Hiking and Adventure Travel in Finland

Where is Finland: The Republic of Finland is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. Finland borders the Baltic Sea, The Gulf of Bothnia and lies between Sweden to the west, Russia to the East, Estonia to the South and North-Eastern Norway to the North. 

Size: 338 424 km²

Population: approximately 5 513 million

Capital: Helsinki

What is Finland Known For: It is known for many rare animals such as the Saimaa seal, wolverines and bears. In Finland farming Reindeer is common and they are a large part of Finnish life. Finland is also known for its section of Lapland where it is possible to stay in one of the famous Ice hotels or igloos where many visits to see the Northern Lights. The Kvarken Peninsula is worth a visit as well as Liminka Bay which is well-known for excellent bird watching. Finland is also famous for its saunas and smoke saunas, the most in the world per capita in fact. Finland is also known for its many lakes, there are more than 180 000 lakes in Finland. Finland is one of the safest countries in the world and is also known as the happiest country in the world. Finland is also home to a large part of the Eurovelo 13 which is a cycling path that follows the Iron Curtain trail. Most recently they are known for having the youngest female prime minister in the world.

Places of Interest: Finland offers many great places to visit such as Helsinki, the capital, Iso Syöte where you can discover adventures such as ice fishing and snowmobiling, the Kvarken peninsula, Savonlinna where you will find the Saimaa seal, Levi, Rovaniemi, and Kemi. Kalajoki and Maakalla, as well as Liminka Bay, are great places to see. 

Accommodation: Accommodation is easy to find in urban areas and the standards are quite good. If you are travelling to more remote areas then make sure to check for accommodation in advance as some parts of Finland is very remote. 

What Is There To Do In Finland: Finland offers great activities in summer and winter. Reindeer farms are found in most places and make for a good visit. You can also take part in snowmobiling, dog-sledding, ice fishing and cycling through Finland on some of the best trails in the world. Finland is also popular for bird watching and bear and wolverine watching. Visit Finnish Lapland to watch the northern lights and stay in a glass igloo or an ice hotel. You can also enjoy visiting the lake districts as well as the many islands around Finland. Finland is known as having a free-roaming policy which allows you to travel and stay almost everywhere in Finland for free. It is also a great cycling destination with the Eurovelo 13 making its way through the country with some great places to explore on the way. 

Getting Around: Public transport is available in busier urban areas. If you are travelling to more remote areas you may have to take a flight or a bus to reach the area. Hiring a car is also an option but take care in winter. 

Safety: Finland is one of the safest places on earth so you should not have a problem with safety. 

Best Time to Visit: Finland is located in Northern Europe and therefore has lower temperatures even in summer but is still pleasant. Winter is great for a lot of activities in Finland, just as many as in summer.

Time Zone: GMT +2

Official Language: Finnish & Swedish. 

Drinking-Water:  The tap water in Finland is safe to drink. 

Vaccinations: No vaccines are required but general vaccines such as hepatitis A & B as well as Rabies. 

Entry: Finland falls under the Schengen area and requires a Schengen visa depending on the country from which you are from. For more information check;   https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/finland-visa/

Eat & Drink: Finland has some great food that may at times seem eccentric. In Finland licorice is commonly used and licorice ice cream is great. Leipajuusto is a type of cheese which non-Finns refer to as “squicky cheese” and is a favourite with Finn’s. Karalanpiirakka or Karelian pies are also great food, it is a type of rice porridge in a pie crust. Poronkaristys is reindeer surrounded by mashed potato served with berries are a personal favourite as well as Finnish crepes which are usually filled with sauerkraut and sausages. Great Finnish drinks include the Finnish wine, Lonkoro which is a premixed drink that tastes like lemonade, Salmiaki which is a black licorice drink that is quite strong and Terva Snapsi which is made of pine tar and has a smokey flavour. 

Currency, Cash & Card: The currency in Finland is the Euro. It is easy to exchange money if you need to at several establishments. You will also find ATMs in most places. 

Tipping: Tipping is not required in Finland but it is good to leave a tip if the service is good at the establishments and some places add service charges to the bill itself so make sure to check the bill. 

Wifi: Public wifi may be difficult to find. Most restaurants and hotels in major cities will offer wifi but you may need to check with any establishments in more rural areas before you travel.