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Resor Tillbehör Väskor för snygga män Kvinnor Urbane Traveller grundades 2013 från vår önskan om stil, prestanda och komfort när du reser. Vi köper vackert gjorda snygga reseaccessoarer väskor för stilmedvetna män från hela världen. Upptäck Stilfulla resetillbehör Utomhusresor Resor Essentials Resväskor Packningslösningar Packning Cubes Resor Gåvor Resor Skor Den perfekta resväskan för din semester, semester, semester, affärsresa, aktivitetsferie, safari, kryssning, karriärsavbrott, mellanrum eller runt världsresa. Storbritanniens internationella fraktalternativ finns. Fri leverans på brittiska Europa leveranser när du spenderar över 50, 200 250 respektive. Nästa affärsdag leverans är också tillgänglig på brittiska order när du behöver din lastminute resa tillbehör shopping bråttom Urbane Traveler Limited är registrerad i England Wales (registrerat nummer 8560175). Momsregistrering 168379166. Urbane är ett varumärke och Urbane Traveler Urbane Traveler Logo är registrerade varumärken hos Urbane Traveler Limited. Handla säkert säkert. Den här webbplatsen använder ett industristandard Comodo SSL-certifikat för att kryptera dina personuppgifter. Betalningarna hanteras säkert av Sage Pay eller PayPal beroende på vilken betalningsmetod du väljer. Finland (Finland: Suomi): Finland) ligger i norra Europa och har gränser mot Ryssland i öster, norge i norr och sverige i väster. Finland är ett grundligt modernt välfärdsstat med välplanerade och bekväma småstäder, men erbjuder fortfarande stora områden av orörd natur. Finland har cirka 188 000 sjöar (cirka 10 av landet) och ett liknande antal öar. I nordligaste delen av landet kan norrsken ses på vintern och midnattssolen på sommaren. Finländare hävdar också det mytiska berget av Korvatunturi som Santa Claus hem, och en växande turistindustri i Lappland gynnar Santa fans. Trots att de bor i ett av de mest tekniskt utvecklade länderna i världen, älskar finländarna att gå till sina sommarstugor under de varmare månaderna för att njuta av alla slags avkopplande fritidsaktiviteter, inklusive bastu, simning, fiske och grillar. Idag har Finland ett distinkt språk och kultur som skiljer det från övriga Norden. Förstå redigera Historia redigera Saint Olafs slott, världens nordligaste medeltida slott, byggd i Savonlinna av Sverige år 1475 Det är inte mycket känt om Finlands tidiga historia, med arkeologer som fortfarande diskuterar när och var en finländsk-tales stam bestod upp. Romerska historiker Tacitus nämner en stam primitiv och viljig Fenni i 100AD och även vikingarna valde inte att bosätta sig, handla och plundra längs kusterna. I mitten av 1150-talet började Sverige att erövra och kristna de finska hednarna allvarligt, med Birger Jarl som inkorporerade större delen av landet till Sverige år 1249. Finland var en integrerad del av Sverige fram till 1800-talet, även om det var nära konstant krigföring med Ryssland på den östra gränsen och två korta yrken. Efter Sveriges slutliga katastrofala nederlag i finska kriget 1808-1809 blev Finland 1809 en självständig storhertigdöd under rysk regel. Ryska regeln växlade mellan tolerans och förtryck och det var redan en betydande självständighetsrörelse när Ryssland slog in i revolutionerande kaos 1917. Parlamentet grep chansen och förklarade självständigheten i december, snabbt att få sovjetiskt samtycke, men landet drog snabbt in i en kort men bitter civil krig mellan de konservativa vita och de socialistiska röda, så småningom vunnit av de vita. Under andra världskriget attackerades Finland av Sovjetunionen i vinterkriget. men slog dem i viloläge som såg Sovjetunionen segra 12 av finska territoriet. Finland allierade sedan med Tyskland i ett misslyckat försök att avvisa sovjeterna och återfå det förlorade territoriet, besegrades och, som ett villkor för fred, var tvungen att vända mot Tyskland istället. Således kämpade Finland med tre separata krig under andra världskriget. I slutet förlorade Finland mycket av Karelens och Finlands andra stad Vyborg. men sovjettarna betalade ett stort pris för dem med över 300 000 döda. Efter kriget låg Finland i den grå zonen mellan västländerna och Sovjetunionen. Den finsk-sovjetiska pakten om vänskap, samarbete och ömsesidigt bistånd förpliktade Finland att motstå väpnade attacker från Tyskland eller dess allierade (läst: Väst), men fick även Finland att vara neutral i det kalla kriget och undvika en kommunistisk regering eller Warszawa Pact-medlemskap . I politiken var det en tendens att undvika någon politik och uttalanden som kan tolkas som anti-sovjetisk. Denna balanseringsakt av Finlandisering definierades humoristiskt som konsten att böja mot öst utan att väga väst. Trots nära förbindelser med Sovjetunionen lyckades Finland behålla demokratiska flerpartsval och förblev en västeuropeisk marknadsekonomi och byggde nära förbindelser med sina nordiska grannar. Medan det fanns några spända ögonblick tog Finland sig av: under det närmaste halvt århundradet gjorde landet en anmärkningsvärd omvandling från en bondgårdssekonomi till en diversifierad modern industriell ekonomi med högteknologiska jättar som Nokia, och inkomst per capita är nu i översta 15 i världen. Efter Sovjetunionens implosion gick Finland till Europeiska unionen år 1995 och var den enda nordiska staten som gick med i eurosystemet vid inledandet i januari 1999. Geografiredigering I motsats till det brittiska Norge och Sverige består Finland huvudsakligen av låg, platt till rullande slättar med sjöar och låga kullar, med berg (av ett slag) endast i den extrema norra delen, medan Finlands högsta punkt, Fell Halti, bara stiger till en blygsam 1,328m. Finland har 187 888 sjöar enligt Finlands Geologiska Undersökning, vilket gör moniken Land av tusen sjöar faktiskt en underskattning. Längs kusten och i sjöarna är 8212 enligt en annan uppskattning8212179.584 öar, vilket gör landet till ett utmärkt båtdestination också. Finland ligger inte på den skandinaviska halvön, så det är tekniskt inte en del av Skandinavien trots många kulturella och historiska länkar. Även finländare stör sällan att göra skillnaden, men en mer korrekt term som inkluderar Finland är de nordiska länderna (Pohjoismaat). Ändå har huvudstaden, Helsingfors, många skandinaviska drag, speciellt när det gäller arkitekturen i centrum och ett annat skandinaviskt språk, svenska, är ett av landets två officiella språk. Klimatredigeringen Finland har ett kallt men tempererat klimat, som faktiskt är relativt mildt för latitud på grund av Gulfströmmens måttliga inflytande. Vinter är dock lika mörk som överallt i dessa breddgrader, och temperaturer kan (mycket sällan) nå -30 C i söder och till och med doppa under -40 C i norr. Den korta finska sommaren är betydligt trevligare, med temperaturer runt 20-23C på soliga dagar (sällan närmare 30C) och är i allmänhet den bästa tiden på året att besöka. Juli är den varmaste månaden. Tidig vår (mars-april) är när snön börjar smälta och finländarna gillar att gå norrut för skidåkning och vintersport, medan övergången från höst till vinter i oktober-december 8212 våt och mörk8212 är den minst trevliga tiden att besöka. Södra kusten där Helsingfors och Åbo ligger är inte riktigt ett vintermål eftersom det inte finns någon garanti för snö även i januari eller februari. På grund av extrema latitud upplever norra delar av Finland den berömda midnattssolen nära sommarsolståndet, när (om över polcirkeln) solen aldrig sätter på natten och även i södra Finland blir det aldrig riktigt mörkt. Myntets baksida är Arctic Night (kaamos) på vintern, när solen aldrig kommer upp i norr. I söder är dagsljuset begränsat till några ljuvliga timmar med solen bara klättra upp över träden innan den går ner igen. Kultur redigera Vinminen försvarar Sampo. av Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1896) Buffert av sina grannar i århundraden och absorberande influenser från väst, öst och söder, finsk kultur som en särskild identitet föddes endast på 1800-talet: vi är inte svenskar och vi vill inte bli Ryska, så låt oss vara finländare. Den finska grundandet myten och nationella epiken är Kalevala. en samling av gamla karelska berättelser och dikter samlades 1835 som berättar om skapandet av världen och Vinminens äventyr. en shamanistisk hjälte med magiska krafter. Kalevalan teman som Sampo. en mytisk snickeri har varit en stor inspiration för finländska konstnärer, och figurer, scener och koncept från episka fortsätter att färga sina verk. En av de nödvändiga förutsättningarna för att ha fulla medborgerliga rättigheter i Finlands land brukade vara ett medlemskap i den evangelisk-lutherska kyrkan (där de flesta katolska traditionerna har bevarats, är doktriner uttalade kristokentriska och fortfarande formellt baserade på Concord-boken ) Har Finlands konstitution garanterat full religionsfrihet sedan 1923. Idag är den dagliga iakttagelsen av den stora majoriteten i bästa eller praktiskt taget obefintlig (ibland bland några av ministeriet) och medlemskapet i den lutherska kyrkan har varit i en kraftig nedgång sedan 1960-talet. Följaktligen gör turister och besökare klokt genom att utöva en viss takt och vara medveten om att frågor om religiös praxis och personlig tro anses vara en strikt privat fråga av de flesta finländare. Det finns all sannolikhet att trorelaterade frågor hittas antingen påträngande eller förvirrande i de flesta fall. Politik och religion skiljer sig åt i den finska debatten i den utsträckning någon deltagare förväntas inte lyfta fram sin personliga uppfattning. Finländarna delar de flesta dygder och nackdelar med sina skandinaviska grannar. Dessa inkluderar kompromisslös arbetsetik och ett inkluderande begrepp om jämlikhet. Det blev det andra landet efter Nya Zeeland som beviljade det allmänna valet. (Obs! Det här är en vanlig missuppfattning. Finland var 1907 det första landet som beviljade kvinnor full behörighet till parlamentet, Norge 1917 och Nya Zeeland så sent som 1919.) Likaså är Finland regelbundet topprankat i listan över minst korrupta länder i Transparency International. Genom sitt internationellt utmärkta utbildningslösningssystem samt omfattande folkhälso - och välfärdssystem har Finland fått ett världsomspännande rykte för ett av världens mest avancerade länder. Samtidigt plågas landet av liknande problem som är särdragen för nordiska välfärdsstater, som inbegriper den åldrande befolkningens homogenitet och relativt höga alkoholhalt, depression, social utslagning och självmord. Men finländarnas särskiljningsförmåga summeras ofta med ordet sisu. en blandning av beundransvärd uthållighet och svinhårig envishet inför motgången. Grunden för den finska musikkulturen och musikutbildningen har främst byggts på en klassisk komponist Jean Sibelius livsarbete, vars symfonier spelas regelbundet av världens mest uppskattade symfoniorkestrar och vars namn bärs av Sibelius-akademin, Finlands toppmusik institution. Komponister av modern klassisk musik (Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen etc.) och den finska elektroniska musiken (Pan Sonic, Darude, Rinneradio, Jimi Tenor, Jori Hulkkonen etc.) hålls med stor vördnad bland experter och entusiaster . Dessutom har vissa finländska vanliga tungmetaller och pop (Children of Bodom. Nightwish. HIM. Rasmus. Bomfunk MC) fått global acclaim. Kännetecknande metalband Lordi som är känt för sin latexmonster-outfit blev en internationell upplevelse över natten genom att vinna Eurovision Song Contest 2006. I andra konster har Finland producerat noterad arkitekt och formgivare Alvar Aalto. författare Mika Waltari (den egyptiska), Vin Linna (The Unknown Soldier) och Tove Jansson (The Moomins) och målare Akseli Gallen-Kallela. känd för sina Kalevala-illustrationer. Bilingualism Redigera Gata Referensdiagram Finland har en 5,5 svenskspråkig minoritet och är officiellt ett tvåspråkigt land, så kartor bär nästan alltid både finska och svenska namn för t. ex. städer och städer. Åbo och Bo är till exempel samma stad, även om namnen skiljer sig helt från varandra. Vägar kan vara särskilt förvirrande: Det som först framgår på en karta är en väg som ändrar sitt namn, i de flesta fall en väg med två namn. Detta är vanligt i de svensktalande områdena på södra och västra kusten, medan inlandssvenska namn är betydligt mindre vanliga. I någonstans utanför tvåspråkiga områden och i norra Finlands Lappland ser du aldrig svenska, och ett tvåspråkigt tecken är extremt sällsynt, du kommer ibland att se skyltar i Smi istället. I synnerhet Google Maps tycks välja språk slumpmässigt, även om de svenska namnen extremt sällan används i praktiken på de flesta ställen. Födelsedagsredigeringar Finländare arent är vanligtvis mycket heta på stora offentliga karnevaler. De flesta helgdagar spenderas hemma med familjen. Det mest anmärkningsvärda undantaget är Vappu den 1 maj, som tusentals människor (mestadels de unga) fyller gatorna. Viktiga semestrar och liknande händelser inkluderar: Nyårsdagen (Uudenvuodenpiv), 1 januari. Epiphany (Loppiainen), 6 januari. Påsk (Psiinen), variabla datum, god fredag ​​och påsk måndag är helgdagar. Bundet till detta är laskiainen 40 dagar före påsken, nominellt en helig dag som sparkar ut lånet, praktiskt taget en tid för barn och universitetsstuderande att glida ner snöiga backar och himmelsfärdsdagen (helatorstai) 40 dagar efter, bara en dag för butiker att stängas. Walpurgis Night eller oftare Vappu. 