 | COVID-19 informacije: Čeprav je bila Finska razmeroma rahlo prizadeta, se s pandemijo še vedno bori. Glej Vstopi za podrobnosti. |
| (Podatki so bili nazadnje posodobljeni 1. februarja 2021) |
Finska (Finski: Suomi, Švedsko: Finska) je ena izmed Nordijske države na severu Evropi.
Država ima udobna majhna mesta in ogromna območja neokrnjene narave. Približno 10% površine predstavlja 188.000 jezer s podobnim številom otokov.
Finska se razteza v Arktika, kje za Severni sij in Polnočno sonce je lahko viden. Mitska gora Korvatunturi naj bi bil dom Dedka Mraza, tam pa je Santaland Rovaniemi.
Medtem ko je Finska visoko tehnološka država blaginje, se Finci v toplejših mesecih radi odpravijo v svoje poletne koče in uživajo v vseh sprostitvenih aktivnostih, vključno s savno, plavanjem, ribolovom in žarom v kratkem, a svetlem poletju. Finska ima značilen jezik in kulturo, ki jo ločuje tako od Skandinavije kot od Rusije. Medtem ko je finska kultura starodavna, je država postala neodvisna šele leta 1917.
Regije
| Južna Finska (Tavastia Proper, Päijänne Tavastia, Helsinki, Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso, Južna Karelija) Južni del obale do ruske meje, vključno s prestolnico Helsinki in zgodovinsko provinco Uusimaa (Nyland) |
| Zahodna obala (Osrednja Ostrobotnija, Ostrobotnija, Južna Ostrobotnija, Satakunta, Finska) Jugozahodna obalna območja, stara prestolnica Turku in južnih predelih zgodovinske province Ostrobotnija (Pohjanmaa, Österbotten), pri večini švedsko govorečega prebivalstva. |
| Finsko jezero (Severna Savonija, Severna Karelija, Osrednja Finska, Južna Savonija, Pirkanmaa) Gozdovi in jezera iz mestnega središča Tampere vse do ruske meje, vključno s Savonijo (Savo) in finsko stran Karelije (Karjala). |
| Severna Finska (Finska Laponska, Kainuu in vzhodna regija Oulu, Južna regija Oulu, Zahodna regija Oulu) Severna polovica Finske je večinoma divjina, z nekaterimi pomembnimi mesti. |
| Åland Samostojno in enojezično Švedsko skupina otokov ob jugozahodni obali Finske. |
Trenutne formalne delitve države ne ustrezajo dobro geografskim ali kulturnim mejam in se tukaj ne uporabljajo. Nekdaj so si regije in province ustrezale; veliko ljudi se identificira s svojo regijo (maakunta / landskap), vendar večinoma glede na zgodovinske meje. Te regije vključujejo Tavastija (Häme), ki zajema veliko območje osrednje Finske okoli Tampereja, Savonia (Savo) v vzhodnem delu jezerske dežele in Karelia (Karjala) na skrajni vzhod. Večina finske Karelije je bila izgubljena za Sovjetska zveza v druga svetovna vojna, kar je v nekaterih krogih še vedno boleča tema.
Mesta
- 1 Helsinki - "hči Baltika", finsko glavno mesto in daleč največje mesto
- 2 Jyväskylä - univerzitetno mesto na osrednji Finski
- 3 Oulu - tehnološko mesto na koncu Botnijskega zaliva
- 4 Rauma - največje leseno staro mesto v Nordiji in Unescova svetovna dediščina
- 5 Rovaniemi - prehod v Laponska in dom vasi Božička
- 6 Savonlinna - majhno mestece ob jezeru z velikim gradom in priljubljenim opernim festivalom.
- 7 Tampere - industrijsko mesto, dom kulture, glasbe, umetnosti in muzejev
- 8 Turku - nekdanja prestolnica na jugozahodni obali. Srednjeveški grad in katedrala.
- 9 Vaasa - mesto z močnimi švedskimi vplivi na zahodni obali v bližini Unescove svetovne naravne znamenitosti Kvarkensko otočje
Druge destinacije
- 1 Morje arhipelaga - stotine in stotine otokov od celine pa vse do Åland
- Finski nacionalni parki, druga zavarovana območja, pohodniška območja ali območja divjine , npr.
- 2 Narodni park Koli - slikovit narodni park na vzhodu Finske, simbol narave države
- 3 Narodni park Lemmenjoki - območja izkopavanja zlata na Laponskem in eno največjih divjinskih območij v Evropi
- 4 Narodni park Nuuksio - velik, a lep narodni park le streljaj od Helsinkov
- 5 Kilpisjärvi - "The Arm of Finland" ponuja slikovite razglede in najvišje hribe na Finskem
- 6 Levi , Saariselkä in Ylläs - priljubljena letovišča za zimske športe na Laponskem
- Suomenlinna - otok ob obali Helsinkov, kjer je utrdba iz 18. do 19. stoletja, ki jo lahko obiščete s trajektom
Razumeti
 | |
| Kapital | Helsinki |
| Valuta | euro (EUR) |
| Prebivalstvo | 5,5 milijona (2016) |
| Elektrika | 230 voltov / 50 herc (Europlug, Schuko) |
| Koda države | 358 |
| Časovni pas | UTC 02:00 |
| Nujne primere | 112 |
| Vozna stran | prav |
| uredi na Wikidata | |
Zgodovina
- Poglej tudi: Vikingi in staronorveški, Nordijska zgodovina, Švedsko cesarstvo
| “ | Švedi nismo več, Rusi, ki jih nočemo postati, bodimo torej Finci. | ” |
—Adolf Ivar Arwidsson, finski nacionalni ideolog | ||
O zgodnji zgodovini Finske ni veliko znanega, saj arheologi še vedno razpravljajo o tem, kdaj in kje se je pojavilo pleme finsko-ugrskih govorcev. Najzgodnejši dokazi o naseljevanju ljudi so iz leta 8900 pr. Rimski zgodovinar Tacit omenja primitivno in divje pleme lovcev, imenovano Fenni leta 100 našega štetja, čeprav ni enotnega mnenja, ali to pomeni Fince oz Sami. Tudi Vikingi so se odločili, da se ne bodo naselili, saj so se bali slavnih šamanov na tem območju, temveč so trgovali in plenili po obalah.
