Finland travel guide

Getting there

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the main international hub, with seasonal flights direct to Lapland airports such as Rovaniemi. Ferries connect Helsinki with Tallinn, Stockholm and Germany, and there are land crossings with Sweden and Norway in the north.

Best time to visit: Jun–Aug for the midnight sun; Dec–Mar for snow and northern lights.

Tougher months: November, when it is often dark, grey and slushy before the snow settles.

Weather by month in Helsinki

• -1°J●
• -2°F●
• 2°M●
• 8°A●
• 15°M●
• 19°J●
• 22°J●●
• 21°A●●
• 15°S●
• 9°O●
• 4°N●
• 1°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Helsinki. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Finland without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-03-13). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Finland travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Finland are based around Helsinki, Suomenlinna or Rovaniemi. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$70–100 for a backpacker and US$170–280 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Finland page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +358.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Helsinki (Capital · design and seaside): A compact capital of Art Nouveau streets, island ferries, public saunas and excellent museums.
• Suomenlinna (Helsinki · UNESCO sea fortress): Eighteenth-century fortifications, tunnels and picnic spots on islands just a short ferry ride away.
• Rovaniemi (Lapland · Arctic Circle): The capital of Lapland, gateway to husky safaris, aurora trips and the Arktikum museum.
• Saariselkä and Inari (Northern Lapland · fells and Sámi culture): Snowy fells, aurora views and the Siida museum of Sámi culture by Lake Inari.
• Turku (Southwest · historic city): Finland's oldest city, with a medieval castle, cathedral and gateway to the Archipelago Sea.
• Savonlinna (Lakeland · castle and lakes): The island castle of Olavinlinna hosts a famous opera festival in summer.
• Porvoo (Southern coast · old town): A picturesque town of red riverside warehouses and cobbled lanes.
• Åland Islands (Archipelago · cycling and islands): A Swedish-speaking autonomous archipelago perfect for cycling, sailing and slow summer days.

Things to do

• Chase the Northern Lights. Head into the dark Lapland sky between late August and April for a chance to see the aurora dance overhead.
• Take a real sauna. Sweat in a wood-fired or smoke sauna, then plunge into a lake or the Baltic Sea, as Finns have done for centuries.
• Ride with huskies. Mush your own sled team across snowy forests in Lapland.
• Explore Suomenlinna. Ferry out to the UNESCO-listed sea fortress spread across islands off Helsinki.
• Paddle the Lakeland. Canoe or kayak among thousands of forested islands in Saimaa, home to a rare freshwater seal.
• Experience the midnight sun. Hike, fish or simply stay up all night under the never-setting summer sun in the north.
• Visit Santa Claus Village. Cross the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi and visit the famous Christmas-themed village.
• Pick berries and mushrooms. Make use of everyman's right to roam and forage in Finland's vast forests.

Source: full Finland guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Karjalanpiirakka – rye pastry filled with rice porridge
• Lohikeitto – creamy salmon soup
• Korvapuusti – cinnamon bun
• Poronkäristys – sautéed reindeer with mashed potato and lingonberries

Source: RoamSun Finland guide

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected; rounding up is fine.

Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.

• Finland uses the euro, and cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere.
• Some places are cash-free, so a card is more useful than cash for daily spending.
• Finland is one of the safest countries in the world, with very low crime.
• Dress properly for winter cold, with layers, hat and gloves, and take care on icy pavements.

Source: RoamSun Finland facts