Helsinki survival basics

Euros. Card accepted almost everywhere, Apple Pay and Google Pay included. Cash is rare. Even coffee kiosks and farmers\' markets take cards.

Tipping. Not expected. Service is included in the bill. Some people round up or leave one or two euros for great service. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip. Hotel staff, same.

Prices. Helsinki is one of the more expensive cities in Europe. Budget about 15 euro for a casual lunch, 25-40 for a mid-range dinner, 6-8 for a pint, 5 for coffee.

Public transport. HSL runs trams, buses, commuter trains, metro, and the Suomenlinna ferry. A day ticket is 11 euro (ABC zones, covers Vantaa and Espoo). Buy via the HSL app on your phone. Under-7s travel free. Pram travellers enter the middle doors of trams and buses and ride free.

Walking. Central Helsinki is compact. Most of the walks on this site are 2-5 km and flat.

Taxis and Uber. Uber, Bolt and regular Finnish taxis all run. Fares are high. A 3 km ride is 15-20 euro. Public transport is faster in the centre.

Tap water. Free. Excellent. Some restaurants bring a jug without asking, some ask. It is never bottled unless you ask.

Lunch menus. Many restaurants do a fixed-price lunch, 11-16 euro, often including a starter and coffee. Look for "lounas" on the window sign. Served weekdays roughly 11-14.

Alcohol. Wine, spirits and strong beer are only sold in state shops called Alko. Supermarkets stock beer and cider up to 5.5% only. Alko closes at 21:00 weekdays, 18:00 Saturdays, closed Sundays.

Vegetarian. Easy. Most places have a clearly marked vegan option. It is not a niche here.

Finns take sauna seriously and will not judge you if you do it "wrong". They will notice if you do not shower first.

Shower before entering. Every time.

Swimwear. Required in mixed-gender public saunas (Sompasauna, Löyly, Allas). Not used in single-gender traditional saunas, where nobody will stare.

Sit on a towel. Skin on wood is not okay. Bring one or rent one.

Silence is fine. Talking is fine. Shouting is not. Phones off.

Beer and food in the sauna. Water is normal, a low-alcohol beer after is normal, alcohol in the sauna itself is not.

Personal space. Finns queue by standing farther apart than other Europeans. The gap is not an invitation to jump it.

Small talk. Uncommon, not rude. Silence on a bus is normal, not awkward. You do not need to fill it.

Shoes indoors. In a Finnish home, always off at the door. In cafés, shops and restaurants, keep them on. Do not confuse the two.

Greetings. A handshake is standard, a hug is not unless you know the person. Kissing cheeks is not a Finnish habit.

Queuing. Take a number where machines offer them (pharmacies, post, public services). No number, just wait in line.

Summer (June-August). 15-25°C, long daylight, occasional rain. T-shirt plus a light jacket. Swimming weather at least three weeks of the year.

Autumn (September-October). 5-15°C, beautiful foliage, reliable rain. Waterproof shoes.

Winter (November-March). -5 to -15°C normal, colder in cold snaps, darkness from about 15:30 in December. Warm coat, hat, gloves, insulated boots. The city clears streets faster than most, but footwear matters.

Spring (April-May). Awkward. 0-10°C, slush, bright sun. Layers.

Rain is never torrential. An umbrella is fine. Locals often use hooded jackets.

Emergency number. 112 for police, ambulance, fire. English works.

Helsinki is very safe. Violent crime is rare, even at night in central neighbourhoods. Pickpocketing exists in summer tourist crowds, standard caution.

Pharmacies (apteekki). Green cross sign. Yliopiston Apteekki in Mannerheimintie 96 is open 24/7 for emergencies.

Healthcare. For non-EU visitors, private clinics like Mehiläinen and Terveystalo see walk-ins same-day, cost 80-150 euro for a consultation. EU visitors with EHIC can use public clinics.

Wi-Fi. Free in cafés, libraries, train stations, the metro, the central market halls. Password usually on the receipt.

Mobile data. EU visitors roam with no extra cost. Non-EU, buy a prepaid SIM at any R-kioski, 15-25 euro gets you a month of data.

Power. Type C and F plugs, 230V, same as continental Europe.

Finnish and Swedish are official. Nearly everyone under 50 speaks decent to fluent English. You can do a whole trip in English and cause no inconvenience.

Two Finnish words that are worth knowing:

• Kiitos (kee-toss) = thank you
• Hei = hello and goodbye

You will be thanked for trying and nobody will correct your pronunciation.

Finns do not jaywalk. If the light is red and there is no car in sight at 4 a.m., people still wait. Join them.

Every tap in the country runs drinkable water, including gas station bathrooms.

Libraries are used, heavily, and not just for books. Oodi in the centre is busier than most shopping centres.

It is considered normal to leave a pram with a sleeping baby outside a café while you go in. It is equally normal for nobody to bother it.

On 1 May (Vappu) the whole city gets drunk in Kaivopuisto and it is fine.