The International Student’s Guide to Surviving Winter in Finland

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, 2020 was the warmest year on record in Finland. But “warm” is a relative term. Utsjoki municipality in Lapland recorded temperatures of –41°C in December, and even Turku – which has some of the mildest weather in Finland – was pretty chilly, with temperatures hovering around 0°C. Turku locals were worried that they wouldn’t get a “real” winter, but those worries turned out to be unfounded. In January 2021, winter arrived with a bang. Snowstorm Toini dropped half a metre of snow in one night, and a few days later the morning temperature in Turku was –25°C.

Needless to say, the locals are delighted with the cold, fluffy whiteness. And it is pretty great. But what if – like me – you come from a country where sunstroke is more likely than frostbite, and you’ve never had to wear mittens in your life? How on earth do you prepare for winter in Finland? Well, never fear! I present to you: The International Student’s Guide to Surviving Winter in Finland. Read on, and learn the secrets of the cold white north…

It’s not all snow

I used to imagine that winter in Finland would mean endless snow and temperatures that were consistently way below freezing. It turns out that impression is only partly true. In the central and northern parts of the country, it is likely that you will experience snow and ice for several solid months. However, in southern parts of the country (like Turku and Helsinki) the winter is warmer and less predictable. November and December are often cold and rainy, with the temperatures close to freezing. Sometimes there might be a bit of sleet or snow, but it will often melt within a few days.

January and February tend to be colder and a bit sunnier. Some years (like 2021) there is a lot of snow and the weather is cold enough that it stays on the ground for a month or more. But in other years (like 2020), there is much less snow and the cold days are interspersed with warmer ones, causing the snow to melt away sooner. If you are planning to study in southern Finland, it helps to be mentally prepared for both possibilities.

Wrap up warm

The secret to staying comfortable in cold weather is simple: wear many thinner layers, rather than one super-thick piece of clothing. Multiple layers trap warm air and keep you toasty. They also allow you to take off some layers when you go inside, so you don’t overheat. This rule applies to your legs as well! Remember to wear a pair of leggings under your trousers and you will be much warmer.

If you use the layering trick, you can make the most of the clothes you already own. There is no need to buy a completely new wardrobe for winter. That said, you will need a few winter-specific items:

• A warm coat or jacket. If you only buy one, look for one that is windproof and has a hood.
• A warm hat that covers your ears.
• Warm gloves or mittens. In very cold weather, wear a thin pair of gloves under a pair of mittens. That way, you can take off your mitts to unlock a door or find your bus card without your fingers freezing.
• A scarf.
• Warm socks. Woollen socks will be warmer than cotton or synthetic fibre.
• Windproof, waterproof shoes. Trust me, life is far nicer when your feet are warm and dry!
• Consider a pair of windproof trousers to wear over your ordinary trousers on particularly frigid days.

If you are coming from a warm country, consider buying these things in Finland. Chances are that in your home country it might be difficult to find quality cold-weather clothes at an affordable price. Good quality winter clothes are available in many shops here, starting at quite low prices. It is also possible to find second-hand winter clothes in good condition at Turku’s many flea markets.

Walk like a penguin

One of the hazards of winter is icy ground. It can be extremely slippery! To avoid falling, you need to adjust the way you walk. Slow down, bend your knees a bit, and take smaller steps with flat feet. Some websites call this “walking like a penguin”. It might feel silly, but it does help.

When the ground is icy, choose your shoes sensibly. Now is not the time for stiletto heels. Wear flat shoes with a textured, rubberised sole. You might even decide to buy a pair of shoes with metal studs that bite into the ice (or the cheaper option, which is removable metal cleats that strap over your normal shoes using a rubber harness – search for liukueste or liukuesteet). If you ride a bicycle in winter, I strongly recommend getting a set of studded winter tyres. They’re not cheap, but they are worth their weight in gold for the extra stability they give you. When my winter tyres are on my bike, I feel steadier on two wheels than on my feet.

Surround yourself with glowing objects

Winter days are short. At mid-winter in Turku, it gets light around 10:00 and it’s dark again at 15:30. If you go further north in Finland, the days are even shorter. Add to this the fact that it’s often cloudy in winter, and you have yourself a serious lack of daylight. This can really affect your mood – it’s natural to feel sleepy when it’s dark, and some people may feel apathetic or even depressed. It helps to get as much light as you can. Many people fill their homes with candles or decorative fairy lights. A sun lamp mimics bright sunlight and using one can help if you struggle with sleepiness or low mood during the winter months. There are a few sun lamps at the UTU libraries, so you can try them out before you buy your own.

