, and perch featuring heavily in traditional dishes. Additionally, Finland’s cold climate and short growing season mean that hearty root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, are keystones of food. In Lapland and the Lakeland areas, reindeer and seafood are the most common menu items. Arctic wild berries, harvested from the forests along with rare mushroom species, add unique flavor to dishes. Coffee, tea, milk, and buttermilk are popular beverages. The main dishes are: “Poronkäristys” (is the traditional dish of Sámi people prepared by sautéing reindeer meat. Thin slices of reindeer meat are usually sautéed in butter, with or without onions, and slowly simmered in beer or stock. The most common and traditional accompaniments for the dish include creamy mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam, pasta, or rice, “Lihapullat” (the crispy Finnish meatballs are traditionally made with beef, with the occasional addition of ground pork. The meat is frequently seasoned with allspice and combined with a mixture of breadcrumbs, eggs, and onions), “Lohikeitto” (is a fish soup med with cream, salmon, potatoes, and vegetables), “Karjalanpiirakka “(made from a thin rye crust with a filling of barley or rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg is spread over the hot pastries before eating), “Mustikkapiirakka” (is a traditional blueberry pie. The crust for the pie is usually made with a combination of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and baking powder. It is then topped with fresh blueberries mixed with sour cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cardamom)

Electricity and plug types

For Finland there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Finland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Finland genuinely cares about the health and well-being of each one of its residents. Because of that, healthcare is accessible, affordable, and available to all. The Finnish healthcare system is based on public healthcare services to which everyone permanently residing in the country is entitled. In addition, every person has the right to receive emergency treatment during their stay in Finland. Finland’s hospitals can be found on the lists of the world’s best hospitals. Clinics and hospitals are staffed by well-educated doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers. Furthermore, most places can serve customers in English. Healthcare for EU citizens, if you are covered by health insurance in another EU member state, EEA member state, Switzerland, or the UK, you are entitled to essential health care in Finland. To receive treatment, you must have a European Health Insurance Card. You must obtain a European Health Insurance Card from the country in which you are covered by health insurance. If you come from Great Britain or Northern Ireland, you can present the European Health Insurance Card, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or the Citizens Rights Card. Non-EU residents need private health insurance.

Other

Tipping is not required, and in most cases, it is not expected. You can tip if you have received great service