Finland holds a particular place in my coronary heart because it was the primary nation I launched into a solo backpacking journey again in 2005.
That preliminary journey sparked my deep curiosity in each the nation itself and the world of journey.
A lot so, that I moved to Vaasa, Finland for a 12 months throughout my Erasmus alternate program. After years of touring, I got here again to the nation and moved right here.
I’ve known as the nation house for roughly 12 years.
I really like Finland. It’s a beautiful place stuffed with extremely good individuals and breathtaking nature. Nevertheless, Finland could be an costly nation to go to.
There’s little doubt about it. However, like all place on the earth, you’ll find many low cost methods to journey round Finland that don’t have to interrupt the financial institution.
Listed below are my prime touring tips about easy methods to backpack round Finland on a funds:
Tenting throughout Finland is Free
(Me tenting out within the Finnish wilderness by the ocean with my easy hammock and light-weight sleeping bag setup)
Thanks for public land use legal guidelines known as Jokaisenoikeudet/jokamiehenoikeudet – Finnish everyman’s rights – the best to roam & get pleasure from nature.
you possibly can camp wherever round Finland without cost.
All you must do is discover a good spot within the Finnish nature, pitch your tent and so long as you’re not bothering anybody, no downside in any respect.
This will solely be carried out on public land although so don’t go pitching your tent on somebody’s garden!
Furthermore, on widespread mountain climbing trails, you’ll find out of doors huts which you could sleep in and so they normally have a grill or fireplace pit you should use to warmth your meals and hold heat.
The wonderful thing about these spots is that firewood is normally supplied freed from cost and usually topped up.
Simply make sure to clear up after your self and go away the spot higher than you discovered it.
Tips on how to get pleasure from a Low cost Lunch in Finland
(This Lunch set for a Nepalese restaurant was solely €10 through the week in central Helsinki and contains salad bar, espresso and water)
Many eating places throughout Finland supply a set menu or a buffet (“lounasbuffet” in Finnish) throughout lunch at a less expensive value than dinner.
Lunch usually prices from 10 to fifteen Euros and features a salad, meal, drink (normally water), and occasional or tea. Lunchtime in Finnish eating places is generally from 11 am to three pm, relying on the institution.
You may both get pleasure from your lunch at a restaurant or discover nice offers simply on native apps similar to Wolt, Foodora or ResQ Club.
As an illustration, Nepalese meals is sort of widespread in Finland and a set lunch will embrace Papadam, naan bread, dal, curry of your selection, mint yoghurt, pickle, salad and water and occasional to get pleasure from after.
My different favorites are the sushi buffets and the Thai buffets. You can even discover reasonably priced pizza eating places round Finland beginning as little as €7 and together with water and a salad buffet, making them good worth on your cash.
Keep Hydrated: Take pleasure in Free and Wonderful faucet Water in Finland
(So many recent water lakes in Finland! You possibly can drink direct from the supply when you have a water filter bottle)
Finland has the highest quality faucet water I’ve ever come throughout; it’s recent, tasty and sometimes served chilly.
You’ll find many free refill stations throughout Finland.
The water is protected to drink so make sure to carry a refillable water bottle whenever you go to.
It’s additionally frequent to search out faucet water included together with your meal when eating at a restaurant throughout Finland.
It normally isn’t a difficulty to request a jug of water on your desk.
Don’t Overlook to get pleasure from Your Free Espresso Refill Throughout Finland
(Having fun with a free refill espresso on the Oodi Finnish Library in Helsinki)
Espresso is cherished throughout Finland, and Finnish residents are amongst a few of the largest espresso drinkers on the earth, consuming a mean of seven cups a day.
Many espresso outlets supply a free refill whenever you order a cup. Sometimes, you’ll come throughout a beneficiant tank or jug full of filter espresso, prepared so that you can assist your self to a different serving.
Whereas some cafes could have an indication saying that refills come at an extra value, hottest cafes in Finland, similar to Robert’s Espresso, supply refills, permitting you to get pleasure from your espresso with out worrying about the fee.
Tips on how to Journey Round Finland by Practice on the Low cost
(Travelling round Finland VR prepare is reasonable when booked upfront, they even promote beer onboard!)
Essentially the most snug solution to journey round Finland is by prepare with VR, Finland’s nationwide railway operator. If you happen to guide your ticket upfront, the worth is normally halved in comparison with the day value.
For instance, my direct prepare from Helsinki to Vaasa is €22 when booked three weeks upfront. Often, on the day, the identical ticket to Vaasa would value €52.
I simply booked a ticket right now from Helsinki airport to Vaasa for subsequent week and it solely value me €15. if you happen to’re versatile with instances and connections you is perhaps fortunate and discover a whole lot.