Sredi 1150-ih je Švedska začela resno osvajati in pokristjati finske pogane, Birger Jarl je leta 1249 vključil večino države na Švedsko. Medtem ko je bilo prebivalstvo finsko govoreče, so švedski kralji ustanovili švedsko govoreči razred duhovščine. in plemiči na Finskem ter uveljavili zahodno krščanstvo, uspelo mu je odpraviti lokalni animizem in v veliki meri celo rusko pravoslavje. Kmetje in ribiči s Švedske so se naselili ob obali. Finska je ostala sestavni del Švedske do 19. stoletja, čeprav je bila na vzhodni meji skoraj stalna vojna z Rusijo in dve kratki okupaciji. Švedska se je spreobrnila v luteranski protestantizem, kar je pomenilo konec srednjega veka, privedlo do široke pismenosti v finskem jeziku in še vedno opredeljuje številne vidike finske kulture. Po zadnjem katastrofalnem porazu Švedske v finski vojni 1808–1809 je Finska postala avtonomno veliko vojvodstvo pod Rusko pravilo.
Finska država je bila zgrajena v času Rusije, medtem ko je švedska dediščina predstavljala politični okvir. Razvili so se finski jezik, literatura, glasba in umetnost, pri čemer je aktivno sodeloval (večinoma švedsko govoreči) izobraženi razred. Ruska vladavina se je izmenjevala z dobronamernostjo in represijo. Že leta 1917 je Rusija padla v vojno in revolucionarni kaos, medtem ko je Rusija izginila v vojni in revolucionarnem kaosu. vendar se je država takoj strmoglavila v kratko, a grenko državljanska vojna med konzervativnimi belci in socialističnimi rdečimi, ki so jih sčasoma dobili belci.
Med drugo svetovno vojno je Finsko napadel Sovjetska zveza v Zimska vojna, vendar se je z njimi ustavil, ko je ZSSR osvojila 12% finskega ozemlja. Nato se je Finska v neuspešnem poskusu odbijanja Sovjetov in povrnitve izgubljenega ozemlja (Nemčija) povezala z Nemčijo Nadaljevalna vojna), je bil poražen in se je moral kot pogoj za mir namesto tega obrniti proti Nemčiji ( Laponska vojna). Tako je Finska med drugo svetovno vojno vodila tri ločene vojne. Na koncu je Finska izgubila velik del Karelije in drugega finskega mesta Vyborg (Viipuri, Viborg), vendar so Sovjeti plačali visoko ceno z več kot 300.000 mrtvimi. Izgubljeno ozemlje so evakuirali v obsežni akciji, v kateri so nekdanje prebivalce in s tem karelsko kulturo prerazporedili po vsej državi.
Po vojni je Finska ležala v sivi coni med zahodnimi državami in Sovjetsko zvezo (glej Evropa hladne vojne). Finsko-sovjetski pakt o prijateljstvu, sodelovanju in medsebojni pomoči je Finski zavezal, da se bo uprla oboroženim napadom "Nemčije ali njenih zaveznikov" (beri: Zahod), a tudi Finski omogočil, da v hladni vojni ostane nevtralna in se izogne komunistični vladi ali Varšavi Članstvo v paktu. V politiki se je nagibalo k izogibanju kakršnim koli politikam in izjavam, ki bi jih lahko razlagali kot protisovjetske. To uravnoteženje Finizacija je bil na šaljiv način opredeljen kot "umetnost priklanjanja vzhoda, ne da bi se zahodilo zahodu". Praktično je bila Finska zahodno od železne zavese in potovanje na zahod je bilo enostavno. Tako tudi mnogi starejši ljudje znajo angleško in nemško ter imajo prijatelje na Zahodu, ruščina pa ni bila obvezna in je še danes komaj poznana. Kljub tesnim odnosom s Sovjetsko zvezo je Finska uspela obdržati demokratične večstrankarske volitve in je ostala zahodnoevropsko tržno gospodarstvo ter vzpostavila tesne vezi s svojimi Nordijski sosedi. Čeprav je bilo nekaj napetih trenutkov, je Finska to uspela: v teh desetletjih se je država iz kmetijskega in gozdarskega gospodarstva preoblikovala v raznoliko moderno industrijsko gospodarstvo z visokotehnološkimi velikani, kot je Nokia, in dohodek na prebivalca je zdaj na svetu top 15.
Po razpadu ZSSR se je Finskem pridružila Finska Evropska unija leta 1995 in je bila edina nordijska država, ki se je evro sistemu valut pridružila ob njegovem začetku januarja 1999. Finska je leta 2017 praznovala 100 let neodvisnosti.
Geografija
Za razliko od razgibane Norveške in Švedske je Finska večinoma sestavljena iz nizkih, ravnih do valjanih ravnin, prepletenih z jezeri in nizkimi griči, z nekakšnimi gorami le na skrajnem severu in najvišjo točko Finske, goro Halti, ki se dviga le do skromnih 1.328 m . Finska leži na območju tajge, pokrita z iglavci, ki so posejani z obdelano zemljo, mesti, jezeri in barji. Finska ima 187.888 jezer po podatkih Geološkega zavoda Finske, ki predstavlja to ime Dežela tisočerih jezer nekaj podcenjenega. Ob obali in v jezerih je - po drugi oceni - 179.584 otokov, zaradi česar je država tudi odlična destinacija za čolnarjenje. Lakeland je bolj ali manj planota, zato jezera tvorijo labirinte otokov, polotokov, zvokov in odprte vode, obalni arhipelag pa mu sledi.
Finska ni na skandinavskem polotoku, zato se kljub številnim kulturnim in zgodovinskim povezavam (vključno s švedskim jezikom, ki ima sofinanciran status poleg finskega) ne šteje za del Skandinavije. Tudi Finci se redko trudijo, da bi razlikovali, vendar so pravilnejši izrazi, ki vključujejo Finsko, "Nordijske države" (Pohjoismaat, Norden) in "Fennoscandia".
Zlasti v vzhodnih in severnih delih države, ki so gosto gozdnati in redko poseljeni, boste našli več primerov tradicionalne rustikalne finske kulture. Južna in Zahodna Finska, ki obdelujeta ravnice in polja ter imajo večjo gostoto prebivalstva, imata resnično veliko skupnega s samo Skandinavijo - to je jasno razvidno iz glavnega mesta Helsinkov, ki ima veliko skandinavskih značilnosti, zlasti v arhitekturni pogoji.
