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Dating In Finland: Everything You Need To Know (Tips)

Written by Angela Miller

Last updated on April 15th, 2022

Table of contents:

What Is It Like Dating A Finnish Woman?
How Do You Impress A Finnish Woman?
Will Dating In Finland End In Marriage?
Best Places To Find Dates In Finland?

Finland is one of the smallest countries in Northern Europe, with about 5.53 million people. Even the capital city Helsinki, unlike other countries, is sparsely populated with about 640,000 residents. Finland is a well-developed country with a thriving economy and highly educated population. Yes, the Finnish people are prominent in education, and any attempt to demonstrate intellectual superiority with a Finnish woman will most likely backfire. The country shares its borders with Russia to the East, Sweden to the West, Norway to the North, and the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea across Estonia to the South. Finland is not among the Scandinavian countries but is strong on Nordic culture, and it influences how they relate both in their dating and everyday life. For instance, locals are very straightforward and unpretentious in their ways. A Finnish man or woman will give you their opinion unapologetically – even though humility and modesty are cultural norms. Also, unlike countries where people are always looking forward to summer during winter, Finns are super proud of their extremely cold winter season. You’ll find a good number of people out and about when it is chilling outside. So, you can pretty much tell what fun is like here. Finns are big on snowboarding and skiing.

There are a tad more women than men in Finland; you find 2.8 million women and 2.73 million men in Finland. But, according to Statista, the population has been increasing slowly in recent years in favor of women. Like in the neighboring countries, women (in the dating bracket) are fairly scarce, but that’s not the major dating problem. The thing is, Finnish women aren’t exactly big on dating and committed relationships. Moreover, they are notorious for being upfront and direct about dating and flings, but that’s if they want you. If a Finn doesn’t like you, you’ll know immediately, and there’s pretty much no pickup line or “finessing” that will get you any further. The subtle standoffish and independent norm in Finland can make dating a little challenging, especially for men. But the good side to it is that at least you won’t be wasting your time trying to impress someone that isn’t interested in you.

Luckily, Finnish women are super gorgeous, and you can bet they share some of the Nordic stereotypes with their North European neighbors. For starters, blondes aren’t in shortage at all. But there are also many brunettes, and it’s not rare to see pink hair floating around in major cities. They have slender bodies with slender curves in the right places. They are very sporty, polite, super independent, and often introverted. In public places, with lots of Finnish women, some of the first things you’ll notice are their beautiful eyes and nice skin. The women are mostly tall, friendly, and outspoken in practical manners. Finns are very pragmatic people, and you can quickly tell in your first conversation with a Finnish woman. They are friendly and open to interesting conversations, but they are also very indrawn, and the ‘personal space’ is always monitored if you’re a stranger. That means how and where you approach a Finnish woman is key. For instance, trying to talk to a woman on a bus for the first time might seem like you’re invading her personal space since you’ll have to be up close. Even good looks won’t get you a pass if you don’t make your move right, which brings us to the next section – do Finnish women play hard to get?

What Is It Like Dating A Finnish Woman?

First, if you want to date a Finnish woman, you have to be clear about it. There’s nothing like “I’m seeing someone” in Finland. You’re either date or not. NO courtship. NO ‘talking stage.’ That doesn’t mean each couple you see having fun together is dating. If they aren’t dating and just having a fling, they both know it. However, the fact that you see them together most likely means they are dating already. Finnish women might seem to play hard to get because they don’t pretend if they don’t like you. And even if a Finn likes you, she’ll tell you straight up in a less dramatic way. Finnish women are often shy and don’t talk much. But if you understand the dos and don’ts of getting a Finnish lady – as we’ll guide you through in the next section – you can know exactly how to get a Finnish woman. They have a hard time communicating how they feel, so you have to be prepared for that too. But first, you have to understand the popular views on casual sex, marriage, and children in Finland before getting into an “entanglement.”

