Finland is the eighth most expensive country in Europe according to a Eurostat study of 2017. Followed by Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, and Luxembourg, the Nordic country has shown to be an expensive country based on the following informatin.
24/7 daylight FOR OVER TWO MONTHS
Summer in Finland is a spectacular time of the year. For those who venture north of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set at all from May to August, while further south the sun can be visible for nearly around the clock during June and July.Norway: 35.6 °C and –51.4 °C / 96.1 °F and –60.5 °F. Finland: 37.2 °C and –51.5 °C / 99.0 °F and –60.7 °F.
Helsinki is a fascinating combination of influences that aren't found elsewhere and it's clean and well organized, but it's notoriously expensive as well. From a visitor's perspective it's not quite as expensive as Stockholm, but compared to nearly anywhere else in Europe it will seem pricey.
Here are 10 Finnish dishes you've got to try:
- Karjalanpiirakka (rice pies)
- Ruisleipa (rye bread)
- Leipajuusto (bread cheese)
- Kalakukko (fish pie)
- Korvapuusti (cinnamon buns)
- Lihapullat (Finnish meatballs)
- Graavilohi (cured salmon)
- Mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie)
On a societal level, Finland's success can be attributed to its rigid social safety network, culture of trust, high-quality education, and a strong commitment to gender equality. On a personal level, many Finns cite their connection to nature as an important source of happiness.
How to survive Finnish winter and enjoy it?
- Dress well. The secret of spending time outdoors in the winter is to make sure you are dressed properly.
- Go to Sauna.
- Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Do sports.
- Escape your room.
- Walking on ice.
- Watch ice hockey.
- Winter health.
The best times to visit Helsinki are May, early June and September – though you'll find plenty going on throughout the year.
Finland came in first in the World Happiness Report from Gallup for the second year running. Of the top five locations this year, four are Nordic countries. People in Finland enjoy universal healthcare and a successful school system, both of which contribute to a higher standard of living for all.
The climate of Finland is characterized by long, cold winters and short, mild, and moderately rainy summers. Among the Scandinavian countries, Finland is the one with the coldest climate because of the proximity to Russia.
In northern Finland, winter temperatures often drop as low as -30°C or even down to -50°C, sometimes with strong, cold easterly or northeasterly winds.
The Four Seasons in Finland. Although, in southern and central Finland the snow season lasts from December to the end of March or April, there's still plenty of room for spring, summer and autumn. Let's go though the full cycle of seasons and start with summer, the most beautiful season in Finland.
In Finnish Lapland, the sun sets in late November and generally does not rise until mid-January. This can last as long as 50 days in northern Finland. During summer there are equally long days with no real "dark" nights.
The temperature is raised mainly by warm airflows from the Atlantic, and also by the Baltic Sea. The summer offers great weather in Finland. In the Finnish South and central Finland, summer weather is mild and warm, just like in other parts of southern Scandinavia, whereas Finland's winters are long and cold.
Top 10 Interesting Facts About Finland
- The Finns Drink More Coffee Than Any One Else.
- The Longest Palindromic Word Comes From the Finnish Language.
- Finland Is the Only Home of the Endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal.
- The Wife-Carrying Race Originated in Finland.
- The Finns Absolutely Love to Drink Milk.
- There Are More Than 3 Million Saunas In Finland.
During January and February, there is almost always snow in northern and eastern Finland. Even if there's little snow in Helsinki, there's often up to a metre or more on the skiing slopes of Lapland. The snow season in northern Finland begins in November and lasts at least until May.
It is currently trapping frigid air in the polar region and preventing it from flowing south. The mild conditions this winter are driven by a "positive phase" of the Arctic Oscillation, which strengthens the jet stream, a ribbon of fast-moving air that flows west to east over the Northern Hemisphere.
Permanent snow covers open grounds about two weeks after winter begins. The snow cover is deepest around mid-March, with an average of 60 to 90 cm of snow in eastern and northern Finland and 20 to 30 cm in southwestern Finland.
The snowy period of the year lasts for 5.6 months, from October 28 to April 16, with a sliding 31-day liquid-equivalent snowfall of at least 0.1 inches. The most snow falls during the 31 days centered around January 23, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.6 inches.
The amount and duration of snowfall also varies by location, but the average number of days with snow is around 175 – 225 days per year between mid-October and mid-May. The long-lasting snow cover makes Lapland an ideal place for leisure activities like dog-sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, etc.
March is the last month it regularly snows in Helsinki. Throughout March, Helsinki aggregates 140mm (5.5") of snow.
Finland is well known for its winter activities and the magical Lapland, and Helsinki in winter is very picturesque. Even if you are going somewhere else in Finland, spending a couple of days in Helsinki is well worth it.
You can see the auroras once in every 20 days in Helsinki. However, when the magnetic field of the earth is evenly distributed auroras or Northern lights can be visible for some hours from all over Europe.
Just make sure you are prepared so you can best enjoy these activities!
- Winter Coat. One of the most important things you'll need when going to Finland is a heavy-duty winter coat or parka.
- Warm Mid-Layers Tops.
- Warm Pants.
- Thermal Baselayers.
- Warm Socks.
- Warm Windproof Hat.
- Scarf.
- Balaclava or neck warmer.
In northern Lapland the lights shine about every other clear night between September and March. In southern Finland they are visible on about 10-20 nights a year. Look to the stars. If you notice that the night sky is clear and starry, your chances of seeing the northern lights are good.
In the middle of winter, in contrast, daytime is very short. In the south of the country daylight in December lasts only for 6 hours. In northern Lapland a period of darkness prevails at that time, with the sun not rising above the horizon at all.
The Northern Lights are visible on roughly 200 nights a year – or every other clear night – in Finnish Lapland. The more traditional ways to go Aurora spotting are snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobile and sled dog touring.
WHAT TO DO IN HELSINKI IN NOVEMBER
- EXPERIENCE FINNISH SAUNA. Finnish best bad weather protection is a sauna.
- TRY LOCAL FOOD. • Creamy salmon soup.
- DO SIGHTSEEING TRAM TOUR ON YOUR OWN. Take tram no 2 or 3.
- SLEEP WITH REINDEER.
- Manta's Christmas Market.
- Visit to Fazer Experience Visitor Centre.
So here are our favorite things to do while visiting Finland in winter, listed in no particular order:
- Skiing or Snowboarding.
- Snowmobiling.
- Kicksledding.
- Dog Sledding.
- Enjoy the Finnish Sauna Experience.
- Sail on an Ice Breaker Boat.
- Ice Fishing.
- Snowshoeing.