Podnebje
- Poglej tudi: Zima v nordijskih državah
Finska ima zmerno podnebje, ki je dejansko razmeroma blago za zemljepisno širino zaradi zmernega vpliva Zalivskega toka. Obstajajo štiri različne sezone: zima, pomlad, poletje in jesen. Zima je prav tako temna kot povsod na teh zemljepisnih širinah, temperature pa lahko (zelo redko) dosežejo -30 ° C na jugu in se celo spustijo do -50 ° C (-60 ° F) na severu, od 0 do -25 ° C (35 do -15 ° F) je na jugu normalno. Snežna odeja je pogosta, vendar v južnem delu države ni zagotovljena. Zgodaj spomladi (marec – april) se sneg začne topiti in Finci se radi odpravijo proti severu na smučanje in zimske športe. Kratko finsko poletje je precej prijetnejše, dnevne temperature so okoli 15 do 25 ° C (včasih tudi do 35 ° C) in je na splošno najboljši čas v letu za obisk. Julij je najtoplejši mesec. September prinaša hladno vreme (5 do 15 ° C), jutranje zmrzali in deževje. Najslabši čas za obisk je prehod iz jeseni v zimo v oktobru – decembru - moker, deževen, včasih hladen, brez zadrževalnega snega, morda pa mehka in žledasta, temna in na splošno bedna. Med časi in dolžino teh sezon je med obalnimi in južnimi območji v primerjavi s celinskimi in severnimi območji opazna razlika: če pozimi potujete proti severu, se Tampere pogosto spremeni v sneg v Helsinkih.
Zaradi skrajne zemljepisne širine Finska doživlja slavne Polnočno sonce blizu poletnega solsticija, ko (če je nad polarnim krogom) sonce nikoli ne zaide ponoči in tudi na jugu Finske se nikoli ne zares stemni. Druga stran kovanca je Arktična noč (kaamos) pozimi, ko sonce na severu sploh nikoli ne pride. Na jugu je dnevna svetloba omejena na nekaj bednih ur, sonce pa komaj prepleza drevesa, preden se spet spusti navzdol.
Informacije o podnebnih in vremenskih napovedih so na voljo pri Finski meteorološki inštitut.
Kultura
Finska kultura kot posebna identiteta, ki so jo stoletja preganjale njene sosede in je absorbirala vplive zahoda, vzhoda in juga, se je rodila šele v 19. stoletju: "nismo Švedi in ne želimo postati Rusi, zato bodimo Finci . "
Finski mit o ustvarjanju in nacionalni ep je Kalevala, zbirka starih karelskih zgodb in pesmi, ki jih je leta 1835 zbral Elias Lönnrot. Poleg ustvarjanja knjiga vključuje tudi pustolovščine Väinämöinen, šamanistični junak s čarobnimi močmi. Teme Kalevalan, kot je Sampo, mitska rog izobilja, so bili glavni navdih za finske umetnike, figure, prizori in koncepti iz epa pa še naprej barvajo njihova dela.
Medtem ko je finska državna vera Luteranstvo, različica protestantskega krščanstva, ima država popolno svobodo veroizpovedi in v veliki večini vsakdanje spoštovanje ohlapno ali sploh ne obstaja. Kljub temu so Lutherovi nauki močni delovna etika in prepričanje v enakost ostajajo močni tako v dobrem (pravice žensk, neobstoječa korupcija) kot v slabem (skladnost, visoka stopnja depresije in samomorov). Finski znak pogosto povzamemo z besedo sisu, mešanica občudovanja vredne vztrajnosti in trmaste trme pred stisko.
Finski glasba je najbolj znan po klasičnem skladatelju Jean Sibelius, katere simfonije še naprej krasijo koncertne dvorane po vsem svetu. Po drugi strani pa se finski pop le redko podaja čez meje, toda všeč so rock in heavy metal skupine Nocna želja, Otroci Bodoma, Sonata Arctica, Apocalyptica in NJEM so postali dokaj velika imena na svetovni sceni težke glasbe in pošasti iz lateksa Lordi dosegel izjemno malo verjeten jackpot, ko je leta 2006 domov odpeljal tekmovanje za Evrovizijo.
Na področju drugih umetnosti je Finska ustvarila znanega arhitekta in oblikovalca Alvar Aalto, avtorji Mika Waltari (Egipčan) in Väinö Linna (Neznani vojak) in slikar Akseli Gallen-Kallela, znan po svojem Kalevala ilustracije.
Dvojezičnost
| Finski | Švedsko | angleščina |
|---|---|---|
| -katu | -gata (n) | ulica |
| -kravata | -väg (en) | cesta |
| -kuja | -gränd (en) | uličica |
| -väylä | -led (en) | način |
| -polku | -stig (en) | pot |
| -tori | -torg (et) | trgu |
| -kaari | -båge (n) | polmesec |
| -puisto | -park (en) | parkirati |
| -ranta | -kaj (sl) | pristanišče |
| -Rine | -brink (sl) | breg (hrib) |
| -aukio | -plats (en) | kvadrat |
Finska ima 5,5% švedsko govoreče manjšine in je uradno dvojezična, oba jezika pa sta obvezna v šoli. Tri Sami jeziki (vključno z Severna Sámi), Romski in finski znakovni jezik sta prav tako priznana v ustavi, vendar nista "nacionalna" jezika. Zemljevidi in obvestila o prevozih pogosto dajejo tako finska kot švedska imena, npr. Turku in Åbo so isto mesto. To pomaga obiskovalcu, saj so angleško govoreči švedsko napoved na splošno lažje slediti, še posebej, če imate malo nemščine. Cestni znaki se pogosto pretakajo med različicami, npr. Turuntie in Åbovägen sta oba "Turku Road". To je pogosto v Helsinkih in švedsko govorečih obalnih območjih, medtem ko je švedščina v celinskih predelih veliko manj pogosta. Proti severu v Laponska, skoraj nikoli ne vidite švedščine, morda pa boste videli napise v (večinoma severnem) samiju. In če krmarite po Google Map, ni mogoče razbrati, v katerem jeziku lahko pričara.
