THINGS WE LOVE AND HATE ABOUT FINLAND 🇫🇮

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

Honestly, i would recommend to come back during the summer. We have a saying that there are two countries inside Finland, Finland in the summer and Finland in the winter. Summer is way more lively, there are way more activities, events, festivals, midsummer day which is the best holiday in finland. Everything is so green and people are happier.

[@zelarics]

Yea but midsummer is horrible for tourist IF they dont go to festivals or someones cottage. Nothing happening in the cities, stores are closed, empty, boring😅

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

@@zelarics There are public midsummer day activities. Most finns dont realize it because we usually celebrate the day with family or friends. Also steve and his wife could get invited to something possibly but who knows, thats not my point tho. summer is still the best time to visit :D

[@odyibuzo8210]

​@@zelarics Hello Good afternoon from this part of the world Am Ody Christopher from Nigeria Please I really need your advice please 🙏 My wife and i are currently planning on relocating to Europe this year and we have Finland and Sweden on our mind (list) Please from your travels experience which of this country will you advise someone to move to that has more job opportunities and are kind to Newcomers? I will be waiting for your response please 🙏

[@zelarics]

@@Alexandros.Mograine yea I agree that it is the best time :) thats why I said ”yea, but..” I have been in Tampere for ones in midsummer… never again😅

[@zelarics]

@@Alexandros.Mograine but yea! Definitely they could get invited to someones cottage, enjoy large group of people, see the kokko etc

in finland coffee makers are considered as life support systems

[@sasiuru]

The morning when every coffee maker stops to work, Finland will turn in to zombie land full of warlords who have their black coffee pots hanging top of the fire, and protecting it like a piece of treasury... :D Or at least that it feels when either power is out at the morning or worst - box storing coffee is empty... Filter papers ending can be remedied with some paper towel.

[@pojuantsalo3475]

For Finns it would be considered sadistic/evil to offer AirBnBs without coffee maker/coffee.

[@mattilindstrom]

A story about my military service: in moving an artillery weather station from one grouping to another (once every 36 hours or so) the order of operations was get the personnel tent up, get the the generator going, and get the coffee maker on. People who are working 16 hours a day with a remaing about 4 hours of sleep need their coffee.

[@birchleaf]

I confirm this. I’m a Swede, and we drink a lot of coffee, but the Finns drink even more. A coffee maker is as essential as electricity, tap water and a bath room. How else would you be able to survive?

[@Juhani96]

@@birchleaf yeah, its like hotel room without bed. Quite must to have equipment for pleasant life.

[@skirne_]

I really like this couple - they seem real, not acting a role or anything. We finns really appreciate this feature in people but I guess it's also universal

[@-Agis-]

No wonder you thought the ryebread tasted like cardboard..you had rye "rieska", a type of traditional unleavened bread usually made from barley, oats and/or potato. That kind of bread is usually pretty tasteless and dry. 😅 Next time, consult a local and get the proper stuff!

[@tubelious]

there are different types of rye bread suitable and optimal for different ways to eat them.

[@Songfugel]

Yeah, those sort of rye bread need to be slathered with creamy butter and cheese +other toppings of choice to make them delicious. Also the texture, crispiness and level of dryness is insanely important. Unlike white bread, rye bread can often be even more delicious when it is has gained just the perfect amount of hardness, without going stale

[@Songfugel]

@@tubelious 100%

[@MikkoMurmeli]

@@tubelious You still eat bread? You don't know what it does to you? On top of that, no butter no cheese? Just... why?

[@tubelious]

@@MikkoMurmeli WTF? :D

[@nellitheretrogamer8666]

I'm Finnish, 50 years old, and it is completely new information to me that keys don't work like that in the rest of the world. The key you have there is a modern electric key, but even when I was a kid (1970s) the apartment key always fit also the front door and the common spaces like laundry room and bicycle storage. They were traditional mechanical keys back then, but they've always worked like that. Now I'm a bit mystified about how keys work in the rest of the world then... I love rye bread, and here's my tip how to best eat it: put it in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds or so, so that it warms up, then put butter or margarine on it. When the bread is warm, the spread gets absorbed into it so that the bread becomes more moist. Then put cheese, cucumber, tomato, or whatever you want on top of it. I love rye bread like that. It's been fun to watch your journey here. Whereever you go next, happy travels, and you are welcome back to Finland anytime!

[@cillamaria8]

Monessa maassa kaikkiin oviin on eri avaimet. Oon käyny yli 50 maassa, enkä muista, että esim. missään Airbnb-kämpässä alaoveen olis käyny sama avain kuin asunnon oveen. Lukot on myös usein sellasia, että avainta pitää kääntää monta kierrosta ympäri ja se avain pyörii molempiin suuntiin. Eri suunnista tulee joko takalukko tai sit normaali lukitus.

[@Jappe132]

Olen asunut Ruotsissa, Belgiassa ja Irlannissa. Ruotsissa taisi olla samankaltaiset lukot kuin Suomessa, mutta Belgiassa ja Irlannissa oli eri avain kaikkiin oviin ja portteihin.

