Cost of Vacation in Finland 2020 See Highlights and Top Places to Visit
Cost of Vacation in Finland 2020 See Highlights and Top Places to Visit.
Vacation in Finland: If you’ve not been to Finland before, this summer is an opportunity for you to go on a vacation in Finland.
Finland is located in Northern Europe, a modern welfare state with pleasant small towns and impressive cities.
There is also no shortage of outdoor opportunities for visitors, as Finland has countless lakes and islands. Finns enjoy spending there summers in cottages where they can swim, fish and barbecue.
If you’re visiting in the winter, head north to see the Northern Lights or the midnight sun in the summer. Finland’s geography is generally flat plains with some rolling hills and plenty of lakes.
The mountains that do exist are in the extreme north and Finland’s highest point is Mount Halti, which is just 1,328 meters above sea level. The country has been called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes” because of its 187,888 lakes.
Because Finland is not located on the Scandinavian peninsula, despite the many cultural and historical similarities, it is not technically part of Scandinavia.
It is still commonly included when people speak of the region and the capital city of Helsinki shares many Scandinavian features including the architecture and an official language of Swedish (along with Finnish).
Highlights of Finland
- Finland is officially a bilingual country, with just over 5% of its population speaking Swedish. Most maps show names for cities in both Swedish and Finnish. Roads may also have two names, so it is important to read your maps closely as you are navigating the country. This is particularly true in the Swedish speaking areas along the southern and western coasts.
- One of the best ways to arrive in Finland is by boat. You can take large ferries from either Estonia or Sweden that have all kinds of amenities including department stores, restaurants, and more. It’s a beautiful view coming into Helsinki by boat.
- Finland takes advantage of its summer months by playing host to some great music festivals. Some of the most popular include Provinssirock, which is one of the biggest rock festivals in the country, Tangomarkkinat, a tango festival, and Vauhtiajot, a motorsport and rock festival. Most of these festivals last several days and some feature big-name brands. Each of these festivals offers a great atmosphere to meet new people and experience a different side of the country.
- Many visitors head to Finland in the winter months to see the Northern Lights. To truly see the lights you have to head to the northern parts of the country, where you still only have slightly over a 50% chance of seeing them at about 22:30. The sky must be clear and the conditions right, but if luck is on your side, they are truly spectacular.
- Souvenir shopping in Finland can be quite expensive, but if you want to pick up something during your time there, traditional Finnish puukko knives are popular. Other traditional items include handwoven ryijy rugs and various products made from reindeer. If you’re hoping to buy a Lappish handicraft, make sure it has the “Sami Duodji” label to ensure its authenticity.
Languages in Finland
Finnish is a Uralic language of the Finnic branch spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns outside Finland.
Finnish is one of the two official languages of Finland (the other being the Swedish language); Finnish is also an official minority language in Sweden.
In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a Finnish dialect, are spoken. The Kven language, a dialect of Finnish, is spoken in Northern Norway by a minority group of Finnish descent.
Currency in Finland
The Finnish Markka was replaced in 2002 with the euro, making Finland the only Nordic country to join the European single currency.
The Markka is now out of circulation and the Euro is the only form of legal tender in Finland. The Euro is divided into 100 cents and is available in both coins and banknotes.
Popular Foods in Finland
Gravlax: This is a traditional appetizer that is made with raw, salted salmon, sugar, and dill. The salmon is thinly sauce and often served with a dill and mustard sauce. Bread or boiled potatoes may also be provided.
Karelian stew: This hearty stew is made from beef and pork, but occasionally it includes lamb. The most common vegetables are carrots, onions, and potatoes, which help make the dish heavy and filling.
Loop Sausage: This is a large but mildly flavored sausage that is usually grilled and topped with sweet Finnish mustard. It’s best when it’s served with beer.
The Climate in Finland
there are two different climate zones in Finland; Most regions have a Dfc Climate, a humid Snow Climate with less than four months above 10°C over average. The climate of the northern coastal areas and the mountainous regions can be classified as E Climate; an Ice climate with the warmest month under 10°C.
Accommodation Cost
Hostel dorm beds range from 25-35 EUR, with privates ranging from 50-80 EUR. Free WiFi is standard, and a few hostels also offer free breakfast.
For those traveling with a tent, there are campgrounds scattered all throughout the country. For a basic plot, prices will be between 10-25 EUR.
Wild camping is also an option, so long as you are respectful and use common sense. Budget hotels start around 50-80 EUR per night for single or double occupancy.
Mid-range brand hotels will start closer to 100 EUR per night. You can find fairly cheap accommodation on Airbnb starting around 20-30 EUR for shared accommodation. For an entire home or apartment, prices start around 55 EUR per night (but average closer to 90 EUR).
