Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Finland take card payments at check-in
Honestly, Finland is just like Denmark - almost cashless. Hostels from Helsinki to Lapland all swipe or tap cards at check-in. In fact, the only time I saw someone use cash was a fellow backpacker buying cheap coffee from a kiosk. The “Otto” ATMs are around if you want them, but I never used one in weeks of travel. If avoiding last-minute ATM withdrawals is your goal, Finland is the perfect country. Your card covers absolutely everything.
Finland might be one of the easiest countries for avoiding ATM runs. I went up north to Rovaniemi, stayed in a family-run hostel, and they still took cards with no problem. The only place I ever needed cash was for a rural sauna, not accommodation. Hostels nationwide are tied into the card system. Helsinki hostels even send you an online check-in link where you pay in advance. Don’t stress about coins or notes - a working debit or credit card is all you need.
I stayed at Eurohostel Helsinki and Dream Hostel in Tampere, and both were smooth card check-ins. Cards are standard in Finland, and most businesses prefer them over cash. Even in smaller towns, hostels had no issue running Mastercard or Maestro cards. I kept €50 in my wallet just in case, but I never used it. The ATMs are there, but you’ll likely walk past them without needing one. So, last-minute ATM runs aren’t really part of Finnish travel.
Finland is incredibly card-friendly. In Helsinki, my hostel near Kamppi didn’t even touch cash - they charged my Visa at the counter without asking. The same applied in Tampere. ATMs (Otto.) exist, but they’re not essential unless you really want coins for something niche. I never once needed to scramble for cash, and every Finnish hostel I visited had a reliable card terminal. If you’re used to southern Europe cash hassles, Finland will feel refreshingly simple.