11 Top Tips for Visiting Finland for the First Time

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Visiting Finland for the first time? Finland is known for being one of the happiest countries in the world. Whether it’s heading into the wilderness or visiting the north in winter for a snowy wonderland, it’s no secret that Finland is one of the world’s best travel destinations!

As we visited Finland for the first time in winter, we were hesitant about how much snow there would be, and how easy it would be to get around. 

There were quite a few worries about visiting Finland that we didn’t need to have. In this post, you’ll find some of my best tips for visiting Finland for the first time (as a tourist).

Visiting Finland? Check out my other posts!

• What to Wear in Lapland: Finland Winter Packing Guide
• 16 Fun Things to do in Helsinki in Winter
• 18 Unmissable Things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland

Where to stay if you’re visiting Finland for the first time

If you’re travelling around Finland for the first time, these are some of the best hotels and hostels. 

🇫🇮 Rovaniemi

• Hotel: Apukka Resort: for a once-in-a-lifetime stay in a winter wonderland. Truly one of the best resorts we have ever stayed in. ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Hotel: Arctic Treehouse Hotel: another bucket-list, glass igloo stay where you can watch the Northern Lights from under the duvet. ➡  BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Hotel: Nova Skyland Hotel: If you want to stay within Santa Claus village (perfect for Christmas time!) this is one of the most magical and incredible stays. ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Hostel: Hostel Cafe Koti: perfect for backpackers in Lapland! ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

🇫🇮 Helsinki

• Hotel: Hotel Mestari: a hotel in the centre of Helsinki ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Hostel: The Yard Hostel: a luxury hostel for backpackers in Helsinki! ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

🇫🇮 Ivalo

• Hotel: Aurora Village Ivalo: the most beautiful glass igloos in the heart of Lapland ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Hotel: Ivalo River Camping: a unique camping experience in Lapland! ➡ BOOK AND CHECK PRICES HERE!

Getting around Finland

You can travel around Finland in multiple ways. Depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit, the easiest ways to travel around Finland are by rental car, train or plane. 

Do I need a car to travel around Finland?

This is down to personal preference. We found Finland easy enough to travel around via buses, trains and even flying (for example, from Helsinki to Rovaniemi). 

But, driving in Finland is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car. 

🇫🇮 If you’re looking to hire a car in Finland, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Finland now!

Bucket list tours to do in Finland

Looking to book a tour in Finland? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!

When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else! 

Some of the best tours in Finland include: 

• Ultimate Northern Lights tour: check prices!
• Reindeer sleigh ride with a hot drink and cookies: check prices! 
• Incredible Husky Safari in the snow: check prices!
• Santa Claus Village with Huskies AND Reindeer! Check prices!

➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!

Package holidays to Finland 

One of the best budget ways to visit Finland is via a package holiday. With prices starting at just £579 per person, this is an amazing way to see the country without breaking the bank!

What does a package holiday to Finland include? The package holidays will include both flights and accommodation. They’re also all ATOL protected, and you can book with a simple low deposit, spreading the total cost of the holiday across a period of time. 

➡ You can look at incredible package holidays to Finland here!

Tips for Visiting Finland for the First Time: Know Before You Go

1. Whether you’re in Helsinki or the Arctic Circle, getting around is EASY

Don’t stress about the snow too much! We had visions that we’d be stranded in our little Airbnb in the wilderness with no way out, but the public transport in Helsinki and Rovaniemi is good, no matter the weather. 

Rovaniemi has its own ‘Uber’, (called Meneva) and we used this on a regular basis to get around. If you’re on a tighter budget, Helsinki and Rovaniemi have public buses, and Helsinki is full of trams!

🇫🇮 If you’re looking to hire a car in Finland, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Finland now!

2. You won’t need cash

It’s common to use your credit or debit card to pay for everything in Finland. We had about 30 EUR in case of ‘emergencies’, but we were able to use our cards everywhere we went.

If you’re able to, I would recommend a travel credit card with zero foreign transaction fees as well as a debit card. This means you can withdraw money from ATMs instantly without charge. 

3. You don’t need to tip 

It’s not customary to tip in Finland, but it can sometimes be added to the bill in the service charge. This ranges between 10-12%. Tips are not expected with any other services (taxis, hotels, bars). 

4. Finland is bilingual 

The Finnish education system is known for being one of the best in the world. All children and families have the right to good education (up to university level) without fees. As well as growing up with the first language of Finnish, children are also taught English from a young age. 

