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Helsinki for Digital Nomads on a Budget (Complete Guide)

  • 27th May 2022
  • 7 minute read
Helsinki for Digital Nomads
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Helsinki is by all means, not an obvious destination for digital nomads for many reasons. Without the affordability, year-round pleasant weather and undeniably Instagrammable locations; you may be wondering whether Finland’s capital is worth your time and flight money. However, as one of the safest cities in Europe with a basic human right being a stable internet connection, Helsinki is completely doable as a digital nomad.

Table of Contents
  1. How is Helsinki for Digital Nomads?
    1. Connectivity
    2. Language
    3. Money
    4. Community
    5. Cost of Living
    6. Transport
  2. You Should Know Before You Go
    1. Is Helsinki Safe?
    2. Length of Stay
    3. Best Time to Visit Helsinki
    4. Travelling From The Airport
  3. Bonus: Helsinki Recommendations
    1. Working Remotely from Helsinki
    2. Top Things To Do in Helsinki
    3. Where to Stay in Helsinki
  4. Where To Go After Helsinki?

Don’t have time to read this now? Pin this blog for later.

Helsinki for Digital Nomads: Senate Square
Senate Square

How is Helsinki for Digital Nomads?

Personally, I found Helsinki to be a very livable city (temporarily – of course). Having said that, the atmosphere seemed to be at its greatest when the clouds parted above to present the blue skies, and the residents were out relaxing during the weekends. If you are to stick around for the duller days, then Helsinki may lack the spark that most digital nomads would travel far to find.

This travel guide of Helsinki for Digital Nomads will reveal the top tips, as well as the basic need-to-knows so that you can gain the most from your stay in the capital city.

Connectivity

In 2010, the Finnish government declared internet access a legal right (as opposed to a privilege). In fact, they were the first country to do so. They recognise that the internet has become as essential in society as the likes of water and electricity. Therefore, the internet speeds and availability across Helsinki are quality and reliable.

Wifi Speeds – It’s very easy to find free wifi in Helsinki, especially with Finland’s free public wifi network (Helsinki City Open WLAN). According to Ookla’s SpeedTest, Finland has an average download speed of 38Mbps. 

Data Plans – Visitors can purchase a prepaid SIM card from Elisa, Telia or DNA (all of which have extensive coverage across Finland). These are available in the network’s official stores, at R-Kiosks around the city and at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Prices vary between €4-25.

If convenience is your ultimate goal, check out Airalo for either a local, regional or global eSIM. Airalo is the world’s first eSIM supplier. You can purchase the most suitable prepaid data plan without visiting any shop or swapping physical SIM cards. This is the technology we digital nomads have been waiting for!

Order Your eSim

Language

The official language of Finland is Finnish, although Swedish and English are both widely spoken. You’ll find that English translations are plentiful, for instance, most menus are in English or at least have some translations. German, French and Spanish may also be recognised by some of the locals.

Money

The Euro (EUR)(€) is the official currency of Finland. Credit and debit cards are also widely accepted across the country, with there being an ample amount of ATMs too.

TIP: Tap water in Helsinki is completely safe to drink. Bring a refillable bottle to help prevent the overuse of plastic.

Community

There isn’t an obvious digital nomad community in Helsinki. Although you could try the Helsinki Expat Meetup Facebook Group to find other fellow foreigners to meet or ask for advice.

Cost of Living

Finland is a very expensive country to visit as a digital nomad. This is especially the case when you compare the cost of living to other digital nomad hotspots such as Canggu, Budapest, Sri Lanka and Portugal.

Helsinki for Digital Nomads on a Budget (Complete Guide) 5
Market Square
Helsinki for Digital Nomads on a Budget (Complete Guide) 6
Café Vanille
Helsinki for Digital Nomads on a Budget (Complete Guide) 7
Kamppi Chapel

Transport

Helsinki’s city centre is fairly compact and easy to get around. Most will be pleasantly surprised at how straightforward the process of using public transport really is, but walking between popular attractions is also a very feasible option.

Public – Helsinki’s transport system is efficient and very well organised. The city runs on a network of buses, trams, trains and the metro. Single tickets can be purchased with ease through the HSL mobile app, from HSL ticket machines or R-Kiosks.

Taxi – Bolt is a ride-sharing app that operates in Helsinki. To give you an example of the prices to expect, a ride from the city centre to the airport could cost approximately €30.

Bike – The city bike system has been operating since 2016 with over 1000 bikes in the inner city area.

Scooter – eScooters are available in Helsinki via a number of different apps; Lime, Whim and Dott.

Ferry – One of the many beauties of Helsinki is its ease of accessibility from the surrounding countries by sea. It’s possible to sail into the city from Tallinn and Stockholm.

KNOW: Saunas have become entwined in the Finnish national culture, so much so, that you'll notice the sauna carriage on the city's ferris wheel.

You Should Know Before You Go

Is Helsinki Safe?

Yes. In fact, Helsinki is one of the safest cities in Europe – if not in the world!

REMEMBER: Stay protected with travel insurance made by nomads, for nomads. Safety Wing provides great flexible coverage across most countries, no matter how far and long you are travelling.

Length of Stay

Helsinki would be a great weekend city break. Better still, if you have a long weekend available then it will allow you the time to explore some islands and areas a little further afield. However, the optimal time to stay in Helsinki for digital nomads should be longer than a week, but not as long as a few months unless you have a bottomless bank account to support your trip amongst some of the higher prices in Europe.

