Finland
WHERE IS FINLAND?
Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Norway, Russia and Sweden. Its capital, Helsinki, occupies a peninsula and surrounding islands in the Baltic Sea. The Northern Lights can be seen from the country’s Arctic Lapland province, known for its wilderness with national parks and ski resorts.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Depending on what you are visiting Finland for, different months are better for different reasons of travel.
For more snow and winter activities, December-March is the best time. For more sun and nature, April-May is your ideal travel time. If you are visiting Finland in hopes of catching a glimpse of the northern lights, October-March will be your best bet!
WEATHER IN FINLAND
The weather in Finland is pretty diverse. Being a Scandinavian country, it is quite common for the weather to change fairly quick. Finland is the warmest in July and the coldest in February. February is also the driest month in Finland, while August weather is the wettest time of year. This plays a major role in the planning of your trip!
Winter: October – May
- Average temps of -35°C (-31 F) to -45°C (-49)
- Snowy, wet and chilly conditions
- Great time to visit with less tourists and crowds
- Perfect weather for outdoor activities
- Great time for skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, and ice fishing
Spring: April – May
- Average temps of 6.1°C (43°F) to 13.9°C (57°F)
- Mornings and evenings are still pretty cool
- light snow can occur
- Days start to get longer and the sun starts to shine brighter
Summer: June – August
- Average temps of 5.0 to 7.5 °C or 41.0 to 45.5 °F
- Best weather conditions to roam around the country
- Most daylight for visitors to explore with (up to 20 hours of daylight)
- Beaches tend to open in June, however water is still pretty cold
Fall: September
- Average temps of -7.8°C (18°F) to -1.1°C (30°F)
- Changes of colors in nature
- Less crowded in touristy areas
- Partly cloudy and frequent rain chances
WHAT TO EXPECT
Language: The two main languages in Finland are Finish and Swedish. English is also very common in Finland with around 70% of locals speaking the language,
Currency: The official currency is Finland is the Euro. As of March 2021, 1 USD is equivalent to .85 Euro.
Credit Cards and ATMs: Debit and credit cards are widely accepted with contactless and mobile payments becoming increasingly popular. You should not have any troubles using a major credit card in Finland, although you may be asked to show an ID (passport, license). ATMs are also widely available throughout the country and are most commonly found near gas stations, shopping centers, and bus and train stations. Always make sure to have some cash on you though, you never know when you may need it!
Plugs/Outlets: In Finland, the power plugs are type C and type F. Finland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. I recommend buying a converter like this to use for your hair products and a adapter like this for everything else.
Safety: Finland is overall a really safe country with minimal petty crime in major cities. With that being said, it is always smart to carry as little cash with you when exploring the busy city centers. Always be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on your belongings and be smart!
TRANSPORTATION
Finland has a great rail network system. Within cities, trams are the preferred form of transportation. Finnish Railways offers excellent inter-city routes, and taking the train from Helsinki to Turku, Tampere and Lahti is more convenient and definitely faster than the bus. Water taxis and taxis are also a very popular form of transportation in Finland.
Train: Like most travel throughout Finland, traveling by train is cheap, fast, and convenient. The Finnrail Pass allows for unlimited travel three to 10 days in a month. Multi-country rail passes are also accepted in Finland.
Bus: In Lapland, bus is the only mode of transportation. Although the busses tend to be slower, they can be a little more expensive than train travel. To save a little bit of money, multi-trip tickets and different kinds of passes are available if you want to cut down your costs.
Water Taxi: Water taxis tend to be more popular in the summertime, but regular waterbus and ferry trips are available year-round. Some of the most popular popular routes include Tampere to Hameenlinna and Tampere to Viikinsaaari Island, served by Silver Line. Poet’s Way operates between Tampere and Virrat, while Lake Paijanne Cruises services the Paijanne Waterway and areas like Heinola, Jyvaskyla, Suolahti and Lahti. Regular ferries are also available around Kuopio and Lake Pielinen.
More Travel guides HERE!