English is widely spoken across the country, especially in bigger cities or tourist areas. We felt we were able to communicate well verbally, but we needed Google Translate for scanning written text on signs and labels in supermarkets. 

🦉 TOP TIP: Downloading Google Translate for any foreign trip is a good idea. We found we used the photo scan reader nearly every day in Finland, especially while staying in an Airbnb where all of the appliances were in Finnish!

5. If you’re visiting Finland during winter, expect snow. And a lot of it.

Finland during the winter months is cold. Like, really cold. If you’re visiting Lapland and the north, you’re looking at temperatures between -30 and -10 degrees on a daily basis. It is essential to wrap up warm (even in cities like Helsinki!)

Use my Lapland packing list to ensure you have everything to shield you from the cold weather, and allow you to enjoy your trip to its fullest!

6. There are saunas, everywhere.

Using a sauna is a major part of Finnish culture. It’s not seen as a luxury, but a necessity. For the Finnish, there’s nothing quite like a day in the snow followed by an evening in the heat.

Even if the Finnish sauna etiquette feels like a mystery before you arrive (it did for us), you’ll quickly realise just how normal it is. If you’ve rented an Airbnb, you’re likely to have a sauna included. If not, you’ll be able to find a public one easily and experience the Finnish delight there. 

7. And if you do want to use a sauna…

Here’s my step-by-step guide for using a Finnish sauna for first-timers:

• Undress (yes, you can get naked. You’ll need to check with each sauna to see if you’re allowed to take a swimsuit)
• Have a shower
• Enter the sauna with a towel (or naked)
• Throw water on the stones (as much or little as you want) keeping the sauna moist
• Cool off outside, in the shower or go for a swim
• Repeat!

8. Save a good amount of money for your trip to Finland

Remember, Finland and its surrounding Scandinavian countries are not cheap. Finland is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe, along with Iceland and Denmark. 

If you are planning on visiting Lapland on a budget, it is doable. Budget and save money in advance to be sure that you can do all of the bucket list experiences!

Check out the best things to do in Rovaniemi here.

9. You only need a day in Helsinki

Helsinki is a small city, and once you’ve spent a day exploring, we found we were ready to move on. If you’re short on time, a day in Helsinki is more than enough. Spend longer up north in Rovaniemi or in the national parks.

Love a good snowy destination? ❄️ Check out Lifestyle Traveler’s Dreamy Winter location guide here!

10. If you’re visiting for the first time, make sure you visit Lapland

Like I said, if you’re short on time, or are visiting for the first time, make sure you visit Lapland.

You can either fly direct to Rovaniemi from the UK (but it’s expensive), fly from Helsinki or get the ‘Santa Claus Express’ from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, which takes about 13 hours.

We found the flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi to be cheaper than the train, but it depends on the time of year!

➡ Book train tickets in Finland here!

➡ Book flights around Finland here!

11. Foodera is the Finnish version of Deliveroo or UberEats

If you’re arriving in Helsinki or Rovaniemi late, you can rely on Foodera; Finland’s version of Deliveroo. We used Foodera a few times after late flights, and it was perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat at a cheap(ish) price.

Visiting Finland for the first time: FAQs

1) What is the best month to visit Finland?

The best time to visit Finland – especially Lapland – is during winter. The winter months in Finland start in November, and the snow lasts until March. This is also the best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland!

2) Is Finland friendly to tourists?

In general, Finnish locals are friendly to tourists. We met plenty of locals whilst in both Helsinki and Rovaniemi who were kind and welcoming. Most also went out of their way to speak English to us.

3) Is Finland expensive as a tourist?

Yes, Finland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. You will need to budget at least 85 – 200 EUR per day to visit Finalnd.

4) Do they speak English in Finland?

Yes, the majority of locals speak English as a second language, and are raised bilingual. However, have Google Translate on your phone for text and signs in supermarkets and shops, as they are often in Finnish.

5) Do I need a SIM card to travel around Finland? 

Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Tips For Your First Trip To Finland: In a Nutshell

Your first trip to Finland will be an incredible one. For me, there’s no place like it. It exceeded all of my expectations, and I can’t wait to visit again!

Just make sure you’ve got enough money to cover the costs of once-in-a-lifetime activities, and you won’t regret visiting the happiest country in the world for a second! When you’re planning a trip to Finland, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Finland content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇫🇮 Where to next?

• What to Wear in Lapland: Finland Winter Packing Guide
• 16 Fun Things to do in Helsinki in Winter
• 18 Unmissable Things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland

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