1 maj, även om festligheter börjar dagen innan (Vappuaatto). En vårfestival som sammanfaller med majdagen. Ursprungligen en hednisk tradition som sammanfaller med den nyare arbetarnas firande, det har blivit en jätte festival för studenter, som bär färgstarka signaturallerter och strömmar på gatorna. Många använder också sina vita studentkepsar mellan 18:00 den 30 april och slutet av 1 maj. Följande dag samlar folk sig till sjuksköterskan på sina hängare på utomhuspictnik, även om det regnar snett. Midsommarfestival (Juhannus), lördagen i perioden 20-26 juni. Hölls för att fira sommarsolståndet, med massor av brasar, dricka och allmänt merrymaking. Städer blir nästan tomma när människor rusar till sina sommarstugor. Det kan vara en bra idé att besöka en av de större städerna bara för den hemska känslan av en tom stad. Självständighetsdagen (Itsenisyyspiv), 6 december. Ett ganska dyster firande av Finlands oberoende från Ryssland. Presidenten håller en boll för de viktiga människorna (t ex parlamentsmedlemmar, diplomater och meriterade finska idrottare och artister). Lilla julen (Pikkujoulu), människor går pub kryper med sina kamrater i december. Inte en officiell semester, bara en Viking-styrka version av ett kontor julfest. Jul (Joulu), 24-26 december. Årets största helgdag, när nästan allt stänger i tre dagar. Santa (Joulupukki) kommer på julafton den 24 december, skinka äts och alla går till bastun. Nyårsafton (Uudenvuodenaatto), 31 december. Fyrverkeritid Typisk semestertid är i juli, till skillnad från någon annanstans i Europa, där den är i augusti. Människor börjar i allmänhet sina sommarsemester runt Midsommar. Under dessa dagar är städerna troligen mindre befolkade, eftersom finländarna leder till sina sommarstugor. Skolbarn börjar sin sommarlov i början av juni. Regioner redigera Finlands Regioner landar en autonom och monolingually svensk grupp öar utanför Finlands sydvästra kust Med en bekväm och entydig byråkratisk uppdelning motsvarar de provinser 8212 som nu formellt kallas regionala statliga förvaltningsbyråer 8212 inte riktigt geografiska eller kulturella gränser väl. Andra termer som du kanske hör är Tavastia (Hme), som täcker ett stort område i centrala Finland runt Tammerfors och Karelen (Karjala) till östern, varav största delen försvann för Sovjetunionen under andra världskriget (fortfarande ett ömt ämne i vissa cirklar). Under 2010 delades västra Finland formellt i västra och inre Finland (för Tammerfors och kusten nära Vasa) och sydvästra Finland (området nära Åbo). Städer och städer redigerar Helsingfors 8212 Dotter av Östersjön, Finlands huvudstad och dess enda verkliga stad Hmeenlinna 8212 En liten sjö med medeltida slott och Aulanko park Jyvskylt 8212 en universitetsstad i centrala Finland Kuopio 8212 en universitetsstad i centrala Finland, lakelandområdet. Lappeenranta 8212 en universitetsstad nära den ryska gränsen i sydöstra Finland, vid sjön Saimaa. Uleåborg 8212 en teknikstad i slutet av Bottenviken Rovaniemi 8212 gateway till Lappland Savonlinna 8212 en liten sjöstad med ett stort slott och en populär operafestival. Seinjoki 8212 Finlands snabbast växande småstad, värd många viktiga festivaler varje år. Tammerfors 8212 Finlands största industristad, kulturhus, musik, konst och museer, mitt i andra stora städer i södra Finland. Kanske den bästa musikscenen i Finland. Åbo 8212 den tidigare huvudstaden på västkusten. Medeltida slott och katedral. Vasa 8212 en stad med starka svenska influenser på västkusten nära UNESCOs världs naturområde Kvarken skärgård Andra destinationer redigera Få in redigering Det finns inga gränskontroller mellan länder som har undertecknat och genomfört denna traktat - Europeiska unionen (utom Bulgarien, Kroatien , Cypern, Irland, Rumänien och Förenade kungariket), Island, Liechtenstein, Norge och Schweiz. På samma sätt är visum som beviljas för någon Schengenmedlem giltig i alla andra länder som har undertecknat och genomfört fördraget. Men var försiktig: inte alla EU-medlemmar har undertecknat Schengenfördraget, och inte alla Schengenmedlemmar är en del av Europeiska unionen. Det innebär att det kan finnas platstullkontroller men inga invandringskontroller (som reser inom Schengen men från ett land utanför EU) eller du kan behöva rensa invandring men inte tull (reser inom EU men från ett icke-Schengenland). Se artikeln Resor i Schengenzonen för mer information om hur systemet fungerar och vilka krav på inresa. Med flygredigeringen är Finlands största internationella knutpunkt Helsingfors-Vanda flygplats nära Helsingfors. Finnair. och Flybe Nordic är baserade där. Omkring 30 utländska flygbolag flyger till Helsingfors-Vanda. Ryanair s Finland-nav är Tammerfors i centrala Finland och Lappeenranta i öster nära den ryska gränsen, medan Wizz Air minskar navet i Åbo i sydväst. Andra flygbolag har begränsade regionala tjänster till andra städer, mestadels bara till Sverige, och på vinterns högsäsong, tillfälliga direktflygningar (särskilt i december) och säsongsplanerade flygningar (dec-mar) till Lappland. Air Baltic förbinder många provinsiella finska städer till Europa via Riga. Det kan också vara värt att få ett billigt flyg till Tallinn och följ båtinstruktionerna nedan för att komma till Finland. I början av 2011 etablerade Norwegian Air Shuttle Helsingfors som en av sina baser, och erbjuder nu både inhemska och internationella flyg. Med tågredigerare kör VR 2 och Rysslands järnvägsservice mellan Sankt Petersburg och Helsingfors, stoppa vid Vyborg. Kouvola och Lahti längs vägen. Linjen uppgraderades 2010 och de smarta nya Allegro-märkta tågen glider mellan de två städerna på tre och en halv timme på upp till 220kmh. För närvarande serveras rutten fyra gånger per dag, retur till två dagligen från november 2011. Det är säkert den dyraste metoden att komma till Helsingfors från Sankt Petersburg med priser på 92 under sommaren och 84 resten av året för en enkelriktad biljett. Dock kan biljetter till det första tåget på morgonen, vilka avgår kl 6:12, köpas till ett pris så lågt som 39 under sommarmånaderna. Det finns också en traditionell långsam över natten sovhytt från Moskva. vilket tar cirka 15 timmar. Det finns inga direkta tåg mellan Sverige eller Norge och Finland (järnvägsmätaren är annorlunda), men bussen över klyftan från Boden Lule (Sverige) till Kemi (Finland) är fri med ett Eurail Inter Rail-pass och du kan också få en 50 rabatt från de flesta färjor med dessa passager. Bussredigering Bussar är det billigaste men också det långsammaste och minst bekväma sättet att resa mellan Ryssland och Finland. Regelbundna bussar kör mellan Sankt Petersburg. Vyborg och stora södra finska städer som Helsingfors. Villmanstrand. Jyvskyl och hela väster till Åbo. kolla Matkahuolto för scheman. Helsingfors-St. Petersburg serveras tre gånger dagligen, kostar 38 och tar 9 timmar under dagen, 8 timmar på natten. Olika direkt minibussar kör mellan St. Petersburgs Oktyabrskaya Hotel (Moskovsky tågstation) och Helsinkis Tennispalatsi (Etelinen Rautatiekatu 8, ett kvarter från Kamppi). Vid 15 enväg är detta det billigaste alternativet, men minibussarna lämnar endast när de är fulla. Avgångar från Helsingfors är oftast på morgonen (klockan 10:00), medan avgångar från St. Petersburg oftast över natten (runt 22:00). Du kan också använda en buss från Sverige eller Norge till Finland. Haparanda i Norrbotnia-området i Sverige har bussförbindelser till Tornio. Kemi och Uleåborg. Se mer från Matkahuolto. Eskelisen Lapinlinjat erbjuder bussförbindelser från norra delar av Norge, till exempel Troms. Se mer från Eskelisen Lapinlinjat. Byt båt Inne i en Silja passagerarfärg En av de bästa sätten att resa till och från Finland är till sjöss. Båtarna till Estland och Sverige. i synnerhet gigantiska flytande palats och varuhus med låga priser, med billiga priser subventionerade av försäljningen av skattefri sprit: en returresa till Tallinn inklusive en stuga för upp till fyra personer kan gå så låg som 50. Om du reser med Inter Rail. du kan få 50 rabatt på däckpriser. Det bästa sättet att anlända till Helsingfors står på utsidan däck med utsikt framåt. Estland och de baltiska staterna ändrar Helsingfors och Tallinn är bara 80 km från varandra. Vikinglinje. Ecker Line och Tallink Silja driver hela bilfärjorna hela året. Beroende på färjetypen är resetiden från drygt två timmar (Viking Line och Tallink Siljas Star, Superstar och Superfasts) till tre och en halv timme (Ecker och Tallink Siljas största kryssningsfartyg). Vissa tjänster reser över natten och parkerar utanför hamnen till morgonen. Linda Line erbjuder snabba tjänster som slutför resan på 1,5 timmar, men tar betalt lite mer, har relativt lite för att underhålla dig ombord och avbryta tjänster vid dåligt väder och under vintern. Om vädret ser dodgy och du är benägen för havsjuka, är det bäst att välja de stora långsamma båtarna. Det finns en extra färjeförbindelse mellan Hanko och Paldiski. drivs av NaviRail. Det finns inga planerade tjänster till Lettland eller Litauen. men några av operatörerna ovan erbjuder halvtidliga kryssningar på sommaren, med Riga som den mest populära destinationen. Tyskland redigera Finnlines 3 opererar från Helsingfors till Travemnde (nära Lbeck och Hamburg) och från Helsingfors till Rostock. Helsingfors-Travemnde-resan tar ca 27 timmar medan Helsingfors-Rostock tar cirka 34 timmar. Travemnde-linjen drivs av snabba och stora Star-class-fartyg medan ett enda, betydligt mindre Hansa-klassfartyg verkar i Rostock-linjen. Den senare anses vara mer lyxig och bekväm även om resan tar mycket längre tid. Ryssland redigera I åratal har planerade färjetjänster till Ryssland varit stop-and-go. Från och med april 2010 erbjuder St Peter Line regelbunden färjetrafik från Sankt Petersburg till Helsingfors för så lågt som 30 sätt. Kristina Cruises erbjuder även enstaka kryssningar från Helsingfors. Sverige redigera Silja Serenade lämnar Helsingfors Både Silja och Viking erbjuder kryssningar från Helsingfors och över natten samt dagtid kryssningar från Åbo till Stockholm. brukar stanna i landets öar längs vägen. Det här är några av de största och mest lyxiga passagerarfartyg i världen, med så många som 14 våningar och en hel rad restauranger, barer, diskotek, pool och spa-faciliteter etc. De billigare stugklassen under bildäcken är ganska spartanska , men de högre havsutsikten kan vara väldigt trevliga. Observera att både Silja och Viking på grund av att folkmassiga ungdomar strävar efter att bli grundligt hämtade på billig skattefri sprit, tillåter inte ensamkommande ungdomar under 23 att kryssa på fredagar eller lördagar. (Åldersgränsen är 20 på andra nätter, och endast 18 för resenärer som inte är på samma dag-retur-kryssningspaket.) Dessutom erbjuder Silja inte däckklassen på sina över natten tjänster, medan Viking gör det. Notera också att med Viking Line är det ofta billigare att boka en kryssning istället för rutetrafik. Kryssningen omfattar båda vägarna med en dag däremellan. Om du vill stanna längre går du helt enkelt inte tillbaka - det kan fortfarande vara billigare än att boka en enkelriktad trafikbiljett. Detta gäller särskilt för sista minuten biljetter (du kan t. ex. få från Stockholm till Åbo för omkring 10 över natten - rutten trafik skulle vara över 30 för en stuga med lägre kvalitet). Förutom de stora tvåen, FinnLink erbjuder den billigaste bilfärjeanslutningen från allt från Naantali till Kapellskr (från 60 för bil med förare). Bilfärjor stannar vanligtvis i några minuter vid Mariehamn i landöarna. som ligger utanför EU: s skatteområde och därigenom tillåta färjorna att driva tullfri försäljning. Mellan Vasa och Ume finns en färja som drivs av Wasaline. Med bil redigerar Finland ett omfattande vägnät som förbinder och går igenom alla större städer. Att köra genom Finland när som helst på året är en behandling med slingrande vägar och mjuka kullar inramade av tall - och björkskogar med jordbruksmarker här och där. Sommartidskvällar med midnattssolen som ger mildt ljus är särskilt natursköna och roliga. Under sommarmånaderna är reparationerna i full gång så att vissa mindre förseningar kan upplevas. Vägpatrullkameror används i stor utsträckning för att övervaka trafiken och genomdriva hastighetsbegränsningar. Sverige redigera Som nämnts ovan är ett av de enklaste sätten att åka bil från Sverige till Finland en bilfärja. Den europeiska vägen E12 (Finlands National Highway 3) innehåller en färje mellan Ume och Vaasa. En annan rutt som inkluderar en bilfärja är E18, från Stockholm till Åbo. Norge redigera Ryssland redigera europeisk väg E18, som rysk väg M10, går från St Petersburg via Vyborg till VaalimaaTorfyanovka gränsstation nära Hamina. Därifrån fortsätter E18 som den finska riksväg 7 till Helsingfors och därifrån längs kusten som motorväg 1 till Åbo. I Vaalimaa måste lastbilar vänta i en bestående lastbilskö. Denna kö har inte direkt påverkan på andra fordon. Det finns gränskontroll och tullkontroller i Vaalimaa och pass och Schengenvisum, om det är tillämpligt, kommer att behövas. Från söder till norr finns andra gränsövergångar i NuijamaaBrusnichnoye (Lappeenranta), VaalimaaTorfyanovka, ImatraSvetogorsk, Niirala (Tohmajrvi), Vartius (Kuhmo) Kelloselk (Salla) och Raja-Jooseppi (Sodankyl). Alla utom de första är väldigt avlägsna. Estland redigera Som nämnts ovan finns en bilfärja mellan Tallinn och Helsingfors. Det utgör en del av den europeiska vägen E67 Via Baltica som går från den estniska huvudstaden Tallinn, korsar Riga i Lettland och Kaunas i Litauen till den polska huvudstaden Warszawa. Avståndet från Tallinn till Warszawa är ca 970 km, inte några omfarter. Ta sig runt redigera Det finska järnvägsnätet (passagerarlina i grönt) Finlands ett stort land och resande är relativt dyrt. Offentlig transport är välorganiserad och utrustningen är alltid bekväm och ofta ny och förskottsbokningar är sällan nödvändiga utanför de största semesterperioderna. Den inhemska Journey Planner erbjuder en användbar webbplats med integrerade tidtabeller för alla tåg, bussar och flygplan, inklusive stads - och lokal transport. Om du behöver information om en adress i Finland kan du hitta den via Jokapaikka. fi (en gratis sökmotor för lokalområdet). Den har Google-översättning för icke-lokalbefolkningen. Med flygredigeringar Flygningar är det snabbaste men i allmänhet också det dyraste sättet att komma runt. Finnair och några mindre flygbolag driver regionala flyg från Helsingfors till hela landet, inklusive Kuopio. Björneborg. Rovaniemi och Ivalo. Det är värt att boka på förhand om möjligt: ​​På Helsingfors - Oulu-sektorn, landets mest trafikerade, kostar en helt flexibel returkonkurrensbiljett 251, men en förskottsbetalning som inte kan bytas, kan gå så låg som 39, mindre än en tågbiljett. Du kan också få rabatterade inhemska biljetter om du flyger till Finland på Finnair. En annan möjlighet är Air Baltic som också flyger sektorn Åbo-Uleåborg till mycket konkurrenskraftiga priser, långt mindre än tåget. Dessutom började Norwegian Air Shuttle flyga från Helsingfors till Uleåborg och Rovaniemi år 2011. En buss (Finnair stadsbuss) opererar mellan Helsingfors-Vanda flygplats och Helsingfors centralstation i ca. 20 minuters intervall (30 min resa varaktighet, 6:30) busslinje 615 (dag 620 (på natten) är ett något billigare alternativ (36 minuters resa varaktighet, 5 dag, 7 natt, 102015 priser). Det finns också tågförbindelser på flygplatsen och det tar dig på 45 minuter (tillträdet till den nya tågterminalen öppnas sen 2015 och körtiden är ca 35 minuter. Det finns en gratis buss till närmaste tågstation för tillfället) till Helsingfors centralstation. Priserna är 5 dag, 7 natt. Kolla in Helsingforsregionens transportplanerare för tidtabeller och annan information. Det finns tre stora flygbolag som säljer inrikesflyg: Finnair. det nationella flaggskeppet flygbolaget. Serverar nästan hela landet, med vissa flygningar som drivs av dotterbolaget Nordic Regional Airlines. Norska flyger till städerna i norr, som Rovaniemi, Uleåborg, Ivalo och Kittil. Dessutom fyller BASe Airlines och Air100 några luckor. Ändra med tåg Ett Pendolino-tåg, den snabbaste VR-flottan (220 km) VR 4 (Järnvägen) driver det ganska omfattande järnvägsnätverket. Tåget är den metod som valts för resor från Helsingfors till Tammerfors. Åbo och Lahtis. med avgångar minst en gång i timmen och snabbare hastigheter än bussen. Följande serviceklasser finns tillgängliga, med exempelpriser och varaktighet för den populära Helsingfors-Tampere-tjänsten inom parentes. Pendolino-lutningståg (kod S), det snabbaste alternativet (836432, 1:26) InterCity (IC) och InterCity2 (IC2) Express-tåg, med IC-tilläggsbelopp (836426,9, 1:46) Vanlig express (pikajuna. P) med express Tilläggsavgift, endast långsamma tåg för denna anslutning (836424.6, 2: 12-2: 16) Lokala och regionala tåg (lhiliikennejuna, lhijuna eller taajamajuna), ingen tilläggsavgift, ganska långsam (836421, 2:03) Tågen är i allmänhet mycket bekväma , speciellt expresstjänsterna. Pendolino och IC-tåg har restaurangbilar, familjebilar (endast IC med lekplats för barn) och eluttag Pendolinos och IntercityIC2-tåg erbjuder även gratis (men ofta mycket långsam) Wi-Fi-anslutning. Ytterligare tillägg gäller för resor i första klass, märkesaffär på vissa tåg, vilket ger dig större utrymme, tidningar och eventuellt ett mellanmål. Övernattningsbäddar är tillgängliga för långa sträckor och mycket bra värde på 8364112143 för en säng i en trebäddsrumsbädd, men enkelsängar är endast tillgängliga i första klass. Ett barn under 7 år kan resa gratis med varje avgiftsbetalande vuxen, och pensionärer över 65 år och studenter med finska student ID (ISIC-kort etc ej accepterade) får 50 avgångar. Grupper av 3 eller fler får 15 avstånd. Finland deltar i Inter Rail och Eurail-systemen. Residents of Europe can buy InterRail Finland passes offering 3-8 days of unlimited travel in one month for 8364109-229 (adult 2nd class), while the Eurail Finland pass for non-residents is 8364178-320 for 3-10 days. VRs own Holiday Pass ( LomaPassi ), at 8364145 for 3 days including up to 4 free seat reservations, is available to all but only valid in summer. You would have to travel a lot to make any of these pay off though by comparison, a full-fare InterCity return ticket across the entire country from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and back is 8364162. Generally, the trains are most crowded at the beginning and end of the weekend, and that means Friday and Sunday evening. Shortly before and at the end of major holidays like ChristmasNew Year and Easter, trains are usually very busy. If you try booking for these days at a late time, you may find the seat you reserve may be among the least desirable, that is, facing backwards, without recline, and facing towards and sharing the legroom with other passengers. While VRs trains may be slick, harsh winter conditions and underinvestment in maintenance mean that delayed trains are not uncommon, with the fancy Pendolinos particularly prone to breaking down. As in the rest of the EU, youll get a 25 refund if the train is 1-2 hours late and 50 if more. By bus edit Matkahuolto 5 offers long-distance coach connections to practically all parts of Finland. Bus is also the only way to travel in Lapland, since the rail network doesnt extend to the extreme north. Buses are generally slightly higher priced than trains, although on routes with direct train competition they can be cheaper. Speeds are usually slower than trains, sometimes very slow (from Helsinki to Oulu), sometimes even faster (from Helsinki to Kotka and Pori). On many routes, though, buses are more frequent, so you may still get to your destination faster than if you wait for the next train. Unlike the trains, student discounts are available also for foreign students by showing a valid ISIC card at Matkahuolto offices (in every bus station) and getting a Matkahuolto student discount card (5). There is also BusPass travel pass from Matkahuolto 6. which offers unlimited travel in specified time, priced at 149 for 7 days and 249 for 14 days. Onnibus 7 offers a cheaper alternative (ticket prices beginning from 3 on all routes when bought online) for long-distance coaches on routes HelsinkiTurku, HelsinkiTampere, TamperePori and beginning from the autumn 2012 also TurkuTampereJyvskyl and JyvskylOulu. Note that the routes in Tampere dont serve the city centre (with exception the Pori route) but instead stop in Hervanta (10km south of city centre), which will be Onnibus bus terminal serving as an interchange station between different routes. Local transport networks are well-developed in Greater Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. In smaller cities public transport networks are usable on weekdays, but sparse on weekends and during the summer. There are easy-to-use high-tech English route planners with maps to find out how to use local bus services provided by national bus provider Matkahuolto 8. Demand responsive transport edit Demand responsive transport (DRT) is a form of public transport, in which the routes are determined based on the customers needs. You can find the zones where DRT services are available by using the map or address search services9. By ferry edit In summertime, lake cruises are a great way to see the scenery of Finland, although most of them only do circular sightseeing loops and arent thus particularly useful for getting from point A to point B. Most cruise ships carry 100-200 passengers (book ahead on weekends), and many are historical steam boats. Popular routes include Turku - Naantali and various routes in and around Saimaa. By car edit Moose on the loose The use of sand instead of potassium formate and salt leads to a dirty environment. In Spring, the breathing air is often polluted by dust and thus can result in respiratory malfunctions. Srninen, Helsinki. Car rental is possible in Finland but generally expensive, with rates generally upwards of 80day, although rates go down for longer rentals. Foreign-registered cars can only be used in Finland for a limited time and registering it locally involves paying a substantial tax to equalize the price to Finnish levels. If you opt to buy a car in Finland instead, make sure it has all annual taxes paid and when its next annual inspection is due: the deadline is the same day as the cars first date of use unless the registration form says 00.00.xx in first date of use. In that case the inspection date is determined by the last number of the license plate. All cars must pass emissions testing and precise tests of brakes etc. Police may remove the plates of vehicles that have not passed their annual inspections in time and give you a fine. Traffic drives on the right, and there are no road tolls in Finnish cities or highways so far. Roads are well maintained and extensive, although expressways are limited to the south of the country. Note that headlights or daytime running lights must be kept on at all times when driving, in and outside cities, whether its dark or not. Drivers must stay very alert, particularly at dawn and dusk, for wild animals. Collisions with moose (frequently lethal) are common countrywide, deer (mostly survivable) cause numerous collisions in South and South West parts of the country, and semi-domesticated reindeer are a common cause of accidents in Lapland. Bear collisions happen sometimes in eastern parts of the country. VRs overnight car carrier trains 10 are popular for skipping the long slog from Helsinki up to Lapland and getting a good nights sleep instead: a Helsinki - Rovaniemi trip (one way) with car and cabin for 1-3 people starts from 8364215. A few unusual or unobvious rules to beware of: Headlights are mandatory even during daylight. Always give way to the right, unless signed otherwise. There is no concept of minor and major road, so this applies even to smaller road on your right. Almost all intersections are explicitly signposted with yield signs (either the stop sign or an inverted triangle). There is no explicit sign on the road that has priority, instead watch out for the back of the yield sign on the other road. Signs use the following shorthand: white numbers are for weekdays (eg. 8-16 means 08:00-16:00), white numbers in parentheses apply on Saturdays and red numbers on Sundays and holidays. In Helsinki, trams always have the right of way. Collisions do a surprising amount of damage. Dont get into arguments with a vehicle that cant change direction and weighs as much as a small battle tank. A vehicle is required by law to stop at a zebra crossing, if at least one other car has stopped, regardless of whether or not there is a pedestrian (in a similar manner as if there were a stop sign). A car is obliged to stop at a zebra crossing, if the pedestrian intends to cross the road. Many pedestrians intend to cross the road only when there is a sufficiently large gap in the traffic. When crossing the road as a pedestrian at a zebra crossing, do not leave a shadow of a doubt that you will cross the road, and cars will stop. With some practice, this works out smoothly, efficiently and without taking undue risks. By default, drivers will assume that the pedestrian does not intend to cross the road right now, in other words, cars will not stop. A car horn may only be used to prevent a collision or a similar hazardous situation. Using the horn for other purposes such as expressing frustration in surrounding traffic is unlawful and quite strongly frowned upon. Circular traffic can be rather complex. For example, in one spot, two new lanes are created while the outer lane is suddenly forced to exit. This creates a difficult situation, when the lines are covered by snow. Pedestrians walking on unlighted roads without sidewalk or cycle tracks in the dark are required by law to use safety reflectors. Their use is generally recommended, since the visibility of pedestrians with reflector improves greatly. Winter driving can be somewhat hazardous, especially for drivers unused to cold weather conditions. Winter tires (MS) are mandatory from 1 December through the end of February. The most dangerous weather is in fact around the zero degree mark (C), when slippery but near-invisible black ice forms on the roads. Finnish cars often come equipped with an engine block heater ( lohkolmmitin ) used to preheat the engine and possibly the interior of the car beforehand, and many parking places have electric outlets