Will I manage with English?

The answer

Yes, in most places visited by travellers, English is widely understood, particularly in cities, hotels, transport hubs and tourist areas. In remote villages you may meet fewer English speakers, but hosts and transport staff usually manage well. Learning a few Finnish words is still appreciated and makes maps easier to follow, since place names describe the landscape: järvi means lake, saari island and joki river. Signs in the north can also appear in Sami languages.