The long days of Finnish summer are a tourist’s dream, while the two-month polar night (kaamos) in the country’s northern regions draws winter-sports fanatics. Ski season starts in early February, continuing well into March and April. Reindeer and snowmobile safaris, along with glimpses of the rare aurora borealis, reward travelers willing to brave winter temperatures, which regularly drop to -20˚C (-4˚F). Summer tourists, celebrating Midsummer (Juhannus) festivities (June 21-22), can expect average temperatures of 20-25˚C (68-77˚F).
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies in Finland are in Helsinki . Finnish embassies abroad include: Australia and New Zealand, 12 Darwin Ave., Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (☎26 273 38 00; www.finland.org.au); Canada, 55 Metcalfe St., Ste. 850, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5 (☎613-288-2233; www.finland.ca/en); Ireland, Russell House, Stokes Pl., St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 (☎01 478 1344; www.finland.ie/en); UK, 38 Chesham Pl., London SW1X 8HW (☎020 78 38 62 00; www.finemb.org.uk/en); US, 3301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (☎202-298-5800; www.finland.org).
Visa And Entry Information. EU citizens do not need a visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, in any of the countries in the EU’s freedom-of-movement zone. For more info, see. For stays longer than 90 days, all non-EU citizens need Schengen visas (around US$41), available at Finnish embassies and online at www.finland.org/en. Application processing takes about two weeks.
Tourist Offices. The Finnish Tourist Board (☎010 60 58 000; www.visitfinland.com) maintains an official online travel guide, which customizes its travel information and advice by home country.
Money. In 2002, the euro replaced the markka as the unit of currency in Finland. For more info, see. Banks exchange currency for a €2-5 commission, though Forex offices and ATMs offer the best exchange rates. Food from grocery stores runs €10-17 per day; meals cost around €8 for lunch and €12 for dinner. Although restaurant bills include a service charge, leaving small change for particularly good service is becoming more common. Finland has a 22% value added tax (VAT), a sales tax applied to services and imports. The nation has a reduced VAT of 17% for food products and 8% for public transportation, books, and medicines. The prices given in Let’s Go include VAT. In the airport upon exiting the EU, non-EU citizens can claim a refund on the tax paid for goods purchased at participating stores. In order to qualify for a refund in a store, you must spend at least €40; make sure to ask for a refund form when you pay. For more info on qualifying for a VAT refund, see.
By Plane. Several airlines fly into Helsinki from Australia, Europe, and North America. The main airport is Helsinki-Vantaa Airport ( HEL; ☎200 14636; www.helsinki-vantaa.fi). Finnair (Finland ☎0600 140 140, UK 087 0241 4411, US 800-950-5000; www.finnair.com) flies from 120 international cities and also covers the domestic market. The airline offers youth rates—inquire before purchasing. AirÅland (www.airaland.com) flies to Stockholm, SWE and the Åland Isles. Ryanair (☎353 12 49 77 91; www.ryanair.com) flies to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP).
By Train. The national rail company is VR Ltd., Finnish Railways (☎0600 41 900; www.vr.fi). Finnish rail is efficient and prices are high; seat reservations are required on Pendolino and recommended on InterCity trains (€6.40-12.60). Eurail is valid in Finland. A Finnrailpass, available only to foreigners, allows for three ($190), five ($251), or 10 travel days ($342) in a one-month period.
By Bus. Buses are the only way to reach some smaller towns and points beyond the Arctic Circle. Oy Matkahuolto Ab (☎09 682 701; www.matkahuolto.fi) coordinates bus service. ISIC holders can buy a sticker (€6) for their Matkahuolto Student Identity Card, free from Matkahuoloto service outlets, agents, and VR (previously Suomen Valtion Rautatiet) ticket offices. The sticker gives students a 50% discount on one-way tickets purchased ahead for routes exceeding 80km. Rail passes are valid on buses when trains are not in service.
By Ferry. Viking Line (Finland ☎09 123 51, Sweden 08 452 4000; www.vikingline.fi) and Tallinksilja (Finland ☎09 180 41, Sweden 08 666 33 30; www.tallinksilja.fi) sail from Stockholm, SWE to Helsinki, Mariehamn, and Turku. Travelers with both a Eurail Pass and a train ticket receive free passenger fare. Viking’s “early bird” discounts are 15-50% off on ferry fares when booking trips within Finland or Sweden at least 30 days ahead. On Tallinksilja, Eurailer holders ride for free or lower rates, depending on the specific route and ticket type.
