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Camping in Finland

13 campsites in Finland

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Ounaskoski Camping
Ounaskoski Camping is situated almost exactly on the Arctic Circle, 66 degrees north and just 8 km. south of the Santa Claus post office and village, on the banks of the Kemijoki river. The site has 153 marked touring pitches, 72 with 10A electricity, plus a further small area for tents. Rovaniemi attracts many visitors each year, especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas, who fly direct to the local airport and pay Santa Claus a visit. The town has much to offer with a good selection of shops and some restaurants. Reindeer meat is well worth trying!
Camping Lakari
The peace and tranquillity of the beautiful natural surroundings are the main attractions at this vast campsite (19 hectares), which is located on a narrow piece of land between two lakes. This site is a must if you want to get away from it all. There are a variety of cabins to rent, some with their own beach and jetty! The 130 marked touring pitches are beside the beach or in little meadows in the forest. You pick your own place. Site amenities include a café and a beach sauna. This is a spectacular landscape with deep gorges and steep lakeside cliffs.
Koljonvirta Camping
Koljonvirta Camping is a large but quiet site located about five kilometres from the centre of Iisalmi. There are 200 marked grass pitches, 120 with electricity (16A). The site adjoins a lake and has a small beach and facilities for boating and fishing. Iisalmi town itself is on the northern edge of the Finnish Lake District and provides a good variety of shops, including some factory outlets, and an interesting variety of events during June, July and August. These vary from the world famous ‘Wife Carrying’ World Championships to the Lapinlahti ‘Cattle Calling’ Competition and the International Midnight Marathon.
Punkaharjun Lomakeskus Camping
Situated by Lake Pihlajavesi, this campsite is 5.6 miles from Punkaharju. Facilities you can find onsite include a restaurant, kiosk and children's playground.
Rastila Camping Helsinki
No trip to Finland would be complete without a few days stay in Helsinki, the capital since 1812. This all-year-round site has exceptional transport links, with the metro only five minutes’ walk from the campsite gates. It provides 165 touring pitches, all with 16A electricity hook-ups, plus an additional small field for tent campers. Shrubs have been planted between the tarmac and grass pitches. All visitors will want to spend time in the capital and a 24-hour bus, tram and metro pass can be bought at the metro station. Once on the metro, you are in the city centre within 20 minutes on this regular, fast train service.
Manamansalo Camping
Manamansalo is a top class, ‘wild north’ tourist centre on the island of Manamansalo in Lake Oulojärvi. Arrival is by ferry or via a bridge from the mainland. This site is a real find if you are looking for peace and quiet and is also very good for families. It has 200 pitches, 140 with electricity, very attractively laid out in the forest and divided naturally by pine trees. The site stretches along the lake and has a long, narrow sandy beach. Nature lovers will appreciate the network of trails in the pine forest. Choose between walking and cycling or even skiing in spring.
Ukonjärvi Camping
Ukonjärvi Camping lies on the banks of Lake Inari, situated in a forested area alongside a nature reserve. It is a quiet, peaceful site, ideal for rest and relaxation. Thirty touring pitches have electricity and are surrounded by pine and beech trees. Cottages are available to rent. A bar and restaurant are located at reception; a range of local dishes are produced including reindeer casserole. There is also a barbecue hut located in the centre of the site if you prefer to cook your own food. A climb up to the nearby viewpoint offers spectacular views over the lake – you can even see over to Russia.
Gasthaus-Camping Koskenniemi
Gasthaus-Camping Koskenniemi is located next to the Tainionvirta river, just two kilometres from Hartola in Finland. The campsite offers 120 spacious level touring pitches with electric hook-up points.
Camping Tenorinne
This is probably the most northerly campsite in Finland and makes an excellent stopover en route to North Cape. This is a small site with space for 30 units, on three levels with a small access road sloping down to the river. Electricity points (16A) are available throughout the site but the pitches are unmarked. This area is still largely unpopulated, scattered with only small Sami communities and herds of reindeer. Karigasniemi is a slightly larger town as it is a border post with Norway and is close to both the Kevo Nature reserve and the Lemmenjoki National Park.
Tampere Camping Härmälä
Härmälä is a lively campsite near Lake Pyhäjärvi. It is situated only 4 km. from Tampere city centre. You can choose from a large number of unmarked pitches (about 180). The site has 111 cabins of various sizes and facilities. Amenities include a beach, saunas, playgrounds for children, a small shop and a pizzeria. The site seems a little run down but is acceptable for a couple of nights. Tampere is beautifully situated beside Lake Näsijärvi. A stroll along the harbour with its yachts and through the parks is a pleasant experience.
Camping Haapasaaren Lomakylä
Haapasaaren is located on Lake Näsijärvi, around 70 km. north of Tampere in south western Finland. This is a well equipped site with a café and restaurant, a traditional Finnish outside dancing area and, of course, plenty of saunas! Rowing boats, canoes, bicycles and, during the winter months, sleds are all available to rent. Fishing is very popular here. Pitches are grassy and of a good size. There is also a good range of accommodation to rent, including holiday cottages with saunas. The cosy restaurant, Jätkäinkämppä, has an attractive terrace and fine views across the lake. Alternatively, the site’s café, Portinpieli, offers a range of snacks as well as Internet access.
Camping Sodankylä Nilimella
Camping Sodankylä Nilimella is a small, quiet site situated alongside the Kitinen river, just one kilometre from the centre of Sodankylä. The site is split into two areas by a small, relatively quiet, public road. The 80 good sized pitches are clearly separated by hedges and 40 have 16A electricity. The reception area serves drinks and snacks. Sodankylä town itself, at the junction of routes 4 and 5, is home to a small Sami community and is an important trading post, so you will find a variety of shops including supermarkets. The town is also home to the Geophysical Observatory, which constantly surveys the earth’s magnetic field and measures earthquakes using seismic recordings.
Nallikari Camping
This is probably one of the best sites in Scandinavia, set in a recreational wooded area alongside a sandy beach on the banks of the Baltic Sea, with the added bonus of the adjacent Eden Spa complex. Nallikari provides 175 touring pitches with 16A electricity (seven also have water supply and drainage), plus an additional 58 cottages to rent. Oulu is a modern town, about 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle, that enjoys long, sunny and dry summer days. The Baltic, however, is frozen for many weeks in the winter and then the sun barely rises for two months. In early June, the days are very long with the sun setting at about 23.30 and rising at 01.30! Nallikari, to the west of Oulu, is 3 km. along purpose-built cycle paths and the town has much to offer.

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.

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Helsinki

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

Kuksa Handmade Wooden cup

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.

Did you know? The Finnish national anthem, Maamme is played to the same tune as the United Kingdom national anthem.