You are also much less visible to vehicles when you’re on the roads in the dark. It’s important to compensate for this (especially if you wear dark clothes) by wearing reflectors. These Finnish inventions are an unassuming silvery colour in daylight, but at night they glow bright white when a car’s headlights hit them. You can get reflective armbands, keyrings and patches to put on your clothes or bags. Reflectors are available at most shops, but if you keep an eye out at the start-of-year student events you should be able to collect a few branded reflectors for free. Also remember to put lights on your bicycle (a white front light and a red rear light) if you ride in the dark.

Stay active

Although it’s tempting to spend the cold months curled up under a blanket, it is better for your physical and mental health to stay active. Walking or cycling to campus on a dark morning gets you breathing deeply and can help you wake up properly. If you don’t like the idea of being outside in the cold, Campus Sport offers almost 100 hours of indoor exercise classes every week, as well as several indoor gyms.

Winter activities

Of course, if the weather is cold enough, you have to try some classic winter activities. Build a snowman or make snow angels. Find a hill and go sledding! Go ice skating at one of the many free ice rinks around Turku (even when the temperatures are above freezing, you can visit one of the two artificial ice rinks maintained by the municipality each winter at Kupittaa and Parkin Kenttä – note that Kupittaa is free but there is an entrance fee at Parkin Kenttä). You can rent cross-country skis and try out the skiing tracks around the city. And for the adventurous, why not try avantouinti – ice swimming! This classic Finnish pastime involves sitting in a sauna until you are sweating, then plunging into icy water to cool down. It might sound scary, but it is refreshing! Check out the Turku Winter Outdoor Swimmers Club if you would like to try.

Speaking of sauna, I highly recommend visiting the sauna regularly. This quintessentially Finnish activity is an excellent way to warm up in winter, and a great way to relax at any time of year. If you stay in a TYS apartment, your rent includes four sauna shifts a month; other sauna locations can be found throughout the city. It is often said that public saunas are among the rare places where Finns are happy to socialise with strangers, so this could be a good opportunity to get to know the locals. For a quick introduction to sauna, check out this article from thisisFINLAND. And if you want a deeper dive into sauna culture and history, this piece from the Finnish Sauna Society is worth reading (yes, there is a national sauna society).

Stay sociable

You’ll notice that as the nights get longer, the good people of Turku tend to stay inside. It may feel like everyone is going into hibernation and it can be tempting to keep to yourself. Don’t take the bait. The best way to avoid winter depression is to surround yourself with fun people and activities. Make sure you stay connected with your classmates and friends – organise a weekly coffee date or regular ice-skating sessions. Have a board games night (you can borrow board games from the city libraries, as well as from many student organisations and tenants’ committees). And even though people aren’t sunbathing, there are still plenty of things going on. Museums are open, the city libraries host hobby groups and lectures, and there are music and theatre shows all over town. Most student organisations organise activities for their members throughout the year, so be sure to follow your favourite organisations on social media so you don’t miss an event.

Explore the country

What better way to beat the winter blues than by planning a quick holiday? You can easily go away for the weekend – towns like Helsinki, Rauma, Hämeenlinna and Tampere are 1–2 hours away by bus. Or why not go away for an entire week? The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organises a week-long trip to Lapland every winter. Finnair also offers good value package holidays within Finland if you’re looking for something a little more upmarket. (Obviously, travelling during the current coronavirus pandemic is neither responsible nor safe, and I don’t recommend it. However, it’s never too early to start planning where you’ll go when things are back to normal!)

Enjoy the Christmas spirit

Christmas falls in late December, and getting into the Christmas spirit is one of the joys of winter! In late November and early December, there are many pikkujoulu (“little Christmas”) parties, where friends and co-workers celebrate the end of the year with food, drinks and games. You can also visit the Christmas Market near the cathedral on the four weekends leading up to Christmas. Here you can sip on a cup of steaming hot glögi (mulled wine) while nibbling on gingerbread and browsing craft stalls. Another festive activity is to walk around Turku, viewing the beautiful Christmas lights. Finally, on Christmas Eve, make sure you attend the declaration of Christmas Peace at Vanha Suurtori – it’s an annual event dating back all the way to the 1300s!

Are you excited to experience Finnish winter as a student?

Check out the international bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes and the doctoral programmes offered at the University of Turku. If you’d prefer a shorter visit, have a look at the information for incoming exchange students.

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