Europe · Northern EuropeUsable guideCountry in Northern Europe
Photo: Sertmann (Stefan Ertmann), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Finland (Finnish: Suomi, Swedish: Finland) is a country with vast areas of unspoiled nature speckled with comfortable small towns and cities. Scraped flat by sheets of ice during several ice ages, Finland lacks the dramatic mountains and fjords of its Nordic neighbours but makes up for it with 188,000 lakes and a similar number of islands. Finland extends into the Arctic, where the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun can be seen. The mythical mountain of Korvatunturi is said to be the home of Santa Claus, and there is a Santaland in Rovaniemi.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Finland.
Cards and cash
The vast majority of payments in Finland are electronic, and most Finns use a debit card for their daily purchases.
Tipping
As a rule, tipping is entirely optional and never necessary in Finland; restaurant bills already include service charges.
Finnish, Swedish
Finland has two national languages, Finnish (suomi) and Swedish (svenska), and both are compulsory in nearly all schools (with varying results).
Modern 4G/5G networks blanket the country, although it's still possible to find wilderness areas with poor signal, typically in Lapland and the outer archipelago, and the net may at times be congested elsewhere.
Mobile networks
You're unlikely to have tummy troubles in Finland, since tap water is always drinkable (except on trains etc., and there will be warnings in those cases) and generally quite tasty as well, and hygiene standards in restaurants are strict.
, and there will be warnings in those cases) and generally quite tasty as well, and hygiene standards in restaurants are strict. Dairy products are nearly always pasteurised.
Covered in the guide
Finns generally have a relaxed attitude towards manners and dressing up, and a visitor is unlikely to offend them by accident.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the "Daughter of the Baltic", Finland's capital and largest city by far
a university town in Central Finland, beautifully set between lakes and ridges
a technology city at the end of the Gulf of Bothnia
largest wooden old town in the Nordics and a UNESCO World Heritage site
gateway to Lapland and home of Santa Claus Village
a small lakeside town with a big castle and a popular opera festival.
a former industrial city becoming a hipster home of culture, music, art and museums
the former capital on the southwest coast. Medieval castle and cathedral.
hundreds and hundreds of islands from the mainland all the way to Åland
Finnish national parks are found in most parts of the country. In addition to national parks some other protected areas are presented below, as well as national hiking areas and the wilderness areas of Finnish Lapland.
scenic national park in Eastern Finland, symbol for the nature of the country
gold digging grounds of Lapland, and one of the largest wilderness areas in Europe
pint-sized but pretty national park a stone's throw from Helsinki
"the Arm of Finland" offers scenic views and the highest hills in Finland
popular winter sports resorts in Lapland
island off the coast of Helsinki where there is an 18th century fort that you can visit by ferry
Places in Finland on the World Heritage List.
Struve Geodetic Arc
Listed 2005
Suomenlinna
Listed 1991
Petäjävesi Old Church
Listed 1994
Sammallahdenmäki
Listed 1999
Verla
Listed 1996
Old Rauma
Listed 1991
Aalto Works
Listed 2026
High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago
Listed 2000
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The southern stretch of coastline up to the Russian border, including the capital Helsinki.
Tavastia Proper, Päijänne Tavastia, Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso, South Karelia
The south-western coastal areas, the old capital Turku, and the southern parts of the historical province of Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa, Österbotten), with half of Finland's Swedish-speaking population.
Central Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Finland Proper
Forests and lakes from the inland hub city Tampere all the way to the Russian border, including Savonia (Savo) and the Finnish side of Karelia (Karjala). This region includes Lake Saimaa, the fourth-largest natural freshwater lake in Europe.
North Savonia, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savonia, Pirkanmaa
The northern half of Finland is sparsely inhabited, with large mires and deep forests, but also a few important cities like Oulu and Rovaniemi. This is where you find reindeer and fell landscapes, and where you go for winter sports or week-long hikes.
Finnish Lapland, Kainuu and Eastern Oulu region, Southern Oulu region, Western Oulu region
An autonomous, demilitarised and monolingually Swedish group of islands off the south-western coast, where the administration is centred in the port town of Mariehamn.
Public transport and paid services in Finland.
By train
VR (Valtion Rautatiet, lit. "State's Railways") operates the railway network, in the capital region on behalf of the local HSL.
By bus
There are coach connections along the main roads to practically all parts of Finland.
By boat
As a country with many lakes, a long coast and large archipelagos, Finland is a good destination for boating.e. a boat on every seventh Finn.
By ferry
In summertime, lake and archipelago cruises are a great way to see the scenery of Finland, although many of them only do circular sightseeing loops and thus aren't particularly useful for getting…
By car
Traffic drives on the right. Main roads are usually fairly well maintained and extensive, although motorways are limited to the south of the country and near the bigger cities.
By plane
Flights are the fastest but also the most expensive way of getting around, unless you find a bargain.
By taxi
Taxis are widely available and comfortable, although in the countryside night you may nowadays be out of luck (call a local company in advance).
By ridesharing
Uber operates in Helsinki and sparsely in a few other cities (Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Lahti). They are formally taxis, with the same requirements on equipment and licensing.
By motorised scooter
In many cities there are electric kick scooters for hire; you will need to install a smartphone app.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Finland.
Finding apps for Finland…
Other ways to travel:By thumbBy bicycleOn foot
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Helsinki (Vantaa) · International · HEL
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Helsinki
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | -1° | -2° | 0° | 5° | 11° | 16° | 20° | 19° | 15° | 9° | 5° | 1° |
| Avg. low | -4° | -5° | -3° | 1° | 6° | 11° | 16° | 15° | 12° | 6° | 2° | -1° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 56 | 45 | 42 | 41 | 48 | 66 | 59 | 71 | 63 | 80 | 75 | 67 |
| Humidity | 93% | 94% | 90% | 85% | 81% | 81% | 81% | 80% | 83% | 87% | 90% | 92% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$85
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$240
Per person, per day
Luxury
$605
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $40 | $130 | $350 |
| Food and drink | $25 | $55 | $125 |
| Local transport | $10 | $25 | $55 |
| Activities | $10 | $30 | $75 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Finland. Summary not available
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Finland.
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Travel tipsFinland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Outside the major cities, driving is usually the most practical way to get around.
Wikivoyage
Food & drinkThe cuisine of Finland is heavily influenced by its neighbours (see Nordic cuisine and Russian cuisine), the main staples being potatoes and bread with various fish and meat dishes on the side.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsTrains are usually the most comfortable and fastest method of inter-city travel in Finland, and the primary means of long-distance travel.
Wikivoyage
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