Porvoo Finland

Complete Finland Travel Guide, What You Need to Know

Finland is a Nordic Country on the Arctic Circle. It is known for being the happiest country in the world and a “Land of a Thousand Lakes”. Finland is also the home of Santa Clause. You will find icy forests, the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, Polar Nights, saunas, reindeer, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cloudberries. The country receives approximately 7 million tourists each year. Planning international travel can be overwhelming and time-consuming while working full time. Use this Finland travel guide and the following Finland travel blog posts to plan your perfect vacation. The top destinations in Finland are Helsinki and Lapland.

Dog Sledding

Why Visit Lapland

Rovaniemi Lapland is the home of Santa Clause and Gateway to the Arctic. Winter in Lapland brings skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and the Northern Lights. Canoeing, swimming, fishing, and hiking are popular summer activities.

Read Top Things to Do in Lapland Finland in the Winter

Why Visit Helsinki

Helsinki is Finland’s capital and largest city. The city has a combination of Russian and avant-garde architecture, an archipelago of 330 islands, a harbor with an open-air market, a street museum, cathedrals, a church carved into the rocks, and the Suomenlinna sea fortress.

What You Need to Know When Planning a Trip to Finland

Where is Finland

Finland is in Northern Europe. The country’s population is 5.5 million. At 130,678 sq mi, the country is smaller than the state of Montana. Finland is bordered by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Bothnia, Sweden, and Russia. Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. The population of Helsinki is 650,000. Most of Finland’s population lives in towns around the Baltic Sea.

What is the language spoken in Finland?

The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Common dialects heard include Sami, Romani, Finnish Sign Language, and Karelian. Over 70% of Finland speaks English. Even though English is the standard language of tourism in Europe, it is important to at least try to speak the common language before resorting to English. FluentU offers a helpful list of common words and phrases to learn before you travel. You will also find tutorials on YouTube.

Do I need a visa to visit Finland?

According to Project Visa, US citizens do not need a visa for a visit up to 90 days in a 6 month period.

What is the currency in Finland?

The currency in Finland is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted at restaurants, attractions, or stores. Don’t be fooled by ‘0 commission’ money exchangers because the ‘service fee’ is high. Be sure to download a free currency calculator before you arrive.

Can I use credit cards and ATMs in Finland?

ATMs are available throughout Finland. Avoid large fees by using your bank’s international partner in Finland and google its location before you travel. Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are widely accepted in Finland, you will need a 4 digit PIN from the bank. American Express may be accepted. Save money on fees with a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees and make purchases in euro. It is always a good idea to carry some cash.

How much should I budget per day in Flinland?

According to Budget Your Trip, the average daily cost of traveling in Finland is $121. Expect to pay $1,690 + airfare for a one-week trip for 2.

When is the best time to visit Finland?

The summer and winter are high seasons in Finland. Expect clear sunny days, 19+ hours of sunlight, and an average temperature of 62 degrees during the summer months (June, July, and August). Fall is the worst time to visit due to the large amount of slush and ice on the ground. Temperatures are below freezing in the winter and the average number of daylight hours is 6. Northern Lights season is from mid-August until early April. The best time to view them is at the beginning and end of the season, they appear around 150 times a year.

What type of transportation does Finland use?

There are 21 airports in Finland, 17 are international. Helsinki is the only town in Finland with a metro and tram system. Shuttles are available for transportation from the airport to Lapland Resorts. Day tours will pick up customers at their resort. Commuter trains do not run to rural communities. Road transportation is the best method to explore Finland independently. Note: you must keep the headlights on in the car, even during the day.

What kind of adaptor do I need in Finland?

The plugs in Finland are type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter with surge protection. You will need a converter if you plan to use an electric razor or blow dryer from the US.

What should I pack for Finland?

Finns dress practically. Finland is cool in the summer, pack long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Be ready for extremes in the winter. It may be freezing cold outside, but it will be hot when you step indoors. Pack sweaters, fleece-lined jeans, thermals, thick socks, a parka designed for weather below freezing, a hat, scarf, gloves, earmuffs, soft rubber-soled boots, and hand warmers. It is not necessary to pack snow pants for excursions, they will be provided by the company. That being said, I wore my snow pants every day over cute thermals. Be sure to pack a swimsuit for visiting a sauna. Note: clothing in Finland is expensive. Pack light but well.

Is Finland a safe country for solo travelers?

According to Travel Safe Abroad, Finland is the ninth safest country for travelers. Not only is the overall risk low, but there is also a low risk of scams, pickpockets, and muggings. Stay aware of your surroundings, European cities have been targeted for terrorist attacks. Dial 112 in an emergency. Contact the US Embassy for non-urgent emergencies, such as a lost passport.

