5 Things To Know Before Visiting Finland

In October I had the opportunity to visit Helsinki for a couple days on a whirlwind trip. It was a fun excursion, and a great introduction to Finland. This Nordic country of 5.5 million offers history, culture, good food, and a wealth of outdoor activities. With a population density 1/10th that of France, there is plenty of open space. Finland has a special rule known as ‘Everyman’s Rights’ that ensures you can explore it with ease (more on that later).

If you’re not there for the nature, the Finnish capital is quite nice as well. Boasting just 600,000 people, it’s more on the laid-back side of the scale, as far as cities go. Whether you stick to Helsinki like I did or explore the vast natural beauty of the country, here are five things to know before visiting Finland for the first time.

Most Finns Speak English

My experience is entirely relegated to Helsinki, but in all my interactions, I only met one Finn who didn’t speak at least some English. Most speak excellent English and are essentially fluent. It’s a matter of pride for the Finns to know English, and being completely unable to converse is a source of embarrassment. They and the other Nordic countries rank at the top of the list when it comes to English fluency.

If you’re worried about being able to converse, hopefully this assuages any fears. You’ll be fine. Finnish isn’t exactly at the top of most lists when it comes to foreign languages taught elsewhere, and you won’t be expected to know any of the native language. 

Sauna Is a Way of Life

It should come as no surprise that sauna is the only true Finnish loanword in the English language. The Finns love sauna. They invented sauna. Often considered a luxury elsewhere, sauna is part of daily life in Finland. It’s a necessity. There are literally millions of saunas in the country, with a good number of homes having their own.

The traditional Finnish sauna is wood-heated, where you sit in relaxing, sweaty silence enjoying the löyly (steam) from water thrown on the hot rocks, resting both mind and body. You may also beat yourself with birch twigs to improve the circulation. Then you head outside where to negative temperatures (at least in the winter) and jump in the snow or a frozen lake. Just because you can.

I’d actually never been in a sauna before this trip. It took me a while to muster up the courage to visit a traditional public sauna in Helsinki, but I’d decided that it was a cultural experience that couldn’t be passed up.

Finns Are Coffee Obsessed

If you think you’re crazy about coffee, the Finns are even more so. They drink 2-3 times what the average American does! I’m not all that surprised, given the cold temperatures and lack of daylight in the winter. The Finns obviously need both sauna and coffee to keep warm.

I made sure to look up a handful of great coffee shops in Helsinki. My favorite was a place near the Uspenski Cathedral called Johan & Nystrom. They serve light food as well as coffee in an inviting space. It is the perfect spot to warm up after exploring Helsinki during the chilly autumn.

Try the Food

I read up on some of the best Finnish foods to sample and found most to be excellent. From Karelian pies, to reindeer, to Finnish meatballs, you have some wonderfully interesting choices. Part of the travel experience for me is the food, and knowing what to try is one of the things to know before visiting Finland. I didn’t want to without sampling some of their staples. A few other firsts included pickled herring, blueberry pies, and their classic korvapuusti (cinnamon buns).

You definitely should give the salmiakki a try. This “salty liquorice” is quite unique and an acquired taste. I really like licorice, but salmiakki has ammonium chloride that adds a bitter, salty flavor to it. This probably sounds awful if you already don’t like black licorice. I didn’t find it too much to handle, although the bitterness really changes the flavor. Or…you may end up like these kids.

Nature is Highly Prized

My one regret visiting for just two days was that I had to restrict myself to Helsinki. The time constraint simply didn’t provide me an opportunity to see any of the rest of the country. Finland is a land of exquisite natural beauty, and while you have glimpses of this in the capital in its various parks, you must leave the cities to really experience it.

In Finland both citizens and visitors alike have the right to freely roam through nature. This is called ‘Everyman’s Rights’. You can hike, forage, fish and otherwise recreate in the natural areas as long as you are treating the land with respect and avoiding directly disturbing others. Yes, this even covers private property. It makes a whole lot of sense in a country as sparsely populated as Finland.

A future visit will hopefully take me to Lapland, the far northern region of the country. This is also where Santa Claus officially lives. Yes, he isn’t at the north pole. Surprised? I mean, there’s nothing at the pole except water. Rovaniemi, Finland looks a whole lot more charming.

Other Things to Know Before Visiting Finland

I shared these previously, but here are some other interesting facts about Finland. Finland isn’t at the top of most people’s lists when it comes to top European destinations, but consider adding it in the future. It’s a beautiful country with friendly, albeit reserved, people, and absolutely worth a visit. It’s a safe country that you can explore with ease. I hope to make it back within the next few years.