Finland is famous around the world for a couple of reasons. It has most heavy metal bands and saunas per capita, the highest literacy rate in the world and the least corrupt government in the world. Although there are many attractions in Finland there are also many risks and hazards visitors should beware of.

Traveling info

Because Finland is a member of the Schengen convention all citizens of the member states of this agreement may move freely to Finland for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Visitors who want to drive in Finland must have their national driving permit, certificate of insurance and car registration documents in their car with them all times whilst driving. An international driving permit is not required however it may come in handy if the national driving permit is written in non-roman scripture.

Traveling hazards

Finland has an excellent road system and public transportation system. While trains, flights, and ferries provide long-distance travel, urban areas have an extensive system of buses, subways, trams, and taxis. All of the mentioned are generally free of crime and are just as safe during the day as they are at night. Driving on rural roads should involve more care as wild animals might wander onto the road or parts of the road might be covered with ice during the colder seasons.

Environmental hazards

The vast swaths of the Finnish country are inhabited by a variety of animals however two of them may be dangerous for humans. Brown bears and wolves are well established in Finland. The boreal climate and abundance of prey allow these two to flourish. Meeting any of these animals is rather very rare. In the case of encountering a bear, there are several things that can be done to avoid being potential mauled by this titan. If spotting a bear from a distance of over 100 meters it is best to just retreat slowly. If spotting it from a closer distance it is best to slowly walk back making a lot of noise or appearing to be as big as possible to scare the bear off. Easier said than done however brown bears are not known to directly hunt down people like their polar cousins do and usually avoid contact. When hiking in areas inhabited by bears, it is best to make a lot of noise and make them aware of your presence. Bears will usually retreat before they can be noticed upon hearing the noises. Wolves inhabit areas mainly around the Russian border and although these animals avoid humans, during the winter season they may get more aggressive. Swimming in the Baltic is safe. There are no dangerous fish that could harm humans and no recorded shark attacks in the Baltic Sea.
There is no dangerous seismic activity or volcanoes in Finland. The country suffers however from floods and severe snow storms. Whilst floods mainly occur in the south of Finland, snow storms hit the north of the country where temperatures drop as low as – 50 degrees Celsius.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. To ensure a safe trip to Finland there are several vaccinations which are recommended for maximum safety. These are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and the rabies vaccine. Healthcare in Finland is highly decentralized. It is also not universal which means citizens of Finland pay for their services however they are reimbursed by the government social insurance. Fees are reasonable and kept at a minimum price. Expats are also expected to pay however European health insurance card holders are eligible for free emergency treatment. Those who are not eligible for the EHIC or are outside of the EU and EEA should purchase medical insurance that will cover their medical expenses. Private facilities also provide high-quality care. Most physicians and nurses speak English allowing for easy communication with the expats.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Finland has some of the most effective police forces in the world. Generally, crime saw a 6% decrease overall however with the influx of refugees who turned out to be from the areas from the outside of the current war zone in Syria, violent crime saw a dramatic rise of over 10% in both aggravated assault and rape. There is a deportation process of refugee applicants who provided false identities and age. Petty crime exists in Finland however to a much smaller scale than in other popular places around the world. Instances of pickpocketing and theft of unattended goods are common particularly in crowded tourist areas, or public communication again particularly the lines connecting popular tourist spots. Beware of your surroundings. Keep valuables tight. It is advised to wear money belts to avoid pickpockets lifting it out of your pocket. Money belts are great for storing money, credit cards or IDs safely. Finnish cities are considered to be safe at both day and night time however to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime during the night it is best to stick to popular tourist areas and to travel by taxi or a private vehicle to and from such places. The Finnish drug laws do not differentiate between possession, cultivation or distribution however there is a legal differentiation that applies to small quantities possession.

Summary

Finland is a country for those who prefer mild temperatures as summer does not exceed the high temperatures of 20 degrees whilst winter can get quite severe however Finnish people simply deal with the cold with the impressive amount of private and public saunas to be found almost anywhere in the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/finland-visa/
https://www.helsinki.com/v/visa-requirements/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/finland
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559