to feed them. Liikenneturva, the Finnish road safety agency, maintains a Tips for winter driving page 11 in English. Note that especially in the Helsinki area, the majority of cars are equipped with steel-studded tires that allow more dynamic driving and shorter braking distances on frozen surfaces than conventional traction tires (MS), as used in other European countries. Finnish speeding tickets are based on your income, so be careful: a Nokia VP whod cashed in some stock options the previous year was once hit for US204,000 Fortunately, the police have no access to tax records outside Finland and will just fine non-residents a flat 8364100-200 instead. Speed limits are 50 kmh in towns, 80-100 kmh outside towns and usually 120 kmh on freeways. From around mid-october to april, speedlimits on freeways are lowered to 100 kmh and most 100 kmh limits are lowered to 80 kmh. Software for GPS navigators that warns of fixed safety cameras is legal and installed by default in many mobile phones. Warning signs before fixed cameras are required by law. A blood alcohol level of over 0.05 is considered drunk driving and 0.12 as aggrevated drunk driving, so think twice before drinking that second beer. Finnish police strictly enforce this by random roadblocks and sobriety tests. If you are driving at night when the gas stations are closed (they usually close at 9 PM), always remember to bring some money for gas . Automated gas pumps in Finland in rare occasions do not accept foreign visacredit cards, but you can pay with Euro notes. In the sparsely-populated areas of the country, distances of 50 km and more between gas stations are not unheard of, so dont gamble unnecessarily with those last litres of fuel. If you come in your own car, note that all petrol in Finland contains ethanol . If your car should not be run on ethanol-containing petrol or you are unsure use the 98 octane petrol. This contains residual ethanol from the pump station up to a maximum of 5 and can be used in all cars that run on petrol. By taxi edit Finnish taxis are heavily regulated by the government, so theyre comfortable, safe and expensive. No matter where you go in the country, the starting fee is fixed at 5.90, rising up to 9.00 at night and on Sundays. The per-kilometer charge starts at 1.52km for 1 or 2 passengers, rising up to 2,13km for 7 or 8 passenger minivans. A 20-25 km journey (say, airport to central Helsinki) can thus easily cost 40-50. Taxis can come in any color or shape, but they will always have a yellow TAXI sign (sometimes spelled TAKSI) on the roof. Hailing cabs off the street is difficult to impossible, so either find a taxi rank or order by phone (any pub or restaurant will help you on this, expect to pay 2 euros for the call). Taxi companies around the country can be found at the Taksiliitto 12 site. In the Helsinki city center, long lines at the taxi stops can be expected on Friday and Saturday nights. It is not uncommon to share a taxi with strangers if going towards the same general direction. Using of unofficial taxis is illegal and to be avoided. You might lose your walletpursephone, despite Helsinki being maybe one of the safest capitals in Europe. The Uber service is illegal in Finland and the driver may face a notable penalty. If you decide to use Uber and your driver gets caught by the police, youre on your own. By thumb edit Hitchhiking is possible, albeit unusual, in Finland, as the harsh climate and sparse traffic dont exactly encourage standing around and waiting for cars. The most difficult task is getting out of Helsinki. Summer offers long light hours, but in the fallspring you should plan your time. The highway between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg has a very high percentage of Russian drivers. See Hitchhiking Club Finland liftari. org 13 or the Finland article 14 on Hitchwiki for further details if interested. By bicycle edit Most Finnish cities have good bike paths especially outside the centres, and taking a bike can be a quick, healthy and environmentally friendly method of getting around locally. The roads are generally paved well, although gravel roads are sometimes unavoidable. As long as you dont go off-road, you will not need suspension or grooved tyres. Because of the long distances, bicycle tourists are advised to plan well and be prepared to use public transport for the less interesting stretches. Long-distance coaches are well-equipped to take bicycles on board, trains take bicycles if there is enough space. Ferries take bikes for free or for a small fee. Due to the relatively gentle topographic relief, too hilly terrain is rarely a problem, but in the cold months, windchill requires more protection against cold than in walking. Talk edit Finnish language map. Finnish is a Official Language (dark blue) and Finnish spoken by a minority (aruba blue) Finland is officially bilingual in Finnish (spoken by 90 of the population) and Swedish (spoken by 5,6 of the population), and both languages are compulsory in all schools, but in practice most of the population is monolingual in Finnish. Finnish is spoken everywhere in the country except land islands and Finnish is the main language of Finland. Finnish is not related to the Scandinavian languages (Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese), Russian, or English. In fact, it is not even an Indo-European language, instead belonging in the Uralic group of languages which includes Hungarian and Estonian, making it hard for speakers of most other European languages to learn. Reading signboards can also be difficult as Finnish has relatively few loan words from common European languages, and as a result it is very hard to guess what words in Finnish mean. Swedish is the mother tongue for 5.6 of Finns. There are no large towns with a Swedish majority, and the Swedish-speaking communities are mainly smaller rural communities along the Southwest coast. Many towns and road signs on the coast use alternate Finnish and Swedish names, so road signs can be confusing, but bilingual signs outside bilingual areas never appear. The small autonomous province of land and the municipalities of Nrpes, Korsns and Larsmo are exclusively Swedish-speaking, and people there typically speak little or no Finnish at all, so English is a better bet. Swedish is a mandatory subject in Finnish-speaking schools (and Finnish in Swedish-speaking schools), so everyone is supposed to speak and understand it in reality, though, only 41 of the Finnish-speaking population is conversant in it, and most of these people live in coastal areas and in predominantly Swedish-speaking areas. Even this varies: for example, in Helsinki and Turku most people can speak Swedish enough to deal with important conversations you engage in as a tourist and often somewhat beyond, but living would be impossible without knowledge of Finnish, whereas towns like Vaasa and Porvoo have significant Swedish-speaking minorities and are more genuinely bilingual (i. e. it would be possible to live there with Swedish only). Most hotels and restaurants, especially in areas where Swedish is widely spoken, do have some Swedish-proficient staff. Russian is best understood near the Russian border, such as in Lappeenranta, Imatra and Joensuu, which are areas frequented by Russian tourists. Tourist destinations which are popular among Russians in Eastern and Northern Finland have some Russian-speaking staff. Elsewhere, knowledge of Russian is often far rarer. In bigger towns, with the exception of the elderly, many people you would meet as a tourist speak good English, and even in the countryside younger people will nearly always know enough to communicate. In fact, outside of the Swedish-speaking communities, English is usually far better understood than Swedish . Conversely, within the Swedish-speaking communities, English is often better understood than Finnish. 73160 of the population in Finland can speak English. Dont hesitate to ask for help: Finns can be shy but will help you out in need. Besides English and Swedish, some Finns can speak German (18160) or French (3160), other secondary languages (Spanish, Russian) being rare. Foreign TV series and movies are nearly always subtitled. Only childrens fare gets dubbed into Finnish. The grammar of Finnish language has relatively few exceptions but quite many rules (where some rules might be considered cleverly disguised exceptions). There are about 17 different cases for getting some coffee and getting the coffee, going into a pub, being in a pub (or in a state of drunkenness), getting out of the pub, being on the roof, getting onto the roof, getting off the roof, using something as a roof and so on that are encoded into the word endings. In written text, the plethora of cases makes it a challenging exercise to even look up a single word from the dictionary. The conjugation of verbs is unfortunately somewhat more complex. See edit add listing Sunset with reflections on a lake in Finland. A selection of top sights in Finland: Central Helsinki. the Daughter of the Baltic . on a warm and sunny summer day The Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, 15-minute ferry trip from Downtown Helsinki. A Unesco World Heritage Site. The historical sites of Turku and the vast archipelago around it, best viewed from the deck of a giant car ferry. Pottering around the picturesque wooden houses of Porvoo. Finlands second-oldest town Renting a car and exploring the Lake Land of Eastern Finland, an area dotted with around 60 000 lakes with a similar number of islands, which in turn have their own lakes. Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna. Finlands most atmospheric castle, especially during the yearly Opera Festival Hmeenlinna Castle in Hmeenlinna is Finlands oldest castle. Built in 13th century. Relaxing at a sauna-equipped cottage in the lake country of Eastern Finland Icebreaker cruising and the worlds biggest snow castle in Kemi Seeing the Northern Lights and trying your hand sledding down a mile-long track at Saariselk A ride on the historical Linnanmki wooden roller coaster (Helsinki). Unlike modern designs, only gravity keeps it on the track, and it requires a driver on each train to operate the brakes. Do edit add listing Sports edit Notably lacking in craggy mountains or crenellated fjords, Finland is not the adrenalin-laden winter sports paradise you might expect: the traditional Finnish pastime is cross-country skiing through more or less flat terrain. If youre looking for downhill skiing, snowboarding etc, youll need to head up to Lapland and resorts like Levi and Saariselk. During the short summer you can swim, fish or canoe in the lakes. They are usually warmest around 20th July. Local newspapers usually have the current surface temperatures, and a map of the surface temperatures can also be found from the Environment Ministry website 15. During the warmest weeks, late at night or early in the morning the water can feel quite pleasant when the air temperature is lower than the waters. Most towns also have swimming halls with slightly warmer water, but these are often closed during the summer. Fishing permits, if needed, can be easily bought from any R-Kioski although they take a small surcharge for it. For hikers, fishermen and hunters, the Ministry of Forestry maintains an online Excursion Map map 16 with trails and huts marked. The best season for hiking is early fall, after most mosquitoes have died off and the autumn colors have come out. And if youd like to try your hand at something uniquely Finnish, dont miss the plethora of bizarre sports contests in the summer, including: Air Guitar World Championships 17. August, Oulu . Mobile Phone Throwing Championship 18. August, Savonlinna. Recycle your Nokia Swamp Soccer World Championship 19. July, Hyrynsalmi. Probably the messiest sporting event in the world. Wife Carrying World Championship 20. July, Sonkajrvi. The grand prize is the wifes weight in beer. Sulkavan Suursoudut 21. July, Sulkava Finlands biggest rowing event Festivals edit Finland hosts many music festivals ( festari ) during the summer. Some of the most notable include: Most of the festivals last 2-4 days and are very well organized, with many different bands playing, with eg. Foo Fighters and Linkin Park headlining at Provinssi 2008. The normal full ticket (all days) price is about 60-100, which includes a camp site where you can sleep, eat and meet other festival guests. The atmosphere at festivals is great and probably youll find new friends there. Of course drinking a lot of beer is a part of the experience. There are also many more less-advertised underground festivals around the countryside every summer. Northern Lights edit Spotting the eerie Northern Lights ( aurora borealis . or revontulet in Finnish) glowing in the sky is on the agenda of many visitors, but even in Finland its not so easy. During the summer, its light all day along and the aurora become invisible, and theyre rarely seen in the south. The best place to spot them is during the winter in the far north, when the probability of occurrence is over 50 around the magnetic peak hour of 22:30 8212 if the sky is clear, that is. The ski resort of Saariselk. easily accessible by plane and with plenty of facilities, is particularly popular among aurora hunters. Buy edit add listing Finland has the euro () as its sole currency along with 24 other countries that use this common European money. These 24 countries are: Austria. Belgium. Cypern. Estonia. Finland . France. Germany. Greece. Ireland. Italy. Latvia. Lithuania. Luxembourg. Malta. the Netherlands. Portugal. Slovakia. Slovenia and Spain (official euro members which are all European Union member states) as well as Andorra. Kosovo. Monaco. Montenegro. San Marino and the Vatican which use it without having a say in eurozone affairs and without being European Union members. Together, these countries have a population of more than 330 million. One euro is divided into 100 cents. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins with a unique obverse, the reverse, as well as all bank notes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Every coin is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries. Finland does not use the 1 and 2 cent coins instead all sums are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. The coins are, however, still legal tender and there are even small quantities of Finnish 1c and 2c coins, highly valued by collectors. It is common to omit cents and the euro sign from prices, and use the comma as a decimal separator: 5,50 thus means five euros and fifty cents. Getting or exchanging money is rarely a problem, as ATMs (Otto) are common and they can be operated with international credit and debit cards (Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro). Currencies other than the euro are generally not accepted, although the Swedish krona may be accepted in land and northern border towns like Tornio. Russian roubles are accepted in some select touristy shops, such as Stockmann in Helsinki. Money changers are common in the bigger cities (the Forex chain 33 is ubiquitous) and typically have longer opening hours and faster service than banks. Credit cards are widely accepted, and the payment is almost always accepted by your PIN code. Visa Electron and Visa Debit cardreaders are found in all major and most minor shops, so carrying large amounts of cash is not usually necessary. As a rule, tipping is never necessary in Finland and restaurant bills already include service charges. That said, taxi fares and other bills paid by cash are are occasionally rounded up to the next convenient number. Cloakrooms ( narikka ) in nightclubs and better restaurants often have non-negotiable fees (usually clearly signposted, 83643 is standard), and 8212 in the few hotels that employ them 8212 hotel porters will expect around the same per bag. Costs edit Declared the worlds most expensive country in 1990, prices have since abated somewhat but are still steep by most standards. Rock-bottom traveling if staying in hostel dorms and self-catering costs at least 25day and its well worth doubling that amount. The cheapest hotels cost about 50 per night and more regular hotels closer to 100. Instead of hotels or hostels, look for holiday cottages, especially when travelling in a group and off-season, you can find a full-equipped cottage for 10-15 per person a night. Camp-sites typically cost between 10 and 20 per tent. Museums and tourist attractions have an entrance fee in the range of 5-25. Using public transport costs a few euros per day and depends on the city. One-way travel between major cities by train or by bus costs between 20 and 100, depending on the distance. Note that a VAT of 24 is charged for nearly everything, but by law this must be included in the displayed price. Non-EU residents can get a tax refund for purchases above 40 at participating outlets, just look for the Tax-Free Shopping logo. Shopping edit As you might expect given the general price level, souvenir shopping in Finland isnt exactly cheap. Traditional buys include Finnish puukko knives, handwoven ryijy rugs and every conceivable part of a reindeer. For any Lappish handicrafts, look for the Smi Duodji label that certifies it as authentic. Popular brands for modern (or timeless) Finnish design include Marimekko 34 clothing, Iittala 35 glass, Arabia 36 ceramics, Kalevala Koru 37 jewelry, Pentik 38 interior design and, if you dont mind the shipping costs, Artek 39 furniture by renowned architect and designer Alvar Aalto. Kids and not a few adults love Moomin 40 characters, which fill up souvenir store shelves throughout the country. In case one prefers souvenirs that are made in Finland and do not just appear Finn Made, caution is advised. Many wooden products are actually imported and Marimekko, for instance, manufactures most of its products outside Finland. Safe bets for truly Finnish souvenirs are products made by Lapuan Kankurit 41 and Aarikka 42. for example. Grocery stores are rather common, and there is usually at least one supermarket in almost all localities. The range of products in Finnish grocery stores tends to be a little bit more limited than in neighboring countries (except perhaps in Norway). Many products need to be imported, and this unfortunately shows in the selection of goods and the pricing. It is not uncommon to see exactly the same product in different shops, at exactly the same price. Finnish food markets are mainly dominated by two large groups: S Group (supermarket chains Sale . Alepa . S-Market and hypermarket chain Prisma ), and K Group (supermarket chains K-Extra . K-Market . K-Supermarket and hypermarket chain K-Citymarket , while local market chains like Siwa . Valintatalo . Tarmo and M-Market covers lots of gaps where larger chains do not operate. In addition to these chains, international discount store chain Lidl operates around 150 stores in Finland, mainly in cities and towns with population over 5,000. It usually offers the cheapest prices, and product range is similar to the rest of Europe. Previous restrictions on shopping hours were recently lifted, and now vary significantly by shop and location. For many smaller shops in large towns, normal weekday opening hours are around 08:00-22:00, but may be closed or have reduced hours during weekends. Larger shops and grocery stores in central locations are sometimes open later. Shopping hours for specialty stores, as well as shops in small towns and in the countryside, are often much shorter. Note that opening hours are often reduced considerably around national holidays, such as Christmas, Easter or Midsummer. Convenience stores like the ubiquitous R-Kioski 43 tend to have longer hours, but are often closed when you most need them. Some shops in Central Helsinki are open 247 or until 22:00 every day of the year. If in desperate need of basic supplies, gas station convenience stores are usually open on weekends and until late at night. Most notable 247 Gas station-chains are ABC 44 and Shell 45. While shopkeepers may vehemently deny this to a foreigner, prices in smaller stores are by no means fixed. When buying hobby equipment, it is not uncommon to get 30160 discount (hint: Find the international price level from a web shop and print it out). The more specialized the goods, the higher the gap between Finnish and international prices, and mail order may save a lot of money. When a package is intercepted by customs (which is quite rate for physically small items), the buyer is notified and can pick it up from customs. VAT and possibly import duty are charged, bring a copy of the order that is then signed by the buyer and archived. When buying consumer electronics, one should be aware that the shelf life of products can be rather long, especially if the shop isnt specialized in consumer electronics. There is a risk to buy an overpriced product that has already been discontinued by the manufacturer or replaced with a newer model. Eat edit add listing A typical Finnish meal. Clockwise from bottom: warm smoked salmon, boiled potatoes, cream sauce with chantarelles, lightly pickled cucumbers with dill Finnish cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbors, the main staples being potatoes and bread with various fish and meat dishes on the side. Milk or cream is traditionally considered an important part of the diet and is often an ingredient in foods and a drink, even for adults. Various milk products such as cheeses are also produced. While traditional Finnish food is famously bland, the culinary revolution that followed joining the EU has seen a boom in classy restaurants experimenting with local ingredients, often with excellent results. Seafood edit With tens of thousands of lakes and a long coastline, fish is a Finnish staple, and theres a lot more on that menu than just salmon ( lohi ). Specialities include: Baltic herring ( silakka ), a small, fatty and quite tasty fish available pickled, marinated, smoked, grilled and in countless other varieties Gravlax (graavilohi), a pan-Scandinavian appetizer of raw salted salmon Smoked salmon ( savulohi ), not just the cold, thinly sliced, semi-raw kind but also fully cooked warm smoked salmon Vendace ( muikku ), a speciality in eastern Finland, a small fish served fried, heavily salted and typically with mashed potatoes Other local fish to look out for include zander ( kuha ), an expensive delicacy, pike ( hauki ) and perch ( ahven ). Meat dishes edit Reindeer stew ( poronkristys ), a Lappish favorite Meatballs ( lihapullat ), served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam Karelian stew ( karjalanpaisti ), a heavy stew usually made from beef and pork (and optionally, lamb), carrots and onions, usually served with potatoes Liver casserole ( maksalaatikko ), consisting of chopped liver, rice and raisins cooked in an oven it tastes rather different from what youd expect (and not liver-y at all) Loop sausage ( lenkkimakkara ), a large, mildly flavored sausage best when grilled and topped with a dab of sweet Finnish mustard ( sinappi ), and beer Meat balls ( lihapullat . lihapyrykt ) are as popular and tasty as in neighboring Sweden Reindeer ( poro ) dishes, especially sauteed reindeer shavings ( poronkristys . served with potato mash and lingonberries), not actually a part of the everyday Finnish diet but a tourist staple and common in the frigid North Swedish hash (pyttipannu), (originally from Sweden. Swedish: pytt i panna) a hearty dish of potatoes, onions and any meaty leftovers on hand fried up in a pan and topped with an egg Makkara traditional Finnish sausage. Affectionately called the Finnish mans vegetable since the actual meat content may be rather low. Milk products edit Cheese and other milk products are very popular in Finland. The most common varieties are mild hard cheeses like Edam and Emmental, but local specialities include: Aura cheese ( aurajuusto ), a local variety of blue cheese, also used in soups, sauces and as a pizza topping. Breadcheese ( leipjuusto or juustoleip ), a type of very mild-flavored grilled curd that squeaks when you eat it, best enjoyed warm with a dab of cloudberry jam Piim . a type of buttermilk beverage, thick and sour Viili . a gelatinous, stretchy and sour variant of yoghurt Other dishes edit Karelian pie ( karjalanpiirakka ), a signature Finnish pastry Pea soup ( hernekeitto ), usually but not always with ham, traditionally eaten with a dab of mustard and served on Thursdays just watch out for the flatulence Karelian pies ( karjalanpiirakka ), an oval 7 by 10 cm baked pastry, traditionally baked with rye flour, containing rice porridge or mashed potato, ideally eaten topped with butter and chopped egg ( munavoi ) Porridge ( puuro ), usually made from oats ( kaura ), barley ( ohra ), rice ( riisi ) or rye ( ruis ) and most often served for breakfast Bread edit Bread ( leip ) is served with every meal in Finland, and comes in a vast array of varieties. Rye bread is the most popular bread in Finland. Typically Finnish ones include: hapankorppu . dry, crispy and slightly sour flatbread, occasionally sold overseas as Finncrisp limppu . catch-all term for big loaves of fresh bread nkkileip . another type of dark, dried, crispy rye flatbread ruisleip (rye bread), can be up to 100 rye and much darker, heavier and chewier than American-style rye bread unlike in Swedish tradition, Finnish rye bread is typically unsweetened and thus sour and even bitter. rieska . unleavened bread made from wheat or potatoes, eaten fresh Seasonal and regional specialities edit Attack of the killer mushrooms The false morel ( korvasieni ) has occasionally been dubbed the Finnish fugu, as like the infamous Japanese pufferfish, an improperly prepared false morel can kill you . Fortunately, its easily rendered safe by boiling (just dont breathe in the fumes), and prepared mushrooms can be found in gourmet restaurants and even canned. From the end of July until early September its worthwhile to ask for crayfish ( rapu ) menus and prices at better restaurants. Its not cheap, you dont get full from the crayfish alone and there are many rituals involved, most of which involve large quantities of ice-cold vodka, but it should be tried at least once. Or try to sneak onto a corporate crayfish party guestlist, places are extremely coveted at some. Around Christmas, baked ham is the traditional star of the dinner table, with a constellation