Finland is one of the safest countries in the world to visit. Helsinki is one of the safest cities around. During the day, you can safely walk around just about anywhere in Helsinki and even at night it’s generally safe, with the exception of the main railway station and Kaisaniemi Park during the weekends. That said, aside from the standard safety and security advice for travelers (like keeping your passports, wallet and cell phone secure, yadda yadda yadda), there’s a few things it’s worth knowing. Probably the worst that can be said of Finland is that there are quite a few drunks –hardly a real issue for most western countries, who have far more serious problems to face. Outside of Helsinki and the bigger cities and towns, crime rates in the rural areas are even lower. General safety issues are largely related to things like car accidents (try not to hit a moose). Finland – Warnings, Advice and Safety Tips for Visitors covers these serious issues and more…..

Anyhow, for what it’s worth, here we go…

Crime and Violence

Drunks: Helsinki is one of the safest cities in the world but some visitors may find the large numbers of drunks of an evening, especially underage drunks, weaving around the city with a beer in their hands, a bit daunting – particularly if you’ve experienced at first hand the fighting drunks of Britain and Australia. On Friday and Saturday nights it’s a bit of an epidemic. However, while Finns drink hard, the drunks are usually of the “falling over unconscious in the street” kind. They are usually just fine as long as you keep your distance. Just wait for the police to pick them up and take them away for safekeeping, as they generally do. In summer, you’ll see a lot of hard-core drinkers in parks, which is unfortunate as they’re not a pretty sight. In general they’re pretty harmless though – they can hardly speak – let alone walk, but it’s better to steer clear of them anyway. And this should be common-sense, but while the parks are pleasant during the day, avoid at night. This is pretty much the scenario in EVERY town in Finland but that said, you won’t see too many arguments or fights – they’re all too drunk. LOL. And honestly, that’s about the worst one can say of Finland – a pretty mild problem to have in IMHO!

“The Finnish Way of Drinking…..” – Swedish comedian Robert Gustafson makes Finnish drinking habits and behavior easy to understand, even subtitled.

Helsinki City Centre: In the evenings the area around Helsinki’s Main Railway Station can be a bit rowdy with drunks and with gangs. Groups of immigrant Somali “youths” can also be a bit of an issue but are easy enough to spot and steer clear of. The railway station is open late and during winter it’s a place to keep warm. It’s also a meeting spot for gangs and so on. It’s okay if you’re with someone, but avoid walking through alone late at night. If you have to, keep your head down, don’t walk too slowly, keep your phone out of sight and your money in your pockets. A quarter of all assaults (not that there are many) in the City Centre area happen in pubs and restaurants – generally the cheaper ones. In the old days practically every restaurant had a doorman whose job was not to welcome you but to decide if you should be admitted or not. Nowadays doormen still exist but mainly in City Centre (and some suburban) pubs. It can be quite a violent job – which tells you something – as a visitor, be careful where you go drinking and if you’re not sure, ask for advice. However, the places where you are most likely to get into a brawl if you’re not careful are the post-nightspot closing queues for taxis and fast food.

Pickpockets: Pickpockets have been an increasing problem over the last few years and there have been a growing number of incidents where people have been robbed of their wallets, either from their handbags or pockets, while on public transport. Increasingly more skillful pickpockets have been at work in Helsinki, largely due to the due to the free movement of people within the EU as a result of the Schengen Agreement, which enables organized gangs to move across most European borders without any checks. This is of course a problem that visitors to any western European country now need to be aware of, it’s not just a Finnish issue – the root cause of the problem is self-evident but political correctness or not, as a tourist it’s something you need to keep in mind. The loss of your wallet / passport could easily ruin your trip. Another trick these people use is the classic one where someone comes to your table and hands a piece of laminated paper or card to you to read (often in a foreign language) – once they get your attention, another guy, pretending to be a waiter, takes your mobile or wallet if you’ve left it somewhere easily accessible. Many tourists have been pick pocketed around Senate Square and the Cathedral, losing their money and passports. All pickpockets know it’s a popular place for tourists and there are more pickpockets at work in these areas than anywhere else in Helsinki. Apparently one trick is to pretend to be police officers asking for ID’s for some made reason – after which you notice you have been robed. Outside of Helsinki, they’re not so much of a problem.