[@henriikkak2091]

​@@Jappe132 Se johtuu siitä, että Assa-Abloy on suomalais-ruotsalainen firma. Maailman ensimmäinen lukko, jota ei voi avata tiirikoimalla, kuuluu sanonta 😊

[@agsuvongiest]

@@cillamaria8 Olin vaihdossa Prahassa ja siel oli just tollaset lukot et sitä avainta piti kääntää ja vääntää siinä lukossa enkä millään meinannu oppia miten sen saa auki (pahimmillaan taisin tapella jonkun 10 minuuttia sen lukon kaa et sai oven auki)

[@Tunturisorsa]

@@henriikkak2091 semmosta lukkoa ei olekaan jota ei tiirikoimalla saa auki, mutta hyviä lukkoja ovat silti

[@waffen80]

Love you guys! Please come here again in mid summer. you will see whole differend Finland! Cheers!

[@bakeraus]

Yep, the sun

[@romaliop]

It is said that Finland has no small talk culture, but that isn't really true. It's just that Finns don't ask people how it's going out of courtesy, they'll just start talking about the weather. And since the weather is often bad, a large part of this "small talk" is complaints. So instead of feeling bad for complaining about the weather, just take it as embracing the local culture.

[@TheRawrnstuff]

Suomalainen small talk: "Hei, mitä äijä?" "Eipä tässä, Mites ite?" "No mitäs mitäs. Samoilla suksilla." "Jep jep." "..." "No joo!" "Joo, palaillaan" "Kyl. Ens kertaan." "Näillä mennään."

[@tomminystrom]

Thanks for thanking our health care, those working there deserve it.

[@sasiuru]

And fun fact of that ILOQ key you show. It is not just a key, it is a smart key, lock itself reads the key when you insert it to lock. And it can be disabled or access reconfigured remotely to each lock as needed. Earlier with mechanical Abloy locks each key had parts that matched to front (lobby) door, storage, sauna etc and only part of the key were for the apartment door. We have long history with those things and not often even think what we have. :)

[@sasiuru]

And that programmability is the main reason why it probably used on Air BnB appartments. How often visitor forgets the key to their pocket? Each time entire apartment building might need redoing all the keys and locks if they wants to ensure that there is no loose keys floating around that gives access to common parts of the building... With ILOQ it is just a klick of the mouse and key has no other function than being an nice looking piece of metal... :D

[@madapro03]

we use the mechanical ones in Germany. Your smart keys are next level. Excelent idea! Here we have to close an insurance because if you lose your key tey have to replace all and is very expensive.

[@jauho7483]

@@madapro03 Only bad thing in those ILOQ smart keys, is that sometimes the lock can't read the key and you have to reinsert the key to the lock. This can happen 2-3 times before the lock opens.

[@MetsisJ]

@@jauho7483 The Ilog system is electromechanical. If the door has only a mechanical lock, then those grooves define whether the key opens the door. If the lock is electric then the access is programmable. To my understanding the door is not connected to any central access system however, but the access rules are in the lock. This means that the key starts up the key ID reading mechanism. This requires electricity, which is generated by the movement of the key. Now sometimes you insert the key in such way that it does not generate enough electricity for the key ID reading mechanism to get activated, then you need reinsert the key.

[@Rinssi_from_Finland]

The lock/key is powered by the small strip of wire on the key bottom. If you insert the key too fast it won't power on so the lock wont read the key. We have these at where I work and there's quite a specific speed of insertion you must master.

[@janikarkkainen3904]

Healthcare in Finland isn't "free" per se - it's subsidized, but what you have to pay is very very reasonable. From 20 to 40€ depending on happened. Ambulance ride is like 10€ what you have to pay, 20€ for a doctors, 40€ for a specialist.

[@j3mixa]

I was in a major operation couple of months ago, and spent three nights in the hospital. It was 54,60€ /night and it covered everything from the operation to medication, clothes, and food, which was actually very good. Lab work and things like x-rays, MRIs, and other tests are always free of charge in public healthcare. And there's a maximum of about 800€/year in the medical costs (+700€ for prescription medicine). After that, the care is free of charge (not including the long term care homes which is a separate thing).

[@Mariini]

I was diagnosed a tumor in my brain last september. I haven't even bothered to calculate, but from the first visit on healthcare center, thru general hospitals emergency next night and was sent to University hospital next morning in an ambulance, and was operated next morning, after that a day in intensive care + three days in ward... About ~350€ as a whole. Including CT and two MRI scans. Public healthcare isn't perfect here anymore, but still mostly good.

[@lukezi3952]

@@j3mixa having to pay 800€ before it becomes free is crazy when the taxes are already as high as they are.

