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Finland
| Leisure |
| Getting Around |
By boat: Lake & river crossings: Lake and river ferries operate during summer. Departures tend to be sporadic from May to mid-June and during August, but are very steady from mid-June to the end of July. Sea ferries: Several kinds of ferries operate between various islands and coastal towns, especially near Turku and in the province of Åland. Several cruise companies run express boats to interesting islands off the coast, particularly along the south coast. There are summer cruises aboard historic steamships to mainland towns that may be reached more by car, bus or train. By bus: Long-distance buses in Finland are efficient and run on schedule. They're comfortable, and the service is comprehensive, covering 90% of Finland's roads. Buses are better for travelling from village to village. There are two kinds of inter-city bus services: vakiovuorot (regular buses) stopping frequently at towns and villages, and pikavuorot (express buses) travelling swiftly between cities. Long-distance and express bus travel ticketing is handled by Matkahuolto, whose excellent website has all timetables. Each town and municipal centre has a linja-autoasema (bus terminal), with local timetables displayed (lähtevät is departures, saapuvat arrivals). Most buses run hourly Monday to Friday between major towns. Restricted services operate on Saturday and public holidays. During summer, when school services are suspended, buses are dramatically reduced. The Matkahuolto offices work normal business hours, but you can always buy tickets on the buses. By car: Driving around Finland is hassle-free. Finland's road network is excellent and well signposted between centres, although there are only a few motorways around major cities. There are no road tolls. Petrol is much more expensive than in the USA and generally above average compared with other European countries. Car rental in Finland is more expensive than elsewhere in Europe, but between a group of three or four it can work out at a reasonable cost. From the major rental companies a small car, such as a VW Polo or Renault Clio, costs from €60 per day with 100km free, and €0.35 per kilometre thereafter, or €75 to €90 with unlimited kilometres. By train: Trains of the State Railways of Finland (Valtion Rautatiet or VR) are clean, reliable and usually on schedule. They are fast, efficient and the best form of public transport for covering major routes such as Helsinki to Tampere, Kuopio, Oulu or Rovaniemi. On longer routes there are two- and three-bed sleepers and special car-carriers. There are three main train lines: the Pohjanmaa (West) line runs between Helsinki and Oulu, and continues to Kemijärvi in Lapland; the Karelian route runs from Helsinki to Nurmes via Joensuu; and the Savonian route runs from Kouvola in the south to Kajaani, via Kuopio andIisalmi. By air: Finnair is the principal domestic carrier, and runs a comprehensive network from Helsinki, and from a couple of regional hubs. If you're between 17 and 24 the youth discount is 50%, but even better value is the youth stand-by fare. Available to those aged between 17 and 24, you need to arrive at the airport one hour before the flight of your choice and wait to see if there are any seats. By bicycle: Finland is largely a flat country and as bicycle-friendly as any country you'll find, with plenty of bike paths that cyclists share with inline skaters in summer. The only drawback to an extensive tour is distance, but bikes can be taken on most trains, buses and ferries. Helmets are required by law. |
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Some recommended dishes:
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| Sights |
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| Others eg. Travel Guide |
