Sweden vs Finland: which one should you visit?
If you are planning a trip to the Nordic countries, Sweden and Finland are both great places to start your adventure.
You might think that since these two countries are neighbors, they would be quite similar.
And while that is true in some ways, Sweden and Finland are distinctly different places with their own cultures, history and traditions.
Let’s go over the key differences – from the incredible things you can see in each country, to what you can expect to pay for things when you visit.
Size and population
Climate
See and do
Cities
Nature
Cost
Security
Culture
Language
Which country is bigger?
Sweden is larger than Finland in both size and population: its land area is 528,448 square kilometers (that’s about 204,000 square kilometers).
At the same time, Finland’s total area is approximately 338,439 square kilometers (or 130,700 square kilometers).
Sweden’s population is approximately 10.3 million. Finland’s population is about half as large, 5.5 million people.
Perhaps understandable, when you consider that large parts of Finland and Sweden are covered by dense forest, most people in both countries live in urban areas.
More than 85% of Finns and Swedes actually live in cities. This means that although most of the man-made tourist attractions are condensed into a few big cities, there is a huge amount of untouched nature to enjoy.
Do Sweden and Finland have the same climate?
Both Sweden and Finland have very distinct seasons, and the temperature difference between summer and winter can be huge – so be sure to check the weather before you visit.
Generally speaking, both countries have the same climate. Summers are mild and temperate with occasional rain showers. Winters, on the other hand, are usually very cold – and the further north you travel, the colder it gets.
If you travel anywhere above the Arctic Circle – which you can in both Sweden and Finland – you are likely to experience severe weather. Temperatures can and do drop below -30°C in winter, often accompanied by heavy snow!
Also keep in mind that since Sweden and Finland are the farthest north in Europe, they experience long summer days and short winter days.
The effect is more pronounced the further north you travel. So while Stockholm gets around 6 hours of daylight during December, up in the northernmost parts of Lapland, the sun barely rises above the horizon.
Conversely, during midsummer there is hardly any darkness in Swedish and Finnish Lapland – and you can experience the strange sensation of skiing, skating or barbecuing under the midnight sun.
When you decide to visit really depends on what you’re hoping for. Summer is best for epic hikes and trips to the southern cities of Sweden and Finland, when you can enjoy boat trips to the islands around Stockholm and Helsinki.
In both Sweden and Finland, winter is a magical time for outdoor activities such as scooter tours and watching the northern lightsor maybe also visit Santa Claus.
Things to see and do for visitors: Sweden vs Finland
Sweden and Finland are good options for anyone visiting the Nordic countries for the first time.
Both countries have an abundance of untouched national parks, and Sweden and Finland are both in top three EU countries in terms of forest cover.
This means that there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, including camping and hiking, all year round.
Do you prefer big cities? Try Stockholm or Helsinki (the capitals) or smaller, easy going towns like Gothenburg or Turku.
You’ll find that wherever you go, there’s a sense that Finns and Swedes get a lot right – whether it’s cheap, clean public transport or an eye for smart design that seems to pop up in the most unlikely of places.
Cities: Sweden vs Finland
The best starting point for a Swedish holiday is the capital, Stockholm.
In Stockholm you will find an abundance of world-famous museums, the old city district Old Town, and its many islands. Stockholm is built on 14 islands, all with a unique atmosphere – and there are thousands more explore in the archipelago just off the coast.
Sweden’s second largest city is Gothenburg. It’s known for its cool industrial vibe and epic seafood.
Take a walking tour to really see the city and take a classic Swedish coffee (coffee, cake and talk) at one of the cute cafes in the old working-class district of Haga.
Finland’s largest and most popular city to visit is Helsinki. There are some notable things to see here such as the port, the nearby Sea Fortress and the innovative art scene evident throughout the city.
A good way to see Helsinki is to take a boat trip around the archipelago. Not only will you see some incredible views, but it will also give you the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of this city.
Nature: Sweden vs Finland
Sweden’s landscape stretches from flat farmland in southern Scania to snowy mountains in the north and west. The country is very ‘far’ from north to south, which means that your experience will vary greatly depending on where you start.
Sweden also has the most islands of any country, and it is estimated that there are approximately 221,800 islands. It could take a lifetime to explore them all.
Finland has beautiful pine forests and over 188,000 lakes. Water sports are very popular during the summer in Finland so you should definitely consider a canoeing adventure if you find yourself at one of these lakes!
