VISIT FINLAND

With its fresh air, stunning Lapland, sauna culture and even Santa Claus’ headquarter; no wonder why Finland is ranked ‘The happiest country in the world”

Currency

€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)

POPULATION

5,5 millions

MAIN LANGUAGE

Finnish

AREA

338,455 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+2 / UTC+3

FLAG

🇫🇮

Finland is a country in Northern Europe that borders Russia, Sweden, and Norway. Helsinki, the enchanting capital of the country, is home to the fashionable Design District, gorgeous seaside scenery, and the Suomenlinna fortress, built in the 18th century. The province of Finnish Lapland, a vast wilderness region peppered with national parks and ski areas, is the best location to view the Northern Lights.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Finland:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Finland and is among the highest quality in the world.

Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 80 kph / 50 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, 100 kph / 62 mph on major highways in summer (80 kph / 50 mph in winter), 120 kph / on motorways in summer (100 kph / 74 mph in winter). Headlights must be on at all times.

Plugs: Two plug types are used in Finland: C and F, which both have two grounding holes. Finland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule tipping is not compulsory nor expected in restaurants and cafés in Finland.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Finland, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places, so plan a backup card. The use of cash money is still very common in Finland.

Basic language: Hei = Hello, Hyvää huomenta = Good morning; Hyvästi = Goodbye; Joo = Yes; Ei = No; Kiitos = Thank you; Kiitos paljon = Thank you very much; Ole kiltti = Please; Ole hyvä = You're welcome; Anteeksi = Sorry; Päivä = Day; Yö = Night; Hyvää iltaa = Good evening; Hyvää yötä = Goodnight; Herra = Mister; Rouva = Ma'am; Street = Street; Tie = Road

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for many small stores; grocery stores and malls are usually open. Moreover, many shops have shorter opening hours on Saturday compared to the rest of the week. There are 11 official public holidays in Finland: New Year's Day (January 01), Epiphany (January 06), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Vappu (May 01), Ascension Day, Midsummer (Friday+Sunday between June 19 and 26), All Saints' Day (November 05), Independence Day (December 06), Christmas and Boxing Day (December 24-26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Finland, or if you are planning to come to Finland for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland website: https://um.fi/

No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days for a period of 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican; Venezuela

Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Without any surprise, winter is the high season in Lapland. The main attractions there include trips to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, thrilling snow activities, and the amazing northern lights phenomenon. The temperatures in Helsinki usually range from 1°C (34F) to -7°C (19F). Naturally, Lapland is colder: in the town of Rovaniemi, temperatures go between -5°C (23F) and -17°C (1F).

🌱 March – May: Finland begins to awaken in the spring after a long winter. Although the country's southern regions eventually begin to experience spring throughout April and May, skiing is usually still possible in Lapland. Additionally, you might be able to see the final auroras of the season.

☀️ June – August: From the end of May until the end of July, the midnight sun takes over in Finland, cutting the length of the nighttime darkness to no more than five or six hours. In Lapland's far northern regions, the sun never sets at all from mid-May until late July. Finns make the most of these warm days and white nights by engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, canoeing, and swimming. There are many lakes to jump into after spending time in a warm sauna, music festivals to visit, and gorgeous boat trips to take. During summer, the temperatures in Helsinki usually range from 10°C (51F) to 22°C (72F); while the temperatures in Rovaniemi are usually between 7°C (45F) and 20°C (68F).

🍂 September – November: 'Ruska' is the word used by Finns to refer to the autumnal colour change. In September, the ruska season begins in northern Lapland and moves south, covering the entire country of Finland in muted hues of red, orange, and yellow. This is a fantastic time to go hiking and camping. Foraging - especially berries and mushrooms - is another popular pastime.

Prepare your trip

Pick a (Finnish) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Finland.

FINLAND HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

SPOT NORTHERN LIGHTS IN LAPLAND

Lapland is an absolute winter wonderland and is host to the Northern Lights season from mid-August until early April.

VISIT SUOMENLINNA FORTRESS

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Helsinki suburb with about 800 residents, the Suomenlinna sea fortress is situated on the city's shore.

MEET SANTA CLAUS IN ROVANIEMI

Located on the Arctic Circle, the official hometown of Santa Claus is a unique settlement to visit and the capital of Finnish Lapland.

RELAX IN A FINNISH SAUNA

When in Finland... A sauna is a must-do and a great way to relax both the mind and the body! Countrywide, there is roughly 1 sauna for every 2 individuals.

EXPLORE HELSINKI

This port city appeals to people who enjoy the outdoors and whose looking for a festive atmosphere.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN FINLAND

SEE 3 MAIN PREDATORS

In Kuhmo, visitors can see bears, wolverines, and wolves in the untamed taiga, which serves as their natural habitat.

Did you know?

Finland’s national emblematic animal is the Brown Bear.

ALL FINLAND BLOG ARTICLES

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