If you have tried sauna and don't like it (or even if you haven't tried it, but don't want to) just be sure not to say too publicly that you don't like sauna. Aside from avoiding saying anything bad about sauna, also avoid saying things like 'it's a bit overrated' or 'I prefer [insert an equivalent thing from your home country]'. Finns are a bit precious about sauna, and even though it's okay to say 'No I don't want to sauna ... today', it's best not to say 'No I never want to sauna, being in a small hot room sounds awful'. This will get a very bad reaction from most Finns.
Side note: if Finns mention amazing health benefits from sauna, still just agree, and perhaps don't say something like 'Yes and placebo-effect is also very real, so you when you believe in something it can have a big impact'. This will lead to Finns finding academic articles about the health benefits of sauna to show to you. I am speaking from experience.
2. Do agree with Finns when they say how hard Finnish language is to learn
When you meet Finns and speak some Finnish they will tell you how amazing it is you can speak Finnish, even if you can only say 'Moi' (Hi) and 'Moi moi' (Bye). Finns are under the impression Finnish is extremely difficult. Granted Finnish is a difficult language (depending on your native language and some other factors)... but on another level Finnish is just a language and it's very possible to learn lots of Finnish.
Even if you have learnt lots of Finnish and realised it is a language with a steep uphill at the start, but quite logically after the initial stages... it is best just to agree with Finns and say 'Yes Finnish is nearly impossible.' This is the answer they are expecting and makes for good small talk.
3. Do not ask Finns for help with grammar
If you are learning Finnish and want to quickly check something related to Finnish grammar with a Finn do not mention the grammar concept by it's name. Simply say the sentence you want to say, and ask the Finn if it correct or not. The exception here is if you are asking a professional teacher who has studied Finnish language at university. Finns won't (always) know words like: translatiivi, genetiivi, ... etc. and it might just embarrass and confuse them to ask - whereas if you say the sentence they will know if it sounds correct or not. This especially applies to people who are dating a Finn. Only ask your Finnish significant other if the thing you said was correct/incorrect... don't ask 'why is it like this.'
4. Do not expect to understand spoken Finnish, even if you understand written Finnish
There are so many differences between spoken and written Finnish that you cannot expect to understand conversational Finnish without studying/practicing it. Even I started learning Finnish I wasn't sure whether I should study spoken Finnish, but eventually I decided I needed to. At that point I realised how different it really was, and felt better about the fact I couldn't just naturally understand spoken Finnish. Especially the difference in grammar (between spoken and written Finnish) are important to look at early on. For example, the "we" form in Finnish ("me") changes completely in spoken Finnish and uses the form usually used for passive. (Me menemme becomes Me mennään).
5. Do not say a single word in English, if you want to speak in Finnish
This tip is mostly regarding in shops, restaurants and other public places. Finns will use English with customers as soon as they realise they don't speak Finnish (natively). If you want to use Finnish (in a shop) it is safer not to say anything at all in English. If the waitress hears you speaking English to a friend, they will speak to you in English. Even if you reply in Finnish... they will continue in English.
The only way around this I've noticed is to use only Finnish from the moment I step into the store - this way the employee won't have any hint I can speak English (at least until they hear my accent).
I've even noticed when I order something, and the food item is given only in English on the official menu (for example sometimes 'toasted sandwich' is only written in English), after I say 'Haluaisin 'toasted sandwichin' (I want a toasted sandwich), the waiter will change to English.
Sorry almost everything turned out to be about Finnish language!
Finnish words in this post
Moi - Hi
Moi moi - Bye
translatiivi - translative (grammar case)
genetiivi - genitive (grammar case)
Me menemme - We go (written)
Me mennään - We go (spoken)
Haluaisin... - I would like..
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