Uusimaa (Nyland in Swedish) is the southernmost region of Finland, wrapped around the Gulf of Finland and home to the capital, Helsinki. It combines a compact seaside capital, a UNESCO sea fortress, ancient forest national parks, and wooden-house towns such as Porvoo, Hanko, and Ekenäs, all within about two hours of each other by public transport.
Uusimaa is very safe for visitors: violent crime against tourists is rare and the main risks are petty theft in crowded places, icy conditions in winter and ticks in summer forests. As of 2026-10-18 the US State Department rates Finland Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) and the UK FCDO publishes no travel warning; the FCDO updated its Finland page in May 2026 with information on drone incidents and the Russian border crossing (the eastern border is far from Uusimaa), and in August 2026 for the European Entry/Exit System. Check official pages before travelling.
Current safety advisory
Low
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Call 112 for any emergency; the call is free, works from any phone including without a SIM, and operators speak English. The free 112 Suomi app also sends your location to the emergency centre.
Helsinki is among Europe's safest capitals, but pickpocketing occurs on crowded trams, at Market Square, Esplanadi and Central Railway Station; carry valuables in a zipped front pocket.
Carry photo ID or a passport copy; police can ask for ID, and bars check it routinely.
At night use well-lit streets around Kallio, Sörnäinen and Central Railway Station, where drunk or aggressive behaviour sometimes occurs at weekends.
Buy an HSL ticket before boarding; inspectors check often and the penalty fare is about €100 (about $115 USD).
In winter wear shoes with grips on icy pavements, and dress in layers; sea ice is unsafe without local advice.
In forests (Nuuksio, Sipoonkorpi) use tick repellent from April to October and check clothing after hikes; mobile coverage is generally good, but trails can be remote.
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, are prohibited and penalties are severe; Finnish drink-driving limits are lower than in the UK and US, so do not drive after any drinks.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Overpriced street-hail taxis
Taxi fares in Finland are not regulated and rates differ by operator, so a street-hail taxi from the airport or railway station can cost far more than expected.
How to avoid: Agree a fixed price in advance, order via Taksi Helsinki (0100 7300), Uber or Bolt apps, or take the I or P train (€4.50-4.80, about $5.20-5.50 USD) to the centre.
HSL penalty fares
Tourists who forget to buy a ticket or travel in the wrong zone get penalty fares of about €100 (about $115 USD) from inspectors, who work in plain clothes.
How to avoid: Buy tickets in the HSL app or at machines before boarding, choose the right zones (AB for central Helsinki, ABC for the airport and Nuuksio), and keep the ticket on screen.
Pickpocketing in crowds
Organised thieves have worked Market Square, Esplanadi, Uspenski Cathedral, Aleksanterinkatu and busy trams, especially in summer.
How to avoid: Keep wallets and phones in zipped inside pockets, wear bags in front, and watch for bumping or distraction near doors.
Phishing messages
Fake text messages or e-mails claiming to be from HSL, Posti or banks ask tourists to pay small fees.
How to avoid: Pay only inside official apps (HSL, Posti) and never click links in unsolicited messages.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No vaccinations are required. Routine vaccines should be up to date. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is present in parts of southern Finland including coastal and archipelago areas; check the THL map (thl.fi) and consider vaccination if hiking or camping from May to October.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent throughout Uusimaa and safe to drink; carry a refillable bottle. Water from lakes and ponds in the forest should be boiled or filtered.
- Food
- Food safety standards are very high. Raw fish (graavilohi, sushi) and market stalls are generally safe; wild mushrooms should only be eaten if identified by a local expert.
- Facilities
- Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) runs 24/7 emergency departments at Meilahti (Haartmaninkatu 4, over 16 years), the New Children's Hospital (Stenbäckinkatu 11), Jorvi (Espoo) and Peijas (Vantaa). Call the medical helpline 116 117 (around the clock) before going if the situation is not life-threatening. EU/EEA travellers need an EHIC/GHIC; others should carry travel insurance and expect to pay.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 112 (emergency centre dispatches police); non-urgent police advice is at poliisi.fi
- Medical
- 112 (ambulance) or 116 117 (medical helpline, 24/7)
- Fire
- 112 (rescue services)
- Coast Guard
- 112 for any sea emergency (the emergency centre alerts the Finnish Border Guard sea rescue)
- General Emergency
- 112 (works from all phones, even without a SIM; the free 112 Suomi app shares your location)
- Main Hospital
- Meilahti Emergency Department, Haartmaninkatu 4, Helsinki; HUS switchboard +358 9 4711
- Poison Information
- Poison Information Centre 0800 147 111 (24 hours)
- Crisis Line
- Mieli Crisis Helpline +358 9 2525 0111
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy Helsinki, Itäinen Puistotie 14B, +358 9 616 250 (same number after hours)
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Helsinki, Itäinen Puistotie 17, +358 9 2286 5100