A little more
Finland.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Finland: what to know before you go

Finland is a Nordic country of forests and lakes, with a design-minded capital on the Baltic, a vast Lakeland in the south and east, and Lapland in the far north, where the northern lights, reindeer and the midnight sun draw visitors. Saunas are part of daily life and the outdoors is open to everyone. It suits nature lovers, winter-activity fans, families and travellers looking for calm and space.

Where to go

• Helsinki. A compact capital on the sea, with the white Lutheran Cathedral above Senate Square, the market square by the harbour, the Oodi central library and design shops in the Design District.
• Suomenlinna. A sea fortress built across several islands at the entrance to Helsinki's harbour, reached by public ferry.
• Lapland and the northern lights. Finland's far north offers husky and reindeer sledding, snowshoeing and ski resorts such as Levi and Saariselkä.
• Rovaniemi. Lapland's capital sits on the Arctic Circle and is the home of Santa Claus Village, especially popular in December.

Best time to visit

June to August is the warmest period, with long days and the midnight sun in Lapland; Midsummer (Juhannus) in late June is a major celebration, although many Finns head to the countryside. Autumn brings bright colours, called ruska, in Lapland in September.

Staying online in Finland

Finland has excellent mobile coverage across most of the country, with fast 4G and 5G in cities and towns and good coverage along roads even in rural areas. Signal can weaken in remote wilderness in northern Lapland, deep in forests, on some small islands and in national parks far from villages. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, trains, libraries and hotels. Finland is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans; visitors from elsewhere should check roaming costs. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.