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Destination information: Map of Europe Holiday Property Finland
is one of Europe's most sparsely populated nations,
with a population of just 5.2 million strewn across a pristine
wilderness of legendary beauty. Forests of pine, fir, and birch
blanket two-thirds of the country. The presence of around 180,000
lakes makes the landscape of southern and central Finland look,
from the air, as if a giant mirror has been smashed across it.
Only in the far northern Lapland, deep into the Arctic Circle,
does this patchwork of green and blue give way to tundra; here
winter darkness is alleviated only by the brilliant green-and-orange
displays of the aurora borealis. But this is also the land
of the midnight sun where some 5,000 ethnic Lapps or Sami people
herd reindeer, catch fish, and make handicrafts for the burgeoning
tourist industry.
Finland is generally considered a Scandinavian country. Geographically, it is, bordered to the west by Sweden and to the north by Norway. However, the country also shares its history with Russia, with whom she has a third land border to the east. Sweden ruled Finland from Viking times until 1809, when the country was ceded to Tsarist Russia as a spoil of war. Independence came only in 1917, since when Finland has been struggling to assert her sense of nationhood while at the same time performing an international balancing act between east and west. The Finnish language, related to Estonian and Hungarian and having little in common with either Swedish or Russian, remains a powerful symbol of independence. The majority of Finns live in the three major cities of southern Finland: the capital, Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere. Nevertheless, a great love of open spaces and outdoor activities is a key element in the national character. Many families have log cabins in the forest, usually by a lake and equipped with a sauna. This is where they spend weekends and holidays cross-country skiing in winter, or hiking, canoeing, or fishing in summer. Back in the cities, the enduring Finnish affection for nature is reflected in the imaginative modern architecture, which has won international acclaim throughout the 20th century.
Entry RequirementsCitizens of the European Union (EU), except for those of Greece, can enter Finland with a valid national identity card and stay for a period of 90 days; so too can Swiss citizens. Citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland, where there is no identity card system, must carry a valid passport. Other nationals should consult the Finnish embassy or consulate in their country of residence before departure for any visa requirements.
Emergency phone numbers
Ambulance: 112
Time zonesCentral European Time plus one hour (Greenwich Mean Time plus two hours). Clocks are put forward another hour for summertime from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.
DrivingVehicle documentsAn International Driving Permit is not mandatory in Finland. Green Card insurance is honoured, but check with your motor-vehicle insurance company regarding necessary documents and whether additional insurance is required. You will need to display a sticker indicating where the car is insured.
Rules of the roadAlways carry your full valid driving licence or International Driving Permit, vehicle registration documents, and insurance documents with you in the car. Traffic drives on the right, and vehicles coming from the right have priority at crossroads. Use of seat belts is compulsory in front and rear seats, and children under 15 must sit in the back. Sounding your horn is permitted only when necessary. It is advisable to drive with dipped headlights at all times, though in towns this is not obligatory. The highest level of alcohol permitted in your bloodstream when driving is 50 mg per 100 ml (5g/l).
Roads, tolls and speed limitsThere are no toll roads in Finland. On motorways the speed limit is 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour in summer and 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour in winter; on other roads it is 80 kilometres (49 miles) per hour, except where signposted.
Driving tipsSnow can present problems for drivers in Finland. Snow tyres must be fitted for the period December to Febuary. Studded tyres are permitted from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter, or when conditions justify them. Both snow tyres and studded tyres can be hired at ISKO shops (automobile equipment stores) in Finland. Another hazard you may encounter is wandering elk, deer, or reindeer, especially at dusk. If you hit one, you must notify the police immediately.
AssistanceThe main motoring association in Finland is Autoliitto, tel: +358 9 774 761. If you are involved in an accident, contact Liikennevakuutusyhdistys (the Finnish Motor Insurers' Bureau) at Bulevardi 28, 00120 Helsinki, tel: +358 9 680 401.
Electrical devicesThe electrical current in Finland is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.
MoneyNotes and coinsEuro
Currency exchangeTravellers cheques are the safest way to carry money, and you should buy these in your own country before you leave. The major credit cards are widely accepted, although not in every shop, hotel, and restaurant. The most useful ones are MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Visa. You will find current exchange rates listed in most newspapers and in banks and bureaux de change. Banks are the most convenient places to cash travellers cheques, and they give better rates than hotels. Most charge a flat fee, but it is worth shopping around, as some charge no commission at all. Eurocheques can be cashed at many banks. Opening hours are generally 09.30 to 16.15 Monday to Friday.
TippingA service charge of 15 percent is included in hotel bills. Taxi drivers expect a tip.
Public holidays1
January: New Year's Day
Travellers with disabilitiesThe large ferries that ply between Helsinki and Sweden or Germany have accessible cabins; trains on the long-distance route from Helsinki to Rovaniemi have coaches that take wheelchairs; and long-distance buses are adapted for wheelchair users. You can expect to find taxis with wheelchair lifts (called invataxis) in the largest towns. Special parking permits are obtainable from the local police. The Finnish Tourist Board provides useful information and also publishes a leaflet entitled Tourist Services for the Disabled.
TransportMetro, buses and tramsBus services in Finnish towns are efficient. In Helsinki they are well integrated with the metro and tramway systems and also with the ferry services to the Suomenlinna Islands. The same fares apply on each mode of transport, and you can transfer between them using the same ticket. You pay according to the number of zones through which you will be travelling. Multi-trip tickets and passes are sold in advance. The Helsinki Card, valid for one, two, or three days, allows free travel on all public transport, plus free entrance to museums and tourist sights. The Helsinki metro (which has only one line) operates from 05.38 to 23.18 Monday to Saturday, and from 06.48 to 23.18 on Sundays. Tickets for the metro are also accepted on trams, buses, and the ferries to the Suomenlinna Islands.
FerriesFerries leave from the South Harbour in Helsinki for the Suomenlinna Islands. There are also boats between Helsinki and Porvoo, Helsinki and Stockholm (Sweden), and Helsinki and Talinn (Estonia). You
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