Finland

When to go

Weather

Relatively mild in spring and autumn, brief warm summers. Snow cover in the north lasts from October to mid-May.

Festivals

Midsummer’s Day on 25 June is the largest celebration, when people leave the cities and towns to toast the longest day of the year. Savonlinna Opera Festival, held in the medieval Olavinnlinna Castle, is famous, but it is the Pori Jazz Festival in July that is popular. On Sleepyhead Day on 27 July the laziest persons from Naantali and Hanko are thrown into the sea, Sonkajärvi hosts the wife-carrying championship every July, and the Air Guitar World Championships are held in Oulu in August.

Highlights

Finnish Lapland is home to 200,000 reindeer, roaming wild, the property of 5,800 different owners

Helsinki

The most densely populated area of Finland, its capital, covers 800 sq km. But only half of that is developed, the rest being parks, forests, shoreline and lakes, making it one of the greenest cities anywhere. Historical old manor houses and churches are never far from more modern architectural designs such as Dipoli Hall, part of the Helsinki University of Technology.

Lakeland

Finland has around 180,000 lakes, most of which are found here in this labyrinth of headlands and bays. Lake Saimaa has a shoreline 50,000 km long, and has at least 33,000 islands within it.

Forest

The remoteness of the Finnish forest has meant that it has been unspoilt by man, and the beautiful wilds can now be explored in canoeing and hiking trips.

Lapland

For those who like to be left alone you can now choose between luxury or the wilds. Covering 100,000 sq kilometres, visitors must eat local food. And the choice is delightful, fresh salmon, reindeer, and golden cloudberry, can all be tried. Winter sports centres are located near the Arctic Circle, and traditional lumberjack competitions are held. The gold-panning town of Tankavaara, and the Sami Museum of Lapp history should both be visited.

Winter sports

Aside from all the variations on skiing, visitors can try dog or reindeer sledging, snowmobile tours and icebreaker cruises. Bear trails, bird and reindeer watching and pony treks are also possible.

Being there

Etiquette

Normal courtesies apply. Wait to drink until the host toasts your health with a ‘kippis’ or a ‘skol’. Fins may be reserved, so visitors should not worry about a lack of small talk. Shoes should be removed on entering someone’s home.

Food and Drink

Potatoes, meat, fish, butter and rye bread form the basis of Finnish diet, but the cuisine has been greatly influenced by French, Swedish and Russian cooking. Expect excellent fresh fish, such as pike, perch, trout, whitefish, salmon and Baltic herring. Reindeer is also on menus, often smoked. Drinks include berry liqueurs, such as mesimarja (arctic bramble) and polar (cranberry), and good beers.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Handicrafts, jewellery, handwoven ryijy rugs, furniture, glassware, porcelain, ceramics, furs.

Additional Info

People and Places

Capital: Helsinki.
Language: Finnish.
Population: 5,206,295.
Population Density: 15.4. (pop per km²)
Size: 338,145. (area km²)

Transport

Helsinki (HEL) 20 km from the city, Turku (TKU) 7 km from the city, Tampere (TMP) 15 km from the city, Rovaniemi (RVN) 10 km from the city.
Excellent network of domestic flights. Rail travel is cheap and efficient. Lake steamers and motor vessels ply the inland waterways. Main roads are passable at all times. Car hire available.

Red Tape

National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
UK: 38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW, tel (020) 7838 6200, fax (020) 7838 9703, email sanomat.lon@formin.fi. US: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 298 5800, fax (202) 298 6030, email info@finland.org.
UK: Itäinen Puistotie 17, 00140 Helsinki, tel (9) 2286 5100, fax (9) 2286 5262, email visa.mail.helsinki@fco.gov.uk. US: Itäinen Puistotie 14, 00140 Helsinki, tel (9) 616 250, fax (9) 6162 5800, email arc@usembassy.fi.

State of the Nation

Life expectancy: M 74.82, F 82.02.

Finance: Credit cards and traveller’s cheques widely accepted.
Business hours: 0800-1615 Mon-Friday.
GMT: + 2.
Voltage guide: 230 AC, 50 Hz.
Country dialling code: 358.