Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Finland means accepting two major shocks: the climate and the light. Winter is long, cold, often dark, and the variations between the south and the north are dramatic. Yet, millions of people live very well there – and more and more expats are acclimating, both physically and mentally.
To tame the Finnish climate as an expat, it is essential to know how to dress, organize your daily life, protect your physical and mental health, and use local (linguistic and cultural) codes to make winter an ally.
Understanding the Finnish climate before you face it
The first mistake newcomers often make is underestimating the combination of “cold + wind + lack of light”. Knowing the framework helps you equip yourself better and anticipate difficulties.
Minimum temperature that can be reached in Finnish Lapland during winter.
Another shock factor is light. In the heart of winter, the day can boil down to four or five hours of daylight in the south of the country, and several weeks without a sunrise in the far north, with the polar night. Even Helsinki, the second most northerly capital in the world after Reykjavik, makes do with less than six hours of light in mid-winter. Conversely, summer brings almost nightless days – but that’s not what unsettles newcomers the most.
The wind accentuates the feeling of cold, especially at higher altitudes and on the coasts. Furthermore, the air is dry in Lapland but humid in the south of the country. These conditions require a complete adaptation of your bearings, your wardrobe, and your pace of life.
Overview of climate contrasts
Here is a simplified overview of the typical conditions an expat may encounter in Finland in winter:
| Region / City | Typical winter temperature | Particularities |
|---|---|---|
| Finnish Lapland | Average –14 °C, can drop to –30 °C | Very dry air, wind on the fells, long polar nights |
| Southern coast (Helsinki) | Around –5 °C | Damp cold, frequent wind, changeable weather (snow, rain, sleet) |
| South / central | Variable, around 0 to –10 °C | Snow, black ice, alternating freeze/thaw, very short days |
In this context, the phrase often repeated by Finns makes perfect sense: “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.”
Dressing like a local: the art of layering
The key to surviving pleasantly in the Finnish winter is neither bravery nor stoic suffering: it’s technique. More specifically, the layering technique. The famous “layering” that every Finn applies (often without even thinking about it) boils down to three layers:
1. A base layer that manages moisture and keeps warmth close to the body.
2. A middle layer for insulation.
3. An outer layer that protects from wind, snow, and rain.
This system has two major advantages: it keeps you warm outside, but also prevents you from overheating as soon as you enter an overheated building, which is very common in Finland. You can quickly remove or add layers throughout the day.
The base layer: your thermal second skin
Thermal underwear – sometimes called “long johns” – is the first barrier against the cold. It should be close to the body and, above all, capable of wicking moisture away. The worst enemy in cold weather isn’t temperature alone, but the combination of sweat + cold.
In practice, materials like merino wool or certain synthetics (polyester or technical blends) are recommended. Conversely, cotton should be avoided: it retains moisture, cools the body, and gives that icy feeling after a few minutes outside.
For an expat moving there long-term, it makes sense to invest in two sets of good quality base layers (top + bottom), possibly of different weights (light for autumn and warmer indoors, thicker for severe cold). Wool base layers can often simply be aired out and don’t need washing after every use, which is appreciated in winter.
The middle layer: trapping warm air
The middle layer’s function is to create an insulating layer of air. It should therefore not be tight, but rather leave a little space to trap warmth. Wool, cashmere, fleeces, or lightweight puffers (down or synthetic) do the job very well.
In the city, a single middle layer (like a wool sweater, a zip-up fleece, or a thin puffer) under your winter coat is often enough. For truly freezing conditions or during static activities, like watching the Northern Lights, stacking two middle layers is advised for better thermal insulation.
For the lower body, many expats underestimate the need for insulation: fleece-lined pants or thermal leggings under jeans or regular trousers can make all the difference. In Lapland, or during long outdoor outings, padded snow pants or a snow over-pant is often essential.
The outer layer: your armor against wind and snow
The outer layer is the coat or parka that will face the Finnish weather. This is usually the central investment in a winter wardrobe. You should look for several indispensable features:
– Significant insulation (down or synthetic)
– Wind resistance and good water repellency, even waterproofness
– An adjustable hood, preferably deep, to cut the wind
– Length covering the hips at minimum, even mid-thigh or longer
– A cut loose enough to accommodate the layers underneath
For activities like snowmobiling or dog sledding in Lapland, waterproof snow pants or a full-body snowsuit are essential. Many tour operators include this equipment (suits, boots) in their packages, which avoids a costly purchase if you don’t live there year-round.
