Useful Information
Websites
Banks
All banks are open Mon-Fri 9:30–16:15 (office hours may vary regionally) and closed on weekends.
Foreign currency and travellers’ cheques can also be exchanged at the currency exchange offices at the Helsinki Central Railway Station, open daily 8:00–21:00, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, open daily 6:30–23:00. There are also exchange offices in the largest cities.
Currency
The Finnish currency unit is the Euro (EUR)
Traveller’s Cheques
Traveller’s cheques are accepted at all banks, travel agencies and hotels as well as in major shops.
The Eurocheques are accepted in banks and some shops.
International credit cards
Most international credit cards (Visa, Eurocard, Access, Mastercard, Diner’s Club, American Express) are accepted in most Finnish hotels, restaurants, car rentals, department stores, gas stations, and many more.
Check first at the cash registry.
Electrical appliances
The electricity current in Finland is 220 volts (230 volts) and 50 Hz. The plugs are two-pin continental sizes.
Emergencies
Dial 112 for an emergency. Other emergency numbers and instructions can be found in telephone books and directories or by asking your hotel porter. For medical services information see below.
Helsinki Card
The Helsinki Card is a bonus card for tourists with unlimited travel on Helsinki public transportation (bus, tram, train and metro), free sightseeing (daily during summer, on Sundays during winter), and free entry to more than 50 museums and sights in and around Helsinki, plus a guide book with maps in four languages. The Helsinki Card can be bought at 70 sales points: the Hotel booking Centre, Helsinki City Tourist Office, travel agencies and hotels. The price for adults is EUR 25 (24 hrs), EUR 35 (48 hrs), EUR 45 (72 hrs) and for children EUR 10, 13, and 16 respectively.
Information
For information, brochures and local details on sightseeing, accommodation, etc. can be obtained from the Tourist Offices (matkailutoimisto in Finnish). The News in English are broadcasted every morning and evening on the FBC (YLE) radio and TV Channel 1.
Lost and found
In Helsinki lost property is delivered to the Lost Property Service (löytötavaratoimisto), telephone +358-600-41006 (EUR 1.67/ min + local net charge), address Kauppiaankatu 8-10, open Mon-Fri 8:00–16:15. Elsewhere in the country missing items are best inquired for at the local police station.
Medical services
Medicines are sold only at pharmacies (apteekki). Note that the chemists sell only cosmetics. Many pharmacies have long opening hours and the pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96 has 24-hour service, tel. +359-9-4178 0300. All hospitals have doctors on duty around the clock. There is an increasing number of private practices and hospitals, which also provide for most dental care.
Passports and visa requirements
Finland accepts an officially issued and valid identity card in place of a passport from the citizens of all EU countries (except Greece), Liechtenstein, San Marino and Switzerland.
All other nationalities require a valid passport.
Entry documents are required of foreign nationals. The entry into and residence in Finland of foreign nationals is subject to the provisions of the Finnish Aliens Act and Aliens Decree and the Schengen Agreement and Convention. Entry documents refer to visa, residence permit and work permit. Nationals of some countries are required to present a visa, while others are granted access without a visa. Foreign nationals need a visa in the Schengen area and travel documents in Finland.
The new Member States of the EU (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia) do not yet apply the Schengen Convention, which is why the border controls will be kept between the borders of the new and old Member States for the time being.
These instructions are meant to apply to foreign nationals traveling or planning on traveling to Finland. Separate instructions are given on entry that requires a visa and on entry without the visa requirement.
As a rule, foreign nationals who require an entry visa are requested to apply it from either the Finnish mission or a mission of a Schengen country that represents Finland in their home country.
More information on document requirements:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Legal Department
P.O.Box 176
FI-00161 Helsinki
Internet: http://formin.finland.fi/english
Post offices and mail
The post offices are open Mon-Fri 9:00–18:00. Stamped mail can be posted in the yellow mailboxes for collection. Stamps are available at the post offices, most bookstores, paper shops, kiosks, and railway and bus stations.
