Practical information

• Currency and Money Exchange
• Credit Card
• Time zone in Helsinki
• Average temperature in May
• Public holidays
• Official language
• Religion
• Hours of work/business/shopping
• Health/Emergencies in Helsinki
• Phone services
• Electricity
• Shopping in Helsinki
• Smoking

Currency and Money Exchange

The Finnish currency is Euro (€) (EUR).

Currency converter

Finnish banks are open from Monday to Friday 09.15 - 16.15 (office hours may vary regionally), closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Finns use less physical cash in their transactions than any other nation, but ATMs for cash withdrawal are fairly widespread and marked by the sign OTTO. Most major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and EuroCard can be used for payment in most shops and restaurants.

Thanks to EU rules, withdrawing euro from a cash machine costs you the same anywhere in the EU as it does in your own country from a cash machine that does not belong to your bank. The transaction fee for making a debit or credit card payment in the EU in euro is the same as in your own country. Charges may of course differ between banks.

In Helsinki foreign currency and travellers' cheques can be exchanged in several currency exchange offices in the city centre, including Forex in the Railway Station, in Mannerheimintie opposite The Department Store Stockmann and in the Esplanade. Other exchange points are at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, The Department Store Stockmann, Katajanokka Ferry Terminal and Olympia Ferry Terminal.

Credit Card

American Express, Diner's Club, Eurocard, Access, Master Card and Visa are accepted in hotels, restaurants, larger shops, and department stores. Visa Electron is also accepted in many shops and department stores.

Time zone in Helsinki

Time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The time difference between Eastern U.S. Standard Time and Finnish Standard Time is 7 hours. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is in effect during the winter as in the rest of the European Union. Finland is always one hour ahead of Central European Time (CET) and two hours ahead of time in the UK and Ireland. The 24-hour timetable is usually followed, so shop signs might read as follows, for example: 09.00-21.00 (meaning from nine to nine), or 07.00-19.00 (seven to seven). 

Average temperature in May

The annual changes in temperature are of crucial importance for Finland's climate. It is natural to distinguish between seasons using thermal criteria, with seasons defined by the daily mean temperatures of 0°C and 10°C. however, with this method the limits and lengths of seasons can vary greatly from year to year.

In summer, the mean daily temperature is consistently above 10°C. Summer usually begins in late May in southern Finland and lasts until mid-September.

The current weather and a 5-day forecast in Helsinki:

http://www.foreca.com/eng/weather/  

Public holidays

There are a dozen official holidays in Finland, 10 church holidays and only two other national holidays, May Day on May 1st, also known as Vappu, and Independence Day on December 6th.

Official language

Finland is officially bilingual: Finnish is the first language of 92%, and Swedish of 5.5% of the population. About 1,700 people in Lapland speak Sami (Lapp) languages.

Religion

Christianity reached Finland about 1000 years ago, more or less simultaneously from east and west. As a consequence, both the Evangelical-Lutheran and Orthodox churches still have the status of official religions. Some 82,4% of the population belong to the former and about 1% to the latter, and both faiths are protected under a constitution that guarantees freedom of religion.

The first Sunday morning service (in Finnish or Swedish) in Lutheran churches is usually held at 10.00.

English language services are held on Sunday at 10.00 Merirasti Chapel, Jaluspolku 3, Meri-Rastila (Vuosaari), Helsinki and at 14.00 Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki. 

German language services are held in Helsinki at the German Church, Unioninkatu 1, at 11.00 on Sundays, and alternately in other major cities.

Other places of worship: Helsinki also has a Mormon church, a Jewish synagogue and mosques. Other places of worship in Helsinki: Adventist, Anglican, Baptist, Free Church, Methodist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and Salvation Army.

Read more from www.churches.fi.

Hours of work/business/shopping

Opening hours below are a general guide, and there may be local and seasonal variations.

Business and State/Municipality services

• Weekdays: from 08.00 – 09.00 to 16.00 - 17.00

Shops

• Weekdays: from 07.00 - 09.00 to 20.00 - 21.00      
• Saturdays: from 09.00  to 15.00 - 18.00 
• Sundays: closed 
• Sundays (some shops): 12.00 - 21.00 throughout the year
• On public holidays: closed   
• On Christmas Eve and Midsummer Eve: closing time at 13.00
• Railway Station tunnel in Helsinki: daily until 22.00

Alko Stores (the only outlets for wines and spirits) 

• Mon - Thu: 09.00 - 18.00 (20.00)   
• Fri: 09.00 - 20.00
• Sat: 09.00 - 16.00 (18.00)     

Health/Emergencies in Helsinki

To contact the emergency services in any EU country from any phone, fixed or mobile, dial 112, free of charge. Information about health care available in Helsinki round the clock: Ph. +358 - 9 10023 (when calling from Finland: 09 10023).

