Flying to Finland

The cheapest way to get to Finland is using a budget airline such as Ryan Air, Easy Jet or Wizz Air during off-peak season.

I found some flights for £19.99 return from London Stansted to Helsinki with Ryan Air.

You can also fly with Finnair however this will be more costly.

The flight is around 3 hours one way.

If you plan to go to Lapland there is an airport in Rovaniemi which you can fly to from Helsinki.

Currency

Finland uses the Euro.

You do not need to take any cash out at all.

I was in Finland for a week and I used Apple Pay everywhere! (you can also use a contactless card if that’s what you prefer) It was so easy just make sure that you are using a card that has no foreign exchange fee.

For more help with which travel cards are best check out Most Useful Travel Cards For Budget Travellers UK

Tipping

You do not need to tip in Finland.

ATM & Local Banks

I didn’t need to take any money out when travelling to Helsinki. I never actually used my card once (I used contactless everywhere.) If you do need an ATM make sure you head to a bank – these usually have the cheapest rate. NB: always make sure you take money out WITHOUT conversion and always pay in the local currency.

Here are some of the banks in Finland:

• Nordea,
• OP Cooperative Bank,
• Danske Bank,
• Handelsbanken,
• the Savings Banks,
• S-Bank,
• POP Bank.

Phone Service/ESim

If you are from the UK make sure that your phone is unlocked AND that your phone contract has EU roaming included. If you have both of these you can use your phone as if you are at home at no additional cost.

If you do not have EU roaming getting an ESim will be beneficial so you can use your phone in Finland without it costing you an arm and a leg.

Public Transportation

If you are staying in Helsinki (Finland’s Capital) it will be beneficial to download the HSL app. This is for public transport around Helsinki and is slightly cheaper than purchasing at the kiosk. It allows you to download weekly passes as well to keep the costs down.

Helsinki transport is in zones (like London). To get into central Helsinki use the ABC ticket. The zones are in letters rather than numbers.

Download HSL for IOS.
Download HSL for Android.

I managed to get the train from Helsinki Airport to Helsinki Central Station in 30 minutes at the cost of €4.10 for a single journey. There is also a metro which is convenient to take depending on where your accommodation is.

Note: You will need to purchase your ticket BEFORE you go on any public transport in Finland. There are self-service machines along the platform where you can change the language to English. You will get a QR code for your journey that is stored on the app.

If you are travelling around Finland it helps to book your tickets in advance. For people going to Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village), you may be interested in going on the Santa Claus Express.

Emergency Phone Numbers:

Universal European Emergency Number: 112

Injuries for sudden illness: 116117

Police: check which number you need here.

Weather

January and February are the coldest months. The hottest months are July and August with temperatures rising to 22 degrees. Also, note that the summer months will be the busiest.

Restrictions:

Be sure to check current restrictions when travelling to Finland. These can change suddenly. Make sure you have the correct documentation. If you are from the UK click here for current restrictions

Visa

For UK citizens do you not need a visa when visiting Finland.

Safety

Finland is a relatively safe country to visit.

Accommodation

• Hostel: £30 – 50 per night (depending on the size of the dorm)
  If you want a private room it will cost you £80-100 per night.

• I stayed at The Yard Hostel Helsinki – the perfect budget hostel with a great central location in Helsinki.

If you have never stayed in a hostel before check out Really Helpful Tips For Staying In Hostels For Complete Newbies

Food

• Buy food from supermarkets and cook yourself (up to £10) be sure to check that your accommodation has kitchen facilities.

• Try eating out for lunch instead of dinner. Prices are cheaper.

• Make sure you try Salmon Soup – it is very popular and delicious. Cost around €12-17

Transport

• Day Pass: €9 – can be used on all public transport around the city.

• Public Transport to/from the Airport: €4.10 for a single journey.

• For ease, you can down the HSL app and buy tickets directly from there. (it’s blue with a sun symbol on it)
  Download HSL for IOS.
  Download HSL for Android.