5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Finland

January 5, 2015

As a Westerner traveling to another Western country, I sometimes can get slightly lulled by a sense of familiarity. On the very surface, things appear to be similar to my home in the United States. It is easy for me to figure out transportation, use the grocery stores, and even the bathrooms, for example. In this way, when I visit Finland, it is much easier than when I travel to non-Western countries. And truthfully, Finland is very tourist-friendly. However, it is also its own unique country, and with that come a few things that would be useful to know before your trip to Finland!

5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Finland

1. Finns seem solemn, but they are far from cold

A popular stereotype of the Finns is that they are stern and quiet. Someone once even joked to me about my Finnish studies, “Wow, it must be hard to learn since Finns never talk!” I wouldn’t go that far, but it is true that, relatively speaking, Finns are not terribly effusive, especially with people they don’t know very well.

When I’m in Finland, I feel more than ever like a bouncy, gregarious, talkative American. In fact, the first few times I visited Finland, I had to remind myself that just because people don’t appear to be as excited as I am, doesn’t mean they hate me!

Far from it in fact—even though Finns seem outwardly reserved, they’re no less kind than people anywhere else. In fact, some of the most caring people I know are Finnish. So don’t be discouraged if people seem standoffish—that’s just how it is. And do note, this aloofness dissipates when Finns drink, which is not infrequently.

2. Finns love to know what people think of their country

I’m not sure if I have ever come across a nationality that is as curious about how people find their country as Finns are. No kidding, almost all of the comments I personally received about my article about Finnish phrases were from Finns!

In order to be a nice visitor, you’d do well to observe as you go and formulate answers to the question, “how do you find Finland?” as you’re traveling beyond, “oh, it’s nice.” People are genuinely curious, and not only would it be less awkward to have a more substantial answer prepared when you’re asked on the spot, but this is a great way to engage the quiet Finns in conversation!

5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Finland.

3. Swedish is an official language of Finland

Yes, Sweden is Finland’s neighbor and Finland was under Swedish rule for centuries. However, not only does Finland have its own distinct culture, but Finnish is not at all similar to Swedish or the other Scandinavian languages, Danish and Norwegian. Knowing Swedish would still be a plus in Finland though, because Swedish is recognized as an official language.

A sizeable minority, particularly in the Western part of the country closer to Sweden, speaks Swedish as their mother tongue. Because of Swedish’s official status, signs will be in two languages, Finnish and Swedish.

This can actually be helpful if you speak a Germanic language, as you may be able to guess at some of the Swedish. Things can get a little confusing, though, when it comes to names. Finnish cities have both Finnish and Swedish names. Some, such as Helsinki/Helsingfors are similar.

But Pori/Björneborg? Oulu/Uleåborg? Entirely different names for the same place! Don’t freak out if you’re on a train and see a sign with a name that is not what you expected, or if it seems like there are two cities in the place of one.

4. Finns don’t eat peels

: Too many preservatives? Photo by Leah Missik.

One day, my friend Elina offered me an apple. I gladly took it, rinsed it off, and started chomping. Elina, however, took a peeler, removed the skin from the apple, and then proceeded to eat it whole. I burst out laughing. Turns out Elina thought I was the odd one, though. Generally Finns don’t eat peels because of the chemicals that may be on them. The same goes for things like potato skins.

We had a great laugh when I told Elina that there is a dish called potato skins in the U.S. and this difference was a topic of conversation for quite awhile among our group.

So, you’ve been warned: if you start chowing down on an unpeeled piece of fruit, Finns might look at you slightly askew. That said, my friends told me they’re a bit more lax about Finnish produce, since it has fewer preservatives on it.

5. Nakedness is not something to be shy about

The sauna is a Finnish national institution. Growing up, most Finns have saunas in their homes and the family will go together in groups separated by gender. Thing is, in the sauna, you’re naked, even when you go with other people, which is usual. In fact, bathing suits are somewhat of a taboo—not to mention less physically comfortable in the heat!

Coming from a more body-shy society, public nakedness, especially in front of strangers, can take getting used to. However, I would strongly encourage you to mentally prepare yourself, swallow any embarrassment, bring a towel if you really must, and try the sauna out. Otherwise you’d be missing a huge part of Finnish culture and, if you’re crazy like me, you might even become a bit obsessed with it!

After awhile, you’ll forget about the whole awkward naked thing. In fact, it’s quite freeing and, in my opinion, promotes body acceptance. If you grow up seeing bodies all types and ages in person, rather than only airbrushed photos of the so-called ideal, you may feel less pressure to conform your body to a narrow standard. I didn’t have my first sauna experience until I was in my late teens, but even so, I honestly find it to be liberating and self-affirming.

Armed with this knowledge of Finnish tradition and peculiarities, you should be well prepared for your adventure! Embrace Finland for what it is, try new things, converse with others, and see what happens. You might just fall in love with this sleek yet quirky place like I did.

Visit Helsinki: 8 Things You'll Want to Do, 5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Finland