Northern Europe · UN member
Finland: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Finland · Suomen tasavalta
Finland is a country in Northern Europe with its capital in Helsinki. It has a population of 5.6 million (#117 in the world) and covers 338,145 km². The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Finland? Map of Finland
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia.
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Coordinates
- 64° N, 26° E
- Neighbours
- 3 — see list
- Coastline
- 1,250 km
- Finland
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Finland showing Helsinki (capital) and the largest cities: Tampere, Oulu, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Pori and Joensuu.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Finland
- Passport
The Foreign Ministry says your passport must be valid for at least ninety days after your intended date of departure from the Schengen area and must have been issued no later than ten years ago.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Finland entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The Schengen Borders Code lists a return or round-trip ticket among the supporting documents that may verify the entry conditions, and the UK government tells British visitors they may need to show a return or onward ti…
- Proof of funds
The Foreign Ministry's visa page says that at the entry check, in addition to your visa, you must prove that you have enough funds (EUR 50 per day) to support yourself, and that the funds need to be sufficient for your …
- Travel insurance
Finland's Foreign Ministry says a visa applicant's travel insurance must be in force for the period of validity of the visa applied for and cover the entire Schengen area, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
- Arrival card
If you arrive at a Schengen border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints, and your passport will not be stamped, …
- Customs allowance
If you enter or leave the EU with €10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to customs in the EU country you are entering or leaving, according to the EU's Your Europe portal.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Finland
- Safety: Yes — Finland is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Finland Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: July to August — when daytime highs in Helsinki are around 19–20°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: Finnish and Swedish are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+2 in Helsinki.
- Capital: Helsinki. About 5.6 million people live in Finland.
- Outdoors: 47 national parks and 114 ski areas.
Key facts
Finland at a glance
Languages spoken: Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)
Geography & history
About Finland
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the …
Read the full history
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Climate
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Highest point
Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
Natural resources
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Natural hazards
severe winters in the north
National symbols
lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Finland
The default speed limits in Finland are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 100 km/h
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 100 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)4.2 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Finland safe to visit?
Yes — Finland is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Finland Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Finland
The best time to visit Finland is July to August, when daytime highs in Helsinki are around 19–20°C. July is the warmest month (20°C by day), February the coldest (-6°C at night), and October the wettest with about 80 mm of rain.
- Jan-1°C-5°C
- Feb-2°C-6°C
- Mar0°C-3°C
- Apr5°C1°C
- May11°C6°C
- Jun16°C11°C
- Jul20°C16°C
- Aug19°C15°C
- Sep15°C12°C
- Oct9°C6°C
- Nov5°C2°C
- Dec1°C-2°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Finland
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
114 ski resorts in Finland
- 362 km of slopes
- 339 lifts
- up to 754 m
Biggest: Levin hiihtokeskus · Rukatunturi · Pyhätunturi - Luosto
National parks
47 national parks in Finland
- 10,184 km² protected
- oldest from 1956
Largest: Lemmenjoki National Park · Urho Kekkonen National Park · Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Finland uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Finland ranks
How Finland compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Finland
115 airports and airfields — 10 large, 21 medium and 67 small, plus 17 heliports. 20 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Finland borders 3 countries along 2,563 km of land borders. Coastline: 1,250 km.
Military
Finnish armed forces
Finland ranks #51 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $8.1 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Helsinki (1.3 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Export partners
USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Top exports
paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Finland
Next public holiday
All Saints' Day — Saturday, 31 October 2026. Then Independence Day (6 Dec).
Finnish passport
Ranked #3: 126 countries visa-free, 31 with visa on arrival, 9 with an eTA and 18 with an eVisa.
Finnish passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Finland's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Finland
Dial +358 before the local number. Internet domain .fi.
Climate footprint
29.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 5.30 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Finland: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Finland
Czechia keeps current Russian visa rules, rejects EU-wide tightening for travellers
Czechia declined to support a Finnish initiative for tighter EU-wide visa restrictions on Russian travellers. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said Czec…
Free Finland food trip for 16 solo travellers: entries close 10 November 2026
Visit Finland is giving 16 single travellers from around the world an all-expenses-paid four-day food trip in February 2027, ending with a blind dinn…
Travellers from Nigeria can enter only 24 countries visa-free, index shows
The IziVisa Passport Ranking Index places the Nigerian passport 181st of 196, with holders able to visit 24 destinations without a visa in advance. T…
Frequently asked questions about Finland
What do I need to travel to Finland?
How long must my passport be valid for Finland?
Where is Finland?
What is Finland known for?
What is the capital of Finland?
What language is spoken in Finland?
What currency does Finland use?
What is the calling code of Finland?
Which countries border Finland?
How strong is the Finnish passport?
What is the speed limit in Finland?
Is Finland safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Finland?
What plug type does Finland use?
How many airports does Finland have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.