Good to know
Time difference
Finland and Sweden are one hour apart: Finland is an hour ahead of Sweden. Because of the time difference you can swim to the past in the Swim the Arctic Circle event!
Alcohol
In Sweden and Finland wine is not available in the supermarkets, and in Sweden drinks stronger than 3.5% alc./vol. are only available in System Bolaget. In Finland supermarkets sell drinks containing up to 5.5 % alc./vol., and wines etc. are available in Alko. Note that In Sweden the System Bolaget’s opening hours are shorter than Alko’s in Finland.
Distances
It may seem that the distances are long in our Lapland, however, in time they may be shorter than driving in heavy traffic in a city.
In emergency
The emergency number in Finland and Sweden is 112. Finland and Sweden co-operate in emergencies in the Torne River area.
Fishing in Sweden
Anyone fishing is obligated to learn the local legislation from sellers of fishing permit, tourist information services or the county administrative board website (Norrbotten) and act accordingly. You don’t need a so called fishing card in Sweden, however, as fishing permit is required in almost all waters.
Hunting in Sweden
You can buy a hunting licence at a post office in Sweden or at Naturvårdsverket website if you have a Finnish hunting licence. A Finnish hunting insurance is also valid in Sweden. A hunting licence for visitors can be purchased from hunting clubs or land owners. To hunt elk, you’ll need to take a shooting test. Imported weapons and equipment to Sweden must be declared to the Swedish Customs.
Northern lights
Aurora Borealis are often thought to be seen in midwinter, but in fact, you can see them all autumn as the days become shorter, and also at night in early spring. The Finnish Meteorological Institute follows the activity of the northern lights.
Electric cars
The electric car charging network is expanding rapidly, reaching as far north as the northern tip of Our Lapland. However, it is good to be prepared: charging points can be found, but only near municipal centres, and the furthest distance is over 100 km between Kilpisjärvi and Kaaresuvanto.
Weather and temperature
In Our Lapland the weather conditions vary a lot. In summer, it might be +30 C and there are even some tropical nights with +20 C. It is more likely though that the daytime temperatures vary from +15 C to +20 C and at night they drop under +10 C. Winter’s coldest times are around December and January and temperatures can drop to -35 C, however, usually it’s between 0 and -25 C. Remember to check the weather before you pack for your holiday!
Light
In summer, a sleep mask might help to guarantee a good night’s sleep unless you’re used to sleeping in bright sunshine. In spring and late winter, sun glasses are needed as the snow literally dazzles you. In the winter afternoons darkness falls rapidly so a headlamp is a must.
Money and paying
In Sweden the currency is the Swedish krona, and credit cards are accepted in most shops. Mobile Pay is used a lot in Finland, but it is not valid in Sweden, instead in use is Swish that requires a Swedish bank account.
