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Relocating to Helsinki
Moving to Helsinki from Canada offers a unique blend of urban living and natural beauty. Planning ahead makes a big difference. Bekins Worldwide, using its decades of international move experience and expertise, is here to help you, with both the best time of year to move and the quirky things you should know on move-in day.
While Finland is famous for its snowy winters and Northern Lights, the best time to move is during the summer months, from May to August. The period is known as the “White Nights” season. It offers long, light days and mild temperatures, so the logistics of moving far easier than navigating ice and snow. The city is vibrant with festivals, and the natural landscape is at its most beautiful. Plus, getting to know your new surroundings is more enjoyable when you can explore the city’s many islands, parks, and outdoor cafes in the sun. If you can’t make it in the summer, September is also a pleasant time, as the autumn “ruska” season brings stunning foliage to the surrounding forests. Avoiding winter means avoiding the weather risks and costs. Lacquer finished furniture and oil paintings, for example, separate from their substrates in the cold. Weather delays interrupt the unpacking and repacking at customs inspections. Best times avoid delays and unexpected ports costs.
Moving to Helsinki involves some specific administrative steps. The most important is to submit a notification of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestövirasto).
Culturally, Helsinki’s residents value their personal space and quiet. It’s not customary to introduce yourself to your new neighbors by ringing their doorbell. Instead, a simple wave or a polite “moi” (hello) if you see them is appropriate. Finns appreciate directness and a quiet demeanor, so being a good neighbor means being respectful of noise, especially after 10 p.m. This respectful approach to personal space is a key part of Finnish social etiquette, so be prepared to adjust to a quieter, more reserved way of life than you may be used to in Canada.
Note: “Helsinkiläinen,” means someone who lives in or is from Helsinki. A more colloquial and widely used term is “Hesalainen,” which comes from the slang nickname for the city, “Hesa”. You might hear “Stadilainen,” derived from the Swedish word “stad” (city). This term is more specific to those who grew up in Helsinki and is often used by locals as a form of urban pride, though it can sometimes be viewed as a bit boastful by others in Finland.
To check the Weather in Helsinki… Click Here
More Help With Moving to Helsinki
• Cost of Living in Helsinki
• City of Helsinki
• Government of Finland
• Vehicle Importation
• Finland Consulate – Vancouver
• Finland Consulate – Toronto
• Finland Embassy – Ottawa
To make a call to Helsinki
• Dial 011 (outside North America)
• Dial 358 (code for Finland)
• Dial 9 (Helsinki area code)
• Dial the local phone number
or the cell phone number
In Helsinki use 112 for emergencies.