Čeprav je državi nekoč vladala švedska elita, je bila večina švedsko govorečih Fincev vedno navadnih prebivalcev: ribičev, kmetov in industrijskih delavcev. Izobraženi razred je bil dvojezičen od nacionalnega prebujenja, medtem ko je ostalo prebivalstvo mešalo z industrializacijo. Na dvojezičnih področjih se jezikovne skupine prijateljsko mešajo. Tudi na finsko govorečih območjih, kot so Jyväskylä, Pori in Oulu, številni finsko govoreči pozdravljajo stike s švedščino, ki jih zagotavlja manjšina; v redkih švedskih šolah na teh območjih je veliko finskih učencev, vrtec za jezikovno potopitev je priljubljen. V politiki dvojezičnost ostaja sporna: nekateri finsko govoreči ga vidijo kot mačka pred švedsko vladavino, medtem ko so švedsko govoreči zaskrbljeni zaradi marginalizacije njihovega jezika, npr. ko se majhne švedske ustanove združijo z večjimi finskimi.
Prazniki
Finci običajno niso zelo vroči na velikih javnih karnevalih; večino počitnic preživimo doma z družino. Najbolj opazna izjema je Vappu 30. aprila - 1. maja, ko na tisoče ljudi (večinoma mladih) napolni ulice. Pomembni prazniki in podobni dogodki vključujejo:
- Novoletni dan (uudenvuodenpäivä, nyårsdagen), 1. januarja.
- Razodetje (loppiainen, trettondag), 6. januarja.
- Velika noč (pääsiäinen, påsk), spremenljivi datumi, veliki petek in velikonočni ponedeljek so državni prazniki. Vezani na to so laskiainen, fastlagstisdag, 40 dni pred veliko nočjo, nominalno sveti dan, ki začenja postni čas, praktično čas, ko se otroci in študentje podijo po zasneženih pobočjih, in Vnebovzetje (helatorstai, Kristi himmelsfärds dag) 40 dni zatem, samo še en dan do zaprtja trgovin.
- Walpurgova noč (vappuaatto, valborgsmässoafton) in Prvomajski (vappu, första maj, finska beseda, ki se pogosto piše z veliko-W), prvotno poganska tradicija, ki sovpada s sodobnim delavskim praznovanjem, je postala resnično velikanski festival za univerzitetne študente, ki nosijo svoje pisane kombinezone, bele študentske kape in se sprehajajo po ulicah. Tudi diplomanti uporabljajo svoje bele študentske kape med 18. uro 30. aprila do konca 1. maja. Slednji dan se ljudje zberejo, da bi negovali mačka na piknikih na prostem, tudi če dežuje deževje! Vsekakor zabavno praznovanje, ki ga lahko pričate, ko učenci pripravijo najbolj nenavadne načine praznovanja.
- Kresno (juhannus, midsommar), V petek zvečer in soboto med 20. in 26. junijem. Prirejajo ga za praznovanje poletnega solsticija z obilico kresovi, pitje in splošno veselje. Mesta postanejo skoraj prazna, ko ljudje hitijo v svoje poletne koče. Morda bi bilo dobro obiskati eno večjih mest samo zaradi srhljivega občutka praznega mesta - ali podeželske vasi, kjer domačini nazorno skupaj praznujejo. Neprevidna uporaba alkohola v tem vikendu v "državi tisočih jezer" je v finski statistiki videti kot letni vrh števila umrlih zaradi utopitve. Kresno leto je začetek finske počitniške sezone in v številnih poletno usmerjenih destinacijah pomeni "na sezono" pomeni od poletja do odprtja šol.
- Dan neodvisnosti (itsenäisyyspäivä, självständighetsdagen), 6. decembra. Dokaj mračno praznovanje neodvisnosti Finske. Obstajajo cerkvene službe (tisto iz katedrale v Helsinkih si lahko ogledate po televiziji), koncerti in vojaška parada, ki jo vsako leto pripravijo v nekem mestu. Na televiziji je prikazan film Neznani vojak iz leta 1955. Najbolj priljubljen dogodek je zvečer: predsednik priredi žogo pomembnim ljudem (npr. Poslancem, diplomatom, zaslužnim finskim športnikom in umetnikom), ki jih manj pomembni gledajo po televiziji. Dejansko več kot 2 milijona Fincev gleda žogo od svojih domov.
- Mali božič (pikkujoulu). Ljudje gredo v pub s svojimi sodelavci ves december. Ne uradni praznik, samo različica pisarniške božične zabave v moči Vikinga. Med švedsko govorečimi lillajul ("mali božič") je sobota na začetku adventa in se večinoma praznuje med družinami.
- Božič (joulu, jul), 24. do 26. decembra. Največji praznik v letu, ko se skoraj vse zapre za tri dni. Božiček (Joulupukki, Julgubben) pride na božični večer 24. decembra, jedo šunko in vsi gredo v savno.
- novo letni večer (uudenvuodenaatto, nyårsafton), 31. decembra, čas za ognjemete!
Večina Fincev vzame svoje poletne počitnice julija, za razliko od drugod po Evropi, kjer je avgust glavna sezona počitnic. Ljudje običajno začnejo poletne počitnice okoli Kresnega leta. V teh dneh bodo mesta verjetno manj naseljena, saj se Finci odpravljajo v svoje poletne koče. Šolarji začnejo poletne počitnice v začetku junija, v šolo pa se vrnejo sredi avgusta. Natančni datumi se razlikujejo glede na leto in občino.
Vstopi
| COVID-19 informacije: Obstajajo omejitve potovanja in prizorišča so lahko zaprta. Jeseni 2020 je prišlo do novega izbruha, ki je trajal do pomladi. Podjetja in promet so večinoma delovali, z nekaterimi omejitvami, policijske ure pa ni. Tisti, ki lahko delajo od doma, se uporabljajo maske za obraz, restavracije imajo omejen delovni čas (razen odvzema) in večina prireditev je odpovedana. Vstopnice na vlake je treba kupiti pred vkrcanjem. Številne omejitve so zgolj močna priporočila, zato jih ni treba upoštevati - in za večino ukrepov se odloča na občinski ali regionalni in ne na nacionalni ravni. Vsaj do 30. aprila 2021 pomembna potovanja in nekateri primeri tranzita so dovoljeni iz večine držav, večinoma z 10 ali 14 dnevi samokarantena ob prihodu ali krajšo karanteno z drugim testom. Za večino vstopov na delovnem mestu mora imeti potnik iz nujnih razlogov dokazilo delodajalca. Potovanje iz osebnih razlogov, na primer zaradi študija ali obiska družine (glejte podrobnosti na povezanih straneh). Na meji ali pred vkrcanjem na trajekt ali let je običajno potreben negativen rezultat testa, star manj kot 72 ur, ali dokazilo, da je že imel bolezen COVID-19 pred manj kot 6 meseci. Tranzit na letališču je dovoljen. Preskusi COVID-19 se izvajajo na nekaterih letališčih in na nekaterih morskih pristaniščih, testiranje pa je lahko obvezno. Ruska kopenska meja je za zdaj za večino potnikov zaprta. Glej FINENTRY, Obiščite spletno stran Finske, smernice za obmejni promet med pandemijo, vladna stran o omejitvah, Informacije o stanju THL in YLE novice v angleščini. |
| (Podatki so bili nazadnje posodobljeni 20. aprila 2021) |
Finska je članica združenja Schengenski sporazum.