Best Time to Visit Helsinki

If you are like most other digital nomads, then you will be looking for the warmest season for sunshine. In Helsinki, this would be between June and August with July having the lowest likeliness to have significant rainfall. However, February and March would be your safest bet if you’d prefer to experience snow in Helsinki.

As a reflection on the weather, July is the busiest month for tourism. This is followed by June and January. Therefore, you could expect prices to be higher during these peak seasons.

One other significant point to note is the times of sunrise and sunset in Helsinki. Finland’s hours of light within a day are consequentially influenced by the country’s very northern geographical position; the days in summer are long and short in winter. For instance, the sun sets at approximately 3:15 pm in December, but not until 10:50 pm in June. That’s a difference of over seven hours’ worth of exploring!

Travelling From The Airport

There are a few options for transitting between Helsinki’s International Airport and the City Centre.

Bus – There is a bus station situated outside the Arrivals Hall of the airport. Bus number 615 travels to Helsinki’s City Centre within about 40 minutes. Tickets for this journey can be purchased within the HSL mobile app or at the ticket machine nearby.

Train – There is a train station located in the Arrivals Hall of the airport (floor 1). The I and P trains only take 30 minutes to travel between the airport and the city centre. Tickets can be purchased before you enter the train through the HSL mobile app or from the machines in the station. Make sure to select the ABC ticket as the airport is situated in Zone 3.

Taxi – Taking a taxi will be the quickest and most convenient option. The drive will take approximately 25 minutes. If you’d like to arrange your transport before you arrive, then you can book your airport transfer here.

Helsinki for Digital Nomads: Central Train Station

Bonus: Helsinki Recommendations

Although Helsinki is not one of the largest European cities, it’s still going to be quicker and more convenient if the search is narrowed with a few suggestions.

Working Remotely from Helsinki

Suggested Coworking Spaces –

  • MOW Mothership Of Work
  • Sofia Helsinki
  • VillageWorks

Suggested Coffee Shops –

  • Roasberg
  • Sävy

Top Things To Do in Helsinki

Where to Stay in Helsinki

Places to stay in Helsinki for digital nomads will be expensive. Airbnb will be the most convenient means of finding accommodation for stays of more than a few days but less than 6 months.

Below are a few of our top recommendations for short-term stays…

Budget

Wake up for the in-house sauna then walk to the beach for a cool down; Eurohostel is simple but a very practical choice of accommodation for digital nomads.

Book Now

Mid-Range

Be more centrally located at The Yard Hostel. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafés in the surrounding area. Plus, the Central Station is just a leisurely 5-minute walk away.

Book Now

High-End

Peaceful and clean; Aikatalo Hostel is a safe haven from any city noise. It’s well-situated being 300m from the Railway Station, 600m from the Cathedral and 1km from the Bus Station.

Book Now

In addition, VALO Hotel deserves an honourable mention as a great place for digital nomads to stay in Helsinki. It’s not as well located as the other suggestions, but the accommodation boasts modern working spaces, a fitness centre with a rooftop sauna, jacuzzi and pool.

Find More Accommodation in Helsinki

Alternatively, you could have a whole apartment or house to yourself! Why not stay in wonderful homes by house-sitting and caring for adorable pets? This experience would not be for everyone but you could find yourself in free accommodation, whilst you live a more authentic lifestyle in the local area, by joining Trusted Housesitters.

Helsinki for Digital Nomads on a Budget (Complete Guide) 8
ALSO: The Coliving Spaces that Digital Nomads Should Know About

Where To Go After Helsinki?

Tallinn – Estonia is a two-hour ferry ride from Helsinki. If for nothing else, jump aboard with the locals to buy cheaper booze from the onboard duty-free shop.

Stockholm – Craving an even longer ferry journey? Stockholm is a 16-18 hour journey.

Looking to go even further? Check out the digital nomad guides for Dubai, Belize, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Morocco and the Adriatic Coast.

Let’s go!
@katie.maree


Did You Know…

If you purchase through a KatieGoes link, you still pay the same but we receive a small amount. This contribution helps keep this blog moving – win, win! Nevertheless, I only recommend personal favourites…

🎒 My Gear: Check my travel essentials for backpacking, van life and outdoor adventures.

📱 Airalo: Always be connected with a super simple eSim for almost every country!

💰 Wise: Send or receive money internationally for minimal fees – life saviour!

👫 GetYourGuide: Find group tours, guides and day trips at unbeatable prices.


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Katie

Hey! I'm a Scottish backpacker turned digital nomad with a passion for the outdoors, van life, and international travel. I travelled 100 countries before I turned 30 years of age. Now... Let's go everywhere!

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4 comments
  1. Pingback: Tallinn for Digital Nomads: The Ultimate Budget Travel Guide - Katie Goes
  2. Tuomas says:
    8th June 2022 at 9:41 am

    Hello Katie. This is really interesting topic for me as I work as a marketing specialist for a new kind of business hotel that is looking also to attract digital nomads that are visiting in Helsinki. If you are interested, please feel free to check our website and services and if you find them suitable, feel free to add our information also to your text.

    Reply
  3. Pingback: Wroclaw for Digital Nomads: Your Quick Travel Guide - Katie Goes
  4. Pingback: Digital Nomad Guide to Helsinki (Finland): Your Next Adventure | Digital Nomad Site

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