I’ve discovered it’s all the time cheaper to guide on the VR app straight.
Then you will have your digital ticket with you whenever you journey too. I don’t know why that’s, however the app appears to indicate cheaper costs.
One other low cost solution to journey round Finland if you happen to’re from outdoors of Finland and plan to journey by prepare loads is with a Euro rail move.
Tips on how to Journey Round Finland by Bus on a budget
(Onnibus isn’t the quickest however supply tickets beginning for as little as €1 if you happen to’re fortunate!)
One other reasonably priced journey possibility in Finland is to take the bus. Two budget-friendly operators value mentioning are OnniBus and FlixBus.
OnniBus is a good possibility, with some journeys solely costing €1! Nevertheless, this varies enormously relying on their promotions.
The most cost effective tickets are discovered when reserving upfront. I’d say three or 4 weeks earlier than your journey you possibly can nonetheless get essentially the most reasonably priced regular value.
For instance, Helsinki to Vaasa costs fluctuate between €13 to €40 a method. Helsinki to Rovaniemi within the north of Finland can value you something between €25 to €50 a method relying on how early you guide the ticket.
You can even attempt to discover a flex charge ticket on the day, which gives as much as 50% off on empty seats, however this may be dangerous, and I might advise reserving upfront to make sure you have a seat on the day of departure.
One other bus firm you possibly can take a look at for some good offers is FlixBus. It operates on choose routes, together with cities like Helsinki, Turku, Rauma, Pori, and Vaasa.
As an illustration, the costs from Helsinki to Vaasa begin from €15 a method. The sooner you guide, the extra probably you’re to get an reasonably priced value. It’s value taking a look in case your vacation spot is on their record!
Tips on how to Journey Round Helsinki by Public Transport
(You may even journey on the HSL boat to Suomenlinna island with a day move)
For touring domestically round Helsinki, you possibly can obtain the HSL app, which is able to assist you to buy full-day tickets.
If you happen to choose a paper ticket, you’ll find ticket machines for instance within the Helsinki Airport Railway Station (by the platforms) and outdoors the Helsinki Central Railway Station (by the platforms).
To search out extra places for buying tickets, see the HSL map.
If you happen to’re touring from the airport to the town, you will want a ticket with the ABC zones. A day ticket will value you €11, masking all of your journeys inside the Helsinki central area as nicely.
For comparability, a single ticket from Helsinki airport to Helsinki metropolis (ABC zones) will value you €4.10, and a single ticket in central Helsinki (AB zones) prices €2.95.
So, it’s value simply getting the day ticket if you happen to’re planning to make use of public transport in Helsinki inside the subsequent 24 hours.
To discover the Helsinki central area, AB zones will value €9 for a day ticket. All in all, it’s cheaper to guide multi-day tickets, which is ideal if you happen to’re spending the entire weekend in Helsinki.
One funds tip with the HSL day ticket is to make use of it to journey by ferry to the fortress island of Suomenlinna, which can be a Unesco World Heritage Website.
I extremely advocate visiting there and assume it’s an excellent worth as a result of it’s included within the day ticket.
A substitute for touring round Helsinki is by rental bike, which can be one other cost-effective solution to get round city.
Tips on how to Journey Round Finland by Boat on the Low cost
Do you know that a few of the ferry boats across the Finnish Archipelago are free to make use of? They’re seen as a lifeline to assist help the transport community and provides entry to native islanders to the mainland.
However vacationers are additionally welcome to discover a few of the most distant islands like Uto (or Utö), which is the southernmost level of Finland. You can even use the free sleeping beds to catch some relaxation if you want.
Journey by ferry can be an reasonably priced solution to attain Finland as you’ll find many companies providing nice offers from both Stockholm, Sweden or Tallinn, Estonia.
Viking Line and Eckerö Line have some wonderful costs if you happen to fancy reserving a day journey to Tallinn.
Helpful journey assets:
– VR Trains, Finnish railway.
OnniBus for buses.
HSL app for Helsinki public transport.
Eckerö Line for ferries.
Benefit from the Great Free Finnish Nature
Benefit from the unimaginable Finnish nature, which isn’t solely free but additionally an ideal alternative to disconnect out of your units and join with the pure world.
Take advantage of out of your journey to Finland by exploring the nice outdoor and immersing your self within the abundance of timber and recent air.
With its huge expanse and picturesque landscapes, Finland is an unimaginable mountain climbing vacation spot that can go away you in awe.
Whilst you’re out exploring, reap the benefits of the chance to assemble wild berries and mushrooms from the forest.
So long as you recognize what you’re doing, you’re allowed to select these pure treasures. Amongst them, you’ll discover pretty free blueberries, referred to as superfoods, which make a pleasant topping on your morning porridge.