The “Poste Restante”
Poste Restante is situated in the main post office in the centre of Helsinki, Elielinaukio 1F, 00100 Helsinki, and is open Mon-Fri 7:00–21:00, Sat-Sun 10:00–18:00. This same service is available at the main post offices in other towns too.
Public transportation
All towns and cities have public transportation services. Helsinki has bus, tram and metro lines and single tickets cost EUR 2.20. Tickets can be purchased in advance only with the Helsinki region Travel Card. Cost per ticket when purchased in advance EUR 1.70. Passenger train services connect the major cities and towns and the trains are clean and comfortable. Coach services in Finland form an integrated system and cover more than 90% of all public roads. Coach timetables are usually adapted to rail, air and sea connections.
Sauna and swimming
There is one sauna for every three people in Finland and visitors will find them everywhere – in hotels, private homes, on board ships, and holiday villages.
Shopping
The Finnish specialties are handicrafts, jewellery, hand-woven “ryijy” rugs, furniture, glassware, porcelain, ceramics, furs and textiles. Shops are open Mon-Fri 9:00–17:00/18:00 or even 21:00 and Sat 9:00–14:00/15:00 or even 18:00. The Helsinki Railway Station has an underground shopping centre where the shops are open Mon-Sat 10:00–22:00 and Sun 12:00–22:00. Additionally, some shops in Helsinki are open Sundays from June to August.
Tax-free shopping
Anyone permanently residing outside the EU and Norway can shop tax-free in Finland, thus saving 10-16% on purchases over EUR 40. Stores with Tax-Free Shopping signs will provide the customer with a VAT refund cheque, which can be cashed on leaving the last EU country visited. Tax-free purchases must be taken out of Finland and may not be used before leaving the country.
Spirits
Alko Inc. is a trading chain specializing in alcoholic beverages. Alko has a monopoly over retail sales of all beverages containing over 4.7% of alcohol by volume and wines sold by Finnish winemakers containing over 13% of alcohol. Alko shops are open Mon-Fri 9:00/10:00–18:00/20:00 and Sat 9:00–18:00.
Taxis
Taxis can be obtained by phone (see telephone directory under Taksi), picked up at taxi-stations or flagged down on the move. All taxis have an illuminated yellow sign “taksi” or “taxi”. The taxi is vacant when the sign is lit. The basic fair Mon-Fri 6:00–20:00 and Sat 6.00–16:00 is EUR 4.30 (Helsinki taxis, May 2005) and during all other hours EUR 6.60. The fair rises gradually on a kilometre basis as indicated by the meter. The waiting charge is EUR 31.40 per hour and there is an extra airport charge EUR 1.00. An example: a 7 km journey after 20:00 for 1-2 persons in Helsinki costs about EUR 19.00.
Telephone
CALLS FROM FINLAND: By direct dialling, choose (a) the international prefix (00, 990, 994 or 999), (b) the country code, (c) the trunk code (without the general prefix 0 or to Spain 9), and (d) the subscriber’s number.
CALLS TO FINLAND: To call Finland from abroad dial (a) the international prefix of the country you call from, (b) the country code 358 to Finland (c) the trunk code without the prefix 0, and (d) the subscriber’s number.
CALLS IN FINLAND: To make an automatic call in Finland, the trunk code is used with the prefix 0.
Time difference
The time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The time difference between Eastern US Standard Time and Finnish Standard Time is 7 hours. The Daylight Saving Time (DST) is in effect Mar 28 – Oct 31 (2004). Then Finland is 3 hours ahead of GMT. The 24-hours timetable is followed.
Tipping
Service is basically included in all prices. However, it is all right to reward exceptionally good service by giving a tip. The usual 10-15% of the charge will do fine. Also it is customary to tip hotel and restaurant doormen and porters.
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