Free time and transportation - yhteiskuntaorientaatio.fi
People in Finland often have hobbies
Hobbies mean things that people do in their free time for fun. Hobbies can include drawing, playing volleyball or playing the drums in a band. Hobbies can be an important part of a person’s life and some people spend a lot of time and money on their hobbies. It is also possible to have hobbies that do not cost much and do not require much.
It is good for all children to have a hobby
In Finland, the official goal of the state is that each child and young person would have at least one hobby they enjoy. Municipalities organise free-of-charge hobbies for children at school. These complimentary hobbies can be, for instance, sport, music or art clubs. Municipalities also arrange hobbies for children outside of school hours, but these hobbies may be chargeable.
Many children also have other arranged hobbies which they attend in the evenings or during weekends. Common hobbies include different sports such as football, ice hockey or gymnastics, playing an instrument, or scouting. Sport hobbies are often organised by sports clubs. Music can be played at a music school or under the direction of a private tutor. The Guides and Scouts are a global organisation where children and youth learn about being in nature and working together.
The video below discusses why it is important to support a child’s hobby.
Video THL Mental health for migration additional material – Supporting children’s hobbies (englanti) (youtube.com) (Arabic, Dari, English, Ukrainian, Russian, Congo Swahili)
Adults can start new hobbies too
Adults are also eager to attend hobbies in Finland. In a study conducted in 2017, over half of all respondents of all ages said that they have a hobby organised outside of the home. Many adults continue a hobby that they have started as a child. But adults can also start new hobbies.
Sports are popular hobbies and many sports can be done independently. For example, jogging can be done whenever it suits you. Sport hobbies can also be arranged by sports clubs or at adult education centres (kansalaisopisto). Adult education centres also organise art, handcraft and language courses which many attend as their hobby. Participation in associations is also a popular hobby in Finland.
Municipalities offer local services
All municipalities in Finland offer library services. Libraries are popular in Finland. In 2022, libraries were visited over 40 million times altogether. Of all Finnish residents, 30% borrowed something from the library at least once during the year.
Libraries offer books and much more
Libraries offer books, magazines, music, movies, board games, audio books and other digital material to be used at home. Books and magazines can also be read at the library. You can ask the library staff for book recommendations.
Libraries offer books, magazines, music, movies, board games, audio books and other digital material to be used at home. Books and magazines can also be read at the library. You can ask the library staff for book recommendations.
Especially at bigger libraries, there are often books in languages other than only Finnish and Swedish. There is also a multilingual library which serves everybody living in Finland. This is a collection of books and other materials in different languages. You can order material from the multilingual library to your own library.
More information on the multilingual library: Libraries and opening hours (helmet.finna.fi) (Finnish, Swedish, English)
Libraries also have computers and printers you can use. Libraries also offer support and assistance with the use of digital devices.
Different events are organised in libraries, such as language cafes, author visits and story time for children. There are often meeting rooms in libraries that can be reserved for your own use. In some libraries there are even sewing machines and instruments that clients can borrow.
Borrowing books and other material from the library is always free of charge. If you return your loans late, you may have to pay a fee. Using library services requires a library card that can be obtained from the library. The card is free of charge. Identification and a Finnish address are usually required to receive a library card.
Municipal swimming halls and other sports services have discounted prices for certain groups
Sports activities are organised in Finland by sports clubs and private companies. Municipalities also offer many types of sports services. The municipality may offer affordable swimming halls and gym services as well as group exercise classes. Municipalities maintain sports fields and indoor sports halls which can often be rented for one’s own use.
In municipal sports services, such as swimming halls, there are usually discounted prices for children, pensioners, students and the unemployed. Some swimming halls have certain times which are reserved only for women. Swimming halls also have a sauna in the washing area next to the changing rooms. Saunas are separate for men and women and people are usually naked in the sauna.
Community centres and youth centres offer spaces for coming together and many types of activities
In residential areas, there are community centres (asukastalo) and spaces where many types of activities are organised for residents of the area. These spaces can be maintained by the municipality or associations. The activities can include clubs and informal groups. These spaces can often be rented for personal use, for instance, for family gatherings.
Youth centres and spaces are meant especially for young people. The age limits for youth centres vary somewhat, but usually they are meant primarily for teenagers aged 13 to 19. Here young people can freely spend time together with other youths in a safe environment. There are usually trained youth workers at the youth centres so that young people have someone to talk to about their lives. Clubs and activities are organised for youths in these centres. In some cities there are separate youth centres for girls and boys.
Playgrounds, greens and beaches are common areas for all
Municipalities also maintain parks and other greenspaces, children’s playgrounds and public beaches. These areas are open to all and people can freely spend time there. Even though these areas are maintained and cared for, their cleanliness and comfort are the responsibility of all who use them. That is why it is important that everyone collects their own rubbish.
Dogs can run freely in dog parks
In Finland, dogs must always be kept on a leash in densely populated areas. In other areas, dogs usually have to be kept on a leash from March to August due to birds’ nesting season. Dogs are not allowed in children’s playgrounds or public beaches even on a leash.
In many cities there are separate dog parks where dogs can run free. Dog parks are fenced areas which are clearly marked. Sometimes dog parks have separate sides for big dogs and small dogs. Dogs must always be supervised in dog parks.
