Congress Information
Venue
Helsinki Fair Centre
P.O. Box 21
FIN-00521
Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358 9 150 91
Fax: +358 9 149 6103
Website: www.helsinkifaircentre.fi
Detailed venue information can be found by visiting the centre’s website at www.finnexpo.fi
Currency
The national currency in Finland is the Euro.
Language
English is the official language of the Congress. Clothing
Informal for all occasions
Time Difference
Finland operates in the Eastern European Time Zone (GMT +2 hours)
London = - 2hours, Paris = - 1 hour, New York = - 7 hours
Climate
Helsinki enjoys a milder climate than much of Finland thanks to the Baltic Sea and the gentle winds from the Gulf Stream.The most enjoyable months to visit being June through September
Helsinki |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Min Temp (°C) |
4 |
9 |
12 |
Max Temp (°C) |
15 |
20 |
22 |
Transport to the Congress
From the City Centre
- Only five minutes by train from the city centre. All trains stop at the Pasila Station, 300 metres from the Fair Centre.
- From the city centre, you can also take trams number 7A and 7B as well as bus number 17. Regional buses number 504, 505 and 509 from Espoo all stop here.
- There is a taxi rank in front of the main entrance.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Congress Organizers
Kenes International
17 Rue du Cendrier
P.O. Box 1726
CH-1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 9080488
Fax: +41 22 7322850
Email: eas2007@kenes.com
Website: www.kenes.com/eas2007
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