Don’t neglect the extremities
Most expats quickly discover this: you can be warm in your core but suffer agony if your hands, feet, or ears are poorly protected. These are the parts where you lose heat the fastest.
Shoes: grip, warmth, and waterproofness
High, insulated, and completely waterproof boots are practically non-negotiable for winter. They should cover the ankle, offer good grip on packed snow and ice, and leave enough room to wear thick socks without compressing the feet (otherwise, blood circulation is reduced… and the cold sets in).
It is wise to have a secondary pair of shoes for indoors, work, or milder trips, as winter boots are heavy, wet, and impractical in heated environments where shoes are often taken off at the entrance.
Black ice being very common, many Finns use removable crampons or shoe spikes that attach to shoes for walking on ice. They can easily be found in local supermarkets. Just remember to take them off before entering buildings, at the risk of damaging the floors.
Socks: the often-ignored foundation
The best allies for feet in winter are merino wool socks, thick but breathable. A common strategy is to wear a thin base-layer sock (wool or technical material), then a thick wool sock on top. As with thermal underwear, avoiding cotton helps avoid cold moisture.
It’s prudent to have several warm pairs, as it’s not always possible to dry everything properly from one day to the next, especially when making multiple outings in the snow.
Hands, head, neck: protecting the most exposed areas
A warm beanie covering the ears well, made of wool or fleece-lined, is essential. In strong wind or extreme cold, many Finns add a headband under the beanie, or opt for an ear-flap hat. In Lapland or during prolonged outdoor activities, a balaclava or a thick neck gaiter (like a Buff) that can cover the lower face is particularly effective for preventing frostbite.
For effective protection from the cold, mittens are preferable to gloves as they allow fingers to keep each other warm. A common practice is to layer a pair of thin gloves (optionally touchscreen for smartphone use) with thicker mittens over them. For prolonged exposure to cold, like outdoor evening events, adding chemical or electric hand warmers provides even more protection.
For the neck, a neck gaiter is often more practical than a long scarf, which risks getting caught in a coat zipper or getting soaked in snow.
Optimizing your luggage and your budget
Quality winter gear can be expensive, especially bought locally. Technical clothing is available in major Finnish stores, but prices are often higher than in other countries. Many expats therefore choose to plan ahead:
– Buying essentials before departure (coat, boots, base layers)
– Completing or upgrading equipment on-site based on experience
– Using second-hand options (thrift stores, resale platforms, military surplus)
– Renting for occasional trips to the north (snowsuits, extreme cold boots)
An often-underestimated point: repeating outfits. In winter, most of the photos you’ll take – and that others will see – will mainly show your parka and beanie. Changing your sweater every day is not a social necessity in Finland, where understated clothing is the norm and functionality trumps display.
Smart accessories to survive (and enjoy) winter
Beyond clothing, a few well-chosen items can transform a harsh experience into a rather pleasant winter.
Snow strongly reflects light, especially in the spring sun: polarized sunglasses relieve eye strain, even more so if you spend time on a frozen lake or in the mountains.
The combination of dry cold and wind can cause severe drying of the skin. For effective protection, it is recommended to use facial creams and lip balms containing sunscreen (SPF). Prioritize textures rich in oils or waxes, which form a protective barrier, rather than very watery products that could freeze on the skin during outdoor exposure.
An external battery pack is almost a basic item: cold drains smartphones and cameras quickly. Keeping spare batteries in an inner pocket, close to your body heat, greatly extends their life, which is essential if you hope to photograph the Northern Lights in the middle of the night.
Finally, for sauna and ice-swimming enthusiasts (the local “avantouinti”): don’t forget a swimsuit, flip-flops for public showers, and… a beanie to retain a minimum of warmth during the brief dip in the water.
Adapting to the light: managing winter mentally
The Finnish climate poses not only a thermal challenge but also a psychological one. Lack of light can cause or worsen mood disorders, grouped under the term Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Studies estimate that in Finland, up to 10 to 30% of the population experience seasonal symptoms (marked fatigue, low mood, irritability, lack of energy), and about 1% develop genuine winter depression.
For an expat coming from a sunnier country, the shock can be brutal. The following are often observed:
– Great difficulty waking up in the morning
– A constant urge to sleep or eat sweets
– Loss of energy, drop in motivation
– Social withdrawal (no longer wanting to go out or see people)
Taking this seriously from the start is an important preventive measure.
