Finland

Situated in the far north, Finland is a long and mainly flat country with its roots in the Stone Age. It’s a land of the northern lights, Lapland and Santa’s grotto, and immense glassy lakes flanked by conifer forests.

Camping in Finland is an opportunity for firsts: building a snow castle instead of a sandcastle, seeing the midnight sun, and walking through old wooden towns like Porvoo and Rauma. Its appeal is largely in its off-the-beaten-track feel – it’s a place where the beaches are never crowded, and a sense of tranquillity is present in both the natural surroundings and the pace of Finnish life.

The unspoilt wilderness makes it a perfect place for relaxing in natural, peaceful surroundings. Several of the campsites in Finland are in the Lake Region, which has some bustling yet beautiful towns such as Savonlinna and Kuopio. Winter visitors can meet Santa and his reindeer in Lapland for some Christmas magic.

Start your research for camping in Finland with Alan Rogers. There is a range of inspected and selected sites as well as alternatives in each region – filter your results to find your preferred option.

Basic information

Capital Helsinki
Currency Euro (EUR)
Language(s) Finnish, Swedish
Time Zones EET (UTC+2)
Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Telephone Code +358
Units Metric

EU Member Yes
Schengen Area Yes

Tourism Website www.visitfinland.com

Finland is a member of the European Union, and customs inspections are occasionally conducted on individuals and vehicles crossing the border to ensure compliance with Finnish regulations.

Shopping in Finland

Like all Nordic countries, Finland wouldn’t be considered an inexpensive country for shopping, but it is known for its high-quality goods and as one of the best in the world. Finland has gathered international acclaim in design, glassware, homeware, ceramics and furniture.

Helsinki is one of the best cities for shopping in Finland. Most of the shops in this city are located in and around the Central Station area. These are the hypermarkets “Forum” and “Stockmann”. The large shopping centre “Kamppi” consists of over a hundred outlets, cafes, and restaurants. The trendy Punavuori region of Helsinki is part of the design district known for its fashion boutiques, contemporary art galleries and showrooms offering Finnish interior design. This area is a vibrant foodie scene with plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes.

Finland is famous for its traditional handicrafts, particularly Sámi jewellery, hunting and fishing knives, and handwoven rugs known as ryijy, an art form unique to the country. The weaving of these rugs was developed in the late 19th century. You can also find traditional Lappish cups carved from birch wood, known as "kuksa". The Duodji label identifies genuine handicrafts from Lapland, which shows that the item has been produced in a traditional craft workshop. Finland is also known for its furs, especially reindeer skins.

Large shopping centres and retail chain stores are typically open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays, shops are open from 12 noon to 6 p.m. On Finnish public holidays, almost all shops are closed. However, some convenience and grocery stores do remain open. Shopping hours for small and speciality stores in smaller towns and the countryside are often much shorter than in bigger cities.

Money in Finland

Finland uses the Euro as its official currency. It is advised to carry some cash, but ATMs are readily available in almost all towns and cities, and many have multilingual instructions. Even the smaller islands usually have at least one ATM.

Public Holidays in Finland

• New Year's Day: 1st January
• Epiphany: 6th January
• Good Friday, Easter Monday & Ascension Day
• May Day: 1st May 
• Midsummer's Eve: 23rd June 
• Independence Day: 6th December 
• Christmas Eve: 24th December 
• Christmas Day: 25th December 
• 2nd Day of Christmas: 26th December 

Please note Some dates are moveable, so please check before travelling.

Driving in Finland

Visitors to Finland who wish to drive in the country must comply with the following requirements:

1. A valid driver's license: Visitors must have a valid driver's license from their home country.
2. Car insurance: Visitors must have valid car insurance for their vehicle, covering both the driver and passengers.
3. Road rules: Finland's traffic laws, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right, trams and emergency vehicles have priority. The use of seat belts is mandatory for all occupants of a vehicle. Visitors must follow Finland traffic laws, including speed limits, traffic signals, and road signs.
4. Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to use headlamp converters to prevent dazzling other drivers.
5. Safety equipment: Warning Triangle to be used in the event of your vehicle breaking down to warn other drivers, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher and reflective jacket.
6. Minimum driving age: The minimum driving age is 18 years old.
7. Alcohol law: The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.05%. Breath tests and blood tests are carried out at random. 
8. Cars towing a caravan or trailer must be equipped with two side rear-view mirrors
9. Winter tires: Winter tyres are compulsory if you're driving between 1 December and 28 February.

Finland Emergency Services

• Emergency number to access police, ambulance, fire brigade, search & rescue: 112
• Maritime search and rescue emergency number: 294 1000

Weather in Finland

HELSINKI WEATHER

The temperature in Finland varies greatly by season and by location, as the country is long and has differing inland and coastal climates. The Eurasian continent to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west helps create the actively changing climate of Finland.

The hottest month is usually July, and the coldest is often January and February. Due to the country’s location, the weather can also change quickly. It is recommended to check the forecast in the morning before heading out anywhere.

January is the height of winter, and the whole country is normally covered with snow. The coldest day of the year is usually at the end of January in most regions. The average temperature in January and February is around -13°C in the north, in Lapland, around -8.5°C  in Helsinki, on the southern coast, while it is only around -1.5°C in the mildest areas of the southwest.

Spring begins early in the month of April in coastal areas and later in April elsewhere, except in northernmost Lapland, where it is usually a few weeks later. June is the start of the beautiful but short Finnish summer. You can expect sunshine and pleasant temperatures during the day, although regular rain showers do occur, especially after midsummer.

You can experience the midnight sun as around the summer solstice, with the sun hardly setting. July is the height of summer and the warmest month of the year. In Finland, July is known as the summer holiday month, with most Finns on their annual leave during this time. Temperatures are often good for outdoor activities, hovering around 18°C. The Autumn can start crisp and cool, but from September, it can also get quite wet. You should expect cloudy skies and rain some of the time. The first snow often falls in September in northernmost Finland.