What to Buy in Finland

Design

Marimekko for prints and textiles — a tea towel or a napkin set travels flat and survives a suitcase. Iittala and Arabia for glass and ceramics; the glass is the thing people regret not buying, and it is also the thing most likely to arrive home in pieces, so have it wrapped properly at the counter. Fiskars makes scissors and garden tools that are genuinely worth carrying home. The Design District is an area of the city rather than a single street, and it is a twenty-minute walk from the quay at Market Square.

Food

Salmiakki is salty liquorice and it is the most divisive thing in this country. Buy a small bag, try it before you commit to a large one, and do not be offended when somebody watches your face. Fazer's blue chocolate is the safe gift and comes home in every second suitcase. Rye bread keeps well. Cloudberry products, when you find them, are worth the space. If you have eaten lohikeitto and want to attempt it at home, dried dill and rye flour are easier to carry than the ambition. More on the food page.

The souvenir with a catch

A puukko, the traditional Finnish knife, is a genuinely good object and a perfectly normal purchase. Carrying knives in public places is restricted, though, so have it wrapped and put it into checked baggage rather than into a coat pocket for the rest of the day. The same goes for multi-tools. The customs page has the rest of the restrictions.

Where to buy it

The Old Market Hall on the South Harbour quay is the best place for food and it is two minutes from where the boats leave, which makes it the natural stop before or after a crossing. Pohjoisesplanadi, running up from Market Square, has the design flagships along it. The Market Square stalls themselves sell wool, fur and souvenirs in summer, alongside the food stands — keep an eye on your plate there, because the gulls at Kauppatori will take food straight off a terrace table and they are not shy about it.

If you are crossing to Tallinn, leave shopping space. The ships have shops on board and the Old Town has its own things worth carrying home — see the Tallinn day trip page.

What I would skip

Anything with a reindeer printed on it that was not made here. Fridge magnets. And large glass pieces if you are flying with hand luggage only — ask the shop about shipping instead of gambling on the overhead locker.

Frequently asked questions