Organize your stay Finland
Money Finland
Finland has been using the euro since 2002. Please note that 1 and 2 euro cent coins are not legal tender in the country. Prices are therefore systematically rounded.
Credit card payments are accepted everywhere, and generally require no minimum amount.
Budget & Tips Finland
From an overall point of view, life in Finland is more expensive than in France. The destination is therefore not particularly economical. In the north of the country, prices are lower except for petrol, which is sold at really prohibitive prices. In Helsinki, filling up the tank is about the same price as in France (a little higher). If the destination is expensive, a few tricks will help to lighten the budget. For accommodation, prefer for example renting cottages to large hotels... Fruits and vegetables, mostly imported from distant continents in winter, become quite expensive.
Passport and visas Finland
For EU citizens, a valid passport or national identity card is all you need to enter the country. For stays longer than three months, you need to report to the local police office.
Driver's license Finland
A European or French driving license is all you need to rent a car. Be sure to check the type of card (credit or debit) required by rental agencies.
Health Finland
There are few risks involved in traveling to Finland. No vaccinations are required. Just check that your vaccinations (D.T. Polio...) are up to date. For information on the country's health situation and advice, contact the Société de médecine des voyages at the Institut Pasteur medical center at www.pasteur.fr/fr/centre-medical/preparer- son-voyage/finlande or visit the Cimed website: www.cimed.org.
Small worries: mosquitoes and augusts. The center and north of the country are infested with mosquitoes in summer (June, July and August). Make sure you bring long-sleeved clothing, mosquito nets and insect repellent, so you don't spend your stay slapping your thighs and cheeks... Although not carriers of transmissible diseases in Finland, mosquitoes are voracious. Augustflies are rife at the same time, and you can have suitable creams prescribed before you leave. In winter, the other main risks are hypothermia or frostbite. Make sure you're well equipped to protect yourself against the cold.
The European Health Insurance Card allows EU nationals to benefit from emergency medical assistance.
Time difference Finland
+ 1h. When it's 10 a.m. in France, it's already 11 a.m. in Finland. Daylight saving time is also applied.
Spoken languages Finland
Finland's two official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Swedish is spoken by only 5% of the population, concentrated mainly in the southwest, on the southwest coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and on the Åland Islands. Saami, meanwhile, is spoken only in the north of the country, in Lapland, by the Saami population, and represents just 0.04% of the languages spoken in the country. Most Finns have a good command of English. If you didn't manage to learn Suomi before you arrived, you'll be speaking Shakespeare's language most of the time.
Communication Finland
No need to worry about getting connected: Finland, after the USA, has one of the densest Internet networks in the world.
Electricity and measurements Finland
We weigh in grams and measure in meters. Finland is connected to 220 volts like the rest of Europe.
Luggage Finland
In all circumstances, don't forget your bathing suit for those who want to take a dip in the cold water before heading to the sauna, or for the simply prudish!
If you're planning a trip to Lapland in winter, remember to pack clothes that are adapted to the sometimes very low temperatures that prevail there at this time of year (-10°C on average). The idea is not to pile on layers of clothing, but rather to use the onion technique, with two or three highly insulating layers (especially the first, right next to the skin) and an easily removable outer layer. It may be worth investing in quality brands. Beware: Finnish equipment is expensive, so buy before you leave!