- Običajno ni mejnih kontrol med državami, ki so podpisale in izvajale pogodbo. Sem spada večina Evropske unije in nekaj drugih držav.
- Običajno se preverijo identiteta pred vkrcanjem na mednarodne lete ali čolne. Včasih obstajajo začasne mejne kontrole na kopenskih mejah.
- Prav tako a vizum podeljena za katero koli schengensko članico, velja v vseh drugih podpisanih državah in izvajala pogodbo.
- Prosim poglej Potovanje po schengenskem območju za več informacij o tem, kako shema deluje, katere države so članice in kakšne so zahteve za vaše državljanstvo.
Brez vizumske obveznosti velja za državljane Schengna in EU ter državljane držav s sporazumom o vizumski svobodi, na primer državljane ZDA. Privzeto je potreben vizum; glej seznam da preverite, ali potrebujete vizum. Vizumov ni mogoče izdati na meji ali ob vstopu, ampak jih je treba uporabiti vsaj 15 dni vnaprej na finskem veleposlaništvu ali drugi misiji (glej navodila). Potrebna je fotografija osebnega dokumenta, potni list, potovalno zavarovanje in zadostna sredstva (šteje se vsaj 30 EUR na dan). Pristojbina za vizum znaša 35–70 €, tudi če je prošnja za vizum zavrnjena.
Meja med Finsko in Rusijo je schengenska zunanja meja in velja mejni nadzor. To mejo je mogoče prečkati samo na določenih mejnih prehodih in potrebni so vizumi. Najbolj priljubljena cestna prehoda sta Vaalimaa pri Lappeenranti in Nuijamaa pri Imatra. Na severnih prehodih iz Rusije lahko veljajo začasne posebne omejitve, preverite, če je to primerno. Na obeh straneh meje so mejna območja, široka nekaj kilometrov, kjer je vstop prepovedan. Vstop na obmejna območja ali poskus tam fotografiranja bo privedel do aretacije in denarne kazni. Finsko-norveško in finsko-švedsko mejo je mogoče kadar koli prečkati brez dovoljenja, pod pogojem, da nimate ničesar, kar bi zahtevalo carinski nadzor. Na splošno med potovanjem čez mednarodne vode med Finsko in Estonijo mejne kontrole niso potrebne. Vendar lahko mejna straža izvaja naključne ali diskrecijske preglede in je pooblaščena za preverjanje statusa priseljevanja katere koli osebe ali plovila kadar koli ali na katerem koli mestu, ne glede na način vstopa.
Z letalom
Finsko glavno mednarodno vozlišče je Letališče Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL IATA) v bližini Helsinki. Finnair in SAS tam temeljijo, kot je Norveški letalski prevoz, ki ponujajo notranje in mednarodne lete. V Helsinki-Vantaa leti okoli 30 tujih letalskih družb. Povezave so dobre do glavnih evropskih vozlišč, kot so München (MUC), Frankfurt (FRA), Amsterdam (AMS) in London Heathrow (LHR), prevoze pa je mogoče opraviti prek Stockholma (ARN) in Kopenhagna (CPH). Letijo se iz več vzhodnoazijskih mest, kot so Peking, Seul (ICN), Šanghaj in Tokio ter nekatere destinacije v drugih delih Azije. V drugo smer New York City strežejo okoli leta, Chicago, Miami in San Francisco pa v poletni sezoni.
Mednarodnih letov na druga letališča na Finskem je malo (Air Baltic in Ryanair sta večino svojih storitev umaknila regionalni Finski). Za Laponska obstajajo sezonski redni leti (december – marec), pa tudi občasni neposredni najemi (zlasti decembra). Obstajajo neposredni leti do leta Tampere in Turku od nekaj tujih destinacij do Lappeenranta iz Bergamo, Dunaj in Budimpešta, do Turku iz Beograd, Gdańsk, Kaunas, Krakov, Larnaca, Skopju, Varšava, in do Mariehamn, Tampere, Turku in Vaasa iz Stockholmu.
Če je vaš cilj nekje na južni Finski, se vam bo morda splačalo priti do poceni leta Talin in sledite navodilom čolna za zadnji del.
Z vlakom
VR in Ruske železnice skupaj opravljajo storitve med Saint Petersburg in Helsinki, ustavi se pri Vyborg, Kouvola in Lahti med potjo (železnica je bila uvedena na Finskem pod rusko vlado, zato je profil enak). Mejna kontrola se izvaja v vlaku, ki se premika, da bi se izognili zamudam na meji. Linija je bila nadgrajena leta 2010 in elegantna nova Allegrovlaki z blagovno znamko drsijo med obema mestoma v treh urah in pol s hitrostjo do 220 km / h. Pot je na voljo štirikrat na dan v obe smeri. Cene se gibljejo med 30 in 80 EUR na smer, odvisno od priljubljenosti odhoda in kdaj rezervirate. Obstaja tudi tradicionalni počasen spanec iz Moskva, kar traja približno 15 ur.
Med njimi ni neposrednih vlakov Švedska ali Norveška in Finske (tirna širina je drugačna), toda avtobus čez razmik od Boden/Luleå (Švedska) do Kemi (Finska) je brezplačno z Eurail/Inter Rail vozovnico, s temi vozovnicami pa lahko dobite tudi 50% popust pri večini trajektov. Švedski železniški prevoznik načrtuje razširitev svojih storitev na Haparando (od leta 2021).
Z avtobusom
Avtobusi so najcenejši, a hkrati tudi najpočasnejši in najmanj udoben način potovanja Rusija in Finsko.
- Redni redni avtobusi vozijo med Saint Petersburg, Vyborg kot tudi večja južna finska mesta Helsinki, Lappeenranta, Jyväskylä in vse do zahoda do Turku, preverite Matkahuolto za urnike. Helsinki – St. Petersburg postrežejo trikrat na dan, stane 38 EUR, podnevi pa traja 9 ur, ponoči pa 8 ur.