Culture services, events and museums offer something for everyone
Free time can also be spent at different events and in culture services. Some of these services cost money and some are free of charge. Cultural events include theatre performances and concerts. During the summer, many types of festivals and summer events are arranged around Finland, bringing people together. Information about cultural events organised in your own area can be found, for example, in the local newspaper.
In addition to cultural events, many types of sports events are organised in Finland year-round. In addition to local and national competitions, games and tournaments, there are sometimes also international matches and competitions in different sports in Finland.
Cinemas can usually be found in city centres or big shopping centres. In Finland, movies are usually shown in their original language with subtitles in Finnish and Swedish. Only movies directed at children are dubbed, meaning they are re-recorded in Finnish.
There are also hundreds of different types of museums in Finland. If you enjoy museums and exhibitions, you can purchase a Museum Card which allows entrance into most museums in Finland for a fixed yearly price.
More information about free time activities: Things to do in Finland (infofinland.fi)
Everyone’s Rights provide the opportunity to enjoy nature
Spending time in nature is a popular way to spend free time in Finland. You can take a trip almost anywhere, because Finland has Everyone’s Rights (jokaisenoikeudet).
Everyone’s Rights mean that everyone has the right to move in nature freely, even on land that is privately owned. Spending the night, boating, swimming, and picking berries and mushrooms in nature is allowed for all.
It is not, however, permitted to go into or near another’s yard or farmed fields. Making an open fire, collecting wood, harming trees and plants, disturbing animals or driving motorised vehicles in nature is not allowed. No rubbish must be left behind in nature.
Fishing with a line and rod and ice fishing are included in Everyone’s Rights, but other fishing such as using a spinning rod or fishing with nets requires a paid, national fisheries management fee and a fishing license from the owner of the water area. Wardens patrol and check fishing licenses.
More information about spending time in nature and Everyone’s Rights: Outdoor activities (infofinland.fi)
Going from one place to another in different ways
Walking and cycling are safe and easy in Finland
In Finland, people tend to walk short distances. Cities have been designed so that walking is safe. There are frequent pedestrian crossings for crossing roads and these often also have traffic lights. In the countryside, there may be no sidewalks at the side of roads. In these cases, pedestrians walk on the left edge of the road.
Cycling is also a good way to get about. In Finland, some people cycle to work or school even in winter. Only small children are allowed to cycle on pedestrian paths. Others cycle on a separate cycling path or shared-use path. If there is no cycling path, you must cycle on the road. While cycling, you must use a helmet and when it is dark, the bicycle must be equipped with a light.
Public transportation works well especially in big cities
In Finland’s biggest cities, public transportation works well. Public transportation means buses, trains, metros and trams. You can buy a single ticket, multi-journey tickets or a season ticket to use public transportation for going to work or school. In small cities and in the countryside, there are less public transportation routes and they are less frequent.
Buses and other means of transportation have certain routes that they drive and stops at which they stop. The routes, stops and timetables can be checked on the transportation company’s website or in a map application. The stops often also have a printed timetable and map. When you want to get on a bus that is arriving at the stop, you need to give the driver a signal by holding out your hand. Inside the bus, there are buttons which you can press to indicate that you want to get off at the next stop.
The video below shows how the map application can help you find the quickest route with public transportation.
Video: Tienoo How to use Google Maps (youtube.com) (Finnish, Swedish, English, Arabic, Dari, Swahili, French)
You can travel between cities by train or bus
Most places in Finland can be reached by bus, train, plane or ship. Some transportation only goes rarely.
There is only one train operator in Finland, VR. Trains travel mostly between the biggest cities. Buses are driven by many different companies. Tickets for different bus companies can be bought from Matkahuolto.
A car has expenses, but it can be necessary in the country
Cars and their petrol, insurances, taxes, and maintenance are expensive in Finland. In big cities, one does not usually need a car. In smaller municipalities it may however be necessary to have a car.
Cars must have winter tires during winter and summer tires during summer. The tires must be changed twice a year, in the spring and the autumn. You can change tires yourself or they can be taken to a tire shop or garage to be changed. According to the law, cars must be inspected (katsastus), meaning that their roadworthiness must be checked at regular intervals. Parking spots or a garage can be arranged by your housing company, but these usually cost money.
When driving, you must strictly adhere to Finnish traffic laws. The police oversee drivers and give a fee if rules are broken. Driving under the influence of alcohol is not allowed. The blood alcohol content limit for driving is 0.05%. This limit is reached by drinking a couple of glasses of wine or 1–2 small bottles of beer.
A foreign driving licence may be accepted in Finland
Drivers must have a driving licence in Finland. The driving licence can be obtained once a person is over 18 and has completed a driving examination. The driving examination includes a theory and driving test. You can go to driving school to prepare for the examination.
If someone who has moved to Finland has a driving licence from another country, they must make sure with Ajovarma that their licence is valid in Finland. Ajovarma manages driving licenses in Finland. If the driving licence has been obtained in a Nordic country, an EU country or EEA country, it is also valid in Finland.
More information on driving licenses: Driving licences and permits (a-katsastus.fi) suomi, ruotsi, englanti
More information on the validity of foreign driving licences: Traffic in Finland (infofinland.fi)