FINLAND

Fun Facts From Globus Tours

• Finland is the only country in the world that broadcasts news in Latin.
• There are around 180,000 islands in Finland.
• Finland is the home of Santa Claus. He also has an office in the North of Finland on the Arctic Circle.
• Nokia Corporation, a Finnish company, is among the largest mobile manufacturers in the world.

If your quest is untamed wilds and primordial roots, then in the 130,000 square miles of Finland, you’ve found it! It is a country with a landscape of breathtaking beauty, and, in midsummer, 19 hours of daylight to enjoy nature in all its glory. Yet, it is more …

It is the home of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), the world-famous composer of Finlandia, Valse Triste, the Violin Concerto, and seven symphonies; to many he was the symbol of a nation struggling for independence. A stroll along Helsinki’s streets will take you past architectural gems of neoclassicism, national romanticism, and the modern age. Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Opera House, and Finlandia Hall (one of the masterpieces of architect Alvar Aalto) are just examples.

In the “land of the thousand lakes” (approximately 188,000!), fish is a natural choice at mealtimes. Try salmon (lohi), rainbow trout (kirjolohi), Finnish whitefish (siika), pike (hauki), Baltic herring (silakka), perch (ahven), or the small whitefish species (muikku). Another possibility is the cold buffet (voilepapoyta), which is served at a fixed price – it is quite acceptable to return for two or three helpings!

Finland has approximately 5.5 million citizens and about 1.6 million saunas. You’ll find them everywhere—in homes, hotels, holiday villages, and camping sites. For a Finn, a sauna is not a luxury but a necessity and a way of life. After trying a sauna, you’ll probably agree.

VISAS, PASSPORTS, AND OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visas to Finland are not required for US citizens. If you hold a passport from another country, please check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Finland. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on you and do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room.

It is advisable to carry your passport with you at all times.

COUNTRY CODES

The country code for Finland is 358. When calling to Finland from overseas, dial your international access code (011 from the US/Canada), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Phone numbers in Finland are 8-9 digits in length. Dialing from the US/Canada: 011 358+## ### ####.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Finland is the Euro.

Bank hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

1 EURO (€) = 100 Cents (c)

• Banknote denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
• Coin denominations: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2

Euro coins differ according to country, but they can be used in any Eurozone state. Bank notes are of uniform EU design (depicting European architectural styles throughout seven ages, from Classical to Modern times).

For the most current exchange rates, please go to our website at Globusjourneys.com/Currency.

Credit cards are accepted in Finland (mostly Visa and MasterCard), and you should have no problems using them in larger shops and restaurants. Smaller shops may ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card.

BUDGETING AND SHOPPING

The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person. Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages as provided by our experienced personnel.

• The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is €3-4.
• An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately €15-20.
• Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at approximately €40.

Please note that soft drinks and mineral water are often as expensive, if not more expensive than wine or beer.

Shopping specialties: modern glassware, pottery, colorful fabrics, wooden Christmas ornaments.

TIPPING

• Restaurants in Finland almost always include a service change, so tipping is not necessary. However, we recommend adding a tip of no more than 10% to the bill for service if you choose to tip.
• For taxi services paid in cash, round up the fare as tip. Otherwise, 10% of the fare is reasonable
• For hotel staff, €1 for room service is common.
• A few coins will be needed for restroom comfort stops/public toilets.

ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

Outlets

Voltage for outlets is 230V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Therefore, you will need a converter for your travels. Adapters will be necessary to adapt your plug into the outlet, but these may not convert the voltage, so both devices are necessary. Outlets in Finland look like:

TEMPERATURES

Finland tends to have short, warm summers followed by longer, snowy winters. The weather can change quickly in Finland. Summer days are warm and mild, and nights become chilly and crisp. To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures for Finland.

To convert to Celsius, subtract 30, then divide by 2. While not exact, this simple formula will give a close estimation.

FOOD SPECIALTIES

Lohi (salmon), kirjolohi (rainbow trout), siika (Finnish whitefish), hauki (pike), silakka (Baltic herring), ahven (perch), and muikku (small whitefish).

A FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
Finnish

Hello: Paivaa or terve, How do you do: Kuinka voit, Please: Olkaa hyva, Thank you: Kiitos, Yes: Kylla, joo, No: Ei, Toilet: Vessa, Miehet or Herrat (Gents.), Naiset or Damer (Ladies), Goodbye: Nakemiin or hei hei, 1: Si, 2: Kaksi, 3: Kolme, 4: Neljä, 5: Viisi, 6: Kuusi, 7: Seitsemän, 8: Kahdeksan, 9: Yhdeksän, 10: Kymmenen, Coffee: Kahvi, Tea: Tee, Milk: Maito, Water: Vesi, Wine: Viini, Beer: Olut, Cheers! Kippis!

Swedish

Hello: Hej, Good night: God natt, Please/you’re welcome: Var sa god, Thank you: Tack Yes: Ja, No: Nej, I don’t understand: Jag forstar inte, Where is…?: Kan du saga mig var…ar?, 1: En, 2: Två, 3: Tre, 4: Fyra, 5: Fem, 6: Sex, 7: Sju, 8: Åtta, 9: Nio, 10: Tio, Wine: Vin, Beer: Ol, Cheers!: Skal!

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE COUNTRY INFORMATION

Additional country-specific information for US citizens can be found on the US Government’s website www.travel.state.gov. Here, you can find the most up-to-date information about destination descriptions, passports/visas, safety and security, transportation, travel local laws, alerts/warnings, vaccinations, and more. For citizens of other nations, we recommend you consult your local consulate for travel information, regulations, and requirements.