How to visit Finland on a budget (the only guide you'll ever need)
-
Loading... - Spencer Hamilton
- 27 Apr 2022
- 316 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
From where to stay and eat, to getting around and sightseeing, here we give the inside scoop on how to see Finland without breaking the bank.
Flying is the cheapest way to get to Finland
Flying is overall the cheapest, easiest way to reach Finland, and there are plenty of low-cost options, especially if you arrive in Helsinki, which has direct flights to Europe, North America and Asia. Flights with European budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet are often a steal in the low and shoulder seasons, especially if you aren’t fussy about specific days and times. And it’s also possible to snap up deals with bigger airlines like Finnair, Norwegian and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Look out for their economy deals and travel with minimal luggage. The more flexible you are, the greater the chance you have of grabbing a bargain.
Consider flying into somewhere other than Helsinki
Helsinki often seems the obvious choice, but it might be worth considering flying to another airport if you’re heading straight off or taking an internal flight. If Lapland is your goal, you can fly direct to Rovaniemi instead with a number of European airlines, including budget ones like Ryanair and easyJet, though often only during the winter season (November to March). Ryanair also operates a direct flight from London Stansted to Tampere, a handy gateway for the great forest-rimmed lakes of Finnish Lakeland.
Travel in the shoulder season to save money
Everyone raves about July being the best month to visit Finland, but you’ll dodge the crowds and save plenty by avoiding school holidays and visiting in the shoulder season instead. With everything in blossom, the rain easing off and warmer, lighter days on the horizon, May can be glorious on the Baltic coast (try the Åland islands for white-sand beaches and cycling), in the Finnish Lakeland and in cities like Helsinki.
Early June – before the madness of midsummer hits – is a good bet too. Or come in September for an inexpensive city break, country escape or hike in one of Finland’s national parks before the darker, colder days of winter creep in. The flipside? Some accommodation, sights and restaurants only open during the peak summer months of July and August. But if you don’t mind things quieter, shoulder seasons are great for economizing.
You can visit Lapland on a budget – if you do the work yourself
It’s the number one must-do on every child’s wishlist, but a trip to see Santa in the frozen wonderland of Lapland can make a massive dent in your wallet – especially if you go for an expensive package. All the fun winter sports you come to the Arctic to try – from snowmobiling to skiing and dogsledding – come with a price tag.
However, go it alone (organizing your own flights and transport and simple lodgings) and it can be doable on a budget. The trick is to avoid the Christmas rush and school holidays. Come in November, January or March when rates dip and you’ll still find plenty of festive sparkle, snow, reindeer and the big jolly dude in his grotto.
Few travelers consider the Arctic in fall, but September in Lapland is beautiful for the ruska (autumn foliage). The fells are a riot of russets and crimsons and the beech forests glow gold. If you want to glimpse the Northern Lights on a budget, try autumn or spring instead of winter, when the odds are actually better and accommodation is cheaper.
Stay in a hostel (and book a dorm room)
If you’re traveling alone, hostels tend to be the best value. Figure on paying around €40 ($44) for a dorm bed. What the hostels sacrifice in style, they make up for in comfort and facilities – most have kitchens (handy for whipping up a quick snack or meal to save on dining out), shared lounges and, if you’re in luck, saunas.
The Finnish Youth Hostel Association (SRM) runs a network of around 50 hostels, with everything from contemporary city digs to country villas on wooded lakeshores. They are affiliated with Hostelling International (HI), so it’s worth becoming a member for a 10% discount. Read More…