[@j3mixa]

@@lukezi3952 It's not as simple as that though. Taxes can be higher than somewhere else but the median income tax percentage is around 26%, so I don't think it's that high. VAT is pretty high, 10% for services and some others, 14% for food, and 24% for goods. Things like cars, petrol/gas, alcohol and cigarettes are very higly taxed though. Going to a regular doctor is maximum 46€/year, no matter how many times you need to go. Seeing a specialist is 46€/time, and like I said a hospital night is 54,60€, and that includes what ever operation you need. So the prices are more like office costs than actual medical costs. Most people will never get as high as the maximum price/year and they never ask money or credit card in the hospital, even if you haven't paid the last time. Most prescription medicines are 40% covered from the price that the government has already negotiated lower. Cancer medication has 100% cover (4,60€ fee to the pharmacy per three months of medicine), I don't know what other diseases have 100% cover but there're others. If you have very low income, then you can get your health care complitely covered by the social benefits. Some lower income people that are working, can get the health costs deducted from taxes. And of course you get benefits if you have to take medical leave, no matter how high your income is, it's a percentage of your wage. Also children get free care which includes dental. So there're many ways to lower the costs. It's not perfect but medical debt is not really a thing here.

[@sebastiansandvik825]

@@lukezi3952 It's not that you have to pay 800€ before it becomes free. You pay a small amount for most services, but after 800€ it becomes totally free. The idea behind the small fee (covers just a small fraction of the cost) is to keep people from overusing services. In some areas certain types of care are also free, so in Helsinki you don't pay anything for a normal visit to a doctor. For a dentist you pay 14,60€ if you're over 18, so it's a very reasonable amount. Often actually sending out the invoice will cost almost as much as the fee itself, so it's not to make the health services money, but to prevent the "tragedy of the commons".

[@Jappe132]

As a Finn I can't live without rye bread. Back in the day I lived in Brussels and my sister did send me bread every month. I have nothing against people who don't like it as I myself don't understand the combination of Nutella and toast.

[@jonnajosefina]

I completely agree with the weather. This spring is truly neverending. 😩 You should've been here during midsummer, it's something else and worth experiencing. 🙏✨

[@Turreman1]

You guys make amazing videos! Good energy and positive vibes!! Hope to see you in Finland again!

[@dominus9352]

for the 16:05; you should checkout suomenlinna, specifically during summer

[@riittap9121]

In general, visiting the archipelago is a must. It's such a different world and easily accessible by different ferries.

[@ayntmamiagaag]

As a Finn I usually don't like rye bread that much either, but a pro tip is to put it in a toaster and then put some butter on when it's hot. I always eat my rye bread like that and it's delicious. Also there are different kinds of rye breads and personally my favourite is definitely the "tosi tumma Reissumies" (extra dark Reissumies), which has some sweetness to it. So when you come back: - try different brands - remember to toast them first

[@Sgublaka94]

That part.

[@Mimosalover69]

I love that you appreciated the keys, because when I go abroad I'm always amazed by how much the keys suck. The locks barely work, spin in a weird way and you always get a ton of keys.

[@hosannayeshua4446]

yeah and you have to lock them yourself :D i am too amazed how much better finnish keys and locks are

[@jens1924]

😂😂😂 Good lord yes this! I recently stayed in Italy for 2 months and let me tell you, my land lady looked at me like I was a crazy person since I had to ask how the friggin locks worked since I couldn't get them open. Come to find out when you locked it and clicked 1-5 times you had to click it same amount when opening. Front door had to be in excatly right place for it to work. I always feel like I'm an utter moron when traveling since it's usually a hassle to figure out the locks. 😅

[@Whatshisname346]

As a foreigner living in Finland, the flight prices are pretty crazy but it’s mainly because Finland is quite isolated; more a destination with less mass tourism rather than somewhere to connect to other countries so a lot less competition. I often question why I go back to my home country to visit when I could get a holiday somewhere warm for the same money! The Rye bread is an acquired taste, though if you try enough different brands you’ll find your favourite one. My wife for example loves Jalkiuuni leipä which to me feels like it’s going to break my teeth. I’m a a bigger fan of the sqiggy ones. I’m glad you enjoyed Finland as much as we enjoyed watching you guys. Welcome back to Tampere anytime …… though as an Ilves fan we may not run into you guys at Nokia Arena unless we’re whuppin you guys in the derby.

[@ernonikkola1084]

One thing about bread: finns almost universally use butter or more often margarine on bread, and rye bread especially requires it.

[@bakeraus]

Need to be dipped into water to loosen up the mortar in the rye bread.

[@vorlon7442]

I agree cities can be a bit boring for tourists for longer stays. I guess we Finns tend to enjoy some of the simpler things like spending quality time at home or going out in the nature. There's lots of theatre and concerts, but most of them tend to be more targeted to domestic tourists or just locals. We're not that big as a tourist destination besides the obvious Lapland Christmas destinations. We're simple (in good way: content with the genuinely important stuff) people, probably that's also why we rank so high on the world's happiest countries lists.

[@hazmanriess8949]

Bro...just 5.5 million finlander

[@mikkokulmala2463]

Thanks for the nice words and welcome back! Good luck to Ivana❤

[@Aquelll]

Abloy, the company that is World leader in lock R&D is a Finnish company. We have even some fancier locks here in Finland. Their smart locks have some pretty ridiculously cool features nowadays.

[@petrihaikonen2528]

The key they had was iLOQ, not Abloy BTW. Both companies are Finnish but owned by Swedish companies these days. The latest fancier locks from both companies are quite nice.