of casseroles around it. There are also regional specialties, including Eastern Finland s kalakukko (a type of giant fish pie ) and Tampere s infamous blood sausage ( mustamakkara ). Around Easter keep an eye out for mmmi . a type of brown sweet rye pudding which is eaten with cream and sugar. It looks famously unpleasant but actually tastes quite good. Desserts edit An assortment of pulla straight from the oven For dessert or just as a snack, Finnish pastries abound and are often taken with coffee (see Drink ) after a meal. Look for cardamom coffee bread ( pulla ), a wide variety of tarts ( torttu ), and donuts ( munkki ). In summer, a wide range of fresh berries are available, including the delectable but expensive cloudberry ( lakka ), and berry products are available throughout the year as jam ( hillo ), soup ( keitto ) and a type of gooey clear pudding known as kiisseli . Finnish chocolate is also rather good, with Fazer 46 products including their iconic Sininen (Blue) bar exported around the world. A more Finnish speciality is licorice ( lakritsi ), particularly the strong, salty kind known as salmiakki . which gets its unique (and acquired) taste from ammonium chloride. Places to eat edit Cold fish buffet at Liekkilohi, Savonlinna Finns tend to eat out only on special occasions, and restaurant prices are correspondingly expensive. The one exception is lunchtime . when thanks to a government-sponsored lunch coupon system company cafeterias and nearly every restaurant in town offers set lunches for around 8-9, usually consisting of a main course, salad bar, bread table and a drink. University cafeterias, many of which are open to all, are particularly cheap with meals in the 2-4 range for students, although without local student ID you will usually need to pay about 5-7. There are also public cafeterias in office administration areas that are open only during lunch hours on working days. While not particularly stylish and sometimes hard to find, those usually offer high-quality buffet lunch at a reasonable price (typically 8.40 in 2011). The cafe scene has quickly developed, especially since the 1990s and above all in Helsinki. The array of cakes and pastries is not perhaps as vast as in Central Europe. but the local special coffees (lattes, mochas etc.) are worth trying when it comes to the two big local coffee house chains: Waynes Coffee (originated in Sweden) and Roberts Coffee (Finland). You can now also find Starbucks in Finland. For dinner, youll be limited to generic fast food (pizza, hamburgers, kebabs and such) in the 5-10 range, or youll have to splurge over 20 for a meal in a nice restaurant. For eating on the move, look for grill kiosks ( grilli ), which serve sausages, hamburgers and other portable if not terribly health-conscious fare late into the night at reasonable prices. In addition to the usual hamburgers and hot dogs, look for meat pies ( lihapiirakka ), akin to a giant savoury doughnut stuffed with minced meat and your choice of sausage, fried eggs and condiments. Hesburger 47 is the local fast-food equivalent of McDonalds, with a similar menu. They have a Finnish interpretation of a few dishes, such as a sour-rye chicken sandwich. Of course most international fast food chains are present, especially McDonalds, which offers many of their sandwich buns substituted with a sour-rye bun on request. The Finnish word for buffet is seisova pyt (standing table), and while increasingly used to refer to all-you-can-eat Chinese or Italian restaurants, the traditional meaning is akin to Swedens smrgsbord . a good-sized selection of sandwiches, fish, meats and pastries. Its traditionally eaten in three rounds 8212 first the fish, then the cold meats, and finally warm dishes 8212 and its usually the first that is the star of the show. Though expensive and not very common in a restaurant setting, if you are fortunate enough to be formally invited to a Finns home, they will likely have prepared a spread for their guest, along with plenty of coffee. Breakfast at better hotels is also along these lines and its easy to eat enough to cover lunch as well If youre really on a budget, you can save a considerable amount of money by self-catering . Ready-to-eat casseroles and other basic fare that can be quickly prepared in a microwave can be bought for a few euros in any supermarket. Note that youre usually expected to weigh and label any fruits or vegetables yourself (bag it, place it on the scale and press the numbered button. The correct number can be found from the price sign), and green signs mean possibly tastier but certainly more expensive organic ( luomu ) produce. One should be aware that more often than not, cheap food contains disproportionate amounts of fat. At restaurants, despite the high prices, portions tend to be quite small, at least when compared to USA and Canada. and even many European countries. Dietary restrictions edit Traditional Finnish cuisine relies heavily on meat and fish, but vegetarianism ( kasvissynti ) is increasingly popular and well-understood, and will rarely pose a problem for travellers. Practically all restaurants offer vegetarian options, often marked with a V on menus. Two ailments commonly found among Finns themselves are lactose intolerance ( laktoosi-intoleranssi . inability to digest the milk sugar lactose) and coeliac disease ( keliakia . inability to digest gluten). In restaurants, lactose-free selections are often tagged L (low-lactose products are sometimes called Hyla or marked with VL), while gluten-free options are marked with G. However, hydrolyzed lactose (HYLA brand) milk or lactose-free milk drink for the lactose intolerant is widely available, which also means that a lactose-free dish is not necessarily milk-free. Allergies are quite common among Finnish people, too, so restaurant workers are usually quite knowledgeable on what goes into each dish and often it is possible to get the dish without certain ingredients if specified. Kosher and halal food are rare in Finland and generally not available outside very limited speciality shops and restaurants catering to the tiny Jewish and Islamic communities. Watch out for minced meat dishes like meatballs, which very commonly use a mix of beef and pork. The Jewish Community of Helsinki 48 runs a small kosher deli in Helsinki. and there are Halal grocery stores and restaurants in some larger towns. Drink edit add listing Thanks to its thousands of lakes, Finland has plenty of water supplies and tap water is always potable (In fact, never buy bottled water if you can get tap water). The usual soft drinks and juices are widely available, but look out for a wide array of berry juices ( marjamehu ), especially in summer, as well as Pommac . an unusual soda made from (according to the label) mixed fruits, which youll either love or hate. Coffee and tea edit Finns are the worlds heaviest coffee ( kahvi ) drinkers, averaging 3-4 cups per day. Most Finns drink it strong and black, but sugar and milk for coffee are always available and the more European variants such as espresso and cappuccino are becoming all the more common especially in the bigger cities. The biggest towns have had French-style fancy cafs for quite some time and modern competitors, like Waynes or Roberts Coffee, are springing up in the mix. For a quick caffeine fix, you can just pop into any convenience store, which will pour you a cuppa for 83642 or so. Tea hasnt quite caught on in quite the same way, although finding hot water and a bag of Lipton Yellow Label wont be a problem. For brewed tea, check out some of the finer downtown cafs or tea rooms. Dairy edit In Finland some people like to drink milk ( maito ) as an accompaniment to food at home or at the cafeteria at work or school. The most popular beverage is water, though. Another popular option is piim . or buttermilk. Viili . a type of curd, acts like super-stretchy liquid bubble gum but is similar to plain yogurt in taste. It is traditionally eaten with cinnamon and sugar on top. Fermented dairy products help stabilize the digestion system, so if your system is upset, give them a try. Alcohol edit Chilling out at the Arctic Icebar, Helsinki Alcohol is very expensive in Finland compared to most countries (though not to its Nordic neighbours Sweden and Norway ), although low-cost Estonia s entry to the EU has forced the government to cut alcohol taxes a little. Still, a single beer will cost you closer to 83644-5 in any bar or pub, or 83641 and up in a supermarket. While beer and cider are available in any supermarket or convenience store (until 9 PM), the state monopoly Alko 49 is your sole choice for wine or anything stronger. The legal drinking age is 18 for milder drinks, while to buy hard liquor from Alko you need to be 20. ID is usually requested from all young-looking clients. Some restaurants have higher age requirements, up to 30 years, but these are their own policies and are not always followed, especially at more quiet times. Surprisingly enough, the national drink is not Finlandia Vodka, but its local brand Koskenkorva 50 or Kossu in common speech. However, the two drinks are closely related: Kossu is 38 while Finlandia is 40, and Kossu also has a small amount of added sugar, which makes the two drinks taste somewhat different. There are also many other vodkas ( viina ) on the market, most of which taste pretty much the same, but look out for Strm . The Spirit of Santa, a Finnish attempt at a super-premium vodka. A local speciality is Salmiakki-Kossu or Salmari . prepared by mixing in salty black salmiakki licorice, whose taste masks the alcohol behind it fearfully well. Add in some Fishermans Friend menthol cough drops to get Fisu (Fish) shots, which are even more lethal. In-the-know hipsters opt for Pantteri (Panther), which is half and half Salmari and Fisu. Other classic shots are Jaloviina ( Jallu ) cut brandy and Tervasnapsi tar schnapps with a distinctive smoke aroma. Beer ( olut or kalja ) is also very popular, but Finnish beers are mostly nearly identical, mild lagers: common brands are Lapin Kulta . Karjala . Olvi . Koff and Karhu . Pay attention to the label when buying: beers branded I are inexpensive but has low alcohol content, while III and IV are stronger and more expensive. In normal shops you will not find any drinks with more than 4.7 alcohol. You may also encounter kotikalja (lit. home beer), a dark brown beer-like but very low-alcohol beverage. Imported beers are available in bigger grocery stores, most pubs and bars, and Czech beers in particular are popular and only slightly more expensive. In recent years, some microbreweries ( Laitila . Stadin panimo . Nokian panimo etc.) have been gaining foothold with their domestic dark lagers, wheat beers and ales. The latest trend is ciders ( siideri ). Most of these are artificially flavored sweet concoctions which are quite different from the English or French kinds, although the more authentic varieties are gaining market share. The ever-popular gin long drink or lonkero (lit. tentacle), a prebottled mix of gin and grapefruit soda, tastes better than it sounds and has the additional useful property of glowing under ultraviolet light. At up to 610 kcalliter it also allows to skip dinner, leaving more time for drinking. Different variations of lonkero have become quite popular as well, for example karpalolonkero . which is made from gin and cranberry soda. Remember that most long drinks you buy from a supermarket are made by fermenting, and if you want to get real mixed drink youll have to look for them in Alko . During the winter dont miss glgi . a type of spiced mulled wine served with almonds and raisins which can easily be made at home. The bottled stuff in stores is usually alcohol free, although it was originally made of old wine and Finns will very often mix in some wine or spirits. In restaurants, glgi is served either alcohol-free, or with 2cl vodka added. Fresh, hot glgi can, for example, be found at the Helsinki Christmas market. Quite a few unusual liquors ( likri ) made from berries are available, although theyre uniformly very sweet and usually served with dessert. Cloudberry liquor ( lakkalikri ) is worth a short even if you dont like the berries fresh. Homemade spirits: you have been warned More common in rural areas, illegal and frequently distilled on modified water purification plants - which are subject to import control laws nowadays - anecdotical evidence suggests that those are occasionally played as a prank on unsuspecting foreigners. Note that normal alcohol slows the metabolism of poisonous methanol and thus acts as an antidote. Politely decline the offer, especially if still sober. Finally, two traditional beverages worth looking for are mead ( sima ), an age-old wine-like brew made from brown sugar, lemon and yeast and consumed particularly around Mays Vappu festival, and sahti . a type of unfiltered, usually very strong beer often flavored with juniper berries (an acquired taste). Sleep edit add listing Inside a Finnish sauna Sauna The sauna is perhaps Finlands most significant contribution to the world (and the worlds vocabulary). The sauna is essentially a room heated to 708211120176C according to an oft-quoted statistic this