Country Guides
Finland
Getting Around
Getting Around
Finland
Getting Around by Air
Finnair (AY) (www.finnair.com) and its subsidiaries run an excellent network of domestic services. Look out for discounted äkkilähdot (getaway) fares. Budget domestic flights are operated by Blue 1 (KF) (www.blue1.com). Children under 12 and seniors get a 70% discount and young people aged 17 to 24 get a 50% discount. Even cheaper youth standby fares are also available.
Getting Around by Water
Many of Finland's inland waterways are serviced by waterbuses and ferries. Popular routes include the Silver Line (www.hopealinja.fi), which operates between Hämeenlinna and Tampere and Tampere and Viikinsaari island, and the Poet's Way (www.runoilijantie.fi), which runs between Tampere and Virrat. Lake Päijänne Cruises (www.paijanne-risteilythilden.fi) runs services on the Päijänne Waterway, between Jyväskylä and Heinola, Lahti and Suolahti. Roll Cruises (www.roll.fi) offers cruises around Kuopio. There are also regular car ferry services around the Lake Pielinen area. All ferries have restaurants or canteens and accommodation on overnight trips is provided in small private cabins. 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, clean and quiet, thanks to special booths where people can make mobile phone calls. VR (tel: 0600 41902, within Finland only, or (9) 2319 2902; www.vr.fi) operates an extensive rail service around Finland. The main lines are Helsinki-Turku, Helsinki-Tampere-Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä-Kuopio and Helsinki-Seinäjoki-Oulu-Rovaniemi. Prices vary according to the standard of the train; regional trains are cheapest and fast Pendolino trains are the most expensive. Sleeping berths are available on night trains and 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, and special discounts are available for groups. To search for rail services in Finland, visit Destia Traffic (www.matka.fi).
Rail Passes
Finnrail Pass: gives unlimited travel for three, five or 10 days within a period of one month. There's a 50% discount for children under 17 years. See Getting There for multi-country railpasses valid in Finland.
Cheap fares: Discount tickets include: Group tickets - giving 15-20% discount (minimum of three people). 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). Student Rail Discounts - entitling someone studying in Finland to 50% discounts.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right in Finland and snow ploughs keep the main roads clear throughout the year. In forested areas, heed the signs warning of elk and reindeer crossing the carriageway - many drivers are injured in collisions with deer every year. Petrol stations are often unmanned but petrol pumps can be operated using banknotes and credit cards.
Coach/bus: Buses run everywhere but are usually slower than trains. Bus tickets are sold through Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 4000; www.matkahuolto.fi) and ticket prices depend on the distance travelled. Services are less frequent at weekends and in school holidays. 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.
Bicycle Hire: Bicycles can be hired in most towns from tourists offices or camping grounds.
Car hire: Car hire is available in larger towns and cities from a variety of local and international firms. The minimum age varies from 20 to 25 years depending on the company, but all firms require a minimum of one year's driving experience.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn by all passengers and headlights must be kept on at all times. Traffic entering from the right has right of way, even when joining a major road from a minor road. Cars towing caravans may not exceed 80kph (50mph). From 1 December until 31 March, snow tyres are a legal requirement; they can be hired from rental firms. Further information can be obtained from Autoliitto (Automobile and Touring Club of Finland) (tel: (9) 7258 4400; www.autoliitto.fi).
Documentation: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Larger towns have efficient and integrated bus services, and Helsinki also has a metro and tram service, suburban rail lines and ferry services to the Suomenlinna Islands. Local transport in Helsinki (including the ferries) is covered by a single ticket system with a zonal flat fare and free transfers 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 covering the stops along the route.
Helsinki Card: This handy discount card (www.helsinkicard.fi) is available for one, two or three days. Once purchased, it allows unlimited free travel on public transport (including the Suomenlinna ferry) and free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in the city. Visit the website or contact the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) for prices and further details. Several other large cities offer similar transport cards.
Taxi: Available in every city and from airports and major hotels. Taxis have a yellow taksi sign that is lit when the taxi is vacant. They can be booked at taxi ranks or signalled from the street. In Helsinki, you can call 0100 0700. Fares are more expensive at night and at weekends; tipping is not customary. Shared taxis run by Yellow Taxis (tel: 0600 555 555) operate to and from Helsinki airport.
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
Getting Around by Air
Finnair (AY) (www.finnair.com) and its subsidiaries run an excellent network of domestic services. Look out for discounted äkkilähdot (getaway) fares. Budget domestic flights are operated by Blue 1 (KF) (www.blue1.com). Children under 12 and seniors get a 70% discount and young people aged 17 to 24 get a 50% discount. Even cheaper youth standby fares are also available.
