Finland is a beautiful country in Northern Europe with an interesting history and gorgeous natural landscape. Finland is bordered to the west by Sweden, the east by Russia and the north by Norway. Finland has been party of the Swedish realm and the Russian empire before gaining autonomy and thriving as an independent European democracy.
The people of Finland are said to be the happiest country on Earth. Finland is a nation of simple beauty, wondrous nature and many things to do on a Finland vacation.
We spent time in Finland’s capital Helsinki while on a Baltic trip that also included Tallinn and Saint Petersburg Russia. It’s a fun city worth exploring, especially the Sea Fortress of Suomenlinna.
Good to Know Before Visiting Finland
Capital
Helsinki
Currency
The Euro €
Power Voltage and Socket
230 Volt, C and F Sockets
Official Religion
Protestant Christian, Lutheran
Official Language
Finnish
Knowledge of English
Most Finns speak English to some degree with most members of the younger generations being conversational. It’s easy to get by in Finland with English.
Safety Concerns
Finland is an extremely safe country with a low crime rate. Follow similar precautions as you would elsewhere in Scandinavia and Western Europe and you should expect no violence or crime for your Finland vacation.
LGBT Safety and Protections
Finland is ranked #7 in the world for LGBT safety. It’s an extremely tolerant and accepting culture and has a vibrant and visible gay scene.
Main Tourist Attractions
The main tourist attractions are the city of Helsinki and Suomenlinna Fortress and Northern Lights Tours in the Lapland province. Lapland is also known for its national parks.
Destination Guides
One Day in Helsinki – A 24 Hour Itinerary
Although we only had a day in Helsinki, we made the most of it and were determined to hit every Helsinki must see. I know we missed a few things, but here is what we covered sightseeing Helsinki for 1 day.
Baltic Travel Itinerary to Estonia, Finland & Russia
Taking off next week for a great trip. Check out our travel Plans for our Baltic Trip to Helsinki, Finland, Tallinn, Estonia & Saint Petersburg Russia in this latest post.