Helsinki Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Uusimaa region, south coast of Finland.

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).

Average Annual Rainfall

600mm (23.6 inches).

Language

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

Special Events

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

HelsinkiInternationalBoatShow
February
Helsinki Fair Center
Website: www.finnexpo.fi/vene

HelsinkiAntiqueandArtFair
March/April
Wanha Satama, City Center

MayDay
May
Throughout the city

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

Kruununhaka, HalkolaituriHelsinkiDay
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

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

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

HelsinkiCityMarathon
August
Around city and coast
Website: www.helsinkicitymarathon.com

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

HelsinkiDesignWeek
September
Various venues
Website: www.helsinkidesignweek.com

BalticHerringMarket
October
Market Square

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

Independence Day
December
Honor guard and procession.
Senate Square

St ThomasChristmasMarket
December
Esplanade Park

NewYear’sEve
December
Senate Square