Time difference Finnish Lapland
The time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). When it is noon in Paris, it is therefore 1 p.m. in Helsinki. The system of summer and winter time is also in force in the country. There is no time difference with Norway and Sweden. Sweden has adopted the daylight saving time as all the countries of the European Union.
Opening hours Finnish Lapland
To see / To do Finnish Lapland
On weekdays, most museums, tourist offices and visitor centers are open between 10am and 5pm. Please note that opening times vary according to the country, the size of the town and the time of year. Always check the opening hours if you're not already there, as you could be travelling for nothing. Opening times are longest between December and March, then between June and August.
Enjoying yourself Finnish Lapland
In Lapland, and in Nordic countries in general, we eat early. In most restaurants, service starts at 11am and evening service rarely ends later than 9:30pm, even in summer. Don't be fooled. Except in town at weekends, reservations are not necessary. Most establishments are closed one day a week, usually Sunday or Monday.
Take a break Finnish Lapland
Cafés are open during the day until 5 p.m. and café-bars between 11 a.m. and midnight, sometimes longer on weekends. Cafés in Scandinavian countries are renowned for their cosy, subdued atmosphere, but this is not necessarily true in Lapland. There's often not much choice in terms of venues. There are, however, a few unmissable spots in every region. In the Nordic countries, the term "afterwork" is used rather than "happy hour", as it is illegal to offer discounts on alcohol.
Beware: in the Nordic countries, it is often no longer possible to buy beer in supermarkets after a certain hour. In fact, sales are totally forbidden at weekends.
(To) please yourself Finnish Lapland
Opening hours are quite similar to those in our cities. On weekdays, stores are generally open between 10am and 5pm, and at weekends, including most Sundays, between 10am and 3pm. On the other hand, opening hours are much more restricted in villages and hamlets. Count on opening from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 3pm, and sometimes 5pm. Most stores are closed on Sundays. Food stores in towns are often open between 9am and 9pm on weekdays, and between 8am and 6pm at weekends. Please note that village minimarkets have very variable opening hours and are often not open on Sundays. You can always buy food and snacks at petrol stations, which are open every day. Once again, beware: they're not exactly a dime a dozen in Lapland either..
Get out Finnish Lapland
In the Nordic countries, people go out early and come back early. Evenings can sometimes start at 6pm and often end at 2 or 3am, if the local establishments are allowed to close that late. On weekdays, nothing closes after 1am, sometimes even midnight.
