Finlandwhich, according to Newsweek magazine, is recognized as the best country in the world, is located in the northern part of Europe, and a quarter of its territory extends beyond the Arctic Circle. Finland's closest neighbors on land are Sweden, Norway and Russia, and it also borders Estonia (across the Gulf of Finland).
Today, about 5.4 million people will live in the country, of which the majority (93%) are Finns, and the ethnic composition of the country's population is represented by Swedes, Karelians, Finnish Tatars and Sami. According to their religious beliefs, the predominant part of the Finnish population belongs to Protestants, there are also Orthodox and representatives of other faiths. It is noteworthy that about 20% of Finns do not identify with any religion at all.
The official languages in Finland are Swedish and Finnish. By the way, if you know German and English, you can be sure that you will not remain incomprehensible to the Finns, since these languages are very common in the tourism and business sectors. The official currency of Finland is the euro.
Finland - the capital and major cities
The capital of Finland is Helsinki, it is here that the whole cultural, social and business life of the country is concentrated. Today, about 560 thousand people live there. Other large Finnish cities - Espoo, Tampere, are also popular with tourists from Turku, Porvoo, Oulu and Kuopio.
Finland - holidays and tours
Finland firmly holds one of the leading places among European countries in terms of tourist attendance. First of all, this is due to its magnificent nature: the purest picturesque lakes, dense forests and rocky shores. All this makes your stay in the country unforgettable and allows you to organize a vacation for visitors to the country with a variety of interests and needs.
In the summer, a large number of lakes with lots of fish makes attractive tours to Finland for avid fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts who can also take a boat trip on a cruise boat or a rented yacht. In the summer, when the sun in Finland does not fall below the horizon, thousands of travelers and lovers of the pristine northern nature flock here to relax from the bustle of cities, taking exciting hiking trips, or living in cozy cottages on the banks of numerous reservoirs.
Winter tours to Finland are popular with lovers of skiing and snowboarding, since almost ideal conditions are created for their relaxation. In Finland there are many ski centers with a variety of lifts and slopes, simple and complex. The most famous Finnish ski resorts are Salla, Ruka, Suomu, Levi and Ylläs. Winter lovers can also choose snowmobiling, dog and reindeer sledding, and winter fishing.
A special time for a winter holiday in Finland is the New Year and Christmas holidays, because the Finnish city of Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is the birthplace of Santa Claus. Therefore, it is especially nice to come here these days with children who enthusiastically communicate with Finnish Santa Claus and tell him about their desires.
Finland - attractions
Like any other capital, Helsinki has a large number of attractions that are of constant interest to tourists. On Senate Square you can see the Cathedral, the Council of State and the University and a monument to Emperor Alexander II.
Always lively in the Helsinki market square. From here you can admire the Presidential Palace, the city hall, the sculpture of Ville Wallgren Havis Amanda, which is considered the symbol of the city, the Assumption Cathedral and the monument to Sibelius. While in Helsinki, you must also visit the State Museum of Art and the City Garden. 30 km from the capital is the water park "Serena Korpilampi", the largest in Europe.
The pride of Finland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is Suomenlinna (Sveaborg) Fortress, whose construction dates back to the 18th century. Here you can visit the Museum of Toys and Dolls, the Suomenlinna and Ehrensvärd Museum, the Art Center of the Nordic countries, as well as numerous parks.
In the city of Turku there is a fortress that has been preserved since the XIII century. Now there is a historical museum. You can also see Turku Cathedral, which is the center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
Finland is no less proud of its unique natural monuments: Mount Aavasaksa, located near the Arctic Circle, the huge snow fortress LumiLinna with the Ice Hotel, which is built every winter, Lemmenjoki National Park with rivers, waterfalls, bolts, and many others.
Of great interest is Lapland, where the Sami live. Here in the city of Inari you can visit a wonderful museum, whose expositions tell about the history and original culture of this people, and in Rovaniemi you can visit the real house of Santa Claus and his workshops, as well as meet his elf assistants.
Finland - weather (climate)
Most of Finland is characterized by a temperate continental climate with mild snowy winters, when the average temperature is up to -14 ° С, and quite warm summers with a maximum temperature of + 30 ° С. On hot days, water in shallow lakes can warm up to + 20 ° C. In Finland, during the summer, the polar day lasts 73 days beyond the Arctic Circle, but during the winter the polar night lasts 50 days.
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Finland - cuisine
Finns love to eat simple and satisfying. A variety of fish dishes are very popular here, and if you get to Finland, you can enjoy delicious trout and salmon in your own juice, herring salad, assorted fish products, fish caviar with onions and sour cream, potato and herring casserole, fish soup with milk, crispy rye pies with fish and meat filling and, of course, the national fish pie from unleavened dough.
For the preparation of traditional meat dishes using venison and game; the most popular dairy dishes are cheeses and yogurt. Of the desserts, the Finns are very fond of jelly. They are also big fans of coffee.
Finland - interesting facts
Finns are distinguished by calmness and friendliness, and people also value correctness and calmness. In ordinary communication, it is customary to shake hands only by getting to know each other, then you can greet a person verbally or with a nod of your head, but business etiquette presupposes a mandatory handshake for all cases, both when dealing with men and women.
All guests in Finland should be prepared for the fact that the ban on smoking in public places must be strictly observed, since its violators cause a big negative among the indigenous people. All hotel rooms are non-smoking, but the hotels, bars and restaurants have designated smoking areas.
In Finland, credit cards are accepted everywhere for payment. Whether it is a hotel, a car rental point, a large department store, a restaurant or a taxi - you will not have problems with this. As for tips, here they are not mandatory, but if you give a few euros for good service to the porter, taxi driver or receptionist, they will be grateful to you. In a restaurant, service charges are usually included in the bill.
Finland - visa application
Finland is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, so to travel there you must have a valid passport and a Schengen visa, which can be obtained at the Embassy or Consulate General of Finland by filling out the form, providing the necessary documents and paying a consular fee of 35 euros. For a tourist trip, a tourist visa is usually issued, with which you can stay in the country for up to 90 days.
Finland - Embassy
The Embassy of the Republic of Finland is located in Moscow, in Kropotkinsky Lane, building 15/17. You can call there by calling (495) 787-4174, (499) 255 3380 (fax).
Map of Finland