nation of 5 million has no less than 2 million saunas, in apartments, offices, summer cottages and even Parliament. In ancient times, saunas (being the cleanest places around) were the place to give birth and heal the sick, and the first building constructed when setting up a new household. If invited to visit a Finnish home, you may be invited to bathe in the sauna as well 8212 this is an honour and should be treated as such, although Finns do understand that foreigners may not be keen about the idea. Enter the sauna nude after taking a shower, as wearing a bathing suit or any other clothing is considered a bit of a faux pas . although if you are feeling shy, you can wrap yourself in a bath towel. (When there are guests, men and women usually bathe separately.) The temperature is regulated by throwing water onto the stove ( kiuas ): the resulting rush of heat, known as lyly . is considered the key to the sauna experience. Some sauna-goers also like to flagellate themselves with leafy branches of birch ( vihta in western Finland, vasta in eastern Finland), which creates an enjoyable aroma and improves blood circulation. Depending on the occasion, the temperature in a Finnish sauna may start quite hot and gradually cool down over the hours, especially in a wood-heated sauna. The lower benches are cooler, the corner that is the furthest away from the stove is usually the hottest place. In work-related events, the actual decision-making frequently takes place in the sauna afterwards. In public saunas (hotels, gyms and the like), it is customary to sit on a paper towel (dont forget to take it out when leaving). The environment is rather hostile towards germs, so there is no need to worry about catching a disease from the sweaty wooden bench. If the heat is too much, cup your hands in front of your mouth or move down to a lower level to catch your breath. In winter, it is common to go for a swim in an ice hole in a nearby lake. The ground can be much colder than the water - use beach sandals or the like, if possible. After youve had your fill of sauna, you can cool off by heading outside for a dip in the lake or, in winter, a roll in the snow 8212 and then head back in for another round. Repeat this a few times, then cork open a cold beer, roast a sausage over a fire, and enjoy total relaxation Finnish style. These days the most common type of sauna features an electrically heated stove, which is easy to control and maintain. In the countryside you can still find wood-fired saunas, but purists prefer the (now very rare) traditional chimneyless smoke saunas ( savusauna ), where the sauna is heated by filling it with hot smoke and then ventilated well before entering. Anyone elderly or with a medical condition (especially high blood pressure) should consult their physician before using a sauna. Accommodation in Finland is expensive, but many large hotels are cheaper during the weekends and summer. In addition to the usual international suspects, check out local chains Cumulus 51. Scandic 52. Finlandia 53 and Sokos 54. The small but fast-growing Omena 55 chain offers cheap self-service hotels, where you book online and get a keycode for your room, with no check-in of any kind needed. One of the few ways to limit the damage is to stay in youth hostels ( retkeilymaja ), as the Finnish Youth Hostel Association 56 has a fairly comprehensive network throughout the country and and a dorm bed usually costs less than 836420 per night. Many hostels also have private rooms for as little as 836430, which are a great deal if you want a little extra privacy. An even cheaper option is to take advantage of Finlands right to access. or Every Mans Right ( jokamiehenoikeus ), which allows camping, hiking, and berry and mushroom picking as well as simple (rod and hook) fishing on uncultivated land. Since this is occasionally mis-interpreted by visiting foreigners, it may be a good idea to discuss travel plans with a local - or simply ask - to avoid embarrassing situations. Note that making a fire requires landowners permission. For a taste of the Finnish countryside, an excellent option is to stay at a cottage ( mkki ), thousands of which dot the lake shores. These are generally best in summer, but there are also many cottages around Laplands ski resorts. Prices vary widely based on facilities and location: simple cottages can go for as little as 836420night, while luxurious multistory mansions can go for 10 times that. Beware that, while all but the most basic ones will have electricity, its very common for cottages to lack running water: instead, the cottage will have an outhouse (pit toilet) and youre expected to bathe in the sauna and lake. Renting a car is practically obligatory since there are unlikely to be any facilities (shops, restaurants, etc) within walking distance. The largest cottage rental services are Lomarengas 57 and Nettimkki 58. both of which have English interfaces. Virtually every lodging in Finland includes a sauna ( see box ) for guests 8212 dont miss it Check operating hours though, as theyre often only heated in the evenings and there may be separate shifts of men and women. Learn edit Finlands universities are generally well-regarded and offer many exchange programs, but the high cost of living and the prospect of facing the long, cold Finnish winter mean that the country is not a particularly popular choice. However, there are no tuition fees for regular degree students, including international exchange students. While lectures are usually conducted in Finnish, most universities offer the option to complete all courses through assignments and exams in English. Many universities also offer the option to study Finnish at various levels. A reasonable monthly budget (excluding rent) would be 600 to 900. Rents vary depending on location such that in Greater Helsinki and particularly Helsinki proper prices may be two times that of cheaper locations or student housing. Many exchange programs fully or partly subsidize accommodation in student dorms. However, the state does not provide student accommodation and dorms are usually owned by student unions and foundations. Student union membership at around 70-100year is obligatory, but this includes free access to student health services. EU citizens can simply enter the country and register as a student after arrival, while students from elsewhere will need to arrange their residence permit beforehand. CIMO 59 (Centre for International Mobility) administers exchange programs and can arrange scholarships and traineeships in Finland, while the Finnish National Board of Education 60 offers basic information about study opportunities. Work edit There is little informal work to be found and most jobs require at least a remedial level of Finnish. Citizens of European Union countries can work freely in Finland, but acquiring a work permit from outside the EU means doing battle with the infamous Directorate of Immigration ( Maahanmuuttovirasto ) 61. However, students permitted to study full-time in Finland are allowed work part-time (up to 25 hweek) or even full-time during holiday periods. For jobs, you might want to check out the Ministry of Labour 62. Most of the posted jobs are described in Finnish so you may need some help in translation, but some jobs are in English. A rapidly growing trend in Finland, especially for the younger generation, is to work for placement agencies. Although there has been a massive surge of public companies going private in the last ten years, this trend seems to be fueled by the increased demand for more flexible work schedules as well as the freedom to work seasonally or sporadically. Due to the nature of these types of agencies as well as the types of work they provide, it is common for them to hire non-Finns. Some agencies include Adecco, Staff Point, Manpower, Aaltovoima and Biisoni. If you are invited to a job interview, remember that modesty is a virtue in Finland. Finns appreciate facts and directness, so stay on topic and be truthful. Exaggeration and bragging is usually associated with lying. You can check expected salaries with the union for your field, as they usually have defined minimum wages. Salaries range from 1,200 - 6,500 per month (2010). Stay safe edit Crimeviolence: Low Most violence is alcohol-related andor domestic walking in the street is usually safe even in the night Authoritiescorruption: Low The police are generally courteous and speak some English, offering bribes will get you into serious trouble. Transportation: Low to Moderate Icy roads and sidewalks in the winter, mooses and other animals occasionally crossing the roads Health: Low Tick and mosquito bites Nature: Low to Moderate Blizzards in the winter, getting lost when hiking in the forests Crime edit Finland enjoys a comparatively low crime rate and is, generally, a very safe place to travel. Use common sense at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday when the youth of Finland hit the streets to get drunk and in some unfortunate cases look for trouble. The easiest way to get beaten is to pay a visit at a grill kiosk after bars and pubs have closed and start arguing with drunken people. It is, anyway statistically more likely that your home country is less safe than Finland, so heed whatever warnings you would do in your own country and you will have no worries. If you yourself run in with the law, remember that Finland is one of the worlds least corrupt countries and you will not be able to buy yourself out of trouble. Finnish police never requires a cash payment of fines which it gives. Do not ever give money to person who presents himherself as a police officer. An obvious way to stay out of most kinds of trouble is to stay sober and act businesslike, when dealing with police, security or the like. Racism is a generally of minor concern, especially in the cosmopolitan major cities, but there have been a few rare but highly publicized incidents of black, romani amp Arab people getting beaten up, attacks against immigrants and group fights with native Finns amp immigrants. Sometimes there might be group fights where immigrants do their part as well, but thats very uncommon. The average visitor, though, is highly unlikely to encounter any problems. Pickpockets are rare, but not unheard of, especially in the busy tourist months in the summer and almost always done by foreigners. Most Finns carry their wallets in their pockets or purses and feel quite safe while doing it. Parents often leave their sleeping babies in a baby carriage on the street while visiting a shop, and in the countryside cars and house doors are often left unlocked. On the other hand, you have to be careful if you buy or rent a bicycle. Bicycle thieves are everywhere, never leave your bike unlocked even for a minute. In case of emergency edit 112 is the national phone number for all emergency services, including police, and it does not require an area code, regardless of what kind of phone youre using. The number works on any mobile phone, whether it is keylocked or not, and with or without a SIM card. If a cellphone challenges you with a PIN code, you can simply type in 112 as a PIN code - most phones will give a choice to call the number. This is not possible with all phones For inquiries about poisons or toxins (from mushrooms, plants, medicine or other chemicals) call the national Toxin Information Office at (09) 471 977. At sea, the maritime search and rescue number is 0294 1000. Stay healthy edit Signs to watch out for vaara, vaarallinen160 danger, dangerous sortumisvaara160 risk of avalanchelandslidemudslide hirvivaara160 risk of mooseelks on the road hengenvaara160 life threatening danger tulipalo160 fire kielletty160 prohibited psy kielletty or privat no entry htuloskynti or htpoistumistie160 emergency exit lkri160 doctor poliisi160 police sairaala160 hospital apua160 help Youre unlikely to have stomach troubles in Finland, since tap water is always drinkable (and generally quite tasty as well), and hygiene standards in restaurants are strict. If you have any sort of allergies, many restaurants often display in the menu the most common ingredients that people typically are allergic to. Examples: (L) Lactose free, (VL) Low Lactose, (G) Gluten free, if you are unsure just ask the waitress or restaurant staff. There are few serious health risks in Finland. Your primary enemy especially in wintertime will be the cold . particularly if trekking in Lapland. Finland is a sparsely populated country and, if heading out into the wilderness, it is imperative that you register your travel plans with somebody who can inform rescue services if you fail to return. Always keep your mobile phone with you if you run into trouble. Dress warmly in layers and bring along a good pair of sunglasses to prevent snow blindness . especially in the spring and if you plan to spend whole days outdoors. Always keep a map, a compass and preferably a GPS with you while trekking in the wilderness. Take extra precautions in Lapland, where it can be several days hike to the nearest house or road. Weather can change rapidly, and even though the sun is shining now, you can have a medium sized blizzard on your hands (no joke) an hour or two later. If