- Različni direktni minibusi vozijo med hotelom Oktyabrskaya v Sankt Peterburgu (nasproti železniške postaje Moskovsky) in helsinškim Tennispalatsi (Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 8, en blok stran od Kamppija). S 15 evri v eno smer je to najcenejša možnost, a minibusi odpeljejo šele, ko so polni. Odhodi iz Helsinkov so najpogostejši zjutraj (okoli 10:00), odhodi iz Sankt Peterburga pa običajno čez noč (okoli 22:00).
- Vmes je vsakodnevna služba Petrozavodsk in Joensuu (morda začasno ustavljeno, preverite).
- Obstaja storitev med Murmansk in Ivalo na severu Finske trikrat na teden (mogoče začasno, preverite).
Uporabite lahko tudi avtobus s severa Švedska ali Norveška na Finsko.
- Haparanda na območju Švedske Norrbotnia ima avtobusne povezave do Tornio, Kemi, Oulu in Rovaniemi. Glej več od Matkahuolto.
- Eskelisen Lapinlinjat ponuja na primer avtobusne povezave iz severnih delov Norveške Tromsø. Glej več od Eskelisen Lapinlinjat.
- Tapanis Buss ima pot od Stockholmu do Tornia, ki gre po E4 obalna pot. Iz Tornia lahko še naprej uporabljate finske avtobuse ali vlake za dolge razdalje.
Moj čoln
- Poglej tudi: Trajekti z Baltskega morja, Križarjenje po Baltskem morju, Čolnarjenje po Baltskem morju
Eden najboljših načinov potovanja na Finsko in iz nje je po morju. Trajekti iz Estonija in Švedska, zlasti so velikanske, večnadstropne plavajoče palače in veleblagovnice s poceni cenami, ki jih subvencionira prodaja neobdavčene pijače: povratno potovanje v Talin, vključno s kabino za do štiri osebe, znaša tudi 30 EUR, in prehod od Stockholma do Turkuja je v enakem obsegu (navadne vozovnice so bistveno dražje od ponudb). Če potujete mimo Inter Rail, lahko dobite 50% cene vozovnice na krovu. Najboljši način, da prispete v Helsinke, je stati na zunanjem krovu s pogledom naprej.
Prehodi čez Alandsko in Kvarkensko ter Finski zaliv s Švedske oziroma Estonije so dovolj mirni za večino jaht (mnogi prihajajo tudi čez morje iz Gotland). Ker je Finska znana po svojih arhipelagih, zlasti po otokih Morje arhipelaga, prihajajo z majhna obrt je dobra alternativa. Mejni nadzor na splošno ni potreben za prehajanje plovil za prosti čas iz Estonije na Finsko; vendar lahko mejna straža diskrecijsko odredi posamezno plovilo, da se javi na mejni nadzor. Vsa plovila, ki prihajajo izven schengenskega območja, se morajo prijaviti mejni kontroli (glej Stran mejne straže).
Estonija in baltske države
Helsinki in Talin oddaljeni le 80 km. Viking Line, Eckerö in Tallink Silja vozijo trajekte s popolno storitvijo vse leto. Čas potovanja je odvisen od vrste trajekta od 2 (trajekti razreda Tallink's Star) do 3½ ure (največje križarke Tallink Silja). Nekatere službe potujejo čez noč in parkirajo pred pristaniščem do jutra.
Križarjenje s Talinom med Talinom in Stockholmom pripelje na Mariehamn (ponoči / zgodaj zjutraj). Obstaja tudi storitev od Paldiski do Hanko avtor DFDS.
Ni rednih storitev za Latvija ali Litva, vendar nekateri zgornji operaterji poleti ponujajo polredna križarjenja z Riga najbolj priljubljena destinacija.
Nemčija
Finnlines deluje od Travemünde blizu Lübeck in Hamburg do Helsinki, ki traja 27–36 ur v eno smer.
V nekdanjih časih je bil promet v Nemčijo bolj živahen, najboljši primer je GTS Finnjet, ki je bil v sedemdesetih najhitrejši in največji potniški trajekt na svetu. Tovor in potnike je bilo mogoče prepeljati med Helsinki in Travemünde (in ostalo celinsko Evropo zahodno od železne zavese) v samo 22 urah, veliko hitreje kot takratne druge (ne zračne) poti.
Rusija
Že vrsto let redni trajektni prevozi iz Rusije niso več na poti. St Peter Line ponuja redne trajektne povezave od Sankt Peterburga do Helsinkov že za 30 EUR v eno smer.
Saimaa Travel ponuja jadranje zraven Saimajski prekop iz Vyborg do Lappeenranta v poletnih mesecih. Ta pot se večinoma uporablja za križarjenja do Rusija, ki izkorišča izjemo ruskega vizuma za kratkoročne obiskovalce križarjenja. Kanal lahko uporabite tudi za dosego Saimaa in jezero z lastnim plovilom.
Če prihajate z jahto iz Rusije, je treba upoštevati carinske poti, glej Čolnarjenje na Finskem # Vstopite.
Švedska
Oboje Šilja in Viking ponudite nočna križarjenja do Helsinki in čez noč ter dnevna križarjenja do Turku iz Stockholmu, ponavadi se ustavi v Åland otoki ob poti. To je nekaj največjih in najluksuznejših trajektov na svetu, ki imajo kar 14 nadstropij in celo vrsto restavracij, barov, diskotek, bazenov in zdravilišč itd. Cenovno ugodnejši razredi kabin pod avtomobilskimi krovi so sicer precej špartanski, a kabine z višjim pogledom na morje so res lahko zelo lepe.
Obstaja tudi avto trajektna povezava med Umeå in Vaasa (Wasa linija; 4 ure), brez prodaje davkov, vendar poskuša doseči enak občutek kot na južnih poteh.
Upoštevajte, da Silja in Viking zaradi množice divjih mladih, ki si želijo temeljito zabiti poceni pijačo brez davka, ne dovolijo mladostniki brez spremstva, mlajši od 23 let za križarjenje ob petkih ali sobotah. (The age limit is 20 on other nights, and only 18 for travellers not on same-day-return cruise packages.) In addition, Silja does not offer deck class on its overnight services, while Viking does.