[@iidam6636]

Its true that Finland is quite boring during winter/early spring time because there isn’t much to do and the weather keeps throwing surprises, but in summer its so different! There’s usually alot people having picnics at parks and beaches and ofcourse summer cottages. But even in Helsinki people go to Suomenlinna, not exactly an old town type of thing but still an old castle ruins and spend a day there. Medieval market in Turku is also quite fun and different, even has free entry! Just to mention few funny things :)

[@Deltroyer1963]

Rye bread is usually eaten as sandwich in Finland. With butter/margarin and cheese etc. on top. Nobody eats plain rye bread here! Have a good "european tour"! :)

[@omppu65]

People do dip rye bread into soups but I'm not sure if that counts as ''plain''

[@TheLitokaira]

Welcome back! You guys are the good vibe 🎉

[@digdog5834]

You got very unlucky with the long cold spring weather. Next week is 20-23C sunny weather for 5+ days in a row 😅

[@Aquelll]

There are some charges in Finnish healthcare. Like a visit to a general practitioner costs you 23 euros, specialist doctor visits cost you 46 euros, a day of treatment at hospital ward is 54,60 euros and so on. There is an annual maximum of healthcare charges of 762 euros, after which all treatment is totally free, so that is the maximum people ever have to pay annually.

[@Aer0n023]

The weather in Finland is generally always quite cold when you compare it to almost any other inhabited place in the world. But when you see just HOW far up north Finland is and compare it to other places as far up in the north (Alaska, Greenland, Siberia) then you kinda realize why it's always a little bit cold. Even though in the summer it can get quite hot for 1 or 2 months depending on the year, there is also a saying that goes "Ah, the Finnish summer. It is short and there's not a lot of snow." - as it may even snow sometimes in the summer!

[@lukapitkanen3333]

Some of my favorite summer memories are cottage, sauna, lake, a CRT TV and a Playstation 1. That’s a whole vibe.

[@finnishculturalchannel]

There's a Finnish saying 'Keikkuen kevät tulevi', which means something like 'The spring wobbles on'. Next week's weather forecast says it's going to be +20 C, as where this week it was more like +10 C. It's that time of the year when nobody knows what to wear outside and the spectrum of seasonal fashion you can see people wearing is mind boggling. And there's also spectrum of Salmiakki candies. Nobody probably likes them all. Rye bread in general is tense compared to wheat bread, but there are different kind of rye breads. Some are softer and some are hard like life: "OULULAINEN - Kova kuin elämä". The father asks the son: "Well, are you hungry or aren't you?" And there's also the wheat-rye bread option to keep in mind. About that bus: "Hylätyn Bussin Sauna Tulille!".

[@Zami80]

Been awesome following your videos! Come back, I would say summer is the right time, it is so good.

[@justskip4595]

5:00 I have to correct that it is free for minors but not for adults. I had to call ambulance few months ago because of infernal back pain that had been going for hours and was getting worse and worse so before I would become incapacitated by the pain, I called ambulance. They gave me painkiller and muscle relaxant shots and later I got 25€ bill in the mail. (Some of the best spent money in my life) There's a thing called Omavastuuosa = Self responsibility/liability part. You got to pay part of the cost but taxes cover the majority. Things can get more complicated with more complicated cases but that is how majority of cases go.

[@ZnakerFIN]

As a disabled person, I think what I'm usually billed for is the office costs. Had a ton of eye exams at HUS eye hospital, specialists at the upper floors, during the last 5 years. 46 € per visit.

[@krakenbutt]

Actually, ambulances ARE free, IF they need to hospitalise you. You only pay the 25€ if the ambulance doesn't take you to the hospital. Or, this is what I read just a few weeks ago.

[@carcassandra1241]

A tip for you for when you come back since you love the trains; they have family cabins you can reserve! An absolute lifesaver when traveling with a small child. They offer some privacy if you need to breastfeed, extra space, stools and a table for the kids, 3(iirc) adults seats and a door to prevent your toddler from escaping. They are located right next to the large bathroom with a changing table /potty and close to the indoor playground (yep, all IC trains have playrooms). The cabins are also quite affordable ( I think last time we paid +20e between Helsinki and Tampere).

[@shadgilbert4616]

really enjoyed your video-- I'm an American in the first year of a 4-year PhD at the University of Helsinki, and you've taught me a lot-- thanks!

[@fridolfgranq]

You really just popped up randomly in my feed one day with these Finland vids and decided that it would be a daily occurrence hahaha! Love these videos, subbed and will stay for future content :D

[@feel_the_walk]

I started my own yutube chanel because of you guys! Thanks for inspiration and for this video. ❤

[@stefu3786]

That key also has electrical identification. If tou lose it, it can be disabled. So no new locks, that key just doesnt open any doors after disabling.

