Visit Finland Travel Tips
May 2nd, 2009TravellingIntroducing Finland
Finland (Suomi in Finnish), situated between the 60th and 70th degrees of latitude, is the easternmost of the Nordic countries. In area, it is the seventh biggest country in Europe, covering 338,000 square kilometres (130,500 square miles). Of this area, water accounts for 10%, forest for 69% and cultivated land for 8 %. Finland has 188,000 lakes, almost as many islands, and 5,100 rapids.
Finland has a population of 5.3 million. The mother tongue of 92% of the Finns is Finnish, a language belonging to the Finno-Ugric family, while Swedish is the first language of 6% of the population. A vast majority of the Finns (85.6%) subscribe to the Lutheran faith and 1.1 % belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Finland has been an independent republic since December 6, 1917. It has a unicameral Parliament with 200 members elected for a four-year term by direct and proportional vote. The President of the Republic is elected by direct vote for six years at a time. The Government is led by the Prime Minister. Finland has been a member of the European Union since 1995.
Thanks to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, Finland has a temperate climate. Summers are warm, light and exhilarating. Most important, the air is fresh, clean, pure and invigorating at all times of the year. Low humidity generally makes the winter temperatures feel much higher than they really are.
The midnight sun: In northern Finland the sun never sets for several weeks around Midsummer; in the far north, for over two months. Even further south, the summer nights are not dark, the days being separated by a few hours’ twilight only.
In southern and central Finland the snow usually comes to stay in early December and finally melts in mid or late April. In northern Finland it falls about five weeks earlier and lasts about three weeks longer, In some years, the south coast has almost no snow.
The northern lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible on the northern sky on clear, dark nights. Their frequency varies but is usually highest in February-March and September-October.
Passport and Visa
Citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland do not need a passport or visa to enter Finland. EU nationals and citizens of Schengen Agreement countries can enter Finland with a valid passport or identity card. Most other nationalities must possess a valid passport.
There are over 60 countries whose citizens do not require a visa.
Further information on passport and visa requirements from travel agencies, tour operators and www.formin.fi »
Note: Travellers planning a trip across the border to Russia must have a Russian visa. It is advisable to get it in the traveller’s country of origin.
Travelling in Finland
By air: Finland has a good domestic airline network. For timetables see www.finnair.com, www.blue1.com »
Lake traffic: Finland has a wide choice of routes and cruises on com¬fortable lake steamers and motor vessels. A cruise can last from a few hours to one, two or even five days in the unique Saimaa and Pielinen lake labyrinths.
By bus: Bus and coach services cover 90 % of Finland’s public roads. One excellent way to tour scenic Lapland (the northernmost part of Finland, not covered by the railways) is by bus or coach. For timetables see www.matkahuolto.fi »
By car: Traffic in Finland drives on the right, overtaking on the left The maximum speed limit for cars towing caravans is 80 kph. Speed limits on Finnish roads vary from 30 (in some urban areas) to 120 kph (on motorways). Most of the road signs are similar to those in continental Europe.
Lights: All motor vehicles must have the headlights on at all times of the day, regardless of light and weather conditions.
Seat belts: The driver and all passengers (both front and back) in private cars and all passengers in taxis must wear seat belts.
Drinking and driving: It is an offence to drive under the influence of alcohol. There is a maximum limit of 0.5 per mille of alcohol in the blood.
Accidents must be reported without delay to the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre, the Green Card Bureau and Guarantee Fund (Liikennevakuutuskeskus) at Bulevardi 28, Helsinki, tel. (+358) 09 680401, fax (+358) 09 68040474.
Petrol (gas) and oil:The petrol sold in Finland is unleaded.
By train: Fares depend on the type of train, time of travel and distance. For further information and timetables see www.vr.fi »
Accommodation
Finland has a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from B&B, holiday villages and farmhouse stays to big hotel chains and luxury hotels. Hotel guests can choose anything between a low-priced summer hostel and an international luxury hotel. Most hotels do special week-end and summer offers. Bookings can be made via travel agencies or with the hotel direct
Farmhouse stays may last anything from a day to several weeks, with either half or full board.
Renting a summer cottage is a good way to enjoy the Finnish countryside in peace and quiet. Cottages are usually rented for a week at a time and vary greatly in their amenity level. The rent often includes use of a private sauna and rowing boat.
Useful information
Banks are generally open Monday—Friday 9.30 am – 4.15 pm (hours may vary regionally) and closed on Saturdays. Foreign currency can also be exchanged and traveller’s cheques cashed at exchange bureaus in the biggest towns, at harbours and airports.
Electrical appliances: The voltage in Finland is 220V (230V), 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin continental European standard.
Emergencies: Dial 112. Other emergency numbers and instructions are given in telephone booths and directories or can be obtained from the hotel reception. The emergency number for the police is 10022.
The Helsinki card entitles its holder to free admission to some 50 museums and other sights In Helsinki, unlimited travel on the city’s buses, trams and metro, discounts on rentals, purchases, use of sports facilities, saunas, etc. For further information see www.helsinkiexpert.fi »
The Helsinki lost property office (in Finnish Loytotavaratoimisto) is at Paijanteentie 12 A, 3rd floor, Helsinki, tel. (+358) 09 1893180, fax (+358) 09 1892829.
Medicines are sold only at pharmacies (in Finnish Apteekki). Note that supermarkets and department stores sell cosmetics only. Some pharmacies have late opening hours.
Post offices are generally open Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm, with local variations, some also at weekends. The Finnish MAIL boxes are yellow. Stamps are sold at post offices and many book shops and kiosks.
Shops are generally open from 9am to 5 or 6pm on weekdays, shorter on Saturdays. Department stores, supermarkets and shopping malls are usually open until 8pm or 9pm on weekdays and 6 pm on Saturdays. Larger shops are open on Sundays only in June, July, August and December. Many convenience stores and small super¬markets are open seven days a week all year round. All shops are closed on public holidays.
Anyone permanently resident outside the EU and Norway can shop Tax Free in Finland, thus saving about 12 % (max. 16 %) on purchases of € 40 or more. Stores with Tax Free Shopping signs issue a cheque covering the refund to be cashed on leaving the last EU country visited. Tax-free purchases must be takenout of Finland and must not be used before leaving the country.
Finland is famous the world over for its handicrafts, jewellery, hand-woven rugs, furniture, glassware, porcelain, ceramics, furs and textiles.
The State Alcohol Company (ALKO) has a monopoly on the retail sales of wines and spirits. Medium-strength beer and cider are sold in supermarkets and other shops. For further information see www.alko.fi »
Standard time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of GMT. The time difference between Eastern US Standard Time and Finnish Standard Time is 7 hours. Daylight Saving Time, (GMTj + 3 hours), is in effect from March to October, as in the other EU countries.
Telephone: Local and international calls can be made from telephone booths, hotels and some post offices etc. Many public phones operate only with cards purchased in advance (on sale e.g. in R-kiosks, Sonera shops and some post offices). The universal code for international calls is 00, followed by the country code (UK 44, Ireland 353, USA 1).
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