Money in Helsinki: cards, cash, tipping and what things cost

💡 The Short Version: Finland uses the euro (€), and Helsinki runs mostly on cards. Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay work on public transit, at market stalls, in restaurants and in taxis. HSL buses, trams and trains take no cash on board, so bring a contactless card or phone. Tipping is not expected: service is already in the bill. Cash totals round to the nearest 5 cents; card payments are charged to the exact cent. Visitors from outside the EU can claim VAT back on goods taken home in their luggage. Or book a tour: a 2-hour walking tour with Helsinki Cathedral and the marketad from €40 visits Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Market Square and Uspenski Cathedral.

⚠️ Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). When paying by foreign credit card or withdrawing cash at an ATM, the terminal may ask whether to bill you in your home currency or in euros. Always choose euros (€). Choosing your home currency lets the terminal operator set its own, worse exchange rate.

Currency basics and the Finnish rounding rule

Finland uses the euro (€), which replaced the Finnish markka (markka).

Euro banknotes and coins. In Finland, cash transactions are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. Photo: Avij, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

The Finnish rounding rule (pyöristyssääntö)

Cash payments are rounded to the nearest 5 cents:

• No 1-cent or 2-cent change: The coins are still legal tender if you hand them over, but shops do not give them back.
• The rounding: The final total of a cash purchase is rounded to the nearest 5 cents:
  • Totals ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents are rounded down (e.g. €9.52 becomes €9.50; €9.57 becomes €9.55).
  • Totals ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents are rounded up (e.g. €9.53 becomes €9.55; €9.58 becomes €9.60).
• Cards: The rounding applies only to cash. Card and phone payments are charged to the exact cent.

The cashless society: cards vs cash

• Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted from the boutiques on Pohjoisesplanadi to the strawberry stalls on Market Square (Kauppatori) and food trailers. American Express and Diners Club work at international hotels and department stores, less often at small cafes.
• Tap to pay: Contactless cards and phone wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay) are standard. Contactless payments above €50 need your PIN.
• Card-only businesses: Some cafes, restaurants and all HSL vehicles take cards only, and signs read “Vain korttimaksu / Card only”. A trip with no cash at all rarely causes a problem.

Bright orange Otto ATMs are the primary interbank cash machines located across Helsinki. Photo: Santeri Viinamäki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Cash machines and withdrawing euros

For a small amount of cash:

• Otto ATMs: The nationwide ATM network is Otto, with bright orange signs. The machines accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, Plus and Cirrus cards and give out €20 and €50 notes. They add no owner surcharge, but your home bank’s foreign fees still apply.
• Nosto ATMs: A second network, found in shopping malls and transport hubs, with menus in English, Swedish and Finnish.
• Airport exchange: Forex Bank and ChangeGroup have desks in the arrivals hall at Helsinki Airport. Their rates are poor; an Otto ATM with a low-fee card gives a better one.

Tipping etiquette (Juomaraha)

Tipping is not expected in Finland.

• Service is in the price: Menu prices, bar drinks and hotel bills already include service and VAT.
• Restaurants: Nothing to add at bistros, market halls and cafes. At a sit-down dinner, rounding the bill up is a courtesy, not a rule.
• Bars and cafes: Nobody tips at the counter. Tap your card for the exact amount.
• Taxis: Fares are metered or agreed in advance. Rounding up to the next euro is common, and drivers do not expect more.
• Cloakroom fee: Nightclubs, traditional taverns such as Sea Horse and some theatres charge a set fee at the door for coat check. It is a price, not a tip.

Value Added Tax and tax-free shopping

Finland’s standard Value Added Tax (VAT, known locally as ALV - arvonlisävero) is 25.5% on consumer goods, with reduced rates of 14% on groceries and restaurant meals, and 10% on books, passenger transport, and museum admissions.

How non-EU travellers claim VAT refunds

Visitors who live outside the EU (including the UK, the US, Canada and Australia) can claim back the VAT on goods they take home:

1. Minimum spend: €40 in a single shop displaying the Tax Free Shopping sign (Global Blue or Planet).
2. Ask for the form: Show your passport at the till and ask for a tax-free form and an itemised receipt. Some shops seal the goods in a bag.
3. Keep items unused: Do not use the goods while you are still in the EU.
4. Stamp at the airport: Before you check your bags or pass security at Helsinki Airport, show the goods, receipts, passport and boarding pass at the customs tax-free desk in the departure hall to get the export stamp.
5. Refund: The refund is paid to your card after the refund agency takes its fee.

State alcohol monopoly: how Alko works

• Supermarkets: K-Market, S-Market, Alepa and other grocery stores sell beer, cider and long drinks up to 8.0% ABV, and only between 09:00 and 21:00.
• Alko: Wine, spirits (Finnish vodka, cloudberry liqueur) and stronger beer are sold only at the state-owned Alko shops.
• Alko hours: Each shop sets its own hours, listed by branch on alko.fi, so check the branch before you plan a weekend purchase.

The bottle return deposit system (Palautuspakkaus)

Drinks sold in cans and bottles carry a refundable deposit (Palpa), added at the till:

• Aluminium cans: €0.15
• Small plastic bottles (0.5L): €0.20
• Large plastic bottles (1.5L): €0.40
• Glass bottles: €0.10
• How to reclaim: Return machines (pullonpalautusautomaatti) stand inside supermarket entrances. Feed in empty, uncrushed cans and bottles, press the green button and take the printed receipt to the till to deduct it from your shop or get cash back.

What the main sights cost

What to explore next

• Free sightseeing: Discover cultural landmarks that cost nothing in our free things to do in Helsinki guide.
• Transit ticketing: Learn how to buy tickets and take advantage of daily contactless fare capping in our Helsinki public transport guide.
• Where to eat: Plan where to spend your dining budget in our where to eat in Helsinki guide.