Note also that with Viking Line it often is cheaper to book a cruise instead of "route traffic". The cruise includes both ways with or without a day in between. If you want to stay longer you simply do not go back – it might still be cheaper than booking a one-way "route traffic" ticket. This accounts especially to last minute tickets (you could, e.g., get from Stockholm to Turku for around 10€ over night – "route traffic" would be over 30€ for a cabin with lower quality).
In addition to the big two, FinnLink offers the cheapest car ferry connection of all from Kapellskär do Naantali (from €60 for a car with driver).
Car ferries usually stop for a few minutes at Mariehamn or Långnäs in the Åland Islands, which are outside the EU tax area and thus allow the ferries to operate duty-free sales. There are also ferries on shorter routes from Sweden to Åland only.
Z avtom
Švedska
As mentioned above, one of the easiest ways to get by car from Sweden to Finland is a car ferry. The European Route E18 includes a ferry line between Kapellskär in Naantali. You could also take the floating palaces, either the nearby pass Stockholmu–Turku or the longer pass Stockholm–Helsinki. Farther north there is the E12 (along the Blue Highway, forking off as Finnish national highway 3 to Helsinki), with car ferry (4 hours) between Umeå in Vaasa.
There are also land border crossings up in Lapland at Tornio, Ylitornio, Pello, Kolari, Muonio in Karesuvanto.
Norveška
European Routes E8 and E75 connect northern Norway with Finland. There are border crossings at Kilpisjärvi, Kivilompolo (near Hetta), Karigasniemi, Utsjoki, Nuorgam in Näätämö. For central and southern parts of Norway, going through Sweden is more practical, e.g. avtor E12 (from Mo i Rana via Umeå) or E18 (from Oslo via Stockholm or Kapellskär).
Rusija
European route E18, like Russian route M10, goes from St. Petersburg prek Vyborg to Vaalimaa/Torfyanovka border station near Hamina. From there, E18 continues as Finnish national highway 7 to Helsinki, and from there, along the coast as highway 1 to Turku. In Vaalimaa, trucks will have to wait in a persistent truck queue. This queue does not directly affect other vehicles. There are border control and customs checks in Vaalimaa and passports and Schengen visas if applicable will be needed.
From south to north, other border crossings can be found at Nuijamaa/Brusnichnoye (Lappeenranta), Niirala (Tohmajärvi, blizu Joensuu), Vartius (Kuhmo), Kuusamo, Kelloselkä (Salla) and Raja-Jooseppi (Inari). All except the first are very remote, and most of those open in daytime only.
Estonija
As mentioned above, there are car ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki. They form a part of European route E67, Via Baltica, which runs from the Polish capital Warsaw, via Kaunas v Litva in Riga v Latvija, to the Estonian capital Tallinn. The distance from Warsaw to Tallinn is about 970 kilometers, not including any detours. Obstaja car and cargo ferry service from Paldiski do Hanko.
By bicycle
Bikes can be taken on the ferries for a modest fee. You enter via the car deck, check when to show up. As you will leave the bike, have something to tie it up with.
There are no special requirements on the land borders with Norway and Sweden.
In 2016, Finnish Border Agency did forbid crossing the border by bicycle over the northernmost checkpoints from Russia (Raja-Jooseppi and Salla), the restriction has probably expired, but check! The southern border stations were apparently not affected.
On the trains from Russia, the bikes have to be packed, check the regulations.
Peš
Walk-in from Sweden and Norway is allowed anywhere (unless you have goods to declare, which can probably be handled beforehand), but crossing the Russian border by foot is not. This ban is probably enforced by the Russian border guard (as asked to by Finland). If they let you walk out, perhaps the Finnish border guard lets you in, given your papers, if any, are in order. Entering the Finnish-Russian border zone or crossing the border outside designated crossings nets you an arrest and a fine.
Obiti
Finland is a large country and travelling is relatively expensive. Public transportation is well organized and the equipment is always comfortable and often new, and advance bookings are rarely necessary outside the biggest holiday periods, but buying tickets on the net a few days in advance (or as soon as you know your plans) may give significantly lower prices.
There are several route planners available. VR and Matkahuolto provides timetable service nationwide for trains and coaches, respectively, and there are several regional and local planners. As of 2020, Google Maps and Apple Maps have coverage nationally. opas.matka.fi includes train traffic, local transport of many cities and towns, and public service obligation traffic (i.e. services offered on behalf of the government) in the countryside. Matkahuolto Reittiopas is focused on local, regional and long-distance buses. There are deficiencies in most or all of them, so try different names and main stops if you don't get a connection, and do a sanity check when you get one. Knowing the municipality and the name in both Finnish and Swedish is useful. Sometimes the local connections are unknown to the digital services.
On popular routes tickets for some services can often be bought cheaper in advance on the net, for coaches and trains as well as aeroplanes. Useful websites for finding the cheapest coach, train and plane tickets are:
- Perille - able to combine different modes of transportation and different companies connections, including train, bus and airplane
- Matkakeisari in Pikavuorot.fi - these find only connections using one mode of transport
"Street addresses" work with many electronic maps also for the countryside. "Street numbers" outside built up areas are based on the distance from the beginning of the road, in tens of metres, with even numbers on the left hand side ("Exampleroad 101" is about a kilometre from the fork, on the right hand side, distance from the road to the house not counted). Many roads change names at municipality borders, so that what is Posiontie in Ranua becomes Ranuantie in Posio.
Z letalom
Flights are the fastest but traditionally also the most expensive way of getting around. The new low-cost airliners however provide prices even half of the train prices in the routes between north and south. In some cases it may even be cheaper to fly via Riga than take a train. Finnair and some smaller airlines still operate regional flights from Helsinki to places all over the country, including Kuopio, Rovaniemi, Ivalo in Vaasa. It's worth booking in advance if possible: on the Helsinki–Oulu sector, the country's busiest, a fully flexible return economy ticket costs a whopping €251 but an advance-purchase non-changeable one-way ticket can go as low as €39, less than a train ticket. Finnair has cheaper fares usually when you book at least three week before your planned trip and your trip includes at least three nights spent in destination or one night between Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday. You may also be able to get discounted domestic tickets if you fly into Finland on Finnair and book combination ticket directly to your final destination. Finnair also has a youth ticket (16–25) and senior ticket ( 65 or pension decision) that is substantially cheaper and fixed price regardless of when you book.
