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Finland Information

Overview

Finland, the quiet sibling of the Nordic countries, has a down-to-earth natural purity that makes it an exceptionally rewarding place to visit.

Across the south, cultural differences reflect a turbulent history. The picturesque Swedish-speaking wooden towns of the west coast and the onion-domed Orthodox churches of Karelia in the east speak of Finland’s oft-repeated role as the rope in a tug of war between Sweden and Russia. In the middle were the stoic Finns, a loyal and warmhearted people with a gloriously independent and idiosyncratic streak. Even the urban technocrats love to get back to basics, chopping wood or hunting for mushrooms from their lakeside cabins.

In far-northern Lapland, the Sámi people still herd their reindeer in the vast swathes of sparsely populated wilderness - at least when they’re not podcasting: Finland is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. It is also renowned for its design and architecture, particularly strong in the capital Helsinki, a clean, modern and buzzy place, with a strong tradition of artistic and musical innovation and a beautiful coastline and harbour.

Finland is shaped by its climate, and Finns take advantage of their short but intense summers. The country explodes into life with a bewildering array of festivals and celebrations, ranging from Savonlinna’s prestigious opera extravaganza to the tongue-in-cheek humour of the Air Guitar World Championships.

Fabulous forests and lakes cover almost 80% of the country and this, plus the excellent network of national parks, makes it a tempting destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Trekking and canoeing are obvious choices, but a trip in winter can offer cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, snowmobiling or a sled safari with a team of huskies or reindeer. And it is hard to beat a traditional wood-fired sauna at the end of the day.

Author

Rebecca Ford

Top Things To See

Helsinki, the capital, is surrounded by parks, forests and water. It is also endowed with historical sights as well as buildings by the best-known Finnish architects, both traditional and modern. UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress is the world’s largest maritime fortress. Helsinki has numerous museums, a rich musical life and a wide variety of exhibitions and events as well as excellent design outlets (website: www.helsinki.fi).

Get to know Finland’s oldest city, Turku. The country’s former capital boasts a magnificent medieval castle, a fine cathedral and several stylish restaurants and intriguing museums. Enjoy the wonderful craftwork in the open-air Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum or kick back with a beer on the deck of a boat bar (website: www.turku.fi).

Probe the distinct culture of Karelia, in eastern Finland. There is a significant Orthodox population here, with their own cuisine, language and religious festivals, and the remote, picturesque villages such as Ilomantsi are ripe for exploration. It is also the spiritual home of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

Ponder the principles of design in the university town of Jyväskylä (website: www.jkl.fi), a pilgrimage spot for lovers of buildings as it contains many of the finest works of Alvar Aalto, giant of 20th-century architecture. It is also the base for the Finnish round of the World Rally Championship in August (website: www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi).

Take to the water and get a boat to the Åland Islands, the warmest part of the country. This flat, picturesque archipelago is Swedish-speaking and has a proud maritime heritage and some of the country’s oldest churches and manors. It is perfect for exploring by bicycle (website: www.aland.ax).

Gaze at any of Finland’s 180,000-plus lakes, preferably from the deck of an isolated wooden cabin. While the whole country is dotted with them, they are particularly concentrated in the area inevitably known as the Lakeland, a veritable maze with its profusion of bays, headlands and islands. As the lakes are usually shallow and the surrounding land is not high, the water soon becomes warm in summer.

Venture into Savonlinna, an enchanting town boasting the best-preserved medieval castle in the Nordic countries, Olavinlinna. It is picturesquely set on the water and venue to a major opera festival in July (website: www.operafestival.fi).

Brush up your Swedish in the west coast area of Pohjanmaa or Ostrobothnia, with its long sandy beaches (and the dunes of Kalajoki), an agricultural region with a sunny drier climate than elsewhere. Jakobstad and Kristinestad are particularly heartwarming, with their delightful old wooden buildings.

Discover the interesting fauna of Hailuoto Island, which can be reached by ferry from Oulu, the area’s chief commercial and university centre. Picturesque old wooden houses are still a feature of the coastal towns (website: www.oulu.fi).

Point your nose north and keep going until you reach mystical Lapland (website: www.lapland.fi), an awe-inspiringly isolated wilderness with the country’s three largest national parks.

Watch 230,000 reindeer roam freely on the fells around the Finnish Lapland. They are the property of different owners. There are reindeer round-ups from September to January, and special reindeer-driving competitions take place in March with participants from all over Lapland.

Meet Santa on the Arctic Circle. His office is open daily, but don’t promise the kids a souvenir photo until you’ve had a word with the bank manager (website: www.santaclaus.fi).

Head up to Kilpisjärvi in Finland’s northwest corner and climb picturesque Saana Fell, 1,029m (3,376ft), or Haltia Fell, the highest peak in Finland at 1,328m (4,265ft). Both overlook the triple border between Finland, Norway and Sweden (website: www.kilpisjarvi.fi).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Strap on a pack and head off through the forests on one of Finland’s classic trekking routes. This is particularly appealing in Lapland in early autumn, when trees and vegetation take on the beautiful hues of the ruska season (website: www.outdoors.fi).

