Highlights
Helsinki
A compact capital on the sea, with the white Lutheran Cathedral above Senate Square, the market square by the harbour, the Oodi central library and design shops in the Design District. Public saunas such as Löyly let you sweat and then dip in the Baltic.
Suomenlinna
A sea fortress built across several islands at the entrance to Helsinki's harbour, reached by public ferry. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with walls, tunnels, museums and picnic spots.
Lapland and the northern lights
Finland's far north offers husky and reindeer sledding, snowshoeing and ski resorts such as Levi and Saariselkä. From late August to April, clear dark nights bring a good chance of seeing the aurora borealis.
Rovaniemi
Lapland's capital sits on the Arctic Circle and is the home of Santa Claus Village, especially popular in December. The Arktikum museum covers Arctic nature and the culture of the Sámi people.
The Lakeland and Lake Saimaa
Thousands of lakes and islands in the south-east, ideal for canoeing, cycling and lakeside cabins. Saimaa is home to the Saimaa ringed seal, one of the world's rarest seals, and Savonlinna has the medieval Olavinlinna castle.
Turku and the Archipelago
Finland's oldest city has a medieval castle and cathedral. From there, the Archipelago Trail loops by road, bridges and small ferries through thousands of islands towards Åland.
Porvoo
An old town of wooden houses and red riverside storehouses, an easy day trip from Helsinki, with cafés and a medieval cathedral.
Nuuksio and Koli national parks
Nuuksio, near Helsinki, offers forest and lake trails within easy reach of the capital, while Koli in eastern Finland has hilltop views across Lake Pielinen that inspired Finnish painters and composers.
Interesting facts about Finland
- Finland has an estimated three million saunas for a population of around five and a half million, and Finnish sauna culture is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- There are around 188,000 lakes in Finland, which is often called the land of a thousand lakes.
- 'Everyman's right' allows people to walk, camp and pick berries and mushrooms freely in nature, even on private land, with a few restrictions.
- Finland has topped the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report several years in a row.
- The Linux operating system was created by Linus Torvalds, a Finnish student at the University of Helsinki.
Best time to visit
June to August is the warmest period, with long days and the midnight sun in Lapland; Midsummer (Juhannus) in late June is a major celebration, although many Finns head to the countryside. Autumn brings bright colours, called ruska, in Lapland in September. For snow, husky safaris and the northern lights, visit from December to March; days are short and temperatures can be very cold. Christmas is a peak period in Lapland.
Practical information
| Capital | Helsinki |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Finnish, Swedish |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 for all emergencies |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not expected; service is included in prices. Rounding up for good service is appreciated but optional. |
Getting around
Trains link Helsinki with Turku, Tampere, the Lakeland and Lapland, including overnight sleeper trains to Rovaniemi. Domestic flights cover the long distances to the north. Long-distance buses fill the gaps. Helsinki has trams, a metro, buses and ferries. Renting a car is useful in Lapland and the Lakeland, but winter driving needs care, and reindeer and elk on the roads are common in the north.
Staying connected in Finland
Finland has excellent mobile coverage across most of the country, with fast 4G and 5G in cities and towns and good coverage along roads even in rural areas. Signal can weaken in remote wilderness in northern Lapland, deep in forests, on some small islands and in national parks far from villages. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, trains, libraries and hotels. Finland is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans; visitors from elsewhere should check roaming costs. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Finland eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Finland
- HSL: Tickets and journey planning for Helsinki's trams, buses, metro and ferries, including to Suomenlinna.
- VR: Book train tickets across Finland, including sleeper trains to Lapland.
- Wolt: The Finnish-founded app for food and grocery delivery in cities.
- Google Maps: Directions and offline maps for national parks and rural areas.