en
How to Get Wifi in Finland for your Holidays
17 June 2024
pocket wifi
Joseph Philipson
When embarking on your Finnish adventure, it’s crucial to stay connected. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant city of Helsinki or venturing into the magical Lapland, a reliable internet connection is your key to seamless navigation, deciphering Finnish signage, and sharing your unforgettable holiday moments on social media.
There are lots of ways to stay connected while in Finland. Regarding the average mobile connection speeds, Finland boasts the 20th fastest internet in the world. With the correct type of connection, you can enjoy these connection speeds while visiting Finland.
So, what kind of internet connection is the best for travelers? How much does it cost? And where can you get it?
The Best Ways of Getting WiFi in Finland
There are five primary methods to access the internet during your Finnish journey: pocket WiFi, prepaid travel SIM cards, eSIM cards, data roaming, and WiFi networks. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which we’ll explore in detail to help you make an informed decision.
Each type of connection has pros and cons regarding speed, connectivity, ease of use, and cost.
Here’s what you need to know about each one before you arrive in Finland, which will help you make the right decision.
Pocket WiFi
Pocket WiFi is a device that connects to a mobile network before broadcasting a WiFi network for other devices to connect to. This isn’t just the same as tethering a connection from a phone with a data connection, though, as pocket WiFi devices are dedicated devices for doing this, support more connections at once, and provide a better and faster connection.
Pros
The main advantage of pocket WiFi is that it’s great for groups or travelers with several devices connected simultaneously. Your phone can still be connected to the internet while you watch something on your tablet or work on your laptop.
Pocket WiFi is also great in remote places like Lapland, the Lakeland region, the Archipelago Sea, and Eastern Finland, where smartphones’ smaller and less powerful antennae may struggle to maintain an internet connection.
Finland is famous for its border towns with mixed cultures and beautiful nature. You can rent pocket WiFi for all of Europe and stay connected wherever you end up.
Cons
The downside is that you’ll need to always have the pocket WiFi device with you and remember to keep it charged. However, pocket WiFi devices are typically smaller than smartphones, and you can even get some devices as small as a USB key.
Cost
The main options for renting pocket WiFi in Finland are Hippocketwifi, TravelWifi, RentConnect, and MioWiFi and the cost of pocket WiFi varies by provider.
Hippocketwifi costs between €4.90 and €7.90 per day for 1GB of data. The unlimited data options cost between €6.90 and €9.90 per day. The longer the rental period, the less you’ll pay per day, making Hippocketwifi the best value for your money.
TravelWifi’s portable hotspot rental has a 1GB, 5GB, or 10GB daily limit. These options cost €8.25, €9.25, and €12.25 per day, respectively.
RentConnect charges $6.99 per day for an unlimited 4G mobile hotspot.
For €8 per day, you can rent a pocket WiFi device with unlimited internet access from MioWiFi.
from
3.95€
per day
Your rental must be at least 3 days
From
€For days in with data plan
SIM Cards
Many solo travelers prefer a prepaid SIM card from a Finnish mobile carrier. You insert the SIM card, set it up, or register it, and you can start browsing, sending messages, and making calls.
The mobile network in Finland is operated by one of the three national network operators: Telia, Elisa, and DNA. There’s also Ålcom that operates on the Åland Islands.
Pros
For solo travelers, the flexibility of prepaid SIM cards is a major advantage. You have a wide range of data packs to choose from, allowing you to top up with the exact amount of data you need. This empowers you to control your expenses and use only what you require, making it a cost-effective option for your trip.
Cons
With a SIM card, you connect to the internet through your phone, which means that in remote areas like the ones we mentioned earlier, you’ll use your phone’s antenna to reach the network rather than a dedicated device like a pocket WiFi.
Cost
Telia offers several different prepaid SIM card options. The Voice and Data SIM Telia Prepaid can be picked up at Telia stores, bought online, sent to a Finnish address, or bought at R-Kiosks. You can top up in denominations of €10.
Telia Prepaid Netti is a prepaid data-only SIM that you can buy for routers, modems, and tablets. It is available at the same stores. It is useful if you want internet access just through your tablet, for example.
You can get 1GB for €9.90, 5GB for €19.90, or unlimited data for €29.90. Unlimited 5G data costs €34.90.