Avoid Pickpockets – this clip is from the US but these are standard techniques that are used worldwide by gypsies in particular. Keep your valuables in a safe place (not your handbag) – when travelling, a passport pouch or similar is recommended.

Beggars: As in other western European countries, you will now see increasing numbers of Gypsies from Romania and other eastern European countries begging on the streets. Those who only sit and beg are relatively harmless but some have committed violent robberies – again, as when travelling anywhere, just be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. If you start feeling nervous, it’s probably for a good reason. The beggars are bad enough, but also beware of normally-dressed people giving a sob story about being 2€ short for train tickets, phone cards and the like. More so if they say they are visitors from the Baltic States. They’re scamming you.

Fake Car Trouble: Sometimes, usually in summer you may see what looks like (typically) 2 eastern-European men having trouble with their car, waving for you to stop and help them. If you stop, they start asking for money for gasoline, or trying to sell you some (fake) jewelry. Also they may ask you to give them a ride to nearest gas station and while in the car they will attempt to take anything valuable while your attention is distracted. Usually they don’t make trouble when you refuse their demands, however there have been reports that on occasion they act in a threatening way. So just keep driving if you see something like this.

Immigrant areas: Not such an issue in Finland as they are in Denmark, Sweden or Norway where Islamic immigrants in particular are now a major threat to public safety in many cities. But Finland has taken in considerable numbers of Somali “refugees” who share the same characteristics as their fellow Somali’s in every other country. If you see “groups” of Somali “youth”, give them a wide berth for your own safety.

Traffic Warnings and Advice

Helsinki Trams: Watch out for the Trams as if you’re not used to them they can take you by surprise, they can go really fast, they’re quiet and it takes quite a distance for them to stop. ALWAYS look before you cross the street!

Catching Buses: When using local buses, it seems that you have to hold out your arm to signal the driver to stop for you. If you don’t signal, the bus may pass the stop without stopping. This also happens at main bus stops like at the airport – so if you want to jump on the bus, hold out your arm.

Pedestrian Crossings: You’ll find pedestrians generally wait for the green pedestrian light to cross at intersections even though there may be no cars in sight. There’s a reason for thus – there are very substantial fines for crossing on a red light even if there is no traffic. When in Finland, do as the Finns! Also, Helsinki streets are sometimes split into sections, with cars coming from the left, then tram lines, then cars coming from the right. Each of these sections may have its own pedestrian crossing signals – sometimes you will only be able to cross one section and then have to wait on an “island” for the next “cross” signal before making it all the way across the street. Basically, if you see a “walk” sign on the far side of the street you may believe it is safe to cross when, in fact, a closer light may indicate “don’t walk” for the part that you are about to cross. Best to pay attention and use some common sense – make sure you look both ways before you step out into potential traffic.

Cyclists: As a pedestrian, watch out for cyclists. There are quite a few of them, especially in Helsinki and they’re both quiet and fast – and some of them have the habit of riding on the sidewalk. In the autumn of 2008 (OK, that’s a few years ago so statistically insignificant) one female pedestrian was killed by a cyclist in the center of the city. The killer-cyclist got a 1500 Euro fine and had to pay 4000 Euros – not a whole lot. If a cyclist just misses you, the typical Finnish comment, if any, is “oho” (“oops”) – if the cyclist is female you may get “oho anteeksi” (“Oops, sorry” – Finnish women are more talkative than men – LOL).

