FINLAND | Travel | General information
The republic of Finland situates in North Europe. It is a country of 338 000 sq. km. The Baltic Sea surrounds it in the west and in the south. Finland’s length from the south to the north is more than 1100 km and it is 540 km wide.The climate in the north and south parts of Finland is totally different.The neighbour countries are in the east Russia, in the north Norway, in the west Sweden and in the south Estonia.There are about 5.3 million inhabitants in Finland. The Finnish capital is Helsinki. More than a million people are living in the capital area of Finland. Maps www.suomi.fi
Getting to Finland
The citizens from Scandinavian countries do not need a passport. The ID card is enough. Students who come from EU or countries with Schengen Agreement need only a passport or identity card with a photo and information about nationality. You can get more information from your embassy or consulate.
Air traffic
Because of Finland’s northern geographical position the easiest way to travel here is by plane. There are several international airports in Finland. The largest in Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi and far in the north Kittilä. Several airlines have flights to Finland, some cheap ones too.
Ships and Ferries
It is also possible to travel to Finland by ships and ferries from Estonia, Sweden and Germany.
Local travel/Public transportation
The trains and busses run smoothly in Finland. The trains and busses leave on time so you can rely on the time tables. The trains are the best way when travelling inside Finland. From the capital area there are plenty of connections to all over Finland, several times in a day. The trains are modern and fast. The state owned company Valtion Rautatiet (VR) is in charge for local and distant traffic. You’ll find the time tables and the ticket prices on the website www.vr.fi In Helsinki and in nearby cities the train is the most convenient way to travel.
Also the busses are very handy locally and for long-distance trips. It is possible to reach even the smallest towns in Finland. During the long-distance journey you are able to sit and relax in very modern and fast express busses.
Renting a car
You need a credit card to rent a car in Finland. There is a wide road net in Finland and the roads are in good shape. Finns drive on right. In winter time the cars need to have winter tyres and the cars have lights on all the time, even in summer. To be able to drive in Finland you need a valid driver’s licence and you need to be at least 18 years old. EU licence is ok. Students coming outside of EU may have special regulations concerning their driver’s licence validity. In Finland we have very strict regulations for alcohol and driving. So never drive if you are under an influence of alcohol.
Student discounts
You should take your valid student card with you. It is not easy to get student discounts in Finland, but your partner college or placement may help you with the details.