Just a 3-hour flight from Paris, Finland is easily accessible. Since it's part of the European Union, the Schengen Area, and the Eurozone, nothing should hold you back from a visit (except maybe ticket prices, but it depends on the season).
Here’s a collection of must-know information about this beautiful Nordic country, covering customs, specialties, culture, and more. Who knows, you might even learn something new!
You may have heard that Finland is home to Santa Claus. That’s right! Santa’s Village is located in Rovaniemi, Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle. Open year-round with free entry, the village is home to Santa and his reindeer, and yes, you can meet Santa himself.
It’s almost unthinkable to visit Finland—especially Lapland in the north—without stopping at Santa’s Village.
However, fair warning: it may not be as magical as expected. Unlike a Disneyland-style village, it’s somewhat subdued. When we visited in October, off-season, there were no Christmas decorations, and aside from hopping from one souvenir shop to another, there wasn't much else to do. And as expected, activities like photos with Santa, husky cuddles, and reindeer petting all come with hefty fees.
More details on this will be coming in a dedicated article.
Visiting Santa Claus Village might be a must-do in Finland, but the country has plenty more to offer!
In France, people speak French; in Italy, Italian; in Poland, Polish. And in Finland? Finnish, right? Not quite!
First off, it’s called "Finnish," and Finland actually has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish.
While Finnish is spoken in most of the country, Swedish dominates in Finland's southwest and coastal areas.
This may seem surprising, but it's rooted in Finland's history: Sweden ruled Finland for 500 years (until 1809), followed by over 100 years under Russian rule, before independence in 1917.
Back then, Swedish was the official language. Today, around 87% of the population speaks Finnish natively, and about 5% speaks Swedish(source : infoFinland.fi).
And as if speaking two languages weren’t enough, 70% of Finns speak fluent English(source : « Special Eurobarometer 386, Europeansand their languages », june 2012). So communication won’t be an issue during your trip here.
This may be surprising, especially if you’re used to large cities with extended business hours in France.
On weekdays, business hours are more or less similar to what we’re used to. But on weekends, everything opens late and closes early.
After exploring Helsinki on a Saturday, we can say it’s something to keep in mind when planning your city visit or browsing the many design shops.
Common hours for clothing, furniture, decor, and other shops in Finland:
These hours apply to non-supermarket businesses; grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries have separate hours, often opening earlier and closing later.
For example, a supermarket may be open from around 6:30 am to 10 pm, similar to convenience stores in Paris.
Another quirk (for us, at least): Finns eat early—very early:
Many will have an evening snack around 8 or 9 pm, like Canadians and Americans.
This timing gives Finns an active post-dinner life: they may do their shopping, work in the garden, or pursue various activities before relaxing with a book or TV before bed. It’s especially pleasant in Finland’s long daylight hours outside winter.
Finland truly takes nature to the next level:
Simply put, Finland’s nature is abundant! The country’s low population density also contributes to its wild and natural feel: in 2021, there were only 18 inhabitants per km² compared to France's 119 inhabitants per km² (sources : Finland in figures 2022 and PopulationData.net). Finland is the third least densely populated country in Europe (after Iceland and Norway).
This certainly explains the wild and natural side of Finland.
Right to what? What exactly does this mean?
"The 'Jokamiehen Oikeudet': Finland’s Right to Roam
Exploring Repovesi National Park
Right to what? What exactly does this mean?
'Jokamiehen Oikeudet' in Finnish, or 'Everyman’s Rights' as translated into English, is a law that applies to everyone visiting or living in Finland (and more generally across the Nordic countries, as it’s also present in Norway, which we talk about in our article ici and Sweden).
Finns believe that 'nature is both wild and accessible to everyone.' This law allows anyone to freely roam as they wish, fish, swim, boat, ski, and gather nature’s produce (such as fruits, berries, and mushrooms), even on private lands. Of course, it's frowned upon to pick berries in someone’s garden (or around it), but strictly speaking, it's not prohibited.
Naturally, though this law allows many freedoms, it's expected to enjoy them respectfully, without overstepping nature’s or others’ boundaries!
In national parks, along the various marked trails, it’s common to see picnic spots with tables, benches, and even a barbecue.
These barbecues are set up for public use. You can make your own fire to cook sausages, peppers, mushrooms, and other treats you bring or gather along the way.
It’s an original pause during a hike or walk. Just remember to plan your meal ahead 😉
Why specify ‘Finnish Lapland’? And why call it ‘wild’?
You should know that Lapland is a region in Northern Europe that stretches across four countries:
Hence, the differentiation among Laplands, such as:
Much of Lapland is located above the Arctic Circle, which means 24-hour days in summer (the famous 'midnight sun') and 24-hour nights in winter (known as 'polar nights' or 'endless nights').
This territory is inhabited by the Sami people (also known as Sámi, or Lapps in French), one of Europe’s last indigenous groups, who live by reindeer herding. However, not many people live this far north (around 100,000), largely due to extreme climate conditions.
You’ll find that nature here is wilder than elsewhere.
And, as you may expect, the low population and sparse urban areas mean there’s very little light pollution. So, as winter and polar nights approach, stargazing here is incredible, and the Northern Lights even more so. Indeed, the further north you go above the Arctic Circle, the greater your chances of seeing the Northern Lights – that luminous phenomenon dancing above the clouds with a color palette ranging from green to violet, and sometimes red and yellow.
