Finland : Safety by City
Finland, a country in Northern Europe, bordering with Russia, Norway and Sweden, is often considered a jewel of Northern Europe. It boasts breathtaking landscapes and the fact that it is the homeland of everyone’s favorite guy – Santa! But apart from its natural beauties, landscapes, Baltic seashore and wonderful islands, it is also modern welfare state with comfortable and cozy little towns and cities.
Still, nature is definitely Finland’s biggest pride: it boasts about 188,000 lakes and about the same amount of islands, and as if that weren’t enough – if you’re lucky – you may even see the Northern Lights up in the north of the country during winter, and the midnight sun in the summer. Another natural beauty the Finns also call their own is the mythical mountain of Korvatunturi, the home of Santa Claus, which fills the country with Santa fans.
Warnings & Dangers in Finland
OVERALL RISK : LOW
Finland is very safe to visit, and its capital, Helsinki, is ranked 9th on the list of safest and most dangerous cities in the world. Use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW
Transportation in Finland is very safe and reliable, even though the roads can get a bit dangerous during winter. Also, be careful on public transport, as it's the place where pickpockets operate.
PICKPOCKETS RISK : LOW
Helsinki is filled with tourists, and naturally it attracts a bunch of pickpockets and here's the strange part: they are usually foreigners! Be careful when carrying your valuables and never leave them out of your sight.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW
As for natural disasters, Finland is threatened by occasional flooding during winter, as well as snow storms: snow can start falling as early as November and continue falling until May and many parts and cities of Finland have a thick layer of blanket of snow. However, generally, Finland doesn't have many natural disasters to worry about.
MUGGING RISK : LOW
Do not fear mugging or kidnapping in Finland, since it is a rare occurrence here. Still, do not accept any unsolicited help or drinks from anyone you don't know (even though drink spiking is also not an issue in this country).
TERRORISM RISK : LOW
There haven't been recent terrorist attacks in Finland, but they shouldn't be ruled out, so you should remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK : LOW
Finland is not actually known for scams, but where there are tourists - there will always be scams. Bear in mind that Finnish police are one of the least corrupt in the world, and they never take money to let you off the hook. So do not ever give money to a person who presents him/herself as a police officer.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW
Women traveling alone should have no problems in Finland. You should use your common sense, and be careful at night, avoid desert and poorly lit streets, and finding yourself alone with strange people in abandoned areas. Apart from that, you should have no safety problems in Finland.
So... How Safe Is Finland Really?
Generally, Finland is a very safe country to visit. It has fairly low crime rates and if you follow common sense and remain vigilant at all times, you should have no problems in Finland. Be careful at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday after the young people of Finland go to bars and clubs to get drunk and, in some cases, intentionally look for trouble.
Pickpockets aren’t common, but they do operate from time to time, especially during the tourist season, which means during summer but an interesting fact is that pickpockets in this case are almost always foreigners. Most Finns feel very safe carrying their wallets in their pockets or purses. It is common for parents to leave their sleeping babies in a baby carriage on the street while visiting a shop, and in the countryside it is common to leave cars and house doors unlocked. However, what does get stolen are bikes: you have to be very careful if you plan on buying or renting a bicycle. Bicycle thieves very commonly operate, so never leave your bike unlocked even for a minute.
Useful Information
- Visas - Most countries do not need a visa to enter Finland for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than than, you will have to obtain a visa. Finnish government might require for you to prove your paying ability, in order to prove you are able to finance your entire trip. Also, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned date of return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
- Currency - The official currency in Finland is euro. ATMs are widely available and credit cards accepted in most establishments. It is advised that you exchange your money in official banks and exchange offices.
- Weather - The best time to visit Finland varies from month to month and depends on the goal of your trip: for plenty of snow and winter activities, spending time with Santa in Lapland and riding a husky driven sleigh, December to March is the best time for you. For springtime sun and fresh post-winter air, April to May is the period. For long and warm summer days, opt for June, July and August. During summer days, the temperature is about 15-20°C, and during winter, the temperature drops as low as -25 °C.
- Airports - The main and busiest airport in Finland is the Helsinki Airport in Vantaa. Helsinki-Malmi is the second-busiest airport in Finland.
- Travel Insurance - Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Finland, since it covers not only medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.