[@omalupa1994]

As a Finn, I can say that all the things you mentioned are good points, I can agree with all of them, but I like rye bread :-) . It should eat with butter, ham and cheese. Welcome back, maybe you should visit Lapland a little before Christmas, it's beautiful there when there's snow, frost and sun is not rice (kaamos) (north of the Arctic Circle). Or in July, when the waters in the lakes are warm enough to swim without going to the sauna. But still rent a traditional sauna cabin next to water, you'll already have experience of that in the home of that one Finn. And in July there are many kinds of markets and events, some of those little bit funny too (eukonkannon maailmanmestaruuskilpailut, google it...), all over Finland.

[@tuomokorkka7919]

For next time, I suggest you check out the archipelago in front of Helsinki and Turku, one of the biggest in the world with 180,000 islands. Also, Åland is worth visiting.

[@j-houster]

Cool channel and I really like your videos! So glad I found you here!! And as a Finnish dude your trip in Finland was pretty much as good as it can be in march😄

[@samanen]

You should’ve stayed for another couple weeks since practically the summer will start here the coming week. 😄 OR you should have visited Lapland to experience real winter ☺️ AND you’ll now miss the hockey WC party. 😆 Anyways thanks for the good content and perspectives on our country! 🙏👏 Looking forward for more ☺️

[@svvvvaaa]

on point with that ice cream my fav too

[@MegaStara]

Nice Rapid Bucharest shirt, my friend's favorite team, he is from Romania. Finland is more a country related to nature, not just cities. We are located a bit too far from the heart of Europe, so getting here might be a bit expensive. Anyway, nice to hear your thoughts.

[@samueliaho8193]

5:33 it was so funny to hear this, because literally we think the same 😂 ”we didn’t love the weather here” yeah we don’t love it either xD literally with everything you just said, you just found the real existence of being Finnish at Spring😆😅 and finally ”this particular spring was longer than usual” yeah, that’s what it feels EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR😂🤣

[@dianegreig4627]

Would love to go to Finland one day!! Keep safe, healthy and happy.

[@monicavivendoemla5537]

Happy Mother’s Day

[@j.lahtinen7525]

There are many, many kinds of rye bread, so you're bound to find something you like. From the pre-packaged stuff that you can find in just about any grocery store, I'd recommend "Vaasan Ruispalat - Ohut Herkku". From freshly baked rye bread, I'd look for the word "jälkiuuni". (Which literally would translate into "after oven") - they are baked so that they have a tougher (sometimes crispy) consistency on the edges, while, when fresh, being soft in the middle. Also "juureen leivottu" - which means "baked with the root of the dough".

[@Mirabelliana]

You seem like such a nice couple! I'm happy you had a great experience in Finland. I was surprised you liked the salmiakki ice cream so much, but yeah, it is good. I laughed out loud at your definition of rye brean, like normal bread but worse. I hope your travels bring you back to Finland some time!

[@niilop]

white bread is unhealthy compared to rye brea, rye break might be dry but if you put it in a toaster and add some butter and cheese to it its so tasty. On the weather, you should definitely come back in the summer its like its a different country if your lucky and we have a good summer :D

[@R1X4FIN]

cities are quiet because of the weather in spring, come back in the summer and everyone is outside and there's alot more to do here. Love your content i even watched some of the ice hockey contet you put in the channel and i don't much care about hockey 😄👍

[@Shuorbr]

I found your channel through recommended when you did your first Finland videos and have watched every one since! Like other have commented I had no idea that key thing was that special I knew we were decent at it, but hey nice learning something about us through you, I guess that's what I really enjoy about these videos. On ryebread, my personal favorites are plain sandwhiches with butter, cheese and fresh cucumber. Alternatively butter, liver pâté (maksamakkara) and pickle. A hidden gem is ryebread with apple ;)

[@puupatsas]

I hope you will get to see a Finnish summer sometime. It's admittedly quite short, but has very little snow. Many Finns dislike the winter in southern Finland, which we also call the eternal November. My plan is to live in a warm place during the winters and spend the summers and autumns in Finland. You are welcome to our cottage if you ever end up here in the summer.

[@tkkaisla]

You could build a trailer for your school bus and build the sauna in the trailer. I have seen sauna trailers multiple times in Finland and you can even rent them for weekend and so on.

[@hextatik_sound]

This spring has been very cold compared to many previous springs. It's rare to have this cold spring here.

[@justskip4595]

I recommend having salmiakki with beer. Other candies don't work that well but those two complement each other so well. You can take that kind of rye breads, put toppings on them and top it off with cheese and cook in the oven. Heating those up, adding butter and toppings is also great, grilling those makes them really nice and crispy. I enjoy those in many different ways. Oat breads work for this too. Good luck with your travels and it was interesting to see your experience here through the eyes of a foreigner who was willing to try out different things and not the most common tourist attractions.

[@Yrzi]

I always put my rye bread into the toaster, give it a try.

[@juhokaartoaho]

I also eat rye bread ether when it's still sort of soft because it's fresh and once it loses the softness there is nothing better for it than toasting it.

[@MusaFinderi]

Yep, but if it's really good rye bread, like with no wheat added, better eating dry and hard.

[@juhokaartoaho]

@@MusaFinderi True. That's why crispbread (näkkäri) is sometimes really good and you might crave for it.