By Car. Finland honors foreign driver’s licenses issued in the US, EU, and EEA countries for up to one year for drivers aged 18 years or older. Speed limits are 120kph on expressways, 30-40kph in densely populated areas, and 80-100kph on most major roads. Headlights must be used at all times. Finnish law requires all cars must have snow tires during the winter. Be wary of reindeer at night. For more info on car rental and driving in Europe, see.
By Bike And By Thumb. Finland has a well-developed network of cycling paths. Fillari GT route maps are available at bookstores (€10-16). Check www.visitfinland.com/cycling for pre-trip route planning. Hitchhiking is uncommon in Finland and illegal on highways. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Email And The Internet. Internet cafes in Helsinki are relatively scarce compared to other European capitals, and in smaller towns they are virtually nonexistent. However, many tourist offices and public libraries offer short (15-30min.) slots of free Internet, and there is some free Wi-Fi access in Helsinki.
Telephone. To make a long-distance call within Finland, dial 0 and then the number. Pay phones are rare but dependable. Mobile phones are extremely popular in the nation that gave the world Nokia, and prepaid mobile phone cards can be used to make international calls (cheapest 10pm-8am). For more info on mobile phones, see. For operator assistance, dial ☎118; for help with international calls, dial ☎92020. International direct dial numbers include: ATandT Direct (☎0800 1100 15); Canada Direct (☎0800 1100 11); MCI (☎08001 102 80); Telecom New Zealand (☎0800 1106 40).
Mail. Finnish mail service is efficient. Postcards and letters under 50g cost €0.70 within Finland, €1 to the EU, and €1.40 to other destinations. International letters under 20g cost €0.70. Check www.posti.fi/english/index.html for more prices and mailing restrictions. To receive mail in Finland, have mail delivered Poste Restante. Mail will go to the main post office unless you specify a subsidiary by street address. Address mail according to the following format: First name, Last Name, Poste Restante, post office address, city, FINLAND.
Languages. Finnish is spoken by most of the population (92%), although children learn both Swedish and Finnish from the seventh grade. Three dialects of Sámi are also spoken by an ethnic minority in northern Finland. English is also widely spoken, with two-thirds of Finns reporting that they can speak at least some English; city-dwellers and those under 35 are generally the most proficient. For basic Finnish words and phrases, see Phrasebook: Finnish, .
Finland has over 100 youth hostels ( retkeilymaja; RET-kay-loo-MAH-yah), although only half of them are open year-round. The Finnish Youth Hostel Association (Suomen Retkeilymajajärjestö; ☎09 565 7150; www.srmnet.org) is Finland’s HI affiliate. Prices are generally around €23 per person for a dorm room, with a €2.50 HI discount. Most have laundry facilities and a kitchen; some have saunas and rent bikes or skis. Hotels are generally expensive (over €50 per night); kesähotelli (summer hotels) are usually student lodgings vacated from June to August, and cost about €25 per night. Camping is common; seventy campgrounds are open year-round (tent sites €10-25 per night; small cottages from €40). The Camping Card Scandinavia (€6) qualifies cardholders for discounts and includes limited accident insurance. For a guide or to purchase the Camping Card, contact the Finnish Camping Site Association. (☎09 477 407 40; www.camping.fi. Allow three weeks for delivery of the card.) Finland’s right of public access (jokamiehenoikeudet) allows travelers to temporarily camp for free in the countryside, as long as they stay a reasonable distance (about 150m) from private homes. See for more info.
Kebab and pizza joints are cheap and popular, but the local Kauppatori markets and Kauppahalli food courts are more likely to serve recognizably Finnish fare. Traditional diet slants toward breads and sausages. In summer, however, menus feature freshly caught trout, perch, pike, and herring; a new wave of five-star chefs in Helsinki are pairing French and Mediterranean ingredients with the bounty of local fisheries. To Santa’s displeasure, bowls of reindeer stew are a staple of Lapland, while Kuopio is known for its pillowy rye pastries. Try the strawberries—Finland is their top European producer. A surprising number of adults drink milk with meals, followed by interminable pots of coffee. You must be 18 to purchase beer and wine, 20 or older to buy liquor; the minimum age in bars is usually 18, but can be as old as 25. Alcohol stronger than light beer must be bought at state-run Alko liquor stores, open weekdays until at least 6pm and Saturdays until at least 4pm.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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