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Finland travel guide

A June trip that pairs Helsinki and the south coast with Rovaniemi and Kuusamo in the north

Best: Jun

Photo: Tanika Pietilä / Pexels

Capital
Helsinki
Languages
Finnish, Swedish
Currency
Euro
Time zone
UTC+02:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
EU and Schengen area

Why visit Finland

Finland suits a summer trip that mixes city time with the far north. Start in Helsinki or Turku on the coast, add Tampere or Savonlinna inland, then head north to Rovaniemi or Kuusamo. June is the best month for the country as a whole. Helsinki also works in August, and Rovaniemi and Kuusamo in July. The honest limit is the short window. Outside June to August, none of these cities are in their best months.

  • June is the clear best month

    June is the top month for Finland as a whole. It is also the best month for Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Savonlinna, Rovaniemi and Kuusamo. If you can only pick one month, pick June. For most cities, the data does not point to a second good month.

  • Helsinki gives you two good months

    The capital is a coastal city of 694392 people. It has a slightly wider window than most of the country: both June and August work well. If June is booked or too expensive for you, August in Helsinki is a sound fallback.

  • Rovaniemi and Kuusamo in early summer

    The inland towns of Rovaniemi and Kuusamo are small. Rovaniemi has 65329 people and Kuusamo has 15019. Both are best in June and July, so they suit travellers who want more time than June alone and fewer people around.

  • A coast of smaller cities

    Beyond Helsinki, Finland has several coastal cities: Turku, Oulu and the smaller town of Rauma. Turku, with 209633 people, is at its best in June. You can combine it easily with a trip to Helsinki.

  • Lots of space, simple logistics

    Finland has 5659324 people spread across 338424 km², so it rarely feels crowded. It uses the euro and drives on the right. Plugs are types C and F at 230 V, and the emergency number is 112. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages.

Is Finland right for you?

Great for

  • Summer city breaks in June, when Helsinki highs average 18.7°C with 14.7 hours of sun
  • Travellers who dislike heat: even July highs in Helsinki average only 20.5°C
  • Coastal city trips linking Helsinki, Turku, Oulu and Rauma, all on the sea
  • Travellers wanting a real cold winter, with Helsinki January highs of -1.2°C and lows of -5.9°C
  • Eurozone visitors: Finland uses the euro and C and F plugs at 230 V

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidays: the sea near Helsinki peaks at just 19.5°C in August
  • Sun-seekers in winter: Helsinki gets only 1.3 hours of sun in December and 1.4 in January
  • Late autumn trips: November brings 14.5 rain days and just 2 hours of sun
  • Travellers hoping for a dry summer: August is the wettest month, with 83 mm of rain

Finland right now: October

1.8/10
Avg high
9°C
Avg low
5°C
Rain days
13
Sea
11°C

Averages for Helsinki.

Weather by month

In Helsinki (2015–2024 data), June is the best month, with highs of about 19°C, 14.7 hours of sun a day and 9.9 rain days, while July and August are almost as good but wetter. Avoid October to April, when it is cold and dark, with highs of -1.2°C in January and just 1.3 hours of sun a day in December.

Average highs and lows in Helsinki by month January: high -1°C, low -6°C , 14 rain days . February: high -1°C, low -5°C , 12 rain days . March: high 2°C, low -4°C , 11 rain days . April: high 7°C, low 0°C , 10 rain days . May: high 14°C, low 6°C , 9 rain days . June: high 19°C, low 11°C , 10 rain days . July: high 21°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . August: high 20°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . September: high 15°C, low 10°C , 11 rain days . October: high 9°C, low 5°C , 13 rain days . November: high 4°C, low 1°C , 15 rain days . December: high 1°C, low -2°C , 14 rain days . -1°C -6°C JAN 14d -1°C -5°C FEB 12d 2°C -4°C MAR 11d 7°C 0°C APR 10d 14°C 6°C MAY 9d 19°C 11°C JUN 10d 21°C 14°C JUL 13d 20°C 14°C AUG 13d 15°C 10°C SEP 11d 9°C 5°C OCT 13d 4°C 1°C NOV 15d 1°C -2°C DEC 14d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Helsinki · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Finland: month-by-month weather →

Finland's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Southern Finland

    Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Savonlinna

    Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Savonlinna have cold winters, with January highs around -2°C, and mild summers near 21°C in July. Expect about 142 rain days a year. June is the best month.

    Best: Jun

  • Finnish Lapland

    Rovaniemi, Kuusamo

    Rovaniemi and Kuusamo are much colder in winter, with January highs around -7.5°C. July highs reach about 19°C. There are about 145 rain days a year. June and July are the best months.

    Best: Jun, Jul

Where to go in Finland

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Helsinki, Tampere and Turku in a week

  1. Day 1–3

    Helsinki

    Start in the capital, the largest city on this route. Helsinki is on the coast, so leave time to walk by the sea. Its best months are June and August.

  2. Day 4–5

    Tampere

    Head inland to Tampere, the biggest city on this route away from the coast. June is its best month, so this route works best as an early-summer trip.

  3. Day 6–7

    Turku

    Finish back on the coast in Turku. It is smaller than Helsinki but still a real city. Like Tampere, its best month is June.

10 days

From Helsinki north to Rovaniemi and Kuusamo

  1. Day 1–3

    Helsinki

    Begin in the capital. Helsinki is the largest city on this route and sits on the coast. June and August are its best months.

  2. Day 4–5

    Tampere

    Move inland to Tampere, the biggest city on this route away from the sea. Its best month is June, which also suits the stops further north.

