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Location
Uusimaa region, south coast of Finland.

Dialling code
358.

Population
559,050 (city); 1,240,482 (metropolitan area).

Time zone
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Saturday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
- 5°C (23°F).

Average July temperatures
18°C (64°F).

Annual rainfall
600mm (23.6 inches).

Language
Introduction
Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language, is spoken by 93% of the population, while Swedish, mostly found in pockets of Finland’s southwest coast, is the mother tongue of 6% of Finns. In remote parts of the north, about 1700 people still speak Sami (more commonly known as Lappish).

The roots of the Finnish language are in the Finno-Ugric linguistic family that includes, in one branch, Finnish, Estonian and a number of permutations and, in the other, Hungarian. Since just five million people speak Finnish, foreign languages are a must for Finns; English, an integral part of the school curriculum, is widely understood. As a hangover from its past, some inhabitants also speak Russian. Most restaurants have menus in Finnish and English.

Helsinkilaiset consider their Finnish the yardstick of cosmopolitan Finland – regional accents are viewed as provincial. There are a number of slang words idiosyncratic to the capital, such as dosa (bus), spora or ratikka (tram), bisse (beer) and rooki or spaddu (cigarette), among others. Helsinkilaiset are proud of their Finnish language, and rather than adopting English-isms like the French (eg le ski, le surf), they coin their own Finnish words in order to preserve their mother tongue.

Phrases

Yes - Kyllä
No - Ei
Hello - Hei
Goodbye - Näkemiin
Please - Ole hyvä
Thank you - Kiitos
My name is … - Minun nimeni on …
How are you? - Mitä kuuluu?
I’m very well - Kiitos hyvää
I feel ill - Olen sairas
How much does it cost? - Mitä tämä maksaa?
Do you speak English? - Puhutko englantia?
I don’t understand - En ymmärrä
Where is...? - Missä...?
Entrance - Sisään
Exit - Ulos
Danger - Vaara
Open - Avoinna
Closed - Suljettu
Toilets - Vessa / WC
Doctor - Lääkäri
Hotel - Hotelli
Restaurant - Ravintola
Beer - Olut
Wine - Viini
Menu - Ruokalista
Today - Tänään
Tomorrow - Huomenna
Monday - Maanantai
Tuesday - Tiistai
Wednesday - Keskiviikko
Thursday - Torstai
Friday - Perjantai
Saturday - Lauantai
Sunday - Sunnuntai
One - Yksi
Two - Kaksi
Three - Kolme
Four - Neljä
Five - Viisi
Six - Kuus
Seven - Seitsemän
Eight - Kahdeksan
Nine - Yhdeksän
Ten - Kymmenen
Twenty - Kaksikymmentä
Thirty - Kolmekymmentä
Forty Nelvakymmentä
Fifty - Viisikymmentä
Sixty - Kuusikymmentä
Seventy - Seitsemankymmentä
Eighty - Kahdeksankymmentä
Ninety - Vhdeksankymmentä
One Hundred - Sata
One Thousand - Tuhat

Cost of Living:

1 Euro (€1) = £0.94; US$1.37; C$1.66; A$1.93
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Runeberg Day
February
Poet J L Runeberg is commemorated with a day of cake eating.
Throughout the city.

Helsinki International Boat Show
February
Helsinki Fair Center
Website: www.finnexpo.fi/vene

Helsinki Antique and Art Fair
March/April
Wanha Satama, City Center

May Day
May
Throughout the city

World Village Festival
May
International music, arts and food.
Various venues, city center
Website: www.maailmakylassa.fi

Kruununhaka, Halkolaituri Helsinki Day
June
Festival celebrating founding day of Helsinki.
Throughout city
Website: www.hel2.fi/helsinkipaiva/english

Juhannusvalkeat
June
Midsummer’s eve celebration with bonfires, folk music and dancing.
Seurasaari Open Air Museum
Website: www.nba.fi/en/seurasaari_openairmuseum

Helsinki Jazz
June
Jazz events.
Various venues
Website: www.helsinkijazz.fi

Helsinki Pride Festival
June/July
Lesbian and gay event festival.
Various venues
Website: www.helsinkipride.fi

Helsinki City Marathon
August
Around city and coast
Website: www.helsinkicitymarathon.com

Helsinki Festival
August-September
Finland’s largest annual festival of dance, music and theater.
Various venues
Website: www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi

Helsinki Design Week
September
Various venues
Website: www.helsinkidesignweek.com

Baltic Herring Market
October
Market Square

Helsinki International Horse Show
October
Hartwall Areena
Website: www.fimhorseshow.fi

Independence Day
December
Honor guard and procession.
Senate Square

St Thomas Christmas Market
December
Esplanade Park

New Year’s Eve
December
Senate Square

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