The main influence on the climate in Finland is the country's geographical position which means that (depending on the direction of the air flow at the time) it displays signs of a continental climate as well as a maritime one.


The temperature in Finland is much higher on average than in other comparable areas such as Greenland or Siberia. This higher temparature is attributable to the warming effect of the Baltic Sea, and the warm winds which come from the Atlantic.


On the whole, Finland experiences cold, wet winters, with average temperatures no lower than 10°C in the warmest months but equally never going above an average of -3°C in the colder months. The country experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year.

Even if you normally only stay in hotels – once you’re in Finland, try one of their hostels as they are said to be amazing as well as being well priced. The Finnish Youth Hostel Association's hostel chain (Hostelling International Finland) comprises 88 hostels, including youth hostels, and family hostels, as well as Finnhostels and summer hotels. Half of all the hostels listed there are open all year round, the other half is only open during summer. The hostels vary in their standard and type, as well as in the minimum and maximum length of your stay.

Normal opening hours for banks are 09.15 - 16.15 Monday to Friday. For most shops they are 09.00 - 18.00 during the week and 09.00 - 15.00 on Saturdays. Only a very limited number of shops are open on Sundays including those at major rail stations and some petrol stations. Larger stores' opening hours are likely to be longer than this and they will not shut at lunch time which smaller shops often do do. Larger stores are also normally open on Sundays.

Citizens of the EU (as well as citizens of the EEA countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) do not need a visa to stay in Finland, as long as they do not intend to stay longer than 3 months. Proof of identity will always be required, a passport would be best since it is the most common and most recognized form of identification.


Citizens from countries other than EU, EEA or Nordic countries must get a visa before entering Finland.

Tips are not expected, not even in restaurants, since the service is always included.


If you’d like to show your appreciation of excellent service, feel free to tip -the recipient is normally pleased. Be warned however that sometimes tips are declined since they can be viewed as insulting, as if the waiter/barperson only helped to get tipped in return!

After the Communist revolution in 1917, the Finnish senate declared independence from the Russian tsar. After this a bitter, though short civil war broke out when the leftwing parties undertook a coup to force the conservative government from power. After just 5 months the government troops regained control and the civil war ended.


For a time Finland had wanted to establish a monarchy and had even decided on a German Prince to take on the Finnish throne. This plan was abandoned following Germany's defeat in WW1 whereafter Finland chose instead to become a republic.


When in 1939 Finland refused to allow the Soviet Union to build military bases on its territory, it was attacked despite a non-agression pact which had been signed in 1932. The Finnish troops' defence of the nation against the might of the soviets has since become legendary and it is one of only a few countries in the region to never have been occupied in the war.


In 1941, Finland fought the Russians again in the Continuation War which ended in armistace in Sept 1944.


Finland persued an active policy of neutrality during the Cold War as evidenced by initiatives such as its hosting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Helsinki in 1975.


After WW2 Finland developed its welfare system and economy. It quickly recovered from post-war recession, and experience rapdic economic growth and change as it moved from an agricultural to a industrial and technology-based economy.


It became a member of the EU in 1995 and adopted the Euro in 1999.

The Finnish political party system has been relatively stable for the last 100 years. The gap between the different parties is centered around certain specific issues namely the ideal of nationality, the language issue (Swedish people are a minority, still it is the official language), the socialist vs. non-socialist divide, and how the rural population is represented. The division of the political Left is also important in terms of its impact on the political landscape.


Finland has a multiparty system, that can be summarised as follows: the three biggest parties each have 20-25% of popular support and six smaller parties form for the remainder. The environmentalist Green League has recently gained influence to become a prominent minority.


Finnish government coalitions are often large, and their composition is often politically unconventional with varying political parties joining together.


Since 1982, all Presidents of the Republic have been members of the Social Democratic Party. Tarja Halonen became Finland's first female President in 2000, and she was re-elected in 2006.


Political parties in the 2007 parliament were: The Centre Party of Finland; The National Coalition Party; The Social Democratic Party of Finland; The Left Alliance; The Green League; The Christian Democrats; The True Finns; and The Swedish People's Party of Finland.

Compared to Sweden and Norway, Finland has a rather flat terrain. Nevertheless it is a country where nature’s beauty is omnipresent: there are no less than888 lakes with 98,050 islands and 32 national parks. Forests cover over two-thirds of the country's land area, whilst lakes and rivers make up nearly another tenth.


In the Lakeland and Lapland areas, you’ll find forested hills and fells. This great abundance of wetland areas provides a perfect habitat for much flora and fauna including large numbers of waders and water birds.

The economy has changed incredibly since the second world ware when it was practically all based on the country's agriculture. It is now dominated by the manufacturing industry, especially engineering, and electronics and telecommunications (just think of mobile phone giant Nokia!).


In terms of new technology, the Finns are frequently able to beat the Americans or Japanese in respect of innovation such that places like Helsinki or Oulu have attracted many high-tech companies to set up there.


The country is now one of the richest 15in the world in GDP per head terms despite being one of the smallest members of the EU and contributing less than 2% of the EUs GDP. It relies heavily on its natural resources and exploits these to its benefit, but it has also developed new areas of competitive advantage, most notably perhaps in its intellectual property. It has a highly skilled workforce following years of investment in a world-leading educational system.


The World Economic Forum called Finland ‘ the world’s most competitive country’.