Winter & Ice: Slippery streets, tram stops and footpaths are a danger in winter (which lasts about 5 months, from November to March). A combination of melting & freezing snow can lead to icy conditions. If you’re not used to this kind of weather, best be cautious – it’s easy to slip and fall –every winter Finnish people (who are used to the conditions) break legs, arms and wrists falling down, particularly at places like bus and tram stops. In 2010, 723 people slipped or stumbled to death in Finland over winter (in 2009 it was 1,400 – no small number). Snow and ice falling from the roofs of buildings to the sidewalks is also a real danger. The most dangerous periods are when the temperature hovers around zero, with snow melting during the day and then freezing at night. So take care, especially when getting on and off trams and buses in winter after a “warm” winter day.

Finnish Drivers: Finnish drivers like to drive fast and they all seem to think they’re Mika Häkkinen (the former Formula-1 World Champion). When strolling around in Helsinki on foot, be very aware when crossing any road or street. Finnish drivers (with an emphasis on the people in Helsinki) drive like maniacs. Even a green pedestrian crossing signal doesn’t necessarily mean its safe to cross. Finnish drivers tend to see the yellow (and sometimes even the red) lights as mere invitations to stop, not a command to actually be obeyed; hence it’s a good idea to take an extra look at the traffic before crossing the street. Jay walking in Helsinki? Watch out, because if a driver spots you jay walking he’ll speed up…… Now run! And note that it’s not customary for cars to stop at pedestrian crossings, so watch out before you cross the street on uncontrolled crossings.

Do NOT Drink and Drive: Finland has very very strict Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol laws. It is not uncommon for the locals to hang out until early in the morning and as a result the Police set up check points along the roads in the middle of nowhere at these times. If you fail the alcohol test it’s more than likely a “Go directly to jail” situation. So be careful – if you’re drinking, use cabs or if you have to take a car, appoint a designated driver.

Helsinki Parking: If you are traveling by car and want to park in the centre of Helsinki, think twice about it. Parking is hard to find and – what’s more – it’s really pricy. Better to use public transport around the City Centre.

Wildlife & the Outdoors

Mosquitoes: When travelling in northern Finland in summer make sure that you ALWAYS have and use a very strong mosquito repellant. The Mosquitoes in the north of Finland have to be seen and experienced to be believed and June and July are the worst months. Without a good insect repellent they will make your visit very uncomfortable, if not unbearable. All the locals wear long sleeved shirts and long pants for a good reason – following their example is recommended, along with ensuring that any exposed skin is covered with that same strong Mosquito repellant. You might also want to consider those stylish netting hats. And if you plan on backpacking, take a mosquito net – you’ll need it! There are all sorts of good insect repellents and protective gear available locally – use them! Being swarmed by mosquitoes can drive you crazy – not to mention the bites!

“Lapland Mosquitoes…..”

Ticks: A summer in Finland without some exposure to mosquitoes, wasps or ticks is nearly impossible! Beware of ticks especially when visit forested areas and the rural areas of the Åland islands where they are widespread. Ticks are small, hard to spot and their bites often go unnoticed because of the small size of the tick in its nymphal stage, as well as tick secretions that prevent you from feeling any itch or pain from the bite. If you spot a tick, get it off quickly but make sure you get the head out also, otherwise the bite may become infected. To remove a tick safely, press down around the tick’s head with tweezers, grab the head and gently pull upwards. Avoid pulling the rear of the body as this may squeeze the tick’s gut contents through the attached mouth parts into the skin, increasing the risk of infection and disease. Applying chemicals to the tick will not make it let go and is not recommended. As with mosquitoes, the best preventative is to use a strong and effective insect repellent right from the start. Also keep in mind that Ticks are the vector for transmitting Lyme disease (although transmission is quite rare, with only about 1% of recognized tick bites resulting in Lyme disease).

Seagulls over Helsinki: In Helsinki, especially near by the sea, on the boulevard or in and around the market square there are lots of seagulls. Not only might they drop something unwelcome on you (yeeech), they will also aggressively steal your food if you leave it unwatched for a moment.