What food do I need to try in Finland?

Poronkaristys (sauteed reindeer), pizza berlusconi (reindeer pizza), lihapullat (Finnish meatballs), makaronilaatikko (baked macaroni with minced meat), kaalikääryleet (cabbage stuffed with minced meat), lihapiirakka (minced meat and rice meat pie), karjalanpaisti (meat stew), siskonmakkarakeitto (sausage soup), hernekeitto ja pannukakku (pea soup and pancake), lohikeitto (salmon soup), graavilohi (raw salmon with mustard sauce on bread), pyttipannu (pan-fried potatoes, sausage topped with fried egg), karjalanpiirakka (rye crust filled with rice porridge), pulla (sweet bread), ruisleipa (rye bread), leipajuusto (bread cheese with cloudberry jam), riispuuro (rice porridge), korvapuusti (cinnamon buns), mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie).

Tips for Traveling in Finland

• It is safe to drink tap water.
• Stand on the right side of the escalators.
• Bikes are popular in cities, don’t walk in the bike lane.
• People in Helsinki are in a rush, walk fast and step out of the way to look around and take pictures.
• Finland is green. Don’t litter and carry your own bag for purchases.
• Finns are reserved. They like personal space and dislike small talk and eye contact.
• If you visit a Finn home, be on time, take your shoes off outside, and bring coffee flavors, biscuits, or sweets.
• The drinking age is 18 and people under 30 will be carded.
• Nobody expects a tip in Finland, but if you want to you must tell the waiter how much when you give them your credit card.
• You can hike, camp, and pick berries, mushrooms, and flowers freely in Finland as long as you do not go into someone’s backyard, litter, start a fire without permission or destroy nature.
• Finns and Swedes are like siblings. They bicker but love each other.
• Salmiakki, salty licorice, is a great souvenir to bring home for friends.
• Don’t try to pet a reindeer, they see it as a sign of danger.
• You can travel from Helsinki to St Petersburg by ferry without a visa for 72 hours.
• Finns love open-air libraries, take a book and leave a book.
• It gets very dark at night, consider packing a flashlight if you are visiting outside of the cities.
• Batteries die fast in the cold, take quick pictures, and put the camera away.

Top Things to See and Do in Finland

• Say hello to Santa, chase the northern lights, and go dog sledding in Rovaniemi.
• Stay in a cottage on Lake Saimaa and enjoy Finnish Lakeland.
• Visit Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna on the Saimaa Lakes.
• Wander the cobblestone streets and wooden homes of Porvoo or Neristan.
• Cruise the archipelago and explore the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum in Kastelholm.
• Relax in a sauna on Tampere, the sauna capital of the world.
• Take an icebreaker cruise and visit a Snow Castle in Kemi.
• Spend a day on the beach in Yyteri.
• Attend the midsummer Medieval Festival in Turku, and don’t miss the castle.
• Hike Lemmenjoki National Park and stay in one of the free wilderness huts.
• Search for brown bears on the Karhunkierros Trail in Oulanka National Park or in Suomussalmi.

Be sure to check the Finland Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

Interesting Facts About Finland

• Finland is ranked #1 as the happiest country in the world (2020).
• The sun doesn’t set for 73 consecutive summer days and it doesn’t rise for 51 winter days each year.
• 75% of Finland is covered by forest, and 10% is covered by water.
• There are 187,888 lakes and 179,000+ islands in Finland.
• Finland is home to Moomin and Angry Birds.
• There are more saunas than cars in Finland, over three million.
• Finland’s Päijänne Water Tunnel is the longest tunnel in Europe and the second-longest tunnel in the world.
• Finns have the world’s highest annual consumption of milk per capita, one quart per person per day.
• Finns are the biggest coffee drinkers in the world, with around 26 pounds per person per year (3 x’s that of Americans).
• Speeding fines in Finland are calculated on the violator’s total income.
• There are more Heavy Metal bands per capita in Finland than anywhere else in the world.
• Finnish children do not go to school until they are seven and it’s not mandatory to give them grades until the eighth grade.
• The Finnish passport can access 171 countries around the world without a visa.
• Finland has free education, including college. You get a top hat and a sword if you earn your Ph.D.
• Finland has one of the least corrupt governments in the world.
• Finland is an egalitarian society and its language is gender-neutral.
• Finland was the first country in Europe to give all women the right to vote.
• Finland was the first nation to make Internet access a legal right for its citizens.
• Nokia, the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones, is Finnish.
• There are no payphones in Finland.
• Finland has open prisons where prisoners can work, shop, and move around the community freely during the day. They also have the highest number of prison breaks.

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Booking Resources for Finland Travel

Finland Travel Guide

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Lapland Attractions and Day Tours

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Have a great vacation!