Getting Around by Water
Many of Finland's inland waterways are serviced by waterbuses and ferries. Popular routes include the Silver Line (www.hopealinja.fi), which operates between Hämeenlinna and Tampere and Tampere and Viikinsaari island, and the Poet's Way (www.runoilijantie.fi), which runs between Tampere and Virrat. Lake Päijänne Cruises (www.paijanne-risteilythilden.fi) runs services on the Päijänne Waterway, between Jyväskylä and Heinola, Lahti and Suolahti. Roll Cruises (www.roll.fi) offers cruises around Kuopio. There are also regular car ferry services around the Lake Pielinen area. All ferries have restaurants or canteens and accommodation on overnight trips is provided in small private cabins. 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, clean and quiet, thanks to special booths where people can make mobile phone calls. VR (tel: 0600 41902, within Finland only, or (9) 2319 2902; www.vr.fi) operates an extensive rail service around Finland. The main lines are Helsinki-Turku, Helsinki-Tampere-Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä-Kuopio and Helsinki-Seinäjoki-Oulu-Rovaniemi. Prices vary according to the standard of the train; regional trains are cheapest and fast Pendolino trains are the most expensive. Sleeping berths are available on night trains and 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, and special discounts are available for groups. To search for rail services in Finland, visit Destia Traffic (www.matka.fi).
Rail Passes
Finnrail Pass: gives unlimited travel for three, five or 10 days within a period of one month. There's a 50% discount for children under 17 years. See Getting There for multi-country railpasses valid in Finland.
Cheap fares: Discount tickets include: Group tickets - giving 15-20% discount (minimum of three people). 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). Student Rail Discounts - entitling someone studying in Finland to 50% discounts.
Cheap fares: Discount tickets include: Group tickets - giving 15-20% discount (minimum of three people). 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). Student Rail Discounts - entitling someone studying in Finland to 50% discounts.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right in Finland and snow ploughs keep the main roads clear throughout the year. In forested areas, heed the signs warning of elk and reindeer crossing the carriageway - many drivers are injured in collisions with deer every year. Petrol stations are often unmanned but petrol pumps can be operated using banknotes and credit cards.
Coach/bus: Buses run everywhere but are usually slower than trains. Bus tickets are sold through Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 4000; www.matkahuolto.fi) and ticket prices depend on the distance travelled. Services are less frequent at weekends and in school holidays. 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.
Bicycle Hire: Bicycles can be hired in most towns from tourists offices or camping grounds.
Car hire: Car hire is available in larger towns and cities from a variety of local and international firms. The minimum age varies from 20 to 25 years depending on the company, but all firms require a minimum of one year's driving experience.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn by all passengers and headlights must be kept on at all times. Traffic entering from the right has right of way, even when joining a major road from a minor road. Cars towing caravans may not exceed 80kph (50mph). From 1 December until 31 March, snow tyres are a legal requirement; they can be hired from rental firms. Further information can be obtained from Autoliitto (Automobile and Touring Club of Finland) (tel: (9) 7258 4400; www.autoliitto.fi).
Documentation: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
Coach/bus: Buses run everywhere but are usually slower than trains. Bus tickets are sold through Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 4000; www.matkahuolto.fi) and ticket prices depend on the distance travelled. Services are less frequent at weekends and in school holidays. 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.
Bicycle Hire: Bicycles can be hired in most towns from tourists offices or camping grounds.
Car hire: Car hire is available in larger towns and cities from a variety of local and international firms. The minimum age varies from 20 to 25 years depending on the company, but all firms require a minimum of one year's driving experience.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn by all passengers and headlights must be kept on at all times. Traffic entering from the right has right of way, even when joining a major road from a minor road. Cars towing caravans may not exceed 80kph (50mph). From 1 December until 31 March, snow tyres are a legal requirement; they can be hired from rental firms. Further information can be obtained from Autoliitto (Automobile and Touring Club of Finland) (tel: (9) 7258 4400; www.autoliitto.fi).
Documentation: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and insurance required.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Larger towns have efficient and integrated bus services, and Helsinki also has a metro and tram service, suburban rail lines and ferry services to the Suomenlinna Islands. Local transport in Helsinki (including the ferries) is covered by a single ticket system with a zonal flat fare and free transfers 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 covering the stops along the route.
Helsinki Card: This handy discount card (www.helsinkicard.fi) is available for one, two or three days. Once purchased, it allows unlimited free travel on public transport (including the Suomenlinna ferry) and free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in the city. Visit the website or contact the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) for prices and further details. Several other large cities offer similar transport cards.
Taxi: Available in every city and from airports and major hotels. Taxis have a yellow taksi sign that is lit when the taxi is vacant. They can be booked at taxi ranks or signalled from the street. In Helsinki, you can call 0100 0700. Fares are more expensive at night and at weekends; tipping is not customary. Shared taxis run by Yellow Taxis (tel: 0600 555 555) operate to and from Helsinki airport.
Helsinki Card: This handy discount card (www.helsinkicard.fi) is available for one, two or three days. Once purchased, it allows unlimited free travel on public transport (including the Suomenlinna ferry) and free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in the city. Visit the website or contact the Finnish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) for prices and further details. Several other large cities offer similar transport cards.
Taxi: Available in every city and from airports and major hotels. Taxis have a yellow taksi sign that is lit when the taxi is vacant. They can be booked at taxi ranks or signalled from the street. In Helsinki, you can call 0100 0700. Fares are more expensive at night and at weekends; tipping is not customary. Shared taxis run by Yellow Taxis (tel: 0600 555 555) operate to and from Helsinki airport.
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 |
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