Hotels in Finland

Finland or officially known as the Republic of Finland is a country in the Northern Europe bordering with the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. It is also bordering with Norway to the North, Sweden to the Northwest and Russia to the East. Finland is a Nordic country, and it is situated in the geographical region of Fennoscandia. The capital and largest city of Finland is Helsinki while the other major cities in Finland are Espoo and Tampere. Finland has a population of 5.52 million as per 2018. The majority of the population is concentrated in the Southern region. Finland is also the eighth largest country in Europe and the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Finland is a parliamentary republic. The central government of Finland based in the capital city of Helsinki with local governments in 311 municipalities. Finland also has one autonomous region that is called the Aland Islands. There are more than 1.4 million people live in the Helsinki metropolitan area. One third of the country’s GDP comes from Helsinki.

A long time ago, Finland was inhabited when the last ice age ended which happens approximately 9000 BCE. The first settlers in Finland left behind some artefacts that contain some characteristics. Those artefacts can be found in Estonia, Russia and Norway as well. It is said that the earliest people come to Finland were the hunter-gatherers. They were using some stone tools at that time. The first pottery appeared in 5200 BCE when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.

In the industrial sector, Finland was a relative latecomer due to its agriculture activity until the 1950s. After World War II, the Soviet Union demanded war reparations from Finland. They demanded not only money but also a material such as ships and machinery. This act by the Soviet Union forced Finland to shift to be industrialised. Finland then becomes one of the highest per capita incomes in the world while they are building an extensive welfare state based on the Nordic model.  In 2015, Finland was ranked first in the world for World Human Capital and the Press Freedom Index. It also becomes the most stable country in the world from 2011 to 2016 according to the Fragile States Index. Finland also ranked second in the Global Gender Gap Report. Not only that, but Finland is also a top performer in various indexes of national performance including education, economic competitiveness, quality of life and human development.

Finland participates in the Schengen agreement by the European Union which means you do not have to show a real or passport card when you travel from or to Finland from another European Union country. However, residents in Europe are advised to bring each identification or passport in preparation if you need to show a passport while travelling within the Schengen area. For Singaporean, you do not need a visa if you want to travel to Finland for 90 days. You have to make sure that your passport is still valid at least six months when you are first entering the country. However, if you are coming to Finland for work or otherwise, you must apply for a visa first.

The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is being used nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas in the West and South. The autonomous region of Aland also using Swedish. 89% of the population is using Finnish as their native language. Finnish is closely related to Karelian and Estonian. 5.3% of the population are using Swedish as their native language. There is also Sami language in Finland. The Sami Language is an official language to the North in Lapland or Northern Lapland. The Sami people are around 7,000, and they are recognised as an indigenous people. Their mother tongue is the Sami language, and they use the Sami language to communicate. The rights of minority groups such as Sami, Swedish speakers and Romani people are protected by the constitution. The largest foreign languages in Finland are Russian, Estonian, Arabic, Somali and English.

According to Koppen climate classification, Finland lies in the boreal zone which means that Finland experience warm summers and freezing winters. Winter in Southern Finland are usually 100 days long, and the temperature is usually below 0 °C, and the snow typically covers the land from late November to April. While on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from December to late March. In Northern Finland, Lapland has a very long and cold winter while the summers are relatively warm but only for a short moment. The most severe winter in Lapland can fall to                       -45 °C. The winter in Northern Finland lasts about 200 days with permanent snow cover from mid-October to early May.

Finland foods often use wholemeal products such as rye, barley and oats. Berries and milk are commonly used as food, drink or in their cook recipes.

How to Get There?

By Flight

There are many airports in Finland. However, Helsinki Airport and Oulu Airport have the most passenger’s movement in Finland. For those who want to travel to Finland, You can travel to any of these airports. Helsinki Airport is located in the Finnish capital of Helsinki while Oulu Airport is located in Oulu.

If you want to go to Helsinki from Singapore, you can take a flight from Changi Airport to Helsinki Airport. Various airlines that provide flights to Helsinki such as Qatar Airways, KLM, Finnair and also British Airways. However, only Finnair provides direct flights from Singapore to Helsinki. There are no direct flights provided by any other airlines. You need to transit at any airport first before making a flight to Helsinki. The cheapest flight is offered by Qatar Airways for SGD 936 for a two-way ticket. If you choose to board with Qatar Airways, you will need to transit at Doha Airport in Qatar first before making a flight to Helsinki. Flight ticket prices can vary depending on the time and date you want to fly.

Apart from going to the capital city of Helsinki, you can also go to Finland’s Oulu. If you want to get to Oulu from Singapore, you can take a flight from Changi Airport to Oulu Airport. Various flights can be selected such as Qatar Airways, KLM, British Airways and also Finnair. However, there are no direct flights offered by any airlines. The lowest airline ticket price is offered by Finnair which is SGD 1,196 for a two-way ticket. However, the price of a flight ticket can change over time and date of the flight.

What to do There?

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is an 18th-century sea fortress and nature area that features old artillery and defensive walls that spread across six linked islands. The most popular sights in here are the King’s Gate drawbridge and Suomenlinna Museum which features the military and maritime history. This is a must place to visit when you are visiting Helsinki. It is an excellent place to explore the country’s past and unique landscape and scenery. The best time to visit this Suomenlinna is from May to October. You will need to walk a lot, so please prepare appropriate attire and drinks. There are also a few places to eat on the island.

Northern Lights Finland

In Finland, the Aurora Borealis is the nature’s most popular and spectacular light show. The Northern Lights are visible approximately 200 nights in a year. You can easily watch the Aurora in Lapland, Finland. The traditional ways to go for Aurora spotting are by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or using a snowmobile. You will not want to miss the opportunity to see the wonders of nature. Be sure to plan your trip properly before going to watch the Northern Lights in Finland.

Where to Stay?

Hilton Helsinki Strand

Hilton Helsinki Strand is located right in the Helsinki city. This hotel is one of the best accommodation that you can find while you visit Helsinki. This modern waterfront hotel is a 4-minute walk from the Hakaniemen metro station, and it is located 13-minute walk from Ateneum Art Museum. You can go to any tourist attractions in Helsinki easily. This Hilton Helsinki Strand offers an upscale room with stylish décor. They provide you with many services and amenities throughout your stay here. You will feel very comfortable staying in this hotel.

CheapSleep Helsinki

For those who are looking for an affordable place to stay but with great facilities and services, CheapSleep Helsinki is the ideal place for you. This hotel is close to shops and the main street in Helsinki. This hotel is only 2 minutes’ walk from the closest tram stop. This hotel is located only 3 km from the bustling Helsinki Market Square. You will be serving with a complimentary breakfast when you are staying with them. The facilities and services provided by CheapSleep Helsinki are comparable to another big hotel in the city. You will feel very comfortable staying in this hotel.