Top Finland hotels
Sauna (The Finnish Sauna Society) Helsinki
6 Reviews We deliberately chose a hotel with a swimming pool in Helsinki and were shocked to find the pool only opened around 2 hours per day. This is because the pool is part of the sauna experience. Finnish...
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Musta Makkara Tampere
4 Reviews If you ask anyone in Tampere which one is the most typical local food, the answer would be mustamakkara. This sausage (similar to black pudding, but thinner) consists of pork, pig blood, crushed rye...
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No tipping in Finland (but you can leave small change) Helsinki
7 Reviews I don't actually agree with the no tipping custom. Finnish people might not tip very often, but when they do tip, they show that they liked the food, the place and the service - just like anywhere...
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Vappu (1st. of May) Helsinki
6 Reviews This is to tell you a little bit about a Finnish tradition called Vappu (the 1st of May). We have big Vappu celebrations over here with dancing in the streets, lots of balloons and funny masks etc....
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Washing carpets at the beach Helsinki
3 Reviews When you tell people that the Finns still wash their carpets by hand, many do not believe this to be true. However, the tradition continues and in several water front places around the city, the...
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Tasty chocolates filled with real vodka ... Finlandia vodka of course ;-) Real tasty, and a great idea to buy as a souvenir gift to take back home, for you or for others. Great excuse not to share too much with your colleagues at work ... lest they get drunk ;-)
Wow ... this cranberry liqueur is just lovely, the smell, the taste .... a real quality product from Finland. Makes an excellent souvenier to take back home, or a great addition to your own bar at home ;-)
Well, being a Nordic country Finland has its share of people who just love alcohol (or the idea of being drunk) ... who doesn't know about the Finlandia vodka for example?? Well, a nice standard beer here is Karhu (meaning bear). In winter, with all the snow you get natural refridgeration for a beer picnic too ... cool ;-)
These are the traditional Finnish Christmas cookies and star-shaped tarts that everybody offers you with coffee everywhere in Finland at Christmas. I've tuned-up the cookies with wine gums. Taste great.
Today, the 6th of December, it's Finland's independence day. Finland was proclaimed independent on 6.12.1917. Finns are proud of their country's independence and it is celebrated with flags and big parties are arranged. It is also customary to place two candles burning in all windows.
Taxis are reliable and always use a tariff meter so if you can afford it, its going to be expensive but safe. The tariffs are not negotiable and include service so don't leave a tip! Also at restaurants, the bill always includes service so leaving a tip for the waiters is not necessary unless you feel the service was outstanding.
Finnish music is horrible. There, I warned you. Really, it's a strange combination of tango and depression. The pop music is very simple and the lyrics consist of repeating a few words until you're sick of the whole song. And when you are, they play it half an octave higher and scream the same words over and over again. This lack of talent can be noticed in the Eurovision Song Contests on the years we actually are allowed to participate. Our success in that competition is the thinnest book in the world.Ok, there are a few good bands too like Eppu Normaali, Juice Leskinen, Tuomari Nurmio, Anssi Kela, Yö or the Rasmus. They play so called Suomi-rock which will probably also be lost on you as it's pretty unique. But people like it here a lot.
Finns do really drink coffee. The latte's and pressos are still quite new around, the most used thingis just a plain brew coffee in a small cup. A cup of coffee (kahvikuppi in Finnish) costs somewhere between1 and 2 euros, depending on a place. In small gas station cafeterias you might get a cup and a fresh baked good with 2 euros, while in some more fancy places you may need to pay more than 2 euros just for a cup.Finns do drink more coffee per capita than anyone else. A way to survive in dark cold climate i guess:). The average Finn ingests an estimated 145 grams of PURE caffeine a year.Anywhere you go in Finland, to homes, schools, meetings, lunhches, conferences, funerals....everywhere you will be offered a cup of coffee. But I am glad to tell that there is almost always tea available too.
Tips are always included in the bill (restaurants, bars and taxis). Don't feel obliged to leave a tip as it is usually not expected. (My personal opinion is, that the better the restaurant and the service is, I would advice to leave a tip.)In bars only if you are hoping to get in favour of the doormen you can leave a tip, there's no need.
In January 2005 I wrote in the forum:'The only Finnish word I've chosen to remember is something that sounds like pirkepoika (a clothes peg). Love the sound of it!'JohntheFinn wrote back:Pyykkipoika. It literally means laundry boy - which may add to its appeal for you!Well, who knows!
Hotel Kamp Helsinki
16 Reviews and 332 Opinions Located on Pohjoisesplanadi, in the heart of Helsinki, Hotel Kämp is one of the city's most...
Sokos Hotel Ilves Tampere
5 Reviews and 59 Opinions I stayed at Sokos Hotel Ilves for one night in July 2011 and had a very pleasant stay in this 4 star...
Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel Turku Turku
4 Reviews and 125 Opinions We had never stayed in Radison hotels before, because they are allways more expensive than any other...
Reviews and photos of Finland attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Finland sightseeing.
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Q: Right - here's the brief. I've got a maximum of three days, and am going to pick up a car from either Helsinki or Tampere....
A: go to the koli national park. thats not too far so you can get to see something in 3 days, and its one of the most beautiful landscapes in finland.
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