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 my favourite travel destinations! 

If you’re visiting Finland for the first time, you’ll probably have a few questions. I know I did!

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 that we absolutely didn’t need to have, and that’s why I’ve written my top 10 tips for visiting Finland for the first time (so you can feel way more prepared than us). 

Visiting Finland for the first time? 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
• 11 Top Tips for Visiting Finland for the First Time

🗺️ My travel must-have: Solo travelling but still want to take photos?  📸 I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)

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. 

(Maybe we’re just weird, but getting around Finland was definitely a worry for us).

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!

🗺️ My travel must-have: A wheelie backpack! Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips and when you need more than a carry-on!

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. 

🗺️ My travel must-have:  I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!

3. You don’t need to tip 

It’s not customary to tip in Finland, but it can sometimes be added on 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, and it’s totally free!

This means all children and families have the right to good education (up to university level) without fees, and as well as growing up in their first language of Finnish, are 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 staying in an Airbnb where all of the appliances were in Finnish!

🌎 Looking for a carry-on bag to hold everything you need for your flight? I spent YEARS looking for a good carry-on that’s accepted by all airlines, and I finally found it. I couldn’t fault this Aerolite backpack!

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!

🗺️ My travel must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. And don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road! 

6. There are saunas, everywhere.

Even if the Finnish sauna etiquette feels like a mystery before you arrive (it did for me), you’ll quickly realise just how normal it is. 

Using a sauna is a major part of Finnish culture. It’s not seen as a luxury, but a necessity. 

For the Finns, there’s nothing quite like a day in the snow followed by an evening in the heat.

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. 

🗺️ My travel must-have: If you’re travelling Europe, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every trip!

7. And if you do want to use a sauna…

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

-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!

🗺️ My travel must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.

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, but you’re going to have to miss out on some of the epic bucket list experiences that you’re probably travelling there for in the first place.

Check out the best things to do in Rovaniemi here.

🗺️ My travel must-have: The tap water around the world isn’t always safe to drink, so I use my filter water bottle pretty much every day to keep myself hydrated. I take it everywhere with me, and it works in every country where you can’t drink tap water! You can grab yours here. 🚰

9. You only need a day in Helsinki

If you’re visiting Finland, it’s going to be for the countryside rather than its cities. 

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! (I literally added about 6 to my bucket list from this post alone).

If you’re still booking flights, I recommend checking lastminute.com for the latest deals. Recently, we were able to save £50 on our flights just by booking through Last Minute!

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!

Need somewhere to stay in Lapland? I highly recommend this hotel, it was one of the best experiences of my life!

11. Foodera is their version of Delieroo or UberEats

If you’re arriving to 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.

🗺️ My travel must-have: If you’re solo travelling, don’t forget to take earphones for busy public transport. Listening to a podcast or tuning out from the noise is a lifesaver on a city trip!

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!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

• 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
• 11 Top Tips for Visiting Finland for the First Time

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