Simply watch out to not find yourself with blueberry juice round your face as you indulge on this scrumptious and wholesome deal with.
Don’t Miss Out on the Reasonably priced Finnish Sauna
Finland is house to over three million saunas, which blows your thoughts whenever you uncover that the inhabitants of Finland is over 5 and a half million. One in every of my favourite stress-free actions to get pleasure from in Finland is the sauna.
You may attempt the favored public saunas that welcome guests to expertise a bit of Finnish sauna tradition, however they might be a bit expensive, even when they’re nice choices.
In Helsinki, Löyly and Allas Sea Pool supply even a dip to the ocean in between your stress-free sauna moments.
However in case you might be in search of a extra reasonably priced methods to attempt sauna, listed here are some suggestions!
Many inns or hostels supply entry to a sauna without cost for friends to make use of.
Most Finnish properties have entry to a sauna, so when you have a neighborhood good friend, ask if you happen to wouldn’t thoughts becoming a member of them for the weekly sauna expertise; it may be a enjoyable cultural expertise to do in Finland.
You can even discover many group saunas which are open for anybody to make use of, usually for a small price to cowl the prices of gasoline and cleansing.
I’d extremely advocate making an attempt considered one of these out, which generally is a enjoyable expertise.
One nice instance is the Rauhaniemi folk spa in Tampere which is open to most people to make use of since 1929.
You may take a public bus to the placement which is out of city by the shore so you possibly can go for a dip within the lake after going to the sauna.
Swimming halls normally supply entry to a sauna included within the swimming price, so you may make essentially the most out of this, particularly if you happen to’re tenting and wish to have a bathe.
Look Out for Free Entry Instances in Finland
(Nationwide Museum of Finland is free from 4:00–6:00 pm each Friday when it reopens for enterprise)
Whereas many museums and artwork galleries cost a price in Finland, there are some points of interest that supply free entry if you recognize when to go to.
Don’t let the fee discourage you from immersing your self in Finland’s wealthy cultural scene.
With a bit of planning and analysis, you possibly can uncover distinctive alternatives to discover museums and galleries with out spending a dime.
Take the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki, which has a free entry on the primary Friday of the month. You may study extra about free entrance to Helsinki museums and galleries right here.
If you end up in Tampere, a well-liked lakeside metropolis with wealthy industrial heritage, you’ll be delighted to know that they too supply info on their free cultural alternatives.
Town is positioned about two hours by prepare from Helsinki and is nicely value a go to.
Take the time to analysis your chosen locations forward of time, as you might uncover that sure museums and galleries supply free admission on particular days of the month or week.
By benefiting from these alternatives, you possibly can profit from your journey whereas staying inside your funds.
As well as, it’s value noting that sure Finnish cities host an annual artwork competition known as the Night time of the Arts, or “Taiteiden yö” in Finnish.
This vibrant occasion takes place in August (dates could fluctuate) and is well known in main cities similar to Helsinki, Turku, Oulu, Tampere, and Vaasa, every providing their very own distinctive Night time of the Arts expertise.
Throughout this event, art-related occasions and festivities come alive in each nook of every metropolis. Museums and artwork galleries generously open their doorways without cost admission, inviting guests to immerse themselves in fascinating artworks.
Theatres supply sneak peeks of their reveals, offering a style of the performances to come back. Public parks and squares come alive with the sounds of music and the rhythm of dance, creating a really magical ambiance.
You’ll need to discover out in case your vacation spot occurs to organise considered one of these unforgettable nights. It’s a beautiful solution to expertise Finnish tradition freed from cost!
Thanks for studying my information about easy methods to get pleasure from Finland on a Backpackers funds
(You may even ski to those free open shelter cabins, make a fireplace, grill and relaxation!)
Whereas Finland’s repute as an costly nation could seem daunting, don’t let it discourage you from experiencing all that this fascinating vacation spot has to supply.
It’s true that prices can add up, however with a bit of insider data and a few savvy planning, you’ll uncover that Finland could be surprisingly reasonably priced, even for budget-conscious vacationers.
Now that you’ve the data you want, it’s time to shift your perspective and embrace the probabilities of exploring Finland on a backpacker’s funds.
By benefiting from budget-friendly lodging, discovering reasonably priced transportation choices, favoring lunch instances at eating places, and exploring free or low-cost points of interest you’ll not solely get monetary savings but additionally create reminiscences that can final a lifetime.
If you happen to’re in search of some ideas for Finland, why not go on a visit to Porvoo, make sure to checkout my information to the town.
So, pack your baggage and prepare for an unforgettable journey by Finland!
