This page provides an overview of practical everyday matters in Finland to help new students settle in.
Public transport works well across the country, and students are usually eligible for discounted fares. In the Helsinki capital region, public transport is operated by HSL (Helsinki Region Transport), which runs buses, trams, local trains, and the metro.
For travel between cities, VR trains and Matkahuolto or OnniBus long‑distance buses connect destinations across Finland.
In the Lahti region, local bus services are operated by LSL (Lahden seudun liikenne), including connections that are relevant for students studying at Vierumäki Campus.
Walking and cycling are common parts of daily life. Finnish cities have good pedestrian routes and well‑maintained bike lanes, and many people cycle year‑round.
City bikes are available in several cities for example, in the Helsinki capital region through the HSL city bike service, and in Lahti through the Mankeli city bike service.
During darker seasons, bicycles must be equipped with lights and reflectors. Practical guidance on cycling safety is available from Liikenneturva (The Finnish Road Safety Council).
Driving is possible, especially outside city centres. Traffic drives on the right‑hand side, and road‑use rules vary depending on conditions and the season.
Guidance on foreign driving licences is provided by The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, while practical information on driving including winter tyres is available from Liikenneturva (The Finnish Road Safety Council).
Daily life in Finland relies heavily on digital services. Many public services, banking, healthcare, and official communications are handled online.
Students commonly use Suomi.fi as a central access point for Finnish public authorities when accessing digital services such as student healthcare services like the YTHS digital service, Kela’s online services for social security matters, and MyTax (Tax Administration) for tax‑related issues. Suomi.fi is also used to receive official messages from authorities and to access certain population register and municipal services. Access to many of these services requires strong electronic identification.
In Finland, strong electronic identification is most commonly enabled through online banking credentials. Once issued, online banking credentials can be used to identify yourself securely when logging in to many public and private digital services.
Opening a Finnish bank account is recommended, as it is needed for everyday matters such as paying rent and bills, making purchases and receving salary. Finnish banks also issue online banking credentials, which are widely used not only for banking but also to enable strong electronic identification for accessing many digital services in Finland.
The requirements for obtaining online banking credentials are usually stricter than those for opening a bank account, and it may not always be possible to receive them immediately. Most payments in Finland are made by card or mobile payment, while cash is used less frequently. Opening a bank account usually requires a Finnish Personal Identity Code and an in‑person appointment with a bank.
For advice related to banking and other financial matters in Finland, you may contact the Finnish Financial Ombudsman Bureau.
Internet and mobile phone services are widely used in Finland. Mobile data is commonly used for everyday connectivity, and home internet access is often complemented or replaced by mobile connections. Free public Wi‑Fi is commonly available on campuses, libraries, and other public spaces, and many everyday services, payments, and communications rely on online access.
Mobile services are available either as subscriptions (postpaid) or pre‑paid SIM cards. Pre‑paid plans do not require a long‑term contract, while subscriptions usually involve an ongoing agreement and identification. For long‑term subscriptions, providers may take into account identification and credit history in Finland, and in some cases an advance payment may be required.
Before purchasing a home internet service, it is recommended to check whether internet access is already included in your rental agreement.
Grocery stores and everyday shops are widely available in Finland. Most shops accept card and mobile payments, while cash is used less frequently. Online grocery shopping and delivery services are also available in many areas.
Opening hours vary by service. Grocery stores are typically open daily, often until the evening, while smaller shops, public offices, and some services may have more limited opening hours, especially on weekends and public holidays.
For general information about consumer prices and everyday living costs in Finland, see InfoFinland’s Cost of living in Finland.
In Finland, medicines are bought from pharmacies (apteekki). Pharmacies also sell everyday health products such as painkillers, allergy medicine, vitamins, and basic skin‑care items.
Some medicines, including antibiotics, hormonal contraception, and asthma medication, require a doctor’s prescription. Prescriptions are usually electronic, so you can buy your medicine at any pharmacy by showing personal identification. The pharmacist can find your prescription in the national system.
You can see your own prescriptions and health information in the MyKanta online service, which you access using strong electronic identification. In some cases, prescriptions can be renewed online, through a doctor, or at a pharmacy.
If you are bringing a prescription from another EU/EEA country, what can be used in Finland depends on the medication. More information is available on EU Healthcare websites.
Degree students can use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS, Finnish abbreviation YTHS). YTHS offers healthcare support for both physical and mental wellbeing during your studies. Practical information about student healthcare on Haaga-Helia's website and appointments are available on FSHS's website.
If you need urgent help, call 112. This is Finland’s general emergency number for ambulance services, the police, and the fire department. Help is available in Finnish, Swedish, and English.
You may also want to install the free 112 Suomi mobile app. When you call through the app, your location is automatically shared with emergency services, which can be helpful if you are unsure where you are.
Libraries in Finland host many different services to help enrich the local community. HelMet is the system used in the Helsinki capital region (Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa), Lastu is used in Lahti, and Helle in Porvoo. All three services have library cards that can be applied for.
Finnish libraries have a wide variety of books and other resources in multiple languages that can be borrowed at no cost. You can also find offerings such as sewing machines, Finnish language practice groups, meeting and work spaces, musical instruments, and gaming facilities. More information about what your local libraries offer can be found on the area’s respective website.
As a Haaga-Helia student, you also have the opportunity to get a 3UAS library card. This library cards grants you access to all Haaga-Helia, Laurea, and Metropolia libraries. Haaga-Helia's online library system is called Finna.
Second‑hand shopping and reuse are common in Finland and form part of everyday consumption. Second‑hand shops, flea markets, and online marketplaces are widely used for clothing, furniture, and household items.
Recycling is also a normal part of daily life. Waste is usually sorted into separate containers, and clear instructions are provided in housing buildings and public spaces to support reuse and recycling.