Learn about life in the harsh north at one of Lapland’s two inspiring museums, Rovaniemi’s Arktikum (website: www.arktikum.fi), a comprehensive exploration of ecology and anthropology of the Arctic, and Siida (website: www.siida.fi), the wonderful museum of Sámi culture in Inari.

Experience the contagious joy of a traditional Finnish midsummer, when the sun doesn’t set and Finns head to their mökki (summer cottage) for saunas, bonfires, dips in the lake and general revelry.

Unleash your inner nutter at one of Finland’s bizarre festivals. Play classic rock on the air guitar in Oulu (website: www.airguitarworldchampionships.com), forget political correctness at the Wife-Carrying World Championships of Sonkajärvi (website: www.sonkajarvi.fi) or watch Naantali’s laziest resident get thrown into the sea on Sleepyhead Day (27 July).

Go cross-country skiing on marked and often illuminated tracks all over the country. There are also many downhill skiing resorts. Many resorts have halfpipes and ‘snowboard streets’ for snowboarding enthusiasts. Off-piste skiing is available through private companies. The major ski resorts include: Pallastunturi, Saariselkä, Pallas, Levi, Rovaniemi, Ylläs and Luosto/Pyhä (in the north); Ruka, Iso-Syöte, Vuokatti, Koli and Tahko (in central Finland); and Himos and Lahti (in the south).

Keep an eye on the skies: northernmost Finland is above the Arctic Circle and enjoys a spell of polar night (kaamos) between November and May, when the sun is a stranger to the land. It is at this time that the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, can be seen.

Harness up your team of dogs and whizz off across the snow on a winter husky safari, an utterly memorable experience available all across Lapland, including at the excellent Harriniva (website: www.harriniva.fi) just outside Muonio.

Sweat your troubles and toxins away in a classic Finnish sauna. While many hotels have them, the best sauna experiences are the more traditional ones, in a wooden cottage by a lake, in the timeworn Kotiharjun public sauna in Helsinki’s Kallio district, or in the Jätkänkämppä smoke sauna just outside Kuopio. The whisk of birch twigs stimulates circulation and cleanses the pores.

Canoe, particularly in areas such as Saimaa, Lake Oulujärvi and Lake Inari. Owing to strong currents, guides are recommended for trips to remote areas. The Kukkolankoski rapids provide the biggest unharnessed rapids in the world; white-water rafting is organised here. In Oulanka National Park, rivers with rapids run through gorge-like valleys.

For cutting-edge design, embark on an architecture tour, which puts particular emphasis on buildings and designs by the internationally acclaimed Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s most famous architects. There are also design tours available which focus on glassware, jewellery and household items, as well as fireplaces and log houses, and which often include a visit to Helsinki’s Iittala Glass Museum or Glassworks.

Spend a night at the Snow Hotel (website: www.snowcastle.net), located in Kemi, where visitors can stay in rooms at temperatures of -5°C (23°F); warm sleeping bags are provided.

Drill a hole in the ice, drop in your line and shiver the day away in the masochistic activity of ice fishing, immensely popular in winter. Semi-mandatory consumption of kossu (Koskenkorva vodka spirit) keeps the chills at bay (website: www.fishing.fi).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

Finnish food has been influenced by both climate and its location between Sweden and Russia. Fish (salmon, zander, herring, perch, char above all) is a staple and delicious whether eaten fresh or smoked/pickled accompanied by dark rye bread. Typical meat dishes include meatballs; reindeer and elk meat are also eaten. In summer, things come alive, as the land rapidly produces an abundance of delicacies. Tender new potatoes, dill, numerous wild mushrooms and a fabulous assortment of wild berries add fresh colour and texture to the Finnish plate. You’ll find snacks in a kahvila (cafe), of which there are many - Finns drink more coffee than anyone else in the world. A ravintola is a restaurant, and may serve homestyle cooking, international dishes or new Finnish cuisine, with elaborate creations derived from traditional ingredients, such as reindeer carpaccio with cloudberry coulis. Finnish chain restaurants are common but unremarkable. A lounasravintola serves a lunchtime buffet - the main meal of the day, while a grilli is a no-frills kiosk serving sausages and fried potatoes.

Things to know: Waiter service is common although there are many self-service snack bars. Bars and cafes may have table and/or counter service and internationally-known beverages are available. All alcohol is served until half an hour before the restaurant closes.

National specialities:
• Pulla (a sweet cardamom-flavoured bun and the traditional accompaniment to coffee).
• Poronkäristys (sauteed reindeer traditionally eaten by the Sámi).
• Lakka (hilla) (the Arctic cloudberry, a real treat with creamy texture offset by tart acidity).
• Kalakukko (a thick rye loaf stuffed with tiny lake fish, a specialty of Kuopio).
• Karjalanpiirakka (a savoury pastry of rye flour stuffed with rice pudding and eaten with egg butter).