  3. Day 6–8

    Rovaniemi

    Go north to Rovaniemi, a much smaller inland city of about 65329 people. Its best months are June and July, so plan this route for early summer.

  4. Day 9–10

    Kuusamo

    End in Kuusamo, the smallest place on this route, with about 15019 people. Expect a quiet, small-town stay. June and July are its best months.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Kluuvi and Kaartinkaupunki (city centre)

Helsinki

Good for first-timers, short stays

This is the core of Helsinki, close to the Esplanadi park, Market Square and the main railway station. You can walk to most sights and ferry terminals. It is the busiest part of the city, so expect crowds and some street noise in summer.

Keskusta (city centre)

Tampere

Good for first-timers, short stays, nightlife

The compact grid between the two lakes, split by the Tammerkoski rapids, puts the railway station, shops, restaurants and the Finlayson and Tampella former mill areas within walking distance. It is the easiest base if you have little time and no car. Drawback: streets near the station and the arena can be loud on event nights and weekend evenings.

Keskusta (City Centre around Kauppatori)

Turku

Good for first-timers, short stays, shopping

The grid of streets around the Market Square and Market Hall is the practical heart of Turku, with most shops, cafés and bus connections close by. You can walk to the river, the cathedral and most sights. The drawback: streets with bars can be loud late on Friday and Saturday nights.

Santa Claus Village (Napapiiri)

Rovaniemi

Good for families with young children, Christmas trips

This area sits on the Arctic Circle north of the centre and is built around Santa's office, husky and reindeer activities, and cabin-style stays. Children can walk straight from their room to the attractions. The drawback is that it feels like a theme park, has few everyday services, and you need a bus, taxi or car to reach the town.

Ruka Village

Kuusamo

Good for first-timers, skiers, nightlife

The main village sits at the foot of Rukatunturi fell, with ski lifts, restaurants, shops and bars within walking distance. It is the easiest base if you want everything close by and do not plan to hire a car. Drawback: it gets crowded and busy in peak ski season, and bars can make evenings noisy near the centre.

Food to try in Finland

Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pie)

A thin rye crust filled with rice porridge, often topped with egg butter. Bakeries and supermarkets across Finland sell it, and people eat it for breakfast or as a snack.

Lohikeitto (salmon soup)

A creamy soup of salmon, potato, leek and dill. You will find it on lunch menus in cafés and restaurants, and many Finns also make it at home.

Poronkäristys (sautéed reindeer)

Thin slices of reindeer meat fried with onion, usually served with mashed potato and lingonberries. It is most closely linked to Lapland in the north.

Ruisleipä (rye bread)

Dark, dense and slightly sour rye bread. Finns eat it with almost every meal, often with butter, cheese or fish.

Korvapuusti (cinnamon bun)

A sweet bun rolled with cinnamon and flavoured with cardamom. It is a standard partner for coffee in cafés and bakeries.

Salmiakki (salty liquorice)

A strong, salty black liquorice sold in almost every shop and kiosk. Many visitors find the taste hard to like, so try a small bag first.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Finland uses plug types C and F, and the voltage is 230 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs are different. Check that your devices work at 230 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Finland drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts.
  • Emergency number: The emergency number in Finland is 112. Save it in your phone before you travel so you can find it quickly.
  • Currency: Finland uses the Euro. If you are coming from another Euro country, you do not need to change money.
  • Language: Finnish and Swedish are the languages of Finland. Learning a few basic words in Finnish is a polite way to start a conversation.
  • Time zone: Finland is on UTC+02:00. Check the time difference from home so you can plan calls and travel connections.
  • Calling code: The country calling code for Finland is +358. Use it when you call a Finnish number from abroad or save local contacts in your phone.

Finland: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Finland?

June is the best month to visit Finland, with a score of 7.7 out of 10. In Helsinki, June highs reach 18.7°C and lows are 11.4°C. There are 14.7 sun hours a day and only 9.9 rain days. May, July and August are also good. These climate figures are for Helsinki (2015–2024), so conditions further north may differ.

Is Finland good in August?

Yes, August is a good month for Finland, with a score of 7.1. Helsinki highs are 19.9°C, and the sea is at its warmest at 19.5°C. The downside is rain. August is the wettest month, with 83 mm over 12.7 rain days, so pack a rain jacket. Helsinki lists August among its best months, alongside June.

Should I visit Finland in winter?

Our data says avoid Finland from October to April if you want mild weather. In January, Helsinki highs are only -1.2°C and lows drop to -5.9°C. December gets just 1.3 sun hours a day, and November has 14.5 rain days. December scores 0.5 out of 10, the lowest of the year. These figures are for Helsinki only.

Can you swim in the sea in Finland?

Yes, but only in mid-summer, and the water stays cool. Near Helsinki the sea reaches 16.1°C in June, 18.6°C in July and 19.5°C in August. In April it is only 3.9°C, and in January it is close to freezing at 0.1°C. August is the warmest month for a swim.

Is September a good time to visit Finland?

September is an OK month, with a score of 5.6. Helsinki highs are 15.4°C and lows 10.1°C, so days are mild but cooler than summer. There are 8.2 sun hours a day and 70 mm of rain over 10.6 rain days. The sea is still 17.1°C. By October the score drops to 1.8.

What currency and plugs does Finland use?

Finland uses the Euro, and its plugs are types C and F at 230 V. Other basics: people drive on the right, the time zone is UTC+02:00, and the emergency number is 112. The calling code is +358. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Finland.