Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Late in the summer, it's a tradition to have crayfish parties, where the succulent little
creatures are consumed by the dozen.
Meals
Finns tend to eat their biggest meal of the day at lunchtime, so many cafes and restaurants
put on a
lounas
special from Monday to Friday. This usually consists of soup plus salad or
hot meal or both, and includes a soft drink, coffee and sometimes dessert. Expect to pay
around €8 to €14 for this deal.
Most hotels offer a free buffet breakfast, which includes bread, cheese, cold cuts,
pastries, berries, cereals and lots of coffee, and may run to pickled or smoked fish, saus-
ages and eggs.
Finns have dinner as early as 5pm, often just a light meal, but eat much later if it's an
organised, 'going out for dinner' affair.
For a sweet snack at any time of day, hit a cafe for a
pulla
(cardamom-flavoured bun),
korvapuusti
(cinnamon whirl) or
munkki
(doughnut).
Weekend
brunssi
(brunch) has become a big deal in the cities (
Click here
)
.
NOT-SO-SWEET SWEETS
Finns love their sweets, although some of them make the unsuspecting visitor feel like
the victim of a novelty shop joke. Salty liquorice, fiery 'Turkish peppers' and tar-flavoured
gumdrops may sound like punishments rather than rewards, but are delicious after the
first few times. Finnish chocolates, particularly those made by Fazer, are also excellent.
Finns are big lovers of chain restaurants which can be found in most towns, often at-
tached to hotels. Quality isn't wonderful, but they can be cheap, family-friendly refuelling
options.