When you have a one-night stand (or multiple one-nights) with a Finnish woman, she doesn’t expect you to hang around or try to get intimate later. If the sex is casual – as it often is – it comes with zero expectations and you just go your separate ways. But if both of you do ‘connect,’ something can grow from there. Another interesting thing about the Finns is that you don’t have to make any grandiose date plans to get casual sex. There’s no stigma about sex on a first date (or even first sight). And no one cares about who makes the first move. With a couple of drinks and an exciting partying night, you could have a memorable night with a Finnish woman. That’s pretty much how actual relationships start, from drinks to bed and (maybe) dates. But as soon as it moves from casual sex to more intimate times together, it’s a whole new ball game for the Finns.

Finns may be very liberal with casual sex and flings, but a committed relationship is taken very seriously. They are conservative when it comes to dating and marriage, so exclusivity is a MUST. If you decide to cheat, it only takes getting caught once to end the relationship – no questions asked. And cheating isn’t about sex alone. Flirting and outrightly dating other girls is cheating, and it’s taboo for someone in a relationship, especially married people. Asides from loyalty and being treated as equals, Finnish women don’t expect much from their men. They like sharing the bills; they are big on independence and don’t like being addressed or handled as the weaker gender. So, you can pretty much guess that the typical Finnish woman is a staunch feminist. However, gentlemanly gestures like getting lady flowers and cute notes are always appreciated.

How Do You Impress A Finnish Woman?

To impress a Finnish woman, you’ll want to know the deal breakers first. When you avoid the don’ts, there are not many efforts needed; you’ll know if she likes you or not – no mixed signals whatsoever. You just have to keep in mind that Finnish women, in general, don’t display that much emotion, especially not to strangers, even if they have a crush on you. But what are the don’ts? What are those things that could limit your chances with a Finnish woman? First, you have to show that you’re humble. And the best way to show this to a Finnish woman is to downplay your accomplishments because that’s what she’ll be doing all the while she’s talking about herself. For instance, if a Finnish woman tells you that she struggles with the piano, she’ll most likely pass for an excellent pianist in a band. Both men and women are like that in Finland; it’s simply a norm to be modest and humble. Elaborating and trying to emphasize how amazing you are at what you do can easily become a turnoff. If you want to impress a Finnish woman with something you’re good at, downplay yourself in words and sweep her off her feet in action – that’s the Finnish way!

Another major deal-breaker for Finnish women is shoving your views, beliefs, or opinions down people’s throats. You don’t even have to be talking to her for it to be a turnoff. For instance, if you’re in a group and keep trying to convince others that your views or opinions are the best, your Finnish crush will see it as unattractive. That doesn’t mean that they don’t appreciate people with a strong view on a subject; they just don’t expect you to force the idea on anyone. You’ll also want to be patient when making your move, especially if you want more than a fling. Hookups and one-night stands mostly happen from bars or clubs. So, if you aren’t making your move from any of those places, you have to be patient. Finnish women prefer to take things slow when it comes to dating. They want to know you but won’t be in a hurry about it. And for the physical stuff, allow her lead.

A Finnish woman doesn’t care much about who’s taking the initiative. She won’t sit in a corner hoping that you catch the ‘green light.’ If she doesn’t want to approach you, she’ll either wave or smile at you to indicate interest. However, if you meet one that keeps staring, both won’t approach you; you can pretty much bet she likes you; not everyone makes the bold move. And as for dinner and date night, don’t be surprised if she asks to split the bill or pay for it all. Most Finns will insist on splitting the bill, and it doesn’t mean they are in a masculinity contest; it’s just born out of their strong sense of independence. Another interesting norm in Finland is that Finns don’t bother about dating and marriage even in their late 20s and early 30s. The ‘single life’ is a big flex for Finns, and they aren’t in a rush to get into committed relationships. The average Finnish woman enters her first marriage at 32.6 years old. So, if you’re looking for a long-term relationship, you’ll have better luck with the 35s and above.

Will Dating In Finland End In Marriage?