For details of dental services from 09.00 to 21.00, call tel. +358-(0)9 736 166. 24-hour emergency hospital treatment for foreigners with doctors on duty around the clock: Helsinki University Central Hospital: Töölö Hospital (serious accidents), Topeliuksenkatu 5, tel. +358-(0)9 4711 and Meilahti Hospital (medicine and surgery), Haartmaninkatu 4, tel. +358-(0)9 4711. The telephone numbers in other towns are available at hotels.

Medical services: Medicines are sold at pharmacies (Apteekki). Some pharmacies have late opening hours. In Helsinki, the pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96, tel. +358-(0)300 - 20 200, has 24-hour service. All hospitals have doctors on duty round the clock. In emergencies patients should be directed to a health centre or hospital emergency unit.

24-hour Ambulance and Air Medical Transport Service is also available by Euro-Flite Air Ambulance Service at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport.

Finland is one of Europe's safest countries in terms of health and hygiene. No vaccinations or inoculations are required before arrival. Finnish pharmacies are well stocked with all the basic medicines, but note that some medicines that are available in stores and supermarkets in other countries - such as Aspirin and various ointments - are only available in pharmacies in Finland.

Stores have a good choice of lactose-free dairy products, for example - look for the words ‘hyla' (low on lactose) or 'Laktoositon' (no lactose at all) on the package.

Phone services

Calls from Finland

By direct dialling:

• 1. dial the international prefix (00, 990, 994 or 999)
  2. the country code (without the general prefix 0)
  3. the trunk code (without the general prefix 0 or to Spain without 9)
  4. the subscriber's number

For international number enquiries and tariff information dial 020208.

Calls to Finland

To call Finland from abroad first dial the international prefix of the country you call from, second the country code to Finland (+358), third the trunk code without the prefix 0, fourth the subscriber's number.

Calls in Finland

To make an automatic call in Finland, the trunk code is used with the prefix 0. To book a manual long-distance call dial 020222. For tariff information, dial 9800-8353. For number enquiries dial 020202. For information on mobile phones dial 9800-7000. Besides telephone booths and hotels, calls can be made from local post and tele offices.

Area Codes

The trunk prefix for calls made within Finland is 0, and the international access code for calls out of Finland is the pan-European prefix 00. Callers to Finland abroad should first dial the country code, 358, and then the area code, without the first (0).

Electricity

The electric current in Finland is 220 V (230 V), 50 Hz. A two-pin plug system, familiar throughout Europe, is used. Adapters are available in airport shops.

Shopping in Helsinki

Numerous Finnish products such as food, hides, skins, leather, undressed and dressed fur, yarns, fabrics, footwear, furniture, toys, sports goods and drinks, are exported and are recognised for their consistently high quality.

Anyone permanently resident outside the EU and Norway can shop tax free in Finland, thus saving about 12 (max. 16) per cent on purchases of over 40 euros.

Stores with TAX FREE SHOPPING signs will provide customers with a cheque covering the VAT refund; this can be cashed on leaving the last EU country visited.

The cheque, together with the goods purchased, should be presented at the point of departure. The refund will be paid in cash. Tax-free purchases must be taken out of Finland or the EU in unused condition.

If the goods are carried out of the EU from any country other than Finland, Sweden, Norway or Denmark, the cheque must be stamped by the customs upon departure from the last EU country. The cheque can also be cashed at Global Refund offices at all main airports.

Tipping culture is almost non-existent in Finland, although it has become more common recently. Service charges are included in hotel room rates, restaurant and taxi prices, so tips are not expected, but can be given if you think the service has been especially good.

A cloakroom fee of about 2 euros for restaurant doormen should be clearly indicated in the cloakroom area.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted indoors in public buildings and other places open to the public, except in designated smoking zones. These zones are not available in facilities for children and other persons under eighteen. Smoking is also prohibited on trains, trams, buses or aircraft, schools and other educational institutions, offices and other places of work. In Finland you have to be 18 years old to buy cigarettes or other tobacco products.