Curiosities Exposed: 23 Surprising Things Finns Do Differently

Every country has its quirks. Finland just has more of them or at least more unusual ones. From outdoor baby napping in sub-zero temperatures to a near-religious relationship with silence, Finnish customs have a way of stopping outsiders in their tracks. Here are 23 things Finns do differently, and why each one makes complete sense once you understand the culture.

Most of these come down to the same few things: honesty, practicality and a deep comfort with silence. Understanding Finnish personality traits goes a long way towards explaining all of them.

1. Leave babies outside to sleep in winter

Finnish parents routinely park prams outside in temperatures well below zero. The belief is that cold, fresh air helps babies sleep better and builds immune resilience. It is not considered unusual. It is considered sensible.

2. Say almost nothing on public transport

Finnish buses and trains are quiet in a way that can unsettle visitors. No one talks to strangers. No one talks particularly loudly to people they know. The silence is comfortable and considered the correct default, not a social failure.

Finnish silence is not anti-social. It is the point. Some people wear that.

3. Have a sauna in the house

Most Finnish homes have a sauna. This is not a luxury, it is standard. The sauna is used weekly, often on Fridays, and is considered as normal as having a bathroom. Finland has around 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million people.

4. Go ice swimming

Cutting a hole in the ice and getting in is a regular winter activity for hundreds of thousands of Finns. Often done after a sauna. Participants report it is excellent for circulation, stress and general outlook. Non-participants report it looks alarming. Both observations are correct.

5. Drink enormous amounts of coffee

Finland is the world's highest per capita coffee consumer. This is not about artisan coffee culture it is about function. Strong, black coffee consumed steadily throughout the day. The coffee break is protected by labour law. Offering someone coffee is a gesture of inclusion, not a lifestyle statement.

6. Eat rye bread with everything

Finnish rye bread dark, dense, slightly sour is a dietary staple that appears at nearly every meal. It is not a trend. It has been there for centuries.

7. Drink significant amounts of milk

Finland is one of the highest per capita milk consumers in the world. Adults drink it with meals, including hot meals. Buffet restaurants have milk dispensers alongside the water. It is not a childhood thing, it just never stopped.

8. Take off shoes at the door

Shoes come off at the entrance of every Finnish home without negotiation. Guests who hesitate are gently corrected. Finnish floors are clean as a result.

9. Avoid small talk as a matter of principle

Finns do not make small talk to fill silence. Conversations start when there is something worth saying. This is considered efficient, not rude. Understanding no niin helps,  sometimes that one phrase carries the weight of an entire exchange.

10. Address everyone by first name

Finland is radically non-hierarchical in personal address. First names are used with strangers, bosses and officials alike. Titles are largely ignored. This is not disrespect. It is the Finnish default.

11. Trust strangers as a default

Finland consistently ranks among the highest countries in the world for social trust. Bikes are left unlocked, children walk to school alone from a young age, and lost wallets usually find their way home. It is not wide-eyed optimism, it is the quiet assumption that most people will do the right thing.

12. Spend summers at a lakeside cottage

The Finnish summer cottage or mökki is a cultural institution. Families retreat to lakeside cabins for weeks every summer. No neighbours, no agenda, lots of sauna and water. This is considered a necessity, not a luxury.

13. Eat liquorice that surprises the world

Salmiakki (salty ammonium chloride liquorice) is beloved in Finland and broadly incomprehensible outside the Nordic countries. Finns understand that not everyone will get it. They do not consider this their problem.

14. Have very direct opinions

Finnish directness is genuine. If a Finn says something is good, it is good. If they say something is not, they mean it. Politeness through vagueness is not part of the culture.

15. Take personal space seriously

Finns maintain a wide personal space bubble. Standing too close at a bus stop or in a queue reads as intrusive. The two-metre rule that became globally relevant in 2020 was, for Finns, simply existing social policy.

16. Swear with genuine enthusiasm

Finnish swearing is expressive and deployed with surprising frequency for a quiet culture. Perkele, originally the name of a Finnish thunder god, is the most recognisable example: a word that can mean frustration, determination or grudging admiration depending entirely on how it is said.

17. Celebrate Midsummer with real commitment

Juhannus is the year's most important celebration. Finns leave cities, go to their cottages, light bonfires on the lakeshore and spend the night in full summer brightness. It is treated with the seriousness of a major national holiday because it is one.

18. Walk barefoot in the forest

Finns regularly walk barefoot through the forest, across moss and pine needles, for wellbeing and grounding. This is not a wellness trend imported from elsewhere, it is just something people do.

19. Let children roam independently from a young age

Finnish children are given genuine independence early,  walking to school alone, cycling unsupervised, spending afternoons in the forest without adult oversight. The social trust that makes this possible is built into Finnish culture from the ground up.

20. Read more books than almost anyone else

Finland has the highest library usage rate in the world. Libraries are funded generously and treated as community infrastructure rather than an optional service.

21. Keep a very clean home

Finnish homes are clean and ordered. The no-shoes policy helps, but it goes beyond that. Cleanliness at home is a point of pride.

22. Trust strangers to do the right thing

Finland consistently ranks among the highest countries in the world for social trust. Bikes are left unlocked, children walk to school alone from a young age, and lost wallets usually find their way home. It is not wide-eyed optimism, it is the quiet assumption that most people will do the right thing.

23. Take coffee extremely seriously

Finland drinks more coffee per capita than any other nation. It is rarely about baristas or rituals just strong, black coffee poured steadily throughout the day. Offering someone a cup is not small talk. It is a simple way of saying you are included.

If any of this is starting to sound familiar (or if you are quietly beginning to wonder whether you might be more Finnish than you realised) this book has 101 more moments of recognition waiting.

Funny, true and entirely Finnish.

FAQ: Finnish customs and curiosities

Why are Finns so quiet?

Finnish quietness is cultural, not personal. Silence is valued as a sign of comfort and honesty — words are used when they carry meaning. Speaking to fill silence is considered unnecessary. Visitors often interpret this as coldness but Finns tend to find constant small talk more exhausting than companionable quiet.

Is the sauna really that important in Finland?

The sauna is central to Finnish life in a way that is genuinely difficult to overstate. Finland has approximately 3 million saunas for 5.5 million people. It is used for relaxation, socialising, business and as a form of health practice. The formality that exists in other Finnish settings simply does not apply in the sauna.

What is the Finnish relationship with nature?

Nature access in Finland is universal, not just geographically but culturally. The right to roam means anyone can walk, camp or pick berries on any land. Most Finns have a genuine and regular relationship with forests, lakes and the outdoors, not as recreation but as a normal part of life.