[@llssneN]

Glad you had a good stay! Your time of visit in the early spring definitely played a role, Helsinki and other cities are so much more alive in the summer, it's still a half coma during your visit when it comes to events and outside activities in general. I would definitely recommend coming to the capital in the summer and visiting places like Linnanmäki, Korkeasaari and doing boating in the archipelago and checking out the popular summer festivals and everything ☀

[@ro--M]

If you come to Finland: summer > winter > autumn > spring Well, winter/autumn is matter of preference BUT: the early spring is really the worst season in Finland as all the dog poo starts to show up from the snow and you have a lot of sand from the roads flying in the air, and on top of that, everything looks dirty. Just before the summer those problems are starting to be solved and life is good again.

[@ro--M]

14:06 Not the best market rye bread but those too work well as toast with butter. "Vaasan Ruispalat" is the rye bread even most foreigners like.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

About the rye bread, hesburger even has rye bread burgers :D

[@Pokerit]

So does the finnish McDonalds.

[@hosannayeshua4446]

used to have, it doesn't anymore

[@lovmtb5936]

It have been so amazing to follow your journey in Finland. I totally agree about the good things and the not so good. I´m really looking forward to see you in an old schoolbus. Welcome back! Did you by the way know tha Finland is like Canada bilingual. About 5 % speak Sweadish in Finland.

[@onr-o1h]

As a Finn, I think I can agree on all of your dislikes! 😂 It's nice to hear that you seemed to have a very good experience overall. And for your next visit: come during the summer and go to see a Finnish Baseball (pesäpallo) regular season game!

[@paskakommentoija22]

Yeah about the public transport.. If you're planning to come here during wintertime DO NOT RELY on the trains, they are cancelled with like 60% chance. If they aren't cancelled then they are late up to several hours. Especially the R-trains between Helsinki - Riihimäki - (tampere)

[@sakarikosonen6228]

Helsinki was founded in 1550, but only started growing in the 1800's after becoming the capital of the grand duchy of Finland, as a part of the Russian empire. That's after Sweden losing the territory to Russia in 1809. Also, the town was originally located in what is now called Koskela, where Vantaanjoki(Vantaa river) pours in to the Baltic sea, and was only moved to the current location in 1640. So yeah, no old town.

[@ThePepperkingXY]

There are other Salmiakki ice creams too!

[@UnbekanntS]

This winter was harsh

[@FINNSTIGAT0R]

Finland is quite a young country city development wise, and our smallish population for the longest time was very spread out all along our geographical area. This is the reason why there's not much old timey stuff in Finland, and what historical stuff there is, architecture etc. wise, is actually not that old at all. And a lot of those older buildings we had were torn down and replaced with boring box like buildings during the 1960's and 1970's, you know those boxes which can be found everywhere on the planet. This is actually one of my main gripes about Finland as well, that there's not much to see and do, which is immediately obvious and appealing, but there's little that can be done about that, as it's more about the circumstances than it is about anything else. We've always been quite apart from the centre of culture and historical events of the wider European community, so our built environment and our culture is a reflection of that. Finland I would say is a nice place to wind down, chill out, and relax - not doing anything super special. But you cannot fill your calendar with exciting happenings and city based activities, unless you happen to be here in the festival season.

[@lihavalokki5705]

Regarding the weather, you kinda visited on an unlucky year. It's been one of the coldest springs in a while haha

[@JetLagWarriors]

Yes! That was a bit unfortunate. Anyway, we didn't want to complain to much about the weather. It is what it is, we enjoyed our stay anyway :)

[@TurunSamurai]

Bro to me it's so funny that I recognized that you guys were staying in a Citykoti apartment the moment I saw the shelves with the coffee filters and coffee machine. Stayed in those way too much during my work in Helsinki. Great video and I'm glad you came to Finland. Hope to have you again someday!

[@angulion]

You might want to visit Turku and take a trip/tour to the archipelago if you come in the summer time. It's beautiful and quite unique in the world.

[@sapm03]

At least in Helsinki, there is huge amount of festivals, concerts and all kind of events during hole summer.

[@getlost1631]

Thank you for the lovely words and shitting on Sweden ❤

[@StPaul76]

With rye you should by a whole "limppu" in a paper bag with a crusty surface(the bread not the bag :D) or a round, flat and crusty one with that hole in the middle.. Use real butter(voi in Finnish) and put strong cheese like emmental or cheddar on top with smoked ham or maybe smoked salmon with tomatoes, salad etc. Use plenty of butter and all the toppings freely.

[@christinedowney]

I was in Finland in May...got to watch the US/Canada under 18 hockey finals..! So much fun. I'm heading back in August just because I had such a lovely time and it reminded me so much of Canada- I live in Scotland now and miss the landscapes of northern Ont.

[@gambit_toys6554]

i'm living in Finland, most Finnish are very nice even with the language barrier.

