Banks: 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 21:00, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday
Museums: 11:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday, some open on Monday
Business Offices: 08:00 to 16:15, Monday to Friday

Visitors to Finland are presented with no particular threats in regard to safety.
Compared to other EU countries, crime rates are low and though organised crime syndicates from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are active in the larger cities, they present little concern for regular holiday makers. Be sure to use general common sense when in the cities, since this will aid in making sure that you don’t end up victim to criminals. Pickpockets can be foiled by carrying wallets or purses in front pockets and avoiding unlit and deserted areas at night can help avert you being targeted by street thieves. 

Electricity: 230V at 50 Hz, round two pin plugs are standard

No vaccinations are necessary to visit Finland and there are no diseases particularly rife in any region of the country. Visitors from the EU are no more in danger of falling sick than in their home countries. Water is completely safe to drink, though visitors may not be used to its taste and may rather buy bottled water, which is comparatively cheap and available in big bottles from supermarkets. Health care services and standards in Finland are very high and most medical professionals speak good English. 

Herttoniemi Hospital: +358 9 310 5511
Emergency services: 112

Finnish is different from other Scandinavian languages in that it is more closely related to eastern European languages such as Hungarian. There is also a large Swedish speaking minority. English is widespread and commonly understood and visitors will have no difficulties communicating.

The currency used nation-wide is the Euro, which comes in denominations of € 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5, while coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros.

All banks provide currency exchange services for both cash and travellers cheques with a fee invariably charged for both. If you urgently require exchange services outside of regular banking hours, bureau de change kiosks can be found at all of the main airports. The majority of ATMs will let you withdraw cash with your domestic card; however, a fee may be levied by both the bank you withdraw from as well as your own bank back home.

No restrictions are imposed on taking alcohol and tobacco in and out of Finland from other EU countries, though these goods are only meant to be carried as gifts or for personal use. Problems may come up when amounts imply individuals are planning to sell the products. Visitors from outside the EU are allowed to bring in or take out no more than 200 cigarettes, one litre of spirits and two litres of wine.

Finland does not have many culturally deep-rooted social conventions and visitors from the EU will find that normal rules concerning good manners and courteous behaviour are valid. A handshake is the customary greeting and it is a good idea to honour dinner invitations to local homes with a small gesture such as flowers or a bottle of wine. Due to the reserved nature of Finns, dinner invitations can seem somewhat formal, although these barriers normally fade away as the meal progresses. Removing your footwear prior to entering someone’s house is polite and respectful.

Dining Etiquette
If you are dining at someone’s house, remove your shoes before you enter. Get in touch with the hostess in advance to ask if she would like you to bring a dish and offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. If the invitation is for coffee and cake, there may well be as many as seven cakes to sample. Discussing business during the meal is not appropriate. Thank the hosts for the hospitality before bidding good-bye to the other guests. If you are at a restaurant, normal rules apply such as honouring the toasts and engaging in polite conversation.

Visitors from Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway may enter Finland without a passport, while visitors from Schengen countries can enter with a valid passport or ID card. Arrivals from all other countries need a valid passport to enter. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA do not require visas for stays up to 90 days.

The Helsinki City Tourist office is open at different times during the year. From May to September, it is open from 09:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekend. From October to April, it is open from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 16:00 on weekends. The office is located at Pohjoisespl 19, Esplanadi, Helsinki, 00100. They can be contacted by calling: +358 9 169 3757; or alternatively visit their website at: www.hel.fi/tourism.