National drinks:
•Koskenkorva (a vodka-style spirit. Salty liquorice sweets are often added to make salmiakkikossu).
•Berry liqueurs - mesimarja (arctic bramble), lakka (cloudberry) and polar (cranberry).
•Finnish beer is of a high quality and graded according to alcohol content.

Legal drinking age: 18 years; 20 for anything over 20% ABV.

Tipping: A service charge is added in hotels and restaurants (14-15%). A tip for doormen usually takes the form of an obligatory cloakroom charge.

Nightlife

Finns are enthusiastic party people, and nightlife choices range from grungy dives to boat pubs to ultra-cool vodka bars to traditional dance halls filled with couples dancing the Finnish tango. Young Finns favour nightclubs playing dance music or Finnish summer pop, while quieter clubs might have a minimum age of up to 25. Nightclubs are typically open until 0200, or up to 0400 at weekends. Look out for ’little Saturday’, which is Wednesday night, when things can get as lively as if it were Friday.

Shopping

Finland isn’t a cheap place to shop, but the quality on offer is very high. If something looks like a bargain, it is probably been mass produced. Finnish design studios are world-famous, and the major ones all have outlets in Helsinki, including Artek, which concentrates on the classic designs of Alvar Aalto, and Skanno, which offers more avant-garde pieces. Arabia ceramics and Iitala glassware are also world famous, as are the optimistic and colourful textiles of Marimekko. Stockmann is a large traditional department store that offers decent Finnish craft and souvenir products. In all Finnish towns, the kauppahalli (indoor market) is a great place to try and buy local foods; in summer this expands out to the kauppatori (market square); Helsinki’s is by the water in the centre of town and is touristy but well worth a stroll.

Finnish handicrafts make appealing purchases, with handcarved wooden curios, handwoven ryijy rugs, Sámi jewellery and knives, and objects carved from reindeer horn. Look out for the Duodji label - this signifies that the object has been produced in an authentic Lapland craft workshop. Handknitted jumpers are of excellent quality but be wary of mass-produced copies.

Duty-free: Anyone permanently resident outside the EU can claim a refund of 12-16% on goods that cost more than €40 at the time of departure from the EU. Retailers (look out for the ’Tax Free for Tourists’ sign) will provide a cheque that can be redeemed at airports, ports or major land borders.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1500.  Many department stores are also open 0900-2100 during the week and Sat 0900-1800; some also open on Sunday.

Climate

Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn. Winter, which lasts from November to mid March, is very cold. In the north (see the chart for Sodankylä), the snow cover lasts from mid October until mid May, but, in the brief Arctic summer, the sun doesn’t set. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with snow in winter, but the low humidity often has the effect of making it seem warmer than the temperature would indicate (even in Lapland, the temperature can rise to over 30°C/86°F). During June and July, gnats and mosquitos are a major nuisance, particularly in the north of the country. Bring a good supply of insect repellent.

Required Clothing

Light- to mediumweights in warmer months. Medium- to heavyweights in winter, with particularly warm clothing needed for the Arctic north. Waterproofing is essential throughout the year. You may want to consider a netting veil for trekking in the mosquito season in Lapland.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany. 
21-24 Mar Easter.
1 May May Day.
1 May Ascension. 
11 May Whit Sunday.
20-21 Jun Midsummer. 
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May May Day.
21 May Ascension. 
31 May Whit Sunday.
19-20 Jun Midsummer. 
31 Oct All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: No

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: No

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to an EEA country or Switzerland, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Comprehensive insurance is advised for all other nationals, but first check with your country’s health department to see if a reciprocal cover agreement is in place with Finland.

Note

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents. Note that 1 and 2 cent coins, while valid in other Eurozone countries, are not used in Finland.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and at bureaux de change in major cities, ports and airports. Banks tend to charge higher commissions.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and there are ATMs that accept them even in small villages.

Traveller's Cheques

Traveller’s cheques are also accepted in banks, some shops and in exchange offices, which charge less commission than the banks. Travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (regional variations may occur).

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passport Note

Finland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Passports

A valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays up to 90 days in any six-month period.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate/children’s full birth certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at embassy for details).

Contact Addresses

Embassy of Finland in the UK

38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7838 6200.
Website: www.finemb.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600.

Finnish Tourist Board in the UK

PO Box 33213, London W6 8JX, UK
Tel: (020) 7365 2512.
Website: www.visitfinland.com/uk

3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 298 5800.
Website: www.finland.org

Finnish Tourist Board

PO Box 624, Töölönkatu 11, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: (10) 605 8000.
Website: www.visitfinland.com

Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Finland are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

• Finland Overview
• Finland Things to See
• Finland Things to Do
• Finland Events
• Finland Climate
• Finland Public Holidays
• Finland Health
• Finland Currency
• Finland Passport & Visas
• Finland Contact Addresses
• Finland Travel Advice