10 Sustainable travel tips in Finland

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10 Sustainable travel tips in Finland

10 Sustainable travel tips in Finland

Are you planning to visit Finland but are worried about the environmental impacts of your travel?

Yes, it is true that we are located off the beaten path – Finland is not the easiest location to reach by ecological travel options, like train. To get to Finland, air or boat travel is often necessary which will bump up your carbon footprint. But keep calm and read onwards: there are other ways to make your travel more eco-friendly and sustainable.

Here are 10 effective tips that you can easily do before and during your trip.

Enjoy your (green) stay in Finland!

About Finland

Full of interesting contrasts, such as the four seasons, the Midnight Sun and winter darkness, urban and rural, East and West.

About Finland

1. Travel lighter

Before traveling to Finland, it is good to take a look of the weather forecast. We have four unique seasons and regions, and the temperature can change a lot even during one week. The weather is also often quite different between the south of Finland and Lapland. There is over 1100 kilometers between Helsinki and Inari – almost the same distance as going from Paris to Barcelona or Florence.

Layers of clothing are the best way to go. With layers, you can wear many things you already own, like warm sweaters. And if the weather gets warmer, simply take off a layer. This way you can also avoid buying a whole new wardrobe just for a single trip.

Before you fly, we recommend taking a look at your suitcase and thinking about ways to avoid packing unnecessary things. Lightweight luggage means that the airplane consumes less fuel – this is highly important in lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Many travel operators in Finland offer high-quality clothing and equipment for rent during winter time, such as skis, snow shoes and skates.

2. Travel outside peak seasons and stay longer

Think outside the box – would you be able to travel outside the peak season and perhaps stay a little longer since you made the trip all the way up to Finland? There’s more space to yourself, more calm, more relaxation. That’s food for thought!

Lapland is a very popular tourist destination during winter but it sure has a lot of magic – and often less visitors – during the other seasons as well. Spring and autumn are some of the best times to see the Northern Lights. Summer is the time of white nights, a phenomena comparable to the aurora.

When it comes to the rest of Finland, nature is usually at its best during summer, although all seasons have their perks. We suggest taking in the vivid greens of spring, admiring the inspiring autumn colors, or trying a warm sauna during the cold winter. There are things to experience in Finland all year round.

3. use public transportation

Alright, you have arrived – fantastic! In Finland, it is effortless and affordable to use our public transport systems. Most cities in Finland are well-connected by bus and train routes. Trains in Finland are operated by state-owned VR, well-known for the iconic rock statues in front of the Helsinki Central Train Station.

If you are in our capital, try the beautiful single-lined metro – you can’t get lost. In the older metro stations, the wooden benches were designed by famed Finnish designer Yrjö Kukkapuro already in 1979. Talk about sustainable design! There is also a vast tram system in Helsinki, great for sightseeing. The city of Tampere will also have its own trams soon.

The trains in Finland and the Helsinki metro use renewable energy, so you can be truly green when traveling with them.

Walking is a also great way to get to know a new city and in Finland the sidewalks go everywhere. Consider also renting a bicycle or even an electric scooter during the summer time – and let the soft summer breeze flow through your hair. After all, Finland has some of the purest air in the world.

4. respect locals

It is always considerate to respect the local residents and their customs while traveling. The easiest way to show your respect in Finland is to smile. We Finns are sometimes considered a little reserved but we might smile back. And if we don’t, don’t worry – your gesture warms our hearts regardless.

Using the word “kiitos”, which means thank you, and “moi” which means hello, will also go a long way.

If you want to take pictures of us Finns, both young and old, please remember to ask for a permission first.

5. get to know local food, design and handicrafts

Nowadays we live in a world that is full of material things, overflowing in abundance. When there too much of something, it often loses meaning.

We suggest falling in love with two phrases beginning with L: “less is more” and “local”! Think food, design and handmade products. They’re more eco-friendly and there’s usually a heart-warming story behind the products.

There are lots of skilled craftspeople in Finland who are eager to acquaint you with authentic memories from our country, such as handmade jewellery and wooden items. You can also find many places around the country, especially in the Helsinki region, that sell clothes designed or made in Finland.

If you’re looking for local treats to take home, take a trip to a small Finnish winery making sweet wine of berries or apples, or visit a ironwork village or a wooden town, where local treats are plentiful.

6. right (and responsibility) to roam as everyman and woman

In Finland, we have a very special thing called Everyman’s Rights (“jokamiehen oikeudet” in Finnish). They are called rights but in fact they also include responsibilities.

You can, for example, pick berries and mushrooms from forests for free. You don’t have to ask for a permission from anyone. Also you are allowed to spend a night in nature in a tent, ski and walk in forests as well as swim in lakes and the sea. But do bear in mind – no pun intended! – that nature should always be left as you found it. Clean, pristine and respected. National parks may have some restrictions, so please read the signs in the parks to be sure.

Remember not to set up your tent too close to someone’s garden, or walk in private gardens and fields. Don’t leave any rubbish to nature, always bring them back with you to the nearest rubbish pins. Disturbing animals or birds is naturally a no-no. Also, you should leave trees, moss and lichen undamaged.

In this way, we leave our beautiful nature for all to enjoy.

7. recycle

We Finns have a healthy obsession with nature and eco-friendly life – and recycling! We want to be the best circular-economy country in the world and many cities are preparing for a carbon-neutral life during the next twenty years.

What’s the best way to recycle when you are visiting Finland? If an urgent need to buy a plastic bottle arises, remember to take it back to the store to a recycling machine after it’s empty. You will get money back in the form of a bottle deposit.

Most hotels have an eco-friendly policy for using towels – re-using your towel will save energy as it doesn’t have to be washed as often. You can also challenge your hotel and ask whether they are recycling your waste. Some of them may already, some are still in the midst of thinking. Encourage them to get to work!

8. drink tap water

During your trip in Finland, you will probably hear at least once that we have the best tap water in the world. We actually do and it’s more pure than bottled water! So, we suggest forgetting about the single-use plastic bottles and filling your own bottle with clean water straight from the tap. It’s clean, refreshing – and by using your own bottle, it will help keep your carbon footprint down. Restaurants also serve tap water so be sure to order “still”.

9. try vegetarian food

The Finnish vegetarian food industry is booming! There are many options to replace your animal proteins with vegetarian ones. If you have the possibility to cook at your accommodation, visit almost any grocery store and ask for “Härkis” (a shredded protein made of broad bean) or “Nyhtökaura” (pulled oats). Fun words and great products to substitute meat, for example, in a sauce. For a new way of adding milk to your morning coffee, try Kaslink’s oat milk.

Almost every restaurant in Finland has a vegetarian, or even vegan, options so when dining out you can also go for the greener option.

1o. remember to enjoy life, like the finns do!

As you might have guessed already, nature is very important to us Finns. Most of us spend time in nature many times a week. Water and green areas are always surrounding us, even in cities. That’s one of the things that makes us the happiest nation in the world.

While you are here, try the Finnish way of life and connect with nature. Mute your phone. Take a walk. Visit a park. Go to a forest. Hug a tree. Swim in a lake. Take a deep breath of fresh air and walk slowly. Listen to what nature is telling you. Forget about everything else for a moment try what it feels to be like a Finn. Trust us, it’s good for the mind and the body.

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Find sustainable products in Finland

Plan your stay:

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10 Sustainable travel tips in Finland