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InterNations — A Community for American Expats in Helsinki

Hello to all Americans in Helsinki! Are you interested in getting to know fellow expats in Helsinki? Looking for advice from other Americans, e.g. wondering if there are any bars in Helsinki which will be showing your favorite baseball or American football team’s upcoming match or where to go in town for stuffed turkey?

Although Helsinki has lots to offer, you might be wondering where and how you can meet other Americans in the city. Luckily, InterNations is here to make this easier for you! You’re warmly invited to join the InterNations community. Within our international network in Helsinki, there’s a vibrant circle of American expats from all regions of USA, including New York City, Los Angeles, and beyond.

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Francois Bertrand

Francois Bertrand

I found a former Helsinki expat who had recently moved back to Brazil, so we swapped all the important need-to-knows.

Maria Loura

Maria Loura

Some information on InterNations helped me a great deal, and I'm sure other expats in Helsinki feel the same way.

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An amazing community is waiting for you!

Meet international people at local events

Meet international people at local events

Socialize, enjoy hobbies, and make friends

Socialize, enjoy hobbies, and make friends

Get info, and feel at home abroad!

Get info, and feel at home abroad!

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Why you'll love InterNations in Helsinki

18,957
members in Helsinki
793
American members
25
monthly events
20
interest-based groups

and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!

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What Americans love about living in Helsinki

Here you can find both positive and negative quotes from Americans about their expat life in the Helsinki. We have collected them from our yearly Expat Insider survey, where our members share their thoughts about the cities and countries they live in.

Let's begin with the positives.

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What stands out positively about Helsinki is the scale of social and political life, as well as the easy access to nature. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What makes life in Helsinki enjoyable for me is the people, the nature, the sophisticated lifestyle, the healthcare system, and the ability to travel easily within the Schengen Area. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What I like about Helsinki is the city life, personal safety, cleanliness, widespread English proficiency, and a social system that supports everyone. — US American expat in Helsinki
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One thing I really appreciate about Helsinki is that my happiness level has increased significantly since moving here. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What makes life in Helsinki enjoyable for me is the feeling of security. — US American expat in Helsinki
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Now let's see some common negative topics that our American members had on their minds:

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What frustrates me about Helsinki is how difficult it can be to find work that matches your experience. Even when highly qualified, it can be difficult to get an interview, particularly if you don’t have a Finnish name or background. I feel that many companies promote diversity and inclusion but don’t always put these values into practice. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What I struggle with most in Helsinki is the bureaucracy, and online services can be hit or miss in English. However, with some assistance, I’m able to handle these issues. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What makes life in Helsinki harder for me is the restrictive banking regulations, which can make financial planning challenging. I also find it difficult to access certain services due to language barriers, limited opening hours, and online services that are not always accessible to non-EU residents. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What frustrates me about Helsinki is the dreadful weather. I miss the sun most of all. — US American expat in Helsinki
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What I struggle with most in Helsinki is the consensus-driven culture and the strong engineering-oriented mindset in both industry and government. — US American expat in Helsinki
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Why Americans move abroad … (and do they like it?)

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

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Connect at Our Events in Helsinki

Attend our monthly events and join various interest-based groups to get to know like-minded expats and fellow Americans in Helsinki. From sailing to spirituality, there is sure to be something for everyone! In most communities, there are also monthly Newcomers’ Events especially for those who have recently joined the American community in Helsinki. Take this chance to mingle and meet other expats and global minds in Helsinki.

Extra Special Christmas Bazaar
Extra Special Christmas Bazaar
British Christmas food, and other micklemas stuff at it's finest. Your only 'Go too' place for those x - rated Christmas crackers in Helsinki. Come buy your mince pies, and stock up on Christmas pudding .. And If we're really lucky, maybe we'll get a warble or two from carol singers .. This onc
British Christmas food, and other micklemas stuff at it's finest. Your only 'Go too' place for those x - rated Christmas crackers in Helsinki. Come buy your mince pies, and stock up on Christmas pudding .. And If we're really lucky, maybe we'll get a warble or two from carol singers .. This onc

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Find People Who Share Your Passions

Do you want to continue pursuing your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? You can do that easily in our InterNations Groups, which offer activities based on a wide range of interests. Groups are hosted by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month. They organize everything from dinners to sightseeing to board game nights. For example, you can enjoy nature with the Outdoors Group, share your love of music with the Jazz Group, or go on an adventure with the Boat Trips Group. There’s something for everyone!

Helsinki Community Group
Helsinki Community Group

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Enjoy the International Experience with InterNations

  • Browse our network of members to get to know American expats in Helsinki and connect with others.
  • Take part in our expat forums to get firsthand tips and information from fellow Americans in Helsinki.
  • Meet other American expats and global minds at 600 monthly official events and share your interests at more than 4,600 monthly activities in Helsinki and across the globe.

InterNations provides an easy, casual way to get to know expats from the USA and further afield in your local community. Sound good? Then let us welcome you into our Helsinki Community today!

Mix and Mingle with Americans in Helsinki at Our Events

Our Helsinki community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Helsinki’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow American expats to discover its beautiful birch forests and coniferous taiga woods. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from the United States of America in your local community and meet Americans in Finland in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Americans living in Helsinki!

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