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Getting Around by Air
Finnair (website: www.finnair.com) and its subsidiaries run an excellent network of domestic services. Budget domestic flights are operated by Blue 1 (website: www.blue1.com).
Getting Around by Water
Traffic on the inland waterways is serviced by regular waterbuses and ferries. Popular routes are the Silver Line (website: www.finnishsilverline.com) between Hämeenlinna and Tampere and the Poet’s Way between Tampere and Virrat. Saimaa Ferries (website: www.saimaaferries.fi) operates lake routes from Lieksa, Nurmes, Koli and Joensuu. Lake Päijänne Cruises runs services from Lahti, Heinola and Jyväskylä and Roll Cruises operates from Kuopio and Savonlinna. On Lake Pielinen, there are regular services, also by car ferry. Overnight accommodation in small cabins plus meals and refreshments are available on lake cruises. For more detailed information on schedules and routes, contact the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Rail
Finnish trains are spacious, comfortable and clean. VR (tel: 0600 41902, within Finland only or (09) 319 2902; website: www.vr.fi) operates an extensive rail service around Finland. Lines include Helsinki-Turku, Helsinki-Tampere-Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä-Kuopio and Helsinki-Seinäjoki-Oulu-Rovaniemi. Prices vary according to the service, from regional (cheapest) to Pendolino (the most expensive). Sleeping berths are available on night trains. Seat reservations are compulsory on IC and Pendolino services. Children under six years of age travel free and children aged six to 16 pay half price.
Rail Passes
Finnrail Pass: gives unlimited travel for three, five or 10 days within a period of one month.
See Getting There for multi-country railpasses valid in Finland.
Cheap fares: discount tickets include: Group tickets (minimum of three people), giving 20% discount, Family tickets, allowing six to 16 year olds to travel free when travelling with one adult from the same household; Finnish Senior Citizens Rail Card, for persons over 65 years of age, entitling the holder to a 50% discount (passport has to be shown); and Student Rail Discounts, entitling someone studying in Finland to 50% discounts.
See Getting There for multi-country railpasses valid in Finland.
Cheap fares: discount tickets include: Group tickets (minimum of three people), giving 20% discount, Family tickets, allowing six to 16 year olds to travel free when travelling with one adult from the same household; Finnish Senior Citizens Rail Card, for persons over 65 years of age, entitling the holder to a 50% discount (passport has to be shown); and Student Rail Discounts, entitling someone studying in Finland to 50% discounts.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. The main roads are passable at all times. In some areas, warnings of elk and reindeer crossing will be posted; the danger of collision is a very real one. Many petrol stations are unmanned but the machines take banknotes and credit cards.
Bus: The coach network is comprehensive and covers more than 90% of the public road network. Coach services are ticketed and coordinated by Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 4000; website: www.matkahuolto.fi).The buses aren't particularly fast, as there are few motorways in Finland, so the train is always quicker between major cities. Buses are much less frequent at weekends and in school holidays. Ticket prices are fixed and depend on the distance travelled; express buses are marginally more expensive. Children aged four to 11 years pay half fare, children aged 12 to 16 pay 30% less, and groups of three or more adults get a 25% discount. Students should purchase a student discount card from any bus station (€6); this entitles the user to 50% off all bus travel.
Car hire: Available from local and international firms. The minimum age varies from 20 to 25 years of age depending on the company. All drivers must have a minimum of one year's driving experience. A few caravans are available for hire.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn by all. Headlights must be kept on at all times. In towns, traffic entering from the right has right of way. Cars towing caravans may not exceed 80kph (50mph). From 1 December until 31 March, snow tyres are a legal requirement; they can be hired. Further information can be obtained from Autoliitto (Automobile and Touring Club of Finland) (tel: (9) 774 761; website: www.autoliitto.fi).
Documentation: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
Bus: The coach network is comprehensive and covers more than 90% of the public road network. Coach services are ticketed and coordinated by Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 4000; website: www.matkahuolto.fi).The buses aren't particularly fast, as there are few motorways in Finland, so the train is always quicker between major cities. Buses are much less frequent at weekends and in school holidays. Ticket prices are fixed and depend on the distance travelled; express buses are marginally more expensive. Children aged four to 11 years pay half fare, children aged 12 to 16 pay 30% less, and groups of three or more adults get a 25% discount. Students should purchase a student discount card from any bus station (€6); this entitles the user to 50% off all bus travel.
Car hire: Available from local and international firms. The minimum age varies from 20 to 25 years of age depending on the company. All drivers must have a minimum of one year's driving experience. A few caravans are available for hire.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn by all. Headlights must be kept on at all times. In towns, traffic entering from the right has right of way. Cars towing caravans may not exceed 80kph (50mph). From 1 December until 31 March, snow tyres are a legal requirement; they can be hired. Further information can be obtained from Autoliitto (Automobile and Touring Club of Finland) (tel: (9) 774 761; website: www.autoliitto.fi).
Documentation: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Efficient and integrated bus, metro and tramway services, suburban rail lines and ferry services to Suomenlinna Islands are operated in Helsinki. A common fares system applies to all the modes (including the ferries) with a zonal flat fare and free transfer between services. Multi-trip tickets are sold in advance, as are various passes. Tickets can be purchased from the driver, ticket machine or via mobile phone text message (Finnish service providers only). Tramline 3T runs past most of the main tourist attractions - a free brochure in English is available for those who wish to take the trip.
Helsinki Card: This is available for one, two or three days. Once purchased, it gives free travel on public transport (including the Suomenlinna ferry) and free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in the city. Enquire at Helsinki City Transport (website: www.hel.fi) or the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) for prices and further details. It only saves money by seeing a great deal in a hurry. Other cities in Finland offer similar transport cards.
Taxi: Available in every city and from airports or major hotels. Taxi drivers are not tipped. Taxis have a yellow taksi sign that is lit when the taxi is vacant. They can be booked at taxi ranks, signalled from the street or by calling locally (tel: 0100 0700). Fares are more expensive at night and at weekends.
Helsinki Card: This is available for one, two or three days. Once purchased, it gives free travel on public transport (including the Suomenlinna ferry) and free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in the city. Enquire at Helsinki City Transport (website: www.hel.fi) or the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) for prices and further details. It only saves money by seeing a great deal in a hurry. Other cities in Finland offer similar transport cards.
Taxi: Available in every city and from airports or major hotels. Taxi drivers are not tipped. Taxis have a yellow taksi sign that is lit when the taxi is vacant. They can be booked at taxi ranks, signalled from the street or by calling locally (tel: 0100 0700). Fares are more expensive at night and at weekends.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Helsinki to other major cities/towns in Finland.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Tampere | 0.35 | 2.30 | 2.00 |
| Turku | 0.30 | 2.30 | 2.00 |
| Rovaniemi | 1.15 | 15.00 | 11.00 |
