15 important apps & websites for Finland

These are the apps and websites I genuinely recommend downloading before your trip to Finland. They’ll make getting around, planning your days, and handling everyday things much easier once you’re here.

🚆 Transport & Getting Around

• HSL App (Helsinki region) Essential if you’re spending time in Helsinki, Espoo, or Vantaa. Use it to plan routes, check schedules, and buy public transport tickets.

• VR App. Finland’s national train service. Use this to book long-distance trains, check timetables, and store your tickets. Trains are comfortable and often the easiest way to travel between cities.

• Matkahuolto. The go-to app for long-distance buses, especially when traveling to smaller towns or places trains don’t reach. My favorite long-distance bus company is Onnibus. If you book your ticket in advance, it can be super cheap! This app makes it easy to check schedules, plan your trip, and find the best deals.

• Bolt & Uber. Both work in many Finnish cities. Bolt is often slightly cheaper, but it’s good to have both downloaded.

🍔 Food & Restaurants

• Wolt. Finland’s most popular food delivery app. If you ever feel like not going out, you can order food straight from restaurants to your Airbnb or hotel. Even if you don’t order, it’s a great way to discover nearby restaurants, cafés, and local favorites, perfect for planning meals or finding hidden gems during your trip.

• ResQ Club. A great app for restaurants, bakeries, and cafés offering discounted food before they close. Perfect if you want tasty meals without overspending.

• Eat.fi. A website where you can find restaurant recommendations, opening hours, lunch deals, and real-time reviews from locals. Super helpful for planning meals or finding hidden gems.

🌦️ Weather

• Foreca or FMI Weather. These local weather apps can be very reliable for planning outdoor days and packing. That said, Finland’s weather can be very unpredictable, so forecasts might not always be exact, especially in the north or during seasonal transitions. Use them as a helpful guide, but be prepared for sudden changes!

• My Aurora Forecast. If you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Lapland, this app gives real-time aurora forecasts, cloud cover info, and alerts so you don’t miss a show.

🌲 Nature & Outdoors

• Luontoon.fi Official site for Finland’s national parks. Great for trail info, facilities, campfire spots, and knowing what to expect before you go.

• Outdooractive. Another great option for hiking and outdoor routes, especially longer trails and multi-day adventures.

• AllTrails. Helpful for finding popular hiking routes, especially near cities. Reviews and photos make it easier to choose a trail that fits your level.

🌐 Tourism & Local Info

• VisitFinland.com. The official tourism site for Finland with inspiration, guides, and practical info.

• MyHelsinki.fi. A local’s guide to Helsinki, featuring events, restaurants, and things to do.

• City Tourism Websites. Most cities and towns have their own official tourism websites. Just search “Visit + [city name]” to find up-to-date info for the area you’re visiting.

• Finterest. This is one of my favorite apps for discovering everything Finland has to offer. You can find parks, museums, swimming spots, hiking trails, cafés, and more, literally anything. It’s a super handy tool for planning your days, finding hidden gems, and exploring like a local.