Saunalahti by Elisa prepaid SIM is available from Elisa Shops, kiosks, and supermarkets like S-Group and Kesko. You can buy the SIM for €5.90 online or in shops. Depending on how fast you want your internet, you can get unlimited data packs for between €12.90 and €29.90.
Prepaid DNA SIM cards can be obtained in much the same way as the other two we’ve mentioned. There’s an unlimited version, a prepaid version, and a data-only version for tablets and other devices. Data packs range between €7.90 and €29.90, depending on the maximum speed.
eSIM
An eSIM is a configurable SIM card. You don’t need to remove or insert different SIM cards and instead can set up virtual SIM cards on your phone.
Phones with this technology can be handy for travelers in Finland or anywhere in the world, as they simply need to buy the appropriate SIM and set it up before they even land.
Pros
For phones that are eSIM compatible, an eSIM is easy to set up and very convenient.
Cons
You need an eSIM-compatible phone. Since the connection is through your phone’s antenna, it still won’t be as fast or reliable as renting pocket WiFI in Finland.
Most eSIM solutions don’t offer a convenient or fast way to connect laptops and computers to the internet. Instead, you’ll need to tether them to your phone, which makes the connection slower and drains your phone’s battery.
Cost
The three most popular eSIM providers in Finland include Airalo and Holafly.
Airalo’s local eSIM for Finland is called Finn Communication and is available for between $4.50 and $26. This provides between 1GB of data over 7 days and 20GB over 30 days, with several other options at price points in between.
Holafly offers unlimited data, with the price varying by how long you travel to Finland. Five days will cost you $19, going up to $99 for 90 days.
Data Roaming International Plan
Suppose you don’t pick a pocket WiFi provider or a SIM or eSIM solution. In that case, you can contact your domestic carrier and opt for their international data roaming plans.
These use partner networks in Finland to provide you with calls, messages, and data while you travel.
Pros
The advantage of data roaming is that it’s easy. To set it up, you must contact your carrier over the phone, by SMS, or via their website or app. If you land in Finland without it set up, your carrier will likely message you with options to set up roaming.
Cons
Roaming charges can be obscene, especially if you have yet to contract an international data roaming option before you arrive.
Cost
As indicated, roaming costs are seemingly at the carrier’s behest, and some travelers find themselves returning from an otherwise nice trip to Finland with a horrible phone bill in the thousands.
Use Free WiFi
If you have no internet connection and don’t want to pay for international roaming, you could always use WiFi networks in public spaces, local businesses, shopping centers, etc.
Pros
If you’re stuck without an internet connection, these networks could act as a port in a storm, getting you out of a tricky situation.
Cons
These networks can be slow if many people are using them, unsecure, or even outright scams. Some scammers target tourists by creating fake WiFI networks and stealing sensitive information from users connecting to them.
Cost
These networks are typically free, though some businesses will only provide the key or password to paying customers.
How to Choose the Best WiFi Option for Your Finland Trip
So, before you start planning trips to Ostrobothnia, Helsinki, Inari, or any other of Finland’s wonderful destinations, you need to decide how you’ll access the internet while you’re there.
Pocket WiFi is the best option for a fast and reliable connection for multiple devices. However, there are still some things you should consider.
These are the factors that will help you make your decision.
Connectivity
Pocket WiFi tends to win here because the dedicated device provides a stronger and better connection in areas with weaker signals, which is great if you want to explore Finland’s many areas of natural beauty.
Data Limit
SIM cards provide many options in terms of data limits. If you can try to untangle the web of prices offered by providers, they could be the most sensible option.
However, most options will provide a reasonable amount of data, and you can always check how much data you typically use by looking at the settings on your phone or tablet.
Rental Duration
All of these options vary in price according to the length of your trip to Finland. Look at the prices for each option for the specific amount of time that you’ll need it.
Pocket WiFi and many SIM and eSIM options work out cheaper per day for longer trips.
Usage
There are 4G and 5G connections available for most solutions. The typical family visiting Finland won’t likely need a high-speed 5G connection, as 4G is more than fast enough for most internet uses.
However, if you’re going to Finland on business, making essential video calls, or sending large files, 5G coverage in the country is quite good and worth paying for if you need it!
