Finland: main airports
Finland has twenty-two airports with active connections: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finnair's hub and the main international gateway, the airports of Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo, Enontekiö, Kemi-Tornio), a destination for the northern lights and Arctic tourism, and numerous regional airports serving the towns and provinces of the rest of the country, including Mariehamn, capital of the autonomous Åland Islands.
Finland: recommended activities
Finland: visa and entry requirements
As a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, Finland does not require a visa for EU citizens, who travel with a valid ID card or passport, nor for citizens of many other countries (including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia) for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Finland: safety
Finland is generally considered one of the safest countries in the world, with a very low crime rate even in the capital, Helsinki. In the Arctic regions of Lapland, the main risk for visitors is linked to extreme winter cold and the remote nature of the terrain: dress appropriately in layers and check conditions before excursions off organised routes.
Finland: health situation
No specific vaccinations are required for entry. The healthcare system is of a high standard, in line with European Union standards; the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid for EU citizens. In the Arctic regions in winter, hypothermia and frostbite are the main risks for those who don't dress appropriately: always follow the guidance of local guides for outdoor activities.
Finland: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the euro. Finland is among the most digitalised societies in the world, with electronic payments almost everywhere: cash is rarely needed. There are no dominant ride-hailing apps like Uber throughout the country, but official taxis and local apps like Yango operate in the main cities. For connectivity, the operators Elisa, DNA and Telia sell prepaid SIM cards; as an EU citizen, those arriving from another EU country benefit from free roaming ('Roam Like At Home'). The Åland Islands, while Finnish and EU territory, remain outside the EU VAT area: some duty-free rules apply differently than in the rest of the country.
Finland: travel guides
Lappeenranta: the fortress on the Russian border of Lake Saimaa
Kokkola: the lighthouse on Tankar Island
Mariehamn: the autonomous Swedish-speaking archipelago
Helsinki in a few hours: cathedrals and market
Turku: the ancient capital on the Aura river
Savonlinna: the castle on the lake of a thousand islets
Kittilä: skiing and the northern lights in Lapland
Joensuu: rock on Karelia's island
Kuusamo: the gateway to Oulanka National Park
Seinäjoki: the city designed by Alvar Aalto
Kemi: the world's largest snow castle
Vaasa: the Swedish legacy on the Bothnian coast
Enontekiö: the Lapland where three countries meet
Varkaus: the industrial city of the Saimaa canal
Kuopio: the world's biggest sauna on Lake Kallavesi
Jyväskylä: the city of architect Alvar Aalto
Kajaani: where the Finnish national epic was born
Ivalo: deep into Finnish Lapland
Tampere: textile mills between two lakes
Pori: jazz on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki River
Oulu: tech capital of the polar circle