It’s said that Finnish Lapland offers the best chance to see the Northern Lights, which occur around 200 times a year – that’s more than every other day! Quite remarkable! Though we read about this, in September 2022, we didn’t manage to see any… Locals explained to us that September isn’t ideal because, while astral conditions are good, weather conditions are unpredictable. During our 15 days in northern Finland, only 2 nights were clear, and although we saw stars, we didn’t see any Northern Lights. However, as we crossed into Sweden and then Norway, we finally spotted some. Perhaps it was the timing, but Finland wasn’t successful for us in terms of Northern Lights.
In short, Finnish Lapland (alongside Norwegian Lapland) attracts the most tourists among the Laplands. These two are also the most developed, offering more activities and accommodations than their neighbors:
Swedish Lapland is less touristy, and as for Russian Lapland… well, it’s the least populated and developed.
Of course, if you’re visiting Lapland, you don’t have to pay for activities; you can freely walk in nature, observe reindeer, and hunt for Northern Lights on your own! This is what we did during our trip. It’s a budget-friendly option and adds a sense of pride and awe when you come across a reindeer or spot the Northern Lights.
To sum up, even though it’s far north and can get freezing in winter (between -10° and -30°C, meaning it’s not a trip to take lightly and requires preparation, especially in terms of packing the right clothes), Lapland is a must-see if you’re visiting Finland or other Scandinavian countries, as it offers some truly beautiful moments.
When you think of Finland, you think of fish, especially salmon!
Here, as in Norway and Sweden, there’s an abundance of fish. Market stalls overflow with fresh fish, and you can sample graavilohi (known to us as 'gravlax,' a Swedish word rather than Finnish) on slices of rye bread at any time of day.
Graavilohi or gravlax is a typical dish in the Nordic countries. It’s actually salmon marinated in a mix of salt and sugar for preservation, but it also makes for a delicious raw treat for fish lovers.
Aside from graavilohi, you’ll find another salmon specialty in Finland: lohikeitto (Finnish for 'salmon soup'). This dish is a must-try during your visit, as it’s absolutely delicious and comforting! Just what you need after a chilly morning or day of sightseeing.
It’s not like the fish soup as we know it in France or Marseille’s bouillabaisse. Here, lohikeitto consists of a fish broth with cream, bits of vegetables, and, of course, big chunks of salmon. It’s served with fresh dill on top and buttered rye bread or knäckebröd (a crunchy bread similar to a round cracker, typical of Nordic countries).
Maybe this description doesn’t make your mouth water, but try it for yourself! We were won over!
Yes, it’s surprising, but in Finland, as of 2021, there were 2.3 million saunas compared to 2.7 million cars in circulation.
That’s a high number, especially considering the country has just over 5.5 million inhabitants (sources : Statistic Finlad and Finland in figures 2022). So, there’s at least one sauna per family, if not more!
This helps explain Finland’s sauna culture.
During our 10-day stay with a Finnish family, we learned interesting facts about saunas. As expected, with such a high number, every house has a sauna, but we were surprised to find that even every apartment does! And if a building is too old to have a sauna in each apartment, there’s at least one communal sauna for the entire building. Hard to imagine in France, especially in Paris, where people sometimes rent rooms smaller than 10 square meters...
Moreover, because of the high temperatures (often around 100°C in Finland, if not more), saunas help eliminate many diseases, bacteria, and viruses that can’t survive such heat. The same goes for lice. Lice don’t survive the heat, so virtually no one has lice in Finland. Quite practical, don’t you think?
Plus, saunas boost immune defenses, making them a recommended practice for those without health problems (mainly cardiovascular and respiratory issues). In Finland, people have a sauna session at least once a week, and tradition dictates jumping into cold water (or rubbing snow on your body) after leaving the sauna. It sounds extreme, but you’re so hot when you get out that you barely feel the cold on your skin! I personally loved the experience, though Simon just watched without daring to try 😂.
Other, less glamorous facts also illustrate the sauna’s versatility:
When we said saunas are an institution, I think you get it now!
For this final point, here’s another surprising fact: the Baltic Sea, specifically in the Gulf between Sweden and Finland, sometimes freezes entirely in winter. It’s theoretically possible to drive across the ice from Sweden’s east coast to Finland’s west coast.
The family we stayed with told us that many Finns along the coast own small islands with summer cottages. In winter, Finns enjoy visiting these cottages to enjoy a quiet sauna retreat. How do they get there? By car, of course, driving on the frozen sea. If the sea doesn’t freeze solid enough, it’s inconvenient as they can’t reach their cottage by boat or by car… They’re essentially stranded. Yes, we don’t all have the same problems in life 😂.
If you're considering renting a car in Finland, we recommend using DiscoverCars.
With no hidden fees, this platform compares hundreds of brands to offer you the best deals under the best conditions.
As we mentioned, thanks to the family we stayed with for nearly 10 days, we learned so much about Finland that we wanted to share it all with you.
Here’s a bonus: a mix of useful and fun facts about this country:
So, those are our 10 key facts (with plenty of bonus info) about Finland. If you love nature and design, Finland is "the place to be."
We hope you’ve learned some fun things and that you’ll be all set for your Finnish trip.
If this article made you want to visit Finland, you can book a flight here:
Feel free to share your experiences and advice in the comments for other travelers 😊.
1. Finland is a country with many national parks and hiking trails. If you're planning a multi-day trip, know that it’s easy, as most parks have cabins for rent and free shelters open to everyone. If you use these free cabins, just be respectful: clean up after yourself and replenish supplies you use (like firewood for heating).
2. Finland is 1 hour ahead of France. When it’s noon in France, it’s 1 pm in Finland, both in summer and winter (as Finland also changes its clocks according to the seasons). This small time difference is worth noting, especially in terms of your landing time if you have activities planned or want to call your family. France is UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer, while Finland is UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer.
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