Light therapy and wake-up lights
One of the most used tools in Finland is light therapy. This involves exposing yourself, usually in the morning, to a very powerful lamp (around 10,000 lux) for about twenty to thirty minutes, preferably between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. The lamp is placed 40–50 cm from your face, slightly to the side, without staring directly at it. You can read, have breakfast, or answer emails during the session.
Studies indicate that correct use of light therapy can be as effective as some psychotherapies in alleviating seasonal symptoms. In Nordic countries, these lamps are common, sold in home appliance stores or online, and their use is perfectly normalized.
Dawn simulator alarm clocks, which gradually increase light in the bedroom before the alarm time, also greatly help in setting your biological clock to a gentler rhythm, especially when the window still shows total darkness at 8 a.m.
Vitamin D, physical activity, and lifestyle
In winter, the body produces very little vitamin D, due to insufficient sun. It is therefore common – and recommended by Nordic healthcare professionals – to supplement with moderate daily doses of vitamin D3 during the dark months. Many Finns do this, and local pharmacies widely offer it.
Regular physical activity is a powerful tool for maintaining energy and morale during the cold season. Here are some ideas for staying active.
Make the most of daylight for a short walk, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating.
In bad weather, opt for gym workouts, home yoga, or any other indoor sport.
Fighting sedentary behavior, which worsens fatigue and low mood, is essential.
Structuring your days around fixed times for waking, meals, and sleeping, even when the temptation is to hide under the covers, also helps stabilize mood. Some people find in meditation, deep breathing, or journaling simple tools for getting through winter with more serenity.
Creating your “nest”: the Nordic version
While the word “hygge” comes from Denmark, the idea of turning winter into a season of domestic coziness applies perfectly to Finland. Multiplying candles (while obviously respecting safety guidelines), warm blankets, hot drinks, reading, board games, TV series in Finnish with subtitles… The idea isn’t to escape winter, but to make it more pleasant, in harmony with the environment.
To avoid isolation, it is crucial to participate in social activities like sauna evenings, clubs, classes, or municipal events. Many cities and universities also offer counseling, mental health, and integration support services, with specific resources for managing morale during the winter season.
If, despite these efforts, the symptoms of depression become debilitating (marked loss of pleasure in activities, dark thoughts, difficulty functioning daily), it is essential to consult a healthcare professional. The Finnish healthcare system provides mental health services, and international students, for example, can rely on dedicated services through the FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service) or university counseling services.
The Finnish climate has shaped a particular culture, in which silence, understatement, and respect for personal space occupy an important place. Understanding these codes helps avoid many misunderstandings, including those related to climate.
Silence as a language
Many expats are surprised by the place of silence in conversations. In Finland, a pause in an exchange isn’t necessarily a sign of awkwardness, conflict, or boredom: it is often perceived as a natural moment for reflection. On a bus, subway, or waiting room, collective silence is not hostile, it’s just… normal.
In the winter context, where people go out less, this relationship with silence can disconcert those from very talkative cultures. The risk is interpreting it as rejection, which fuels a feeling of isolation. In reality, adopting a calmer attitude yourself, learning to appreciate “side-by-side” activities (walking, exercising, doing chores with someone without constantly talking) helps a lot in feeling integrated.
Home life habits
The climate also affects domestic life. In Finland, you don’t keep your shoes on indoors. This is both a matter of cleanliness (snow, mud, sand, de-icing salt) and comfort: many people wear thick socks or slippers at home. For an expat, getting used to systematically removing shoes (at home, at friends’ places, sometimes in certain public places like daycare centers) is part of the acclimatization.
Apartments are generally very well insulated, with double or even triple glazing. Heating, often from district heating networks, ensures a high level of indoor comfort. This excellent insulation explains the ability to handle the large temperature differences between the freezing outdoors and the warm indoors, and underscores the importance of layering clothing that can be easily removed.
The place of nature and the outdoors
Despite – or precisely because of – the harshness of the climate, nature holds a central place in Finnish life. The right of public access to nature (“jokamiehenoikeus”) allows, for example, walking, picking berries or mushrooms without the landowner’s permission, under certain conditions.
In winter, Finland offers many outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, hiking, and Northern Lights watching. The local culture sees this closeness with nature as a source of well-being and resilience. For an expat, accepting that even at -15°C, a well-equipped outing can be very pleasant often marks an important psychological turning point.
