Ultimate Finnish & Swedish Lapland family holiday

Any Finnish travel experience will be largely determined by the seasons which, in Finland, are literally as different as night and day. Winter is a time of perpetual darkness, magnificent frozen lakes and the glorious Northern Lights blazing across the endlessly dark night sky. In summer the snow melts to reveal vast green natural landscapes bathed in the light of the remarkable midnight sun. Mile upon mile of virtually untouched natural wilderness provides a playground for trekkers, mountain-bikers, skiers and fishermen. It is a place where reindeer roam free when they aren’t pulling sleds or being served up on the dinner table! This natural wonderland exists on the doorstep of phenomenally innovative modern cities offering their fill of cosmopolitan living while the surrounding smaller towns are home to quaint wooden churches, historical castles and quirky museums brimming with fascinating cultural artifacts. With all of this and more on offer, a trip to enigmatic Finland makes for sometimes fascinating, often bewildering, but always invigorating travel.

Currency 

Local currency: Euro 
Symbol: € 
ISO code: EUR 
Subunit: Cent 
Banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500 
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2 

Banking 

Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s club: Yes 

Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 
Weekends: Closed 
Public Holidays: Yes (limited hours) 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 

Main airlines: Finnair 
International Airports: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 
Domestic Airports: Turku Airport, Tampere-Pirkkala Airport, Oulu Airport 

Road: 

Driving on the: Right 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 

Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 

Railway system: Yes 
Subway System: No 

Water: 

Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: Yes 
Leisure cruises: Yes 

Food and water safety: 

Can you drink the tap water: Yes 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes 
Ice: Yes 
Meat: Yes 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: 

Finnish cuisine is known for its simplicity, freshness, and focus on natural flavors. Traditional dishes include salmon, herring, potatoes, and rye bread. Finnish cuisine often incorporates berries, mushrooms, and dairy products. Notable local drinks include Finnish vodka (such as Koskenkorva and Finlandia) and Finnish craft beers. 
Tipping: 0-10% 

Annual rainfall: Varies by region 
Average temperature: 0°C 

Summer: 

Average highs: 20°C 
Average lows: 10°C 

Winter: 

Average highs: -5°C 
Average lows: -15°C 

Best time to visit: 

The best time to visit Finland is from June to August, during the summer months when the weather is mild and the days are long. Winter is also popular for activities like skiing and seeing the Northern Lights. 

 Summer and Spring

Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 

Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: Yes 

General 

Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Plug Type: Type C, Type F 
Voltage (V): 230V 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50Hz 

*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances. 

Wedged between Norway and the Baltic Sea, Sweden is known for its friendly locals, its excellent public transport, and a world of attractions. Its rich history has created walled medieval cities, seaside fortresses, Viking ruins and huge stone-ship settings just waiting to be discovered. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the gentle charm of the countryside with its abundance of towering snow-capped peaks, majestic lakes and vast unspoiled forests. Experience the dynamic spirit and sophisticated beauty of Stockholm and its amazing archipelago, meet the aboriginal Sami people in the north, or experience the magnificent midnight sun and Northern Lights. Throw in a varied and distinctive culinary scene complete with exotic local dishes (try the reindeer meat and dry-cured salmon) and one thing is certain, you'll never be bored in this remarkably innovative and fascinating Nordic country.

Currency 

The currency of Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK; symbol kr) = 100 öre. Notes are in denominations of kr1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of kr10, 5, 2 and 1.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday--Wednesday and Friday 08900-15h00 and Thursday 09h00-18h00.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted, although it should be noted that most shops and restaurants require ID when paying with a credit card. ATMs are widely available and can be used with most international bank cards, although it’s worth bearing in mind that you may incur a small charge. Personal cheques are no longer used, while traveller's cheques can be cashed at most banks.

Traveller’s cheques are accepted at some banks. To avoid unfavourable exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to rely on credit or debit cards instead.

Sweden’s vast size means that air is an easy and convenient option when travelling long distances, and the country’s 40-plus airports give you plenty of choices. Airlines running domestic flights include SAS, BRA and Norwegian.

Sweden has an extensive road network, with over 210,000km (130,000 miles) available for public use. In very rural areas, getting around by car is often the only option available, while in cities, intense rush hour traffic means that cars are usually better avoided. Apart from the Öresund and Svinesund bridges and the bridges across Sundsvallsfjärden and Motalaviken, Swedish roads are toll-free. Congestion taxes are due in Stockholm and in Gothenburg. 

Road signs usually follow European standards. It's worth watching out for elk, reindeer or deer signs in the country – these mean that a lot of the animals are around and that a collision is possible. The risk is particularly high early in the morning and at night, when visibility is poor.

Public transport is efficient, comprehensive and well-integrated. Stockholm has bus, trams, metro (T-banan) and local rail services. Most tickets are loaded on the SL Access smart card, which can also be used on small ferries around the Stockholm islands. Västtrafik runs Gothenburg's buses and trams. Taxis are widely available; large taxi companies are cheaper than independents. Several of the main cities, particularly Stockholm, have boat excursions and services.

While Swedish food isn’t known for its sophistication, it does have a simple, wholesome charm all of its own. Locally produced and organic ingredients take pride of place in the kitchen and wild food such as mushrooms, blueberries and cloudberries crop up seasonally. A long coastline and numerous freshwater lakes mean fish is a staple part of the diet along with meat and root vegetables.

Rest assured, travellers will find the meatballs so beloved of the ubiquitous flat pack homewares brand are considerably better in Sweden than in the store canteen. From every day Swedish cuisine or husmanskost, ärtsoppape (pea soup) is a staple and a heart-warming choice on cold winter days, particularly when followed by pancakes doused in Swedish punch – a very sweet (and very strong) local liqueur.

Service in restaurants is not generally included in the bill; around 10% is usually expected.

In central and southern Sweden the winters are short and quite cold, and summer temperatures are similar to those in southern England, but with a lot more hours of sunshine and daylight.

In the northeast meanwhile the winters are severe, the more so as you travel further north, while the summers can be surprisingly warm.

In the far north the winters are also severe, with snow lying the year-round on elevated areas, and the summers are short and changeable. And because Sweden lies at a high latitude much of the country has very long hours of daylight in summer and very long nights in winter.

During the winter, thick layers are needed, with wind chill proving particularly problematic. Far north, stick to woollen layers closest to your skin, and avoid cotton socks. Sturdy footwear, scarves, hats and gloves will be required regardless of where you are.

During the summer, lighter clothing is all you need. Shorts or jeans and a t-shirt is standard attire, with a light jacket or sweater for the evenings. Cobblestones in the city, and unpaved roads in the countryside, means flat shoes or sandals are best for getting around. 

Waterproof clothing is recommended year-round.

Sweden is one of the world's most net-savvy countries, with a very high proportion of the population online. Wi-Fi is widespread in most towns and cities, with many restaurants, hotels and public spaces offering access. Internet cafes can be found in most major urban areas.

Electrical sockets in the Kingdom of Sweden are Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type F (CEE 7/4 Schuko). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plugin. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets  230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for that volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.