[@clopec]

Finnish cities tend to be relatively young and the few medieval ones were mostly small, poor, and consisted of wooden buildings. As a result, city fires have really taxed any historical layers of cities, erasing both old buildings and the street grid (cities were rebuilt with wider, and more regular streets to avoid fires spreading). For example, the oldest city, Turku has had a whopping 31 large city fires. Helsinki has also had its fair share: 5 major fires, of which at least two destroyed the complete city, in addition, the city was moved to its current location in the 1640s. Also, Finnish urban planning is partially to blame for removing old buildings. The best-preserved cities tend to be small coastal cities, in particular Porvoo and Rauma (the latter is a UNESCO heritage site.).

[@janikarkkainen3904]

Don't worry about complaining about the weather - it's a national pastime. "If you don't like the weather in Finland - wait 5 minutes".

[@jiipeeish]

Update to weather 2024.05.24... Porvoo at 17.18: Sunshine from a blue sky and + 24 degrees celsius outside... WELCOME BACK... ANYTIME!!! (It was nice to have you here even though we never met)

[@shakejuntti]

You are so kind! The kindess is highly valued here! 🎉💪 💪 - It’s a fact that everything happens betweem the June-August in Finland (except you love snowboarding & skiing resort parties 😅) Finnish people love festivals. 1. Film Festivals in Sodankylä, Lapland. 2. Kaustinen Folk Festivals, in Ostrobothnia (Unesco world heritage -> Kaustinen fiddle music). You Can also attend to learn to play there. 3. Flow festivals / Ruisrock - Where all the people in your age go..

[@Saarnash86]

Ahh damn you are going to miss the nice Finnish summer! You have to come back!

[@waynesmith3767]

Ah Salmiakki Ice Cream! Yes, it is absolutely the best❤

[@filipohman7277]

See Ya Guys, Thanks!!! 😀👍👍👍 ❤️Greetings from Helsinki, Finland🇫🇮🇨🇦🇫🇮🇨🇦

[@rulssie]

Great video, I was waiting for this :D! I agree this spring has been really cold and long so not really the best time to visit Finland, now its starting to warm up and summer is just around the corner and its getting hot already. Public transport is pretty great 90% of the time but there can be delays, broken trains etc but its actually pretty rare. At least I have been lucky, busses have good schedule in most cities, they are clean and no problem using them at all and they are really affordable too. Free water is a good thing to point out, I remember when I was with my friends in Amsterdam and we were in a restaurant, we decided to have 2 bottles of water for the table and I think we ended up paying like 40€ or something just for the water. Must've been some spring water from Himalaya or something :D after that we were really careful and asked how much the water costs before ordering, would have been cheaper to just drink beer instead. Safe travels and I hope you come visit Finland during summer sometime, it was a pleasure following your journey through your videos. :)

[@pekkaritaranta2444]

Come in the summertime and visit Suomenlinna, a fortress island in Helsinki. It's an easy ferry trip which takes maybe 20 mins. If I remember correctly it's in the HSL system, so it's a good idea to buy a 24 hour ticket, so you can use all the public transportation you want in a day + the ferry ride to Suomenlinna. Alsoalso: If you like castles, take a train to Savonlinna and visit Olavinlinna castle. It's an old fortress castle from 15th century. It's pretty cool. There's an every-summer Opera festival arranged usually in July. Have heard it's quite impressive.

[@aurorabion2498]

Tbh even us Finns thought this spring the weather was unusually shitty. As you said, winter and summer are the best. If you come in the winter, you get the snow, the darkness, maybe northern light if you go Lapland, and hockey (not playoffs, but still hockey). If you come in the summer you should aim to go boating in the archipelago or the lakes, and maybe also visit Suomenlinna (since you like old forts, war museums, submarines etc.). The way to eat rye bread is toasted open face sandwich (similar to the smørrebrød you had in Copenhagen), don’t try to make burgers with it 😂.

[@tepetti]

Health care is not free but citizens have a free health insurance from the government. The insurance has some yearly maximum prices for certain things like medications etc

[@AndyGrouch]

Quiet cities = because of Finnish people. They don't want to mess around. For me as a Northern Finn even Helsinki is too loud and crowded for me.

[@AnttiKivivalli]

BTW, did you check the key or has someone written this already: The key is very simple, because it is basically an electronic key and can be reprogrammed. 🙂

[@jupehe5703]

Next week it'll be over 20 Celsius, warmth is coming... And the water price in Finland is about 0,004€ per liter and that includes clean and waste water.

[@AnttiKivivalli]

Salmiakki and rye bread are acquired tastes. 🙂 It may be that you will never get the craving for them like we do. 🙂 But salmiakki is bad for high blood pressure, so it may be good that you don't learn to like it while pregnant! 🙂

[@Gittas-tube]