Food Cost
Most everything on the cheap side will be around 8-11 EUR (pizza, kebabs, sandwiches). Many restaurants offer a lunchtime buffet that will cost around 12 EUR. Stockmann supermarket also has a wide variety of pre-made cheap meals for around 5-6 EUR.
A meal at McDonald’s (or a similar fast-food chain) will cost about 7 EUR. In terms of alcohol, beer (domestic or imported) will cost you between 6 and 8 EUR and a bottle of water will cost around 1.50 EUR. If you plan on cooking your own meals, a week’s worth of basic staples will cost between 85-125 EUR per week.
Transportation Cost
The best way to travel in Finland is by bus. A one-way ticket for a 100km journey on the regular bus is around 19 EUR. The express bus will charge a bit more, around 22 EUR. Local buses within the city will charge 2.50-3.50 EUR. If you’re looking to take the train, a ticket from Helsinki to Tampere will cost between 25-35 EUR, one way.
The train from Helsinki to Oulu will be closer to 60 EUR, and a one-way ticket to neighboring Saint Petersburg, Russia will be around 45 EUR. There is also a ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, which costs between 50-150 EUR. Bicycles are available to rent in nearly every city and town, usually costing between 15-20 EUR for the day or 70 EUR for the week.
Activity Cost
A sightseeing cruise in Helsinki will cost about 25 EUR. A tour through Lapland will start around 125 EUR and increase steeply from there (multi-day tours will be closer to 1,000 EUR). Most museums and major attractions will cost between 5 and 15 EUR. Bike rentals will cost between 10-20 EUR per day, and a day rental of cross-country skis will cost around 20 EUR.
Traveling Cost
€121 ($137) is the average daily price for traveling in Finland. The average price of meals in Finland for one day is €27 ($30). The average price of a hotel in Finland for a couple is €114 ($129). Additional pricing is in the table below. These average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Top Places to Visit in Finland:
1. Levi
With so much unspoiled landscape, Finland is a nature lover’s dream destination. For outdoor enthusiasts, the winter resort of Levi is undoubtedly a top pick for fun. Located in Finnish Lapland, Levi boasts miles of trails for skiing and snowboarding.
There are also opportunities for more unusual activities such as reindeer safaris, ice fishing expeditions, and relaxing in large outdoor saunas. The nightlife in Levi is a major draw for Finnish residents, so don’t leave until you have explored the bars, lounges, and clubs in Central Levi.
2. Tampere
Although it is the third-largest city in Finland, Tampere is still not a huge urban area, and it feels more like a collection of neighborhoods than a major metropolis.
To get an understanding of Tampere’s history and heritage, check out the Vapriikki, a museum complex housing the Natural History Museum and the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, among others.
Outdoor recreation like skiing and hockey are incredibly popular in Tampere, but the less athletically inclined can settle for a stroll through outdoor hubs like Duck Park or the Hatanpää Arboretum.
The popular Särkänniemi Adventure Park on the edge of downtown features an aquarium, a planetarium, a children’s zoo, an art museum and an observation tower with great views of the forests and lakes.
3. Porvoo
The second-oldest town in all of Finland is Porvoo, a destination known for its unique and picturesque wooden homes. As you stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Porvoo, known to locals as Vanha Porvoo, you can see landmarks from the 13th century, although much of the wooden architecture was constructed at the end of the 19th century.
Other great ways to pass the time in Porvoo include touring the 11th century Porvoo Cathedral, exploring local art and heritage at the Porvoo Museum and indulging in delicious local pastries and candies at the Brunberg shop, an iconic business in the city.
4. Rovaniemi
If you want to experience the beauty of Lapland, then Rovaniemi is the ultimate gateway to it all. The capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi was completely destroyed at the end of the Second World War. As a result, much of the architecture is mid-century and brutalist in design.
While Rovaniemi is home to several wonderful attractions, a highlight is undoubted that it serves as the official Finnish home to Santa Claus.
Visitors can tour Santa Claus Village, get stamps from the Santa Claus Post Office, and even visit the Santa-themed underground amusement park.
None-Christmas attractions in Rovaniemi include the Korundi House of Culture, the Pilke Science Center, and the engineering feat known as the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge.
5. Helsinki
As the country’s capital, Helsinki is the most popular place to visit in Finland and a destination you won’t want to miss. If Helsinki looks a lot like St. Petersburg, it is because it was built to replicate the Russian city’s style in 1812.
Today, some of the main attractions in Helsinki include the many churches, the three most important of which include the Lutheran Cathedral, the Church in the Rock, and the Uspenski Cathedral.
The stadium that served as the site of the 1952 Olympics is worth a visit, as is the art deco architecture of the Parliament House.
While there are dozens of excellent museums and galleries in Helsinki, one of the best to see is the National Museum of Finland, which does a great job of tracing Finnish history over time.
Finland is indeed a home to wonderful attractions, you won’t regret going on a vacation there. Start preparing today.
CSN Team.
