Finland
Finland pairs a capital city and lake-filled summers with Lapland's snow, reindeer and northern lights.
Finland is a Nordic republic in Northern Europe, bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia, with Estonia across the Gulf of Finland to the south. Helsinki is the capital and the main gateway for most visitors. Most of the land is forest, and the country has about 168,000 lakes of more than half a hectare, which is why it is often called the land of a thousand lakes. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, and most Finns who went through comprehensive school speak English well.
Plan the trip around the season. Summer suits lakes, hiking and the midnight sun in the far north, and in the south the best period for lakes and hiking runs from late May to mid-September. Winter suits snow, skiing and the aurora borealis, which is seen regularly in Lapland in autumn, winter and spring. The sauna is central to Finnish life, and Finland is large, so give Lapland its own days instead of squeezing it into a short city break.
Five things to know before Finland
- Expect EES registration at the Schengen border
Visitors from outside the EU register a photo and fingerprints at their first Schengen entry, and passports are no longer stamped. Arriving by ferry from Tallinn or Stockholm, check with the operator which border checks apply. EES explained
- Skip the Russian border and its zone
All land crossings between Finland and Russia are closed until further notice, and the border zone needs a Border Guard permit. Obey the yellow signs and road booms on any road trip in the east. Border zone permit
- Carry your passport around Sweden
Finland is not on the European Commission's list of states with temporary internal border controls, but Sweden is, until 11 November 2026. Carry it on ferries and flights between Finland and Sweden. Turku and the Stockholm ferry
- Book the night train to Lapland early
VR runs night trains to Rovaniemi with sleeper cabins, and the busiest ski-season nights sell out. Book as soon as sales open for December and school holidays. Night train or flight
- Try a public sauna in Tampere or Helsinki
Saunas are part of daily life. Check each public sauna's rules first: many are mixed and use swimwear, others are separated by gender. Public saunas in Tampere
Finland travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Design, saunas, islands and where to base yourself.
Read the guideLaplandNorthern lights, husky trails and getting north.
Read the guideRovaniemiThe Arctic Circle gateway, by night train or flight.
Read the guideTampereLakes, public saunas and the Moomin Museum.
Read the guideTurkuA medieval castle and the archipelago gateway.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules for your passport.
Read the guideEES at the borderFingerprints and a photo on your first Schengen entry.
Read the guideRail pass or ticketsWhen a Eurail pass beats VR fares, including the night train.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €35
- Food
- €25
- Transport
- €10
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €85
- Food
- €60
- Transport
- €25
- Sights
- €20
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €130
- Food
- €110
- Transport
- €70
- Sights
- €100
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuarySnow15 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Dark, snowJanuarySnow
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, snow
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Cold, snowFebruaryCloudy
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-3°Snow, lighterMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, lighter
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°ThawAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild, lightMayPartly cloudy
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, light
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°White nightsJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
White nights
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°WarmestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, berriesAugustRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, berries
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Autumn colorSeptemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cool, darkOctoberRain
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dark
- NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°Dark, wetNovemberRain
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, wet
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-2°Dark, festiveDecemberSnow
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, festive
Average daily high and low in Helsinki, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Finland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
2
- Feels like
- -1°
- Humidity
- 100%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Finland
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today4°1°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 4°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue3°-2°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed5°-2°67%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 67%.
- Thu4°0°2%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 4°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri4°-1°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat5°2°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun2°-3°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 06:25 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketFestivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- JunSauna Open Air Metal FestivalTampereTuska Open Air Metal FestivalHelsinki
- JulRuisrockTurkuSavonlinna Opera FestivalAcross Finland
- AugTurku Music FestivalTurkuHelsinki FestivalHelsinki
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Finland: Rush Fifty Something Tour Helsinki, Apr 10, 2027 · Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Helsinki, May 8, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Helsinki, Jun 9, 2027 · Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Helsinki, Jun 14, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Helsinki, Jul 7, 2027
Before you go to Finland
Finland FAQ
Do I need a visa for Finland?
Not for short stays on most Western passports: US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. You register in the EES at the border. The EU states: "ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point."
When can I see the northern lights in Finland?
From about late August to early April in Lapland, on dark, clear nights. Stay away from town lights and give it several nights.
How do I get from Helsinki to Lapland?
Fly to Rovaniemi, Kittilä or Ivalo, or take the VR night train to Rovaniemi, which runs overnight with sleeper cabins. Book early for December and school holidays.
Do I need cash in Finland?
Cards and phone payments are widely accepted in Finnish cities, so cash is rarely needed. Carry a little for small or rural places.
When is the best time to visit Finland?
June to August for Helsinki, the lakes and white nights. December to March for snow in Lapland, with the best aurora chances once nights are long.