It’s impossible to talk about the Finnish climate without mentioning the sauna, which is omnipresent (about 1.5 million saunas for 5 million inhabitants). It is both a relaxation ritual, a social moment, and a refuge against the cold.
For a newcomer, a few simple pointers:
– Public saunas are usually gender-segregated.
– Nudity is common, but wearing a swimsuit is tolerated in tourist or mixed contexts.
– Showering before entering the sauna is the norm.
– You stay as long as you want, listening to your body.
– Between sessions, you go outside for fresh air, take a cool shower, or – for the braver – a dip in a frozen lake.
Accepting an invitation to a sauna, whether in the city or at a countryside cabin, is often a privileged gateway into the local culture and deeper relationships. For an expat, it’s also a way to reconcile your body with winter, by associating the external cold with a moment of warmth and conviviality.
Even though many Finns speak English very well, learning some basics of Finnish (or Swedish, in some coastal regions) facilitates integration, especially in a context where people are more reserved.
Using simple polite phrases like « Hei » (hello), « Kiitos » (thank you) or « Hyvää huomenta » (good morning) helps create a warmer atmosphere in public places. Mastering a few phrases to ask for directions, order at a restaurant, or understand practical information (transport, weather) helps you feel more comfortable and in control in a new environment.
Learning Finnish is known to be difficult, due to its grammar with many cases and vocabulary far from Latin or Germanic languages. But there is a multitude of online resources, apps, free or paid courses that make the process much more accessible. And most importantly, the simple effort of trying is very well received locally.
Adapting daily logistics to climate realities
The climate also impacts how you get around, manage your housing, and your energy expenses.
Transport and getting around in winter
Public transport in Finland is known for being reliable even in winter. Buses, trams, subways, and trains run despite snow and frost. Local authorities are used to these conditions and organize snow clearance accordingly.
Nevertheless, a few adjustments are necessary:
Allow extra time for walking on sometimes icy sidewalks. For public transport, monthly passes are a good option, remaining affordable considering the cost of living, especially with student or discounted fares. Finally, reserve the use of shared bikes or scooters for warmer days, as using them in winter requires good experience with local conditions.
For cars, winter tires are mandatory and roads are generally well-maintained, but driving on snow and ice remains demanding. Many expats therefore prefer to rely on public transport, at least at first.
Heating, electricity, water: understanding your bills
In Finland, apartment heating – often by district heating – is generally included in the rent, or part of the housing company fees. Electricity and water, however, are often billed separately. Costs vary depending on the size of the home, region, and year, but winter almost always sees bills rise, especially for single-family homes in the north of the country.
Simple actions can limit costs and reduce your environmental footprint.
– Turn off radiators in little-used rooms, within technically recommended limits.
– Maximize daylight (rare) by keeping curtains open, then insulate at night.
– Use appliances (washing machine, dishwasher) during off-peak hours when contracts allow.
– Slightly lower the thermostat setting (20°C instead of 22°C, for example) and dress more warmly.
Newer housing, built to high energy efficiency standards, consumes significantly less than older buildings, which is directly reflected in the bills.
Turn winter into a field of experiences
Adapting to the Finnish climate as an expat isn’t just about surviving winter, it’s also about learning to take advantage of it. The cold season offers unique experiences: seeing the Northern Lights, walking on a frozen lake, sharing a sauna followed by an ice swim, skiing through the forest, discovering Christmas markets, or simply savoring a hot coffee in a tea room while a snowstorm rages outside.
This adaptation rests on four pillars:
A practical guide to living well during the cold season in Finland, covering technical, health, cultural, and social aspects.
Learning to dress in layers, choosing the right materials, protecting extremities, and using the right accessories.
Taking light, vitamin D, physical activity, sleep quality into account, and if needed, resorting to light therapy or psychological support.
Understanding and accepting the particular relationship with silence, nature, home, and the sauna.
Grasping a few words of Finnish, respecting local habits (removing shoes, punctuality, understatement) and accepting that connections are built over time.
Ultimately, many expats discover that the Finnish winter, far from being solely an ordeal, becomes a strong marker of identity: a season where you learn patience, organization, listening to yourself and others. With the right tools – both material and cultural – the climate ceases to be an obstacle and becomes an integral part of what makes life in Finland so special.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