Both of these countries are also home to many wild species such as reindeer, moose and even bears. In the north, it is not uncommon to see herds of reindeer or solitary moose crossing the roads.
If you want to see a truly magical phenomenon, head north to get one glimpse of northern lights. Sweden and Finland both have some of the world’s best opportunities to observe the Northern Lights – see our recommended tours here.
And while Sweden pioneered high-end “experience” hotels that Ice hotel and that Reindeer cabinFinland still dominates the Christmas holiday market and even has its own own Santa-themed resort.
What is more expensive: Sweden or Finland?
Unfortunately, a trip to the Nordics can be expensive, regardless of where you go.
Finland is marginally more expensive than Sweden for most travel-related expenses, including tours, accommodation and meals out.
As a general rule, big cities like Stockholm and Helsinki will be the most expensive places to explore, but there are some exceptions.
In popular northern cities like Kiruna (Sweden) and Rovaniemi (Finland) prices may be higher due to the relatively high number of foreign visitors, which helps push prices up.
For a decent double room in central Helsinki, expect to pay around 130 EUR per night. A similar hotel in Stockholm usually comes in a bit cheaper at around 120 EUR per night.
At the same time, a meal at a cheap restaurant in Stockholm will cost about 130 SEK (that’s about 12 EUR) while in Helsinki it will cost a little more, about 13 EUR per person.
The price differences aren’t huge, and you can easily save by shopping around and being flexible with your plans.
A smart way to save some money when you travel is to book your accommodation in advance. Booking.com is a useful site for finding affordable places to stay, whether it’s a hotel, hostel or B&B.
What about security?
Crime in Sweden has increased in recent years and crime is significantly higher than in Finland.
Petty crimes are committed, just like everywhere, but in recent years it is gang-related violence and shootings that have naturally received the most attention. According to Numbeo, the crime index for Sweden is 48.68 while Finland is 26.80.
That said, Sweden is still a very, very safe country by international standards, and the chances of getting into trouble as a foreign visitor are extremely low.
Whichever country you choose, it is always advisable to be aware of your surroundings and to take out enough travel insurance – especially if you plan to do any kind of outdoor activity or winter sports.
Culture
It is not easy (or particularly helpful) to make generalizations about Swedes and Finns.
But if you’re looking for cultural differences between the two countries, a couple of main things stand out.
Sweden is very much one Scandinavian countrywith close cultural connections to Norway and Denmark.
Finland does not have the same cultural ties and has also been influenced more from the East (not least by Russia which annexed the country).
Swedes tend to be somewhat more outgoing and individualistic than Finns, and this is perhaps reflected in the fact that Sweden has produced a seemingly disproportionate number of globally successful musicians, entrepreneurs and social media personalities in recent years.
The Finns, meanwhile, tend to be more risk-averse and are generally a more quietly reflective bunch.
There are some big similarities too: Swedes and Finns both like punctuality, egalitarian social structures and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Finland almost always ranks high on lists of coffee consumption per capita, with Sweden usually fifth or sixth in the world.
Languages in Sweden and Finland
The official language of Sweden is Swedish and the official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish.
That’s right: Finns in some parts of the country still learn Swedish from birth, and Finnish Swedes (Finns with Swedish as their mother tongue) is an important part of Finland’s cultural patchwork.
Both Sweden and Finland recognize the Sami languages that are still spoken in the regions sometimes called Lapland, but you are unlikely to hear these unless you visit these regions and spend a lot of time with the Sami.
Swedish and Finnish can both be tricky for English speakers to learn (Finnish much more so than Swedish!) but otherwise they have almost nothing in common.
Swedish is a North Germanic language (like Danish) while Finnish is a Uralic language, more closely related to Hungarian.
But there’s no need to panic if you’re planning to visit – most Swedes and Finns under the age of about 85 have a very good command of English.
Still, it’s always a good idea to learn some important words and phrases from the country you plan to visit to impress the locals.
But overall you can get by almost everywhere with just English, especially in the bigger cities.
Are you going to visit Sweden or Finland?
Sweden and Finland are both incredible countries with so much to offer. No matter which one you decide to visit, you won’t regret it!
If time permits, the best thing to do is to see a bit of each country. After all, they are right next to each other, so why not visit both?
You can easily combine a trip to Sweden and Finland by taking ferry from Stockholm to Helsinkifor example!
See also:
Sweden vs Norway
Denmark vs Finland
Scandinavian vs. Nordic: what’s the difference?