Travel in Finland

Whether you are a seasoned visitor or a first time adventurer in Finland, we have gathered some useful information for you on how to get the most out of your trip.

We want your stay to be as smooth and pleasant as possible, and knowing a thing or two about the country in advance will help!

Finland in a Nutshell

Finland is in Northern Europe between Sweden to the west and Russia to the East. We also share a Northern land border with Norway. Estonia is located to the South across the Gulf of Finland, only a short ferry ride from Helsinki to Tallinn.

Finland belongs to Nordic countries along with Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

Finland has approximately 5.5 million inhabitants. The population is concentrated in the Southern part of the country which is more industrialised and home to our biggest cities.

Northern Finland, or Lapland as it is s called, is above the Arctic circle. It is more remote and allows adventurers to experience true, untouched wilderness.

Finland is a bilingual country; the official languages are Finnish (approximately 90%) and Swedish (5%) which is spoken most often on the Western and Southern coast of Finland. Finland has also domestic three different Sami languages are indigenous of Finland. Most Finns also speak fluent English, often they start learning in the 3rd grade.

And then, there is Adventure Apes in Finland, travelling North to South across the whole country.

Frequently asked questions about Travelling in Finland

Currency

Finland is part of European Union and uses the Euro. You can change currencies in major cities.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards are accepted throughout the country. In very rare cases only cash is accepted. Carrying large amounts of euro is not necessary.

ATMs

Reliable ATMs are easily accessible throughout the country. Your guide will let you know if we are going somewhere there will be limited access to withdraw cash.

Prices in Finland

Coffee cup at a cafe costs usually 2–4 euros, lunch at cafeteria 10-20 euros, dinner at restaurant 25-45 euros.

Tax Free Shopping

The travellers who are permanent residents outside the European Union and Norway can shop tax free in certain stores in Finland. These stores can be identified from the signs of “tax free shopping”.

Time Zone

Finland is in the Eastern European time zone. Standard Time: GMT/UTC + 2h Daylight Saving Time: GMT/UTC + 3h
You can usually find the correct timezone in your device with searching Helsinki.

Calling to Finland

When you are dialing to Finland from abroad, dial +358 as a country code.

Internet Access

Free wifi is offered in most of the hotels, restaurants & cafes. Your guide will help you with the internet access wherever it’s available.

Mobile Coverage

Despite sparsely populated areas, Finland’s mobile phone coverage is reliable and covers most of the country. Very remote areas may not have cell phone reception, but your guide will inform you in advance about these situations.

Laundry in Finland

Laundry services, or laundromats, are not as common in Finland as in many other European countries. On tours arranged by Adventure Apes, your guide can help you find a service or location to do laundry as needed. At Adventure Apes our staff can take care of your laundry at a small fee.

Electricity

Electricity is practically available everywhere except out in the wilderness. When we are in more remote areas we recommend to save your battery or bring a portable charger. Voltage in Finland is 220–240 Volts and sockets are European standard types: ”Type C” Europlug and ”Type E/F” Schuko.

Drinking Water

Drinking tap water is safe in Finland (in fact, it ranks among some of the best drinking water in the world!). We encourage you to drink from the tap instead of buying bottled water for sustainability reasons. We recommend you to bring your own water bottle which you can fill free of charge.

Toilets

Most buildings in Finland have Western-style flushable toilets. However, at cottages and wilderness cabins we will be using outside dry toilets, which we call “huussi”. Using the outside toilet is a nice experience (some people say it’s freeing) and totally safe. Feel free to ask your guide about "huussi".

You will know in advance if your adventure might involve a “huussi.” If you aren’t comfortable with this, let us know before booking the tour so we can adjust the schedule.

Insurances Needed

We require you to purchase adequate travel insurance before arriving to Finland. Having proper travel insurance not only make things easier in the unlikely event something happens, but can also save you a lot of money. Details about your travel insurance will be collected by Adventure Apes before your arrival to Finland. If you have questions about what insurance to purchase, feel free to talk with your guide. For European travelers, we recommend to apply for a European Travel Insurance Card. It costs nothing and saves you a lot of time and money in the event of sudden health issues.

Vaccinations & Medicine

You don’t need any vaccinations or inoculations before arriving in Finland.

It’s also good to know that the only place where you can buy medications (including painkillers) in Finland are at the pharmacy or “apteekki.”

Smoking in Finland

Smoking is forbidden in all public buildings such as schools, shops, museums, hotels and restaurants. Your guide will show you where it’s appropriate to smoke on our tours. Please note that we leave no trace in nature and you should take your cigarettes with you and dispose them when back in civilisation.

Alcohol in Finland

Light alcohol can be purchased from supermarkets and gas stations for example. Strong alcohol can be purchased only from an “Alko” store or state-run liquor store from Monday to Saturday. You may be asked to show your identity card to prove your age. Alcohol can be sold only between 9 am and 9 pm (except in restaurants).

It is prohibited by the law to sell alcohol to people under 18 years of age.

Map of Finland

Take a look at where you will be traveling! Can you find some of the key destinations in Finland?

Here are some tips:

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, can be found in the very Southern part of Finland with Tallinn, Estonia just a short boat ride away.

Tampere, the second largest city in Finland, is North of Helsinki yet still in the Southern part of Finland.

Zoom in on the Tampere region and you will find the small town of Orivesi, the Southern home of Adventure Apes.

Lapland is a region in the most Northern part of Finland. Some consider the city of Rovaniemi as the gateway to Lapland. This region is especially known for winter adventures.

Kuusamo is just at the border of Lapland and is the home to Adventure Apes Lodge, our home base for adventures in Northern Finland and offering accommodations and activities for travellers and locals alike.

Want to explore Finland further? Take a tour of Finland, region by region with the This is Finland interactive map. Or, better yet, book a tour and experience Finland for yourself!

In terms of area, Finland is the eighth largest country in Europe making up more than three hundred thousand square kilometers. It is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. About 10 percent of the land area is made up of inland lakes.

How to dress for winter?

We Finns have a saying: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Here are a few guides to help you prepare for your adventure in Finnish Lapland.

And guess what? If you are heading to Finland for a winter adventure, here’s a free list that you can copy for yourself to be well-equipped for winter!