Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Finland. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in Finland, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do during your Finland vacation!
Don’t Be Loud
The Finns are very quiet, reserved people. It’s pretty quiet in Finland, so if you are a person that talks loud, you will stick out in a crowd. If you want to blend in on your Finland trip, be aware of your surroundings and try to match the volume of the people around you.
Don’t Insult Finnish Pride
Finns love their country and have a lot of national pride. A big part of Finnish culture is the sauna, which is pronounced like “sow-na” not “saw-na” as we say it in the States. Make sure you say it correctly or you will be outed as a tourist immediately.
Don’t Be Modest in the Sauna
When you go to the sauna, and you should absolutely experience a sauna in Finland, you will most likely be in the nude. They are generally divided by gender, so you don’t have to be worried about that. You can wear a towel if you want to, but the general style is to be nude for the sauna.
Don’t Be Scared by the Language
Learning Finnish is nearly impossible, as it’s a very difficult language to learn. But that should not stop you from visiting Finland because many of the people in Finland speak English.
Don’t Skip Learning a Few Finnish Words
Having said that, it always helps to learn a few words of the local language, no matter where you are traveling. Even just a few basics, like hello, thank you, and please, will go a long way towards helping you meet locals and getting to know the local culture a bit better.
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Don’t Be Surprised When Cities Have Two Names
Finland actually has two official languages; Finnish and Swedish. So you’ll see most signs in both languages. So, the city of Turku is Turku in Finnish but is Abo in Swedish. They aren’t even similar, so it can be very confusing when you are traveling around Finland.
Don’t Lump Finland in With Scandinavia
This applies more outside of Finland. If you are in Sweden or Norway and you refer to Finland as being part of Scandinavia, the Swedes and Norwegians might get in a huff about it. Technically, Finland is not part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, it’s more of the Nordic region.
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Don’t Favor Sweden over Finland in Comparisons
Finland was controlled by Sweden for a long time, so there’s a lot of history there between the two countries, and a rivalry remains today. But more importantly, there is a huge hockey rivalry between the two countries. If you’re in Finland, you better side with favoring the Finnish teams.
Don’t Wear Your Shoes In a Finnish Home
If you are lucky enough to be invited over to a Finn’s house for dinner, do not wear your shoes inside. It’s considered rude to wear your shoes indoors. Many homes will have slippers you can wear inside.
Don’t Forget to Bring a Small Gift
It’s also a tradition to bring a small gift when you are invited to someone’s home. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, just a small token of appreciation. Candies, flowers or wine are all appropriate gifts to bring to someone’s home.
Don’t Eat Black Salmiakki Candy (Unless You Like Black Licorice)
You’ll find a ton of great candy in Finland. But a local may try to trick you into eating salmiakki, which is a really salty black licorice candy. If you’re not used to it, it’s quite a shock. In all fairness, you should give it a try, but I don’t recommend buying it in bulk. One piece is probably enough.
Don’t Expect One or Two-Cent Coins
They don’t use one or two-cent coins in Finland. So, if you are paying for something that comes to 1.98, they will round up and you won’t get any change back.
Don’t Steal the Moose Signs
For some reason, tourists love to steal the “Moose Crossing” signs. Don’t do that!
Don’t Worry About Tipping in Finland
The wages in Finland are pretty good, so tipping your waiter is not customary here like it is in other countries.
Don’t Disobey Rules and Laws
The reason Finland is such a safe travel destination is that they are very much law-abiding people. They take rules seriously, including not jaywalking or cutting lines.
Don’t Forget Your Bug Spray
A great part of Finland is the Lake District, but don’t forget to bring bug spray!
Don’t Miss Out on Nature in Finland
Helsinki and Turku are great, but don’t miss out on all of the other places to visit in Finland! There are so many islands, lakes, and forests to explore. If you visit in the winter, Finnish Lapland is a winter wonderland and a great place to experience the Nordic culture and the Northern Lights.
Don’t Forget to Pack Layers
Finland weather can be finicky, so be prepared for any weather, no matter the season. Even in the summer, you’ll need a few layers of clothing as it can get pretty cold.
Don’t skip out on a Finland vacation! Very few tourists come here, but they are all missing out by not visiting Finland. It’s such a beautiful country with nature and cities and wonderful people. It’s not as expensive as you might think! Looking for more tips on visiting Scandinavia? Check out these blog posts!