out on the lakes and sea, remember that wind and water will cool you faster than cold air, and keeping dry means keeping warm. A person that falls into cold water (close to zero C) can die in a few minutes. Safety in small boats . Dont drink alcohol, wear a life vest at all times, if your boat capsizes - keep clothes on to stay warm, cling to the boat if possible (swim only if shore is a few hundred meters away, never try to swim in cold water below 20176C). Finland hosts a number of irritating insects, but if you are planning to stay in the centres of major cities, you are unlikely to encounter them. A serious nuisance in summer are mosquitoes ( hyttynen ), hordes of which inhabit Finland (particularly Lapland) in summer, especially after rains. While they carry no malaria or other nasty diseases, many species of Finnish mosquitoes make a distinctive (and highly irritating) whining sound while tracking their prey, and their bites are very itchy. As usual, mosquitoes are most active around dawn and sunset 8212 which, in the land of the Midnight Sun, may mean most of the night in summer. There are many different types of mosquito repellants available which can be bought from almost any shop. Another summer nuisance are gadflies ( paarma ), whose bites can leave a mark lasting for days, even for month. A more recent introduction to Finnish summers are deer keds ( hirvikrpnen ), that can be particularly nasty if they manage to shed their wings and burrow into hair (although they rarely bite as humans are not their intended targets, and mainly exist in deep forests). Use repellent, ensure your tent has good mosquito netting and consider prophylaxis with cetirizine (brand names include Zyrtec . Heinix . Cetirizin Ratiopharm ), an anti-allergen that (if taken in advance) will neutralize your reaction to any bites. Topical anti-allergens in the form of gels and creams are also available as over-the-counter medication. A flea comb can be useful for removing deer keds. As in other European countries, mites can become a major annoyance, if walking bare-footed. As a remedy, Permethrin creme is available from pharmacies without prescription. In southern Finland, especially land. the Lappeenranta - Parikkala - Imatra - axis and areas near Turku s coast, there are ticks ( punkki ) which appear on summertime and can transmit Lymes disease (borreliosis) and viral encephalitis through a bite. Although these incidents are relatively rare and not all ticks carry the disease, its advisable to wear dark trousers rather than shorts if you plan to walk through dense andor tall grass areas (the usual habitat for ticks). You can buy special tick tweezers from the pharmacy ( punkkipihdit ) which can be used to remove a tick safely if you happen to get bitten. You should remove the tick from your skin as quickly as possible and preferably with the tick tweezers to reduce the risks of getting an infection. If the tick bite starts to form red rings on the skin around it or if you experience other symptoms relating to the bite, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. The only venomous insects in Finland are wasps ( ampiainen ), bees ( mehilinen ) and bumblebees ( kimalainen ). Their stings can be painful, but are not dangerous, unless you receive several stings or if you are allergic to it. Theres only one type of venomous snake in Finland, the European adder ( kyy or kyykrme ), which has a distinct zig-zag type of figure on its back, although some of them are almost completely black. They are mostly found near lake sides and sometimes in the streets like Kristianinkatu and Kamppi. The snake occurs across Finland all the way from the south to up north in Lapland. Although their bites are extremely rarely fatal (except for small children and allergic persons), one should be careful in the summertime especially when walking in the forests or on open fields at the countryside. Walk so that you make the ground vibrate and snakes will go away, they attack people only when somebody frightens them. If you are bitten by a snake, always get medical assistance. If you are planning to travel in the nature on summertime, its advisable to buy a kyypakkaus (Adder pack, a medicine set which contains a couple of hydrocortisone pills). It can be bought from any Finnish pharmacy. It is used to reduce the reactions after an adder bite, however its still advisable to see a doctor even after youve taken the hydrocortisone pills. The kyypakkaus can also be used to relieve the pain, swelling and other allergic reactions caused by bee stings. If you see an ant nest, ants have quite likely taken care of all snakes nearby. As for other dangerous wildlife, theres not much more than a few extremely rare encounters with brown bears ( karhu ) and wolves ( susi ) in the wilderness. Both of these animals are listed as endangered species. Contrary to popular belief abroad, there are no polar bears in Finland, let alone polar bears walking on the city streets. The brown bear, which occurs across Finland, has been spotted on a few very exceptional occasions even in the edges of the largest Finnish cities, but normally bears try to avoid humans whenever possible. The brown bear hibernates during the winter. In the least densely populated areas near the Russian border, there has been some rare incidents of wolf attacks - mainly lone, hungry wolves attacking domestic animals and pets. During the past 100 years there has been one recorded case of a human killed by a large predator. In general, theres no need to worry about dangerous encounters with wild beasts in Finland, other than traffic accidents. In winter, lakes and the sea are frozen. Walking, skating or even driving a car on the ice is commonly seen, but fatal accidents arent unheard of either, so ask and heed local advice. If the ice fails, it is difficult to get back out of the water, as the ice will be slippery. Small ice picks are sold as safety equipment (a pair of steel needles with bright plastic grips, connected with a safety line). Given the size of the Finnish population, a surprisingly high number of people drown in the lakes every year in summer. As pointed out by an annual public awareness campaign (partly Finnish black humor, partly the truth), the stereotypical accident involves an intoxicated fisherman who capsizes his boat while standing up to pee. Respect edit Fishing Finnish style It was a beautiful summer day, and Virtanen and Lahtinen were in a little rowboat in the middle of a lake, fishing. Two hours passed, both men sitting quietly, and then Lahtinen said Nice weather today. Virtanen grunted and stared intently at his fishing rod. Two more hours passed. Lahtinen said, Gee, the fish arent biting today. Virtanen shot back: Thats because you talk too much. Drinking Finnish style Virtanen and Lahtinen decided to go drinking at their lakeside cottage. For a couple hours, both men sat silently and emptied their bottles. After a few more hours, Lahtinen decided to break the ice: Isnt it nice to have some quality time Virtanen glared at Lahtinen and answered: Are we here to drink or talk Finns generally have a relaxed attitude towards manners, and a visitor is unlikely to offend them by accident. Common sense is quite enough in most situations, but there are a couple of things that one should keep in mind: Finns are a famously taciturn people who have little time for small talk or social niceties, so dont expect to hear phrases like thank you or youre welcome too often. The Finnish language lacks a specific word for please so Finns sometimes forget to use it when speaking English, even when they dont mean to be rude. That being said, Finns are generally very helpful and polite, and glad to help confused tourists if asked. The lack of niceties has more to do with the fact that in Finnish culture, honesty is highly regarded and that one should open ones mouth only to mean what one is about to say. Do not say maybe later when there is no later time to be expected. A visitor is unlikely to receive many compliments from Finns, but can be fairly sure that the compliments received are genuine. Occasional silence is considered a part of the conversation, not a sign of hostility or irritation. Being loud in crowded places like public transport or a restaurant is considered rude. If you ever ended up to argue with someone, the social norm is to stay calm during an argument . Arguing loudly with a stranger is considered very rude. Punctuality is a highly regarded virtue in Finland. A visitor should apologize even for being a few minutes late. Being late for longer usually requires a short explanation. 10 min is usually considered the threshold between being acceptably late and very late. Some will leave arranged meeting points after 15 min. With the advent of mobile phones, sending a text message even if you are only a few minutes late is nowadays a norm. Being late for a business meeting, even by 1 or 2 min, is considered rude. The standard greeting is a handshake . Hugs are only exchanged between family members and close friends in some situations, kisses, even on the cheek, practically never. Personal space is important, and standing very near someone can make Finns feel uncomfortable. If you are invited to a Finnish home, the only bad mistake visitors can make is not to remove their shoes . For much of the year, shoes will carry a lot of snow or mud. Therefore, it is customary to remove them, even during the summer, and not doing so is considered impolite. During the wet season you can ask to put your shoes somewhere to dry during your stay. Very formal occasions at private homes, such as baptisms (often conducted at home in Finland) or somebodys 50th birthday party, are exceptions to these rules. In the wintertime, this sometimes means that the guests bring separate clean shoes and put them on while leaving outdoor shoes to the hall. Bringing gifts such as pastry, wine, or flowers to the host is appreciated, but not required. In Finland, there is little in the way of a dress code . The general attire is casual and even in business meetings the attire is somewhat more relaxed than in some other countries. Topless sunbathing is accepted but not very common on beaches in the summer, while going au naturel is common in lakeside saunas and dedicated nudist beaches. Finnish society is egalitarian . Finnish women participate actively in the workforce and are well represented in leadership roles. Finnish language also does not distinguish between he and she, which may lead to confusing errors. Signs of social rank such as official titles like Sir or Dr. are often not used, and it is very common for people to address their superiors like teachers or bosses informally, such as by first name. If you are someones elder or superior and addressed in this fashion, it is not meant as a sign of disrespect. Especially younger Finns usually speak excellent English, in part due to the policy of subtitling foreign language movies and TV series instead of dubbing them. However, picking up a few local words is also a good idea. Finnish is a hard language to master, but knowing a few words will definitely be received warmly. When interacting with Swedish-speaking Finns, knowing a few words of Swedish will be received very well. The cultural region to which Finland belongs is correctly referred to as Nordic or North European . Finns do not generally consider themselves Scandinavian or East European . and these usually refer to Finlands neighboring countries. While you wont really offend anyone if you use these terms, it might be considered ignorant or amusing if you do. Finns are typically very interested in perceptions of Finland abroad . an inside joke of sorts is the disproportionate feeling of pride when their small country is mentioned abroad, even for something minuscule ( Suomi mainittu, torille or Finlands been mentioned, to the town square ). It is good to keep in mind that Finns will often listen to your opinion of them very carefully. Even though it is unlikely that youll seriously offend anybody, certain topics of discussion can sometimes be slightly sensitive. Although once a part of the Russian Empire, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in WWII and has remained unaligned since the Cold War, and referring to Finland as belonging to the Russian sphere of influence most likely wont be appreciated. A majority of Finnish men still serve for some time in the Finnish armed forces, and expressing strong views on the military or on wartime history can sometimes stir up emotions. Finnish war veterans from World War II are highly respected and considered honorary citizens in Finnish society. Jokes about characteristic Finnish domestic problems should only be made only if you know they will be received well. Finns tend to have a pretty sarcastic and self-critical sense of humour, and jokes about high rates of depression, suicide and alcoholism may be common. However, it is nonetheless good to remember that these are serious social problems that cause misery to many people and their loved ones. Contact edit By mail edit Finlands mail service, run by Posti. is fast, reliable and pricy. A postcard to Finland and anywhere in the world costs 1. By phone edit