The most important things to know before visiting Finnish Lapland for the first time.
I get hundreds of messages from people asking me for things to know before visiting Finnish Lapland. So I got an idea it would be beneficial to you and me to create a travel tip listing up the most important info to make your trip to Lapland planning easier.
Language
The official language of Finland is Finnish and Swedish, but it is easy to get around with English since many people in Finland speak it fluently.
Remember that Lapland is the land of the indigenous SƔmi people, known as SƔmi homeland or SƔpmi, also crosses the northern part of the region. SƔmi People speak SƔmi language.
Currency
The euro is the official currency of Finland, which is a member of the European Union. Finland was one of the first countries to adopt the Euro, in 1999. Before this, the currency of Finland was the Markka, or Finnish Mark.
Cash
Locals never have cash on them, nearly everybody uses their card and phone to pay. Apple pay, Google pay and all major credit cards are accepted everywhere, but please note that some places donāt accepted American Express or Union Pay because of high transaction fees. Visa and Mastercard work just fine.
Tipping
Tipping culture is not common in Finland. If you are really happy with the service you can always add a tip but that is not expected.
Water
Locals drink the water from the tap!
Finland's tap water is among the highest quality in the world and is not only completely safe but a pleasure to drink. In Finland, tap water has been found to be significantly cleaner than bottled water. Unlike in many other countries, Finnish tap water is chlorinated only as a precautionary measure to prevent bacteria growth in the pipes.
Weather
The weather is unpredictable in every season and can change very quickly within each day. The best weather forecast can be found at the Finnish Meteorological Instituteās site . Be sure to check it several times a day.
Clothes
For detailed suggestion on what to pack check out my other travel tip called What to Pack for your trip to Finnish Lapland
Electricity
The electricity in Finland is 220 volts. If you are coming from countries like the US, Canada or China remember to pack an adapter or you can buy them in K-market, Tokmanni, S-market, Clas Ohlson and other stores in Finland. Average price is around 20-25ā¬ per adapter.
Wifi
Finland is fully 5G capable. In Helsinki and the rest of South Finland , network coverage is excellent. Finnish Lapland has 4G coverage almost everywhere. The more remote you travel the less connected you will be, but you can find wifi almost everywhere. You can purchase a prepaid data Sim card from Finnish mobile providers Telia, Elisa or DNA from their stores or many gas stations, post offices and grocery stores around Finland.
I hope this article will help you plan your trip to Finnish Lapland. I have no doubt that your trip to Finland is going to be unforgettable.
Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.