Finland, the quiet sibling of the Nordic countries, has a down-to-earth natural purity that makes it an exceptionally rewarding place to visit.

Across the south, cultural differences reflect a turbulent history. The picturesque Swedish-speaking wooden towns of the west coast and the onion-domed Orthodox churches of Karelia in the east speak of Finland's oft-repeated role as the rope in a tug of war between Sweden and Russia. In the middle were the stoic Finns, a loyal and warmhearted people with a gloriously independent and idiosyncratic streak. Even the urban technocrats love to get back to basics, chopping wood or hunting for mushrooms from their lakeside cabins.

In far-northern Lapland, the Sámi people still herd their reindeer in the vast swathes of sparsely populated wilderness - at least when they're not podcasting: Finland is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. It is also renowned for its design and architecture, particularly strong in the capital Helsinki, a clean, modern and buzzy place, with a strong tradition of artistic and musical innovation and a beautiful coastline and harbour.

Finland is shaped by its climate, and Finns take advantage of their short but intense summers. The country explodes into life with a bewildering array of festivals and celebrations, ranging from Savonlinna's prestigious opera extravaganza to the tongue-in-cheek humour of the Air Guitar World Championships.

Fabulous forests and lakes cover almost 80% of the country and this, plus the excellent network of national parks, makes it a tempting destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Trekking and canoeing are obvious choices, but a trip in winter can offer cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, snowmobiling or a sled safari with a team of huskies or reindeer. And it is hard to beat a traditional wood-fired sauna at the end of the day.

Passport/Visa

Passports

A valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Passport Note

Finland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays up to 90 days in any six-month period.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

(a) Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse's passport and the original marriage certificate/children's full birth certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at embassy for details). (b) 2. EU and British nationals, who do not require a visa, will need to apply for a residence permit if staying longer than 90 days.

Money

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents. Note that 1 and 2 cent coins, while valid in other Eurozone countries, are not used in Finland.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency and traveller's cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and at bureaux de change in major cities, ports and airports. Banks tend to charge higher commissions.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and there are ATMs that accept them even in small villages.

Traveller's Cheques

Traveller's cheques are also accepted in banks, some shops and in exchange offices, which charge less commission than the banks. Travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (regional variations may occur).

Exchange Rate Indicators

Health

Vaccinations

Other Risks

Campers and trekkers should take precautions against tick bites and consider immunisation against tick-borne encephalitis if visiting the Åland Islands.

Health Care

If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to an EEA country or Switzerland, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Comprehensive insurance is advised for all other nationals, but first check with your country's health department to see if a reciprocal cover agreement is in place with Finland.

Getting There

Getting There by Air

Finland's national airline is Finnair (AY) (website: www.finnair.com).

Approximate Flight Times

From London to Helsinki is 3 hours, and from New York is 8 hours.

Main Airports

Helsinki (HEL) (Helsinki-Vantaa) (tel: 0200 14636; website: www.helsinki-vantaa.fi) is Finland's principal international airport, 19km (12 miles) north of the city (journey time - 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Finnair City Bus and the airport bus operate to the city regularly (journey time - 30 minutes). Taxi services are available. Some Helsinki hotels run courtesy coaches. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, hair salon, car hire, hotel reservation service, VIP lounge, a multimedia centre, conference rooms, restaurants, cafes and bars.

Other international airports include Turku (TKU), 7km (4 miles) north of the city; Tampere (TMP), 15km (9 miles) from the city; and Rovaniemi (RVN), 10km (6 miles) from the city (website: www.finavia.fi).

Departure Tax

None.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: Helsinki (website: www.portofhelsinki.fi), Turku (website: www.port.turku.fi), Mariehamn (Åland) and Vaasa (website: www.vaasa.fi/port). Car ferries sail daily from Stockholm and other Swedish ports, as well as from Tallinn (Estonia). International ferry companies include Viking Line (tel: 0600 41577; www.vikingline.fi) and Silja Line (tel: 0600 174 552; www.tallinksilja.com). There are also ferry services to Finland from Rostockand Travemünde (Germany).

Several major cruise lines call at Finnish ports.

Getting There by Rail

Rail-sea links to Finland exist from northern Europe via Copenhagen and Stockholm to Helsinki or Turku. There are daily trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg and Moscow.

Rail Passes

InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Interrail (website: www.interrailnet.com).

Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month period. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows four to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation. Available from The Eurail Group (website: www.eurail.com). 

ScanRail pass: allows unlimited travel within Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Valid for five or 10 days in two months or 21 consecutive days. Available from Scanrail (website: www.scanrail.com). It is more flexible if you purchase it outside Scandinavia.

Getting There by Road

There are eight official border crossing places between Finland and the Russian Federation, six between Finland and Norway and 10 between Finland and Sweden. The most frequented borders are at Vaalimaa (from the Russian Federation), Karigasniemi (from Norway) and Tornio (from Sweden). This route through Sweden to the north end of the Gulf of Bothnia avoids the need to cross the Baltic by ship but is much slower.

Coach: There are coach services from many European cities, including direct services from London to Stockholm (Sweden) or Tallinn (Estonia). From both cities there are frequent crossings to Finland. There are also routes from Norway and the Russian Federation.

Climate

Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn. Winter, which lasts from November to mid March, is very cold. In the north (see the chart for Sodankylä), the snow cover lasts from mid October until mid May, but, in the brief Arctic summer, the sun doesn't set. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with snow in winter, but the low humidity often has the effect of making it seem warmer than the temperature would indicate (even in Lapland, the temperature can rise to over 30°C/86°F). During June and July, gnats and mosquitos are a major nuisance, particularly in the north of the country. Bring a good supply of insect repellent.

Required Clothing

Light- to mediumweights in warmer months. Medium- to heavyweights in winter, with particularly warm clothing needed for the Arctic north. Waterproofing is essential throughout the year. You may want to consider a netting veil for trekking in the mosquito season in Lapland.

Contacts

Embassy of Finland in the UK

38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7838 6200.
Website: www.finemb.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600.

Finnish Tourist Board in the UK

PO Box 33213, London W6 8JX, UK
Tel: (020) 7365 2512.
Website: www.visitfinland.com/uk

Embassy of Finland in the USA

3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 298 5800.
Website: www.finland.org

Finnish Tourist Board

PO Box 624, Töölönkatu 11, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: (10) 605 8000.
Website: www.visitfinland.com