 

Moose: The most dangerous wild animal in the Finnish forest is the MOOSE. Finland experiences about 1,500 unplanned moose-car interactions annually, with about 10 people getting themselves killed yearly and more than 300 people injured. What happens? Generally a moose runs or walks across a road in a forested area without waiting for the “moose crossing” lights. The end result can be fatal for vehicle occupants (moose are large and if you hit them, they’ll come up over the front of the car rather than into the grill or going under). Moose are NOT small – an adult moose weighs in at around 6-700kg, they’re 2 meters tall and up to 3 meters long – and there’s something like 100,000 moose in Finland. How do you minimize the risk? Keep an eye open for signs warning of moose – you will find these where moose are commonly found and where they have caused accidents in the past. Keep your speed down where visibility is limited. The seasons where you are most at risk from moose are Spring and Autumn. Despite all of this, if a moose does run out in front of you, try and steer past its rear end. And good luck!

Reindeer: There are 200 000 Reindeer in Finland and almost all are domestic animals – but while they’re all owned by someone, they roam in the wild and they’re not fenced in. They travel around freely in small herds and you’ll often find them on roads or crossing roads in northern Finland (Lapland). Even on main roads and the motorway you’ll find Reindeer taking a stroll at any time of the year. They’re not afraid of cars or people and will happily make use of roads – and also they’re not predictable in their behavior when you do encounter them. They’re also classified as semi-domesticated and you’re liable to a fine if you hit one by accident. Reindeer are small and hard to spot in daylight, let alone at night so take care, and keep your speed down – driving fast in forested areas in Lapland might prove lethal for any reindeer you encounter – as well as for yourself and your car.

“Reindeer on the road – Lapland” – I like the technique for moving the reindeer on!

Finland’s Borders and Hiking: Some of Finland’s best parks and hiking trails are close to the border with Russia. Make sure that if you’re in these areas, you’re aware of where the border is and what the regulations are for crossing the border. Russia can be pretty strict on these things. Check out the webpage for Outdoors.fi to know what to do before starting your trip.

Other Bits and Pieces

In Summer, don’t forget that the Sun never sets: Which is one of the attractions of Lapland, but can be not such a good thing if you can’t sleep until the sun goes down – and there’s about a month over June and July where the sun doesn’t set. Conversely, in the middle of winter, you don’t see too much daylight.

Health Insurance: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are entitled to free medical care in Finland, but you need to have proof of this entitlement. Proof comes in the form of the EHIC, the European Health Insurance Card, which has replaced the E111 form in most EU countries. However, be warned that with economic conditions in the EU being what they are, a number of countries are now disregarding the agreements on the EHIC and insisting on payment for medical care. While there are no reports of this happening in Finland, things change fast and it’s best to have travel insurance that covers health care to be on the safe side.

For non- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, get yourself a good travel insurance policy that covers health/medical care. Accidents do happen and medical costs can be high. There are a variety of policies available, so check the small print and make sure you’re aware of any exclusions – particularly for “dangerous activities”, which can include typical Finnish winter activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. Even hiking can be excluded on some policies. It’s also best to take out a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later make sure you keep all documentation and receipts – insurance companies are getting increasingly stricter about payments. Some policies ask you to call back (reverse charges) to a centre in your home country where an immediate assessment of your problem is made.

Drinking Water: Tap water in Finland is completely safe anywhere in the country. However, don’t drink the water from streams, rivers or lakes. A recent survey ranked Finland’s lakes and rivers among some of the most polluted waters in Europe. That burbling brook in the forest may look crystal clear and invitingly safe, but there may be pulp factories, people or animals lurking upstream. The simplest safety measure if you’re away from tap water is to purify the water you plan to drink by boil it, using an effective water filter, or by adding water purification tablets.

I’ll continue to add to this Finland – Warnings, Advice and Safety Tips for Visitors Post as I come across bits and pieces about Finland that seem worth adding. Contributions and suggestions welcome!

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