Why Fly to Finland
Finland does not try to impress you — it just does. This is a country of 188,000 lakes, vast boreal forest, and a culture built around silence, saunas, and nature. Whether you are chasing the Northern Lights above the Arctic Circle, paddling through the Saimaa archipelago, or wandering Helsinki's Design District on a summer evening that never gets dark, Finland delivers experiences that feel genuinely unhurried and uncrowded. It consistently ranks as one of the world's happiest countries, and once you are here, that stops feeling like a statistic.
The capital, Helsinki, is your likely entry point — a compact, walkable city where Senate Square and the island fortress of Suomenlinna sit minutes apart. Head north to Rovaniemi for Lapland's snow-covered wilderness and the best shot at seeing the aurora borealis. Turku offers a medieval castle and easy access to the southwestern archipelago. Tampere is Finland's second city in spirit, home to excellent museums and the quirky Moomin Valley attraction. Further east, Lappeenranta sits on the edge of Lake Saimaa and is the gateway to lake cruises and the Russian-influenced borderlands. Each city has its own character; none feel interchangeable.
Best Time to Visit Finland
Finland's seasons are genuinely extreme, and the best time to visit depends entirely on what you want from the trip. Winter (November to March) means Northern Lights, husky safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, and temperatures that can drop to -20°C (-4°F) in Lapland. Pack seriously warm layers. Summer (June to August) brings the midnight sun — daylight that lasts 24 hours in the north — along with warm lakes, hiking trails, and a relaxed, festival-heavy atmosphere. July averages around 15°C (59°F), which Finns treat as beach weather. Spring and autumn offer fewer tourists, cheaper prices, and stunning scenery — autumn foliage in Lapland (known locally as ruska) is legitimately spectacular. Avoid deep winter in the north if prolonged darkness affects your mood; polar night in December means no sun at all for weeks in Rovaniemi.
Getting Around Finland
Finland is large and sparsely populated, so plan your transport carefully. Trains run efficiently between Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku; VR (Finnish Railways) also connects Helsinki to Rovaniemi overnight, which is a comfortable and practical option. Domestic flights are worth considering for Lapland — the train to Rovaniemi takes around 9 hours; a flight takes just over an hour. Finnair and Nordic airlines cover routes well. Long-distance buses (Onnibus and Matkahuolto) fill gaps the rail network misses and are cheaper. In cities, public transit is clean and reliable. Renting a car is the best move if you want to explore lakes, national parks, or rural Lapland on your own schedule — roads are well-maintained and reindeer crossings are a real hazard, especially at dawn and dusk.
Visa & Entry Requirements
Finland is part of the Schengen Area. EU citizens can enter with a valid national ID or passport. UK and US passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date and has at least two blank pages. From mid-2025 onward, travelers from visa-exempt non-EU countries (including the UK and US) will need to register for ETIAS authorization before traveling — it is a simple online process, not a visa. Check current ETIAS requirements before booking if you are traveling after that date.
Money & Budget
Finland uses the euro (€). Card payments — including contactless and mobile pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay — are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes and rural gas stations. Still, carry a small amount of cash for independent saunas, market stalls, or remote cabins. ATMs are easy to find in cities. Tipping is not expected; rounding up the bill is a friendly gesture but never required. For daily budgets, expect roughly €60-90 per person on a tight budget (hostels, grocery shopping, free activities), €150-250 for a comfortable mid-range trip (decent hotels, restaurant meals, a guided activity or two), and €300+ for luxury — particularly in Lapland, where glass igloos and private aurora tours push costs up quickly. Helsinki City Card saves money if you plan to hit multiple museums and use public transit heavily.
Top Cities to Visit in Finland
- Helsinki — The capital blends Nordic design, waterfront markets, and islands like Suomenlinna within easy reach. A strong base for first-time visitors.
- Rovaniemi — The official hometown of Santa Claus, and more importantly, the best base for Lapland adventures and Northern Lights tours.
- Turku — Finland's oldest city, with a well-preserved medieval castle and ferry connections to the stunning southwestern archipelago.
- Tampere — Punky, creative, and underrated. Great museum scene including the Moomin Museum, plus a relaxed café culture along its rapids.
- Lappeenranta — A compact lakeside city on Saimaa, Finland's largest lake, ideal for boat cruises and fortress exploration near the Russian border.
- Oulu — A lively northern city with a strong cycling culture and a good base for exploring northern Finland without full Lapland prices.
FAQ — Flights to Finland
Which airports serve Finland?
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) is Finland's main international hub and handles the bulk of long-haul and European routes. Rovaniemi Airport (RVN), Oulu Airport (OUL), and Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP) receive seasonal and domestic traffic. Most travelers from outside Europe will connect through Helsinki regardless of their final destination.
How long is the flight to Finland?
From London, flights to Helsinki take around 3 hours. From New York, expect roughly 9-10 hours nonstop (Finnair operates this route). From the US West Coast, add another 2-3 hours with a connection. Most North American travelers connect through major European hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Stockholm if not flying Finnair direct.
When are flights to Finland cheapest?
Shoulder seasons — May and September to October — typically offer the best combination of lower airfares and manageable weather. Peak summer (July) and winter holiday periods (Christmas, New Year) around Lapland drive prices up significantly. Booking 2-3 months in advance generally gets you reasonable fares; last-minute Lapland trips during aurora season can be expensive.