👩🏼‍🌾🏞️🇫🇮🇨🇦 Hi there! You guys are great! Thank you for liking Finland! ❤️ Canadians are different from U.S. citizens! Much to your advantage! (Sorry U.S.A.) A hockey fan will always be welcome in Finland! And the unbeatable combination of hockey and sauna will win you the hearts of the Finns forever! March is just about the worst month to come to Finland (except Lapland for the tourist trade). PLEASE, visit us in summer or early autumn and you'll experience a totally different place! Being a sauna lover, get some nice family or friend to invite you to their summer cottage by a lake or by the sea, and you'll get the true sauna experience, preferably in the evening. After the cleansing and zen moment, a dip in the sea or lake reflecting the setting sun (a long procedure) on the calm, mirrorlike surface, you'll enjoy a beer and grilled sausages (yum). Perhaps a silent moment taking it all in and listening to the local blackbird singing, or maybe a moment of talking about everything under the sun. Drink, good food and lots of laughter.. You'll sleep like a baby surrounded by nothing but the sounds of nature, perhaps the wind in the trees or the waves coming and going... The air will be extra pure, filled with the fragrance of pinetrees or of the sea. Of course, most of this will be familiar to you from Canada. Congratulations to the coming of the new family member! The BABY BOX is a Finnish 'invention', yes. The custom started as early as in 1938, when it was given by the state to low-income families as an incentive to get more children. Eleven years later, the baby box was given to every mother in the whole country. The box is actually written into law. Instead of the box, the future mother can ask for money, 170 euros. The number of items varies fron year to year. This year, 2024, the baby box contains 39 items, and the theme of the designed items is a fairy tale forest. A portion of the items consists of cold-weather clothing for the baby. And, finally, about the dark ryebread of which there are many different types. One of the original ones is a round loaf with a nice crust. It's to be eaten right away after baking and still warm from the oven. Cut into rather thin slices a generous amount of salty butter. The bread should be moist on the inside. In my personal opinion, the best toppings are slices of hard-boiled egg, salt, a little pepper, perhaps some small pieces of marinated Baltic herring and chopped dill. But ryebread goes well with cheese, ham, and liver paté topped with Russian-style garlic gerkins in brine. It also goes well with thin slices of sausages, with leeks and various spreads. One suggestion: To get the ryebread to taste a little like freshly baked, put it in a toaster for just a moment, preferably so that the outer rims are a little burnt. Eat it warm. Finland has a lot of good things to eat, but you have to know where to get it, so ask the locals. Seasonal and local foods are still the best, like the 'new potatoes season, wild berry and wild mushroom seasons, the crayfish party season and many more. I wish you many wonderful stays in Finland in the future! P.S. People usually mention the mosquitos during the summer. Only in Lapland can they be really annoying. In southern Finland, there are many ways, more or less effective, to keep them at bay. The nuisance is mostly very exaggerated. As to something to do in Helsinki and the other cities and towns... Just about everything happens during the summer season outdoors, with some events also in autumn and around Christmas. The winter darkness in Helsinki is lit up by a Light Festival, the Christmas light decorations and so on. Christmas is a loong affair here in Finland. It's a touristy but good idea to visit the Tourist Bureau or pick up a booklet for free from a department store, bookshop or similar place. These booklet are offered in many cities all over Europe and they list current events in English. And final-finally: Yes, Finland combines the best of modern - often Finnish inventions - high-tech living with free and close-by access to nature. You've heard of the 'everyman's right' to roam, shared at least by Sweden, Finland and Norway. Come again, will you! Avoid tourist traps, talk to the locals, they know, and will probably go out of their way to help you. Spring is finally here after this odd winter! 🌷🎶🐦🌷🏞️🌅

[@Visukinttu1000]

Salmiakki and rye bread are acquired taste 🙂 Not easy to get used to in a short time.

[@Mustanaamio7]

There are also many types of them so be sure to check out many different products.

[@akitahvanainen]

You probably didn't buy the proper rye breads. For example the most basic but yet really good as fresh is Vaasan ruispalat. You can get them from every grocerie store. Don't give my signature for it being worse than white bread, it is not cardboard and it fills your tummy much better than any white bread.

[@skirne_]

If I had to guess maybe salmiakki is too strong on it's own. maybe it's that buttery fat from ice cream to counter it - like you use it to counter capsaicin from chilis

[@alphazero6571]

Sauna is good for your metabolism. it gets the fluids flowing in your body. you just need to stand the head for a while until you feel kinda dizzy then take a cold shower.. oh my god the best feeling

[@GreySectoid]

Nice to hear you had a good time here, what you said mirrors my experience as well, I hate the beer prices and the taste of supermarket rye bread, that's why I brew and bake my own :) it will be a coin toss between the magical mid-winter snowy christmas and bright calm mid-summer for your next visit, I am leaning a bit more towards the warmer weather maybe you will get back here on next Juhannus, cheers

[@rustyspace900]

In the summertime (which is now here!) you could visit a classic countryside dance pavillion. That will show you a whole new layer of Finnish culture which is unknown to most tourists. Such a vibe :) Near Tampere I can recommend a place called Rönnin lava. Oh and the first beer is on me!

[@DavidMakela-lu1ts]

In Helsinki, check out Suomenlinna. I loved exploring it last summer.

[@Jay7roha]

Love ur content

[@vkv1384]

If you want to see castles maybe visit Hämeenlinna or Savonlinna? During summer there are summer markets usually at the city. Museums maybe? Some other sightseeing places probably can be found from the city info.

[@spookyscaryskeleton2211]

Nice video 👍🏻 greetings from finland 😁