There are two major airlines selling domestic flights:
- Finnair, the biggest by far. Serves nearly all of the country, with some flights operated by their subsidiary Nordic Regional Airlines..
- Norveški letalski prevoz flies from Helsinki to Oulu and Rovaniemi.
In addition there's a handful of smaller airlines, often just flying from Helsinki to one airport each. The destinations served are often easy to reach by train, bus and car making flights unprofitable wherefore companies and services tend to come and go.
Z vlakom
VR (Valtion Rautatiet, "State's Railways") operates the railway network. Trains are usually the most comfortable and fastest method of inter-city travel. Od Helsinki do Tampere, Turku in Lahti, there are departures more or less every hour in daytime.
The following classes of service are available, with example last-minute price and duration for the popular Helsinki–Tampere service in parenthesis.
- Pendolino tilting trains (code S) often fastest (€8.90–18.00, 1hr29min–1hr50min)
- InterCity (IC) in InterCity2 (IC2) express trains (€8.90–18.00, 1hr29min–1hr50min)
- Vsakdanji izraziti (pikajuna, P), only slow night trains for this connection (€21.00, 2hrs44min–2hrs58min)
- Lokalno in regional trains (lähiliikennejuna, lähijuna ali taajamajuna), no surcharge, quite slow (€14.40, 2hrs12min)
The trains are generally very comfortable, especially the intercity and long distance services, which (depending on connection and type of train) may have restaurant and family cars (with a playing space for children), power sockets, and free Wi-Fi connection. Check the services of individual trains if you need them, e.g. facilities for families and wheelchair users vary considerably. Additional surcharges apply for travel in first class, branded "Extra" on some trains, which gets you more spacious seating, newspapers and possibly a snack.
Overnight sleepers are available for long-haul routes and very good value at €11/21/43 for a bed in a three/two/one-bed compartment (with one-bed compartments only available in first class). The modern sleeper cars to Lapland have 2-berth cabins, some of which can be combined for a family. Na Tolstoi train to Moscow 2nd class cabins are for 4, other cabins for 2 persons. There are ensuite showers in the upper floor cabins in the modern Lapland trains and in business class in the Tolstoi trains, otherwise showers are shared. On the old "blue" sleeper trains there are no showers, only a small sink in the cabin (these cars are now mostly used as supplement in the busiest holiday periods). In each modern Finnish sleeper car, one cabin is for a disabled person and his or her assistant, another for travelling with a pet.
The restaurant cars mostly serve snacks, coffee and beer. On some routes (such as those to Lapland) you can get simple real meals. Shorter intercity routes usually just have a trolley with snacks and coffee. Drinking alcoholic beverages you brought yourselves is not allowed. Own food at your seat should be no problem as long as you don't make a mess or spectacle out of it; bringing packed meals, other than for small children, has become rare.
One child under 17 can travel for free with each fare-paying adult (check: might have changed), and seniors over 65 years old and students with Finski student ID (ISIC cards etc. not accepted) get 50 % off. Groups of 3 or more get 15 % off. If booking a few days (better: at least two weeks) in advance on the net you may get bargain prices.
Hišni ljubljenčki can be taken on trains (€5), but seats must be booked in the right compartments. If your pet is big, book a seat with extended legroom (or, on some trains, a separate seat for the pet). The pets travel on the floor (a blanket can be useful), other than for dogs a cage is mandatory. Vaccination etc. should be in order. For regional transport the rules are different.
Finland participates in the Inter Rail in Eurail sistemov. Residents of Europe can buy InterRail Finland passes offering 3–8 days of unlimited travel in one month for €109–229 (adult 2nd class), while the Eurail Finland pass for non-residents is €178–320 for 3–10 days. You would have to travel a lot to make any of these pay off though; by comparison, a full-fare InterCity return ticket across the entire country from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and back is €162.
Train tickets can be purchased online, from ticketing machines on mid-sized and large stations, from manned booths on some of the largest stations and e.g. from R kiosks (not all tickets). A fee of €1–3 applies when buying over the counter or by phone. There are usually cheaper offers if you buy several days in advance, to get the cheapest tickets, buy them at least 2 weeks advance. A seat is included in the fare of these tickets. The HSL-operated trains in the Helsinki region no longer sell tickets on board. On long-distance trains tickets can be bought with major cards only (not with cash). Buying on board (with an additional fee of €3–6) allows using booked-out trains, possibly with seat part of the journey. During the COVID-19 pandemic, seats must be reserved in advance.
This means that for walk-up travel at many mid-sized stations, you'll need to buy a ticket from the machine. This is easier if no-one tries to assist you! Otherwise, thinking to be helpful, they'll press Aloita and you'll be faced by a screen asking you to choose between Aikuinen, Eläkeläisen in Lapsi. So spurn their help, wind back to the beginning and press "Start" to get the process in English, including the bank card reader instructions. Or if you're feeling adventurous you can press Börja since you can figure out whether you're vuxen, pensionär ali hlev, but you'll have to choose "Åbo" to get a ticket to Turku. Larger machines take cash, but most provincial stations have only small ones for which you need a debit/credit card with chip.
In some situations your group or voyage does not make sense to the booking system. There are usually tricks to fool the system to allow what you want to do, but unless you find a solution, you might want to book by phone, to leave the problem to somebody more experienced.
Generally, the trains are most crowded at the beginning and end of the weekend, i.e. Friday and Sunday evening. Shortly before and at the end of major holidays like Christmas/New Year and Easter, trains are usually very busy, with car-and-sleeper tickets for the most popular services sold out immediately when booking opens. If you try booking for these days at a late time, you may find the seat you reserve to be among the least desirable, that is, facing backwards, without recline, and facing towards and sharing the legroom with other passengers.
While VR's trains may be slick, harsh winter conditions and underinvestment in maintenance mean that delayed trains are not uncommon, with the fancy Pendolinos particularly prone to breaking down. Also much of the network is single-track, so delays become compounded as oncoming trains have to wait in the passing loop. As in the rest of the EU, you'll get a 25% refund if the train is 1–2 hours late and 50% if more. Real-time train traffic data for every train station in Finland in webapp or iOS app is enabled by the Trafi licensing this data under the CC-BY free licence.
Z avtobusom
There are coach connections along the main roads to practically all parts of Finland. This is also the only way to travel in Lapland, since the rail network doesn't extend to the extreme north. Connections may be scarce between the thoroughfares.
Long haul coaches are generally quite comfortable, with toilet