In 2020, about 22,000 marriages were registered in Finland. But the annual number of marriages in Finland decreased by about 10,000, compared to 2010. Here’s the truth: Finns aren’t big on marriage, and a good number of them don’t see marriage as a necessity. The ones that do see marriage as a necessity mostly do so in their late 30s. This isn’t a women’s thing; both genders are like that. In fact, the men marry at almost the same age – 35 years old – as the women. And for the majority of that number, they end up in marriage with people they dated and lived with. However, if you’re dating a Finnish woman, she might not necessarily be considering marriage, especially if she’s in her 20s. Finns don’t date to marry, even in relationships they’ve been in for a long time. So, if you’re dating a Finnish woman you want to get married to, you should make your intentions known after some time. If you follow the “allow things flow naturally” pattern, it’d be at your own risk. An average Finn loves her independence, but they are also ridiculously straightforward people. So, if, after dating for a while and you decide to make your intentions known, she’ll let you know if you’re both on the same page or not.

That said, chances of proceeding from dating to marriage are slim for younger Finnish women. To increase your chances, you’ll want to date Finns in their 30s. That doesn’t imply that Finns don’t get married in their 20s – they do, but it’s rare. What they are interested in at that age is their career, traveling, partying, and trying different things. Finnish women are a lot like Swedish women; they leave home at an early age to live independently, and they remain that way for a long time before considering committed relationships. So if your Finnish girlfriend is in her early 20s, chances that she’s looking for a relationship that will lead to marriage are as huge as the chances of not getting divorced in the US.

Late marriage isn’t the only norm in Finland. Like in most Western countries, Finland has a high divorce rate. In the EU, the Finnish people have one of the highest divorce rates. Finns are conservatives when it comes to marriage, but the popularity of getting married has dropped in Finland in the last couple of years. One of the reasons for this is that in 1998, there was an amendment in Finland’s Marriage Act. The amendment made it much easier for Finns to obtain a divorce. Either party can file for divorce and thereafter file for final divorce before the reconsideration period of six months elapses. After this was amended, the divorce rate in Finland rose from about 10,000 to 14,000. Some might argue that the divorce rate does not reflect the marriage beliefs of the Finns. But the Finns are generally liberal people and won’t remain as a couple if they don’t flourish.

Best Places To Find Dates In Finland?

Finnish women are very polite, friendly, and reserved, but they also like to party and club. One of the first things you’ll learn as a foreigner in Finland is that the place to get a hookup is in a nightclub. The chances of picking up a Finnish woman in places like the mall or bus are slim. You might have better chances in public parks or at game nights. A Finnish woman doesn’t think of much of casual hookups and will pretty much approach you at the nightclub if she likes you. A few drinks and a couple of laughs is enough, and no one has to make a big deal about anything the next morning.

Where to find women in Finland is just as important as the time you approach them. You have a better chance at picking up a woman in Finland at night than you do during the day. Finns are highly educated people, and a majority of the adult population are financially independent and also living on their own. So, most of the women you can find during the day are often all about their business and work and aren’t exactly looking to listen to ramble up a pickup line. The only exception to approaching women during the day is if there’s a situational or casual conversation starter you could use to get her talking. Trying to get a Finnish woman’s number with a pickup line won’t work. Just be yourself and talk about something casual – something to eliminate tension. But what particular locations are your best bet to find some of the most attractive women in Finland?

Helsinki is certainly a one-night stand city, especially at night. The daytime game is fairly enjoyable, but success isn’t guaranteed if you are outdoors. Baarikärpänen is a great place to meet a good number of Finnish women who are out for fun. The club is located on legendary nightclub premises on Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu, right next to Kamppi metro station. The specialty of Baarikärpänen is the After Dark-bracelet, with which you pay only half the price for drinks for the rest of the evening. You can also try Kaarle and Viliwaino. Another awesome city for the night game is Espoo. The best area to meet single women in Espoo would be right downtown. Remember to stay close to the city center to improve your chances. Head down to Bar Casanova at Maininkitie 7, Kannunkulma at Kannusillankatu 2, Suvizza Bar & Nightclub at Sokinsuontie 4, or The Callows Birth at Merituulentie 30. Finnish women always look to the nightlife for relaxation. And the drinking culture in Finland puts drinks in high demand, so they are a bit pricey. But with a couple of drinks, a few conversations, and a relaxed smile, you can get the best hookup in Finland in any of these bars and nightclubs.