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Shopping in Finland
Finland has taken a creative lead in the competitive world of international shopping. Here you can indulge yourself in exquisite artworks, including fashionable ceramics and glassware, delicate hand-woven articles, furniture, furs, astonishingly well-crafted hand-carved wood and well as a rugs and a multitude of fashions. Finnish handicrafts, jewellery and handwoven articles are undoubtedly world-renowned. The country has excellent supermarkets and self-service shops, and the capital, Helsinki, boasts the first underground shopping center in the country, located at the railway station.
Local Itäkeskus is known as the largest shopping centre in the Nordic countries, while Kiseleff Bazaar is famous for its handicrafts and souvenirs. The country’s Katajanokka boat harbor features charming shops selling glass, china, wooden items and textiles. Other typical items are educational toys available at local toy stores, as well as reindeer skin decorations, costumed dolls, traditional baskets, and delicious berry liqueurs made from yellow cloudberries, cranberries, and Arctic brambleberries.
The country’s shopping hub, Helsinki, is centered around the Esplanadi, a famous venue for Finnish design at high prices. Even if you don’t intend to buy, just strolling down the street and window shopping is good fun. This area is packed with airline offices, banks, and travel agencies, but also has some cosy little shops brimming with excellent Finnish crafts. The area is also home to several art galleries. The Market Square Kauppatori is an open-air market open Monday through Saturday, offering local produce, souvenir and gift items. Another shopping section, called simply Central extends all the way to Helsinki Railway Station displaying some of the big names in Finnish shopping, such as Stockmann Department Store. Forum shopping complex is also located here. Another shopping street is Aleksanterinkatu, running parallel to Esplanadi stretching from the harbour to Mannerheimintie.
Finland’s shops are usually open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm and to 2pm on Saturdays. Shops are generally open on Sundays during the summer months June – August. Most department stores are open from 9am to 9pm during the weekday and from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays. The local currency is the Euro, available in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 with coins in denominations of 2 EUR and 1 EUR, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Banks and authorised bureaux de change at stations, airports and ports can readily exchange foreign currency. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9:15am to 4:15pm. Credit cards are widely accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa.and Eurocheque. Traveller’s cheques are also accepted in banks as well as at some shops. If wishing to avoid additional exchange rate charges, you are strongly advised to take with you traveller’s cheques in euros, pounds sterling or US dollars.