Holidays in Finland - Holiday Information

 

 

Seasons and daylight hours

Part of the appeal of Finland is its exotic climate, especially winter and its extreme daylight hours. Finland has a very short spring and autumn. The parks in Helsinki start to turn green in May with the north of the country almost a month behind that, often having snow on the ground well into May.

Nature quickly catches up thanks to the amazing long days with the sun above the horizon for 19-20 hours in Helsinki and not setting at all for days on end in the north.

Autumn arriving in September is short but very sweet, an ideal time for hiking. True winter arrives in November and with it, certainly in the north, snow. Days shorten dramatically by December to 6 hours daylight in Helsinki and 4 hours in the north only to immediately start to draw out again at up to an amazing 7 minutes a day in Lapland.

 

Climate

Finland’s dry climate means whatever the season it always feels warmer than indicated on the thermometer. As with most locations in Northern Europe from Spring to Autumn you should pack layers of clothing and go prepared for all types of weather to make the most of your visit. In summer (Jun – Aug) Helsinki and even the north can enjoy temperatures of approximately 20ºC with a relatively low rainfall. Winter brings a dramatic change with average temperatures of –3ºC in Helsinki in January and –10ºC and below in Lapland

 

Currency

Finland’s currency is the Euro. It is possible exchange currency at banks and certain UK bank cards also allow you to withdraw currency from ATM machines throughout the country. Credit cards are widely accepted, even in taxis, throughout Finland.

 

Getting to Finland by Air

Finland is well served with several daily Finnair flights from London Heathrow and Manchester to Helsinki and then onward connections to airports throughout Finland. Blue 1 part of the SAS Group also operates from London Stansted and all services operate throughout the year.

 

Getting to Finland by Sea

While it is not possible to sail directly to Finland it is possible to sail from Harwich to Denmark and then drive to Stockholm to catch a Viking Line ferry to Turku, Helsinki or the Åland island.

 

Religion

85% of Finns are Lutherans and 1% Orthodox.

 

Passports & Visas

British visitors to Finland require a valid 10 year passport but do not require visas for a stay of up to 3 months.

 

Electrical Appliances

The electric current in Finland is 220V (230V), 50Hz.

 

Openning Hours

Standard opening hours throughout the country are 09.00 – 20.00 weekdays and 09.00- 15.00 on a Saturday although in larger cities these times are often extended. Bigger stores open on Sundays June – August and in December.

Banks as a rule are open Mon-Fri 09.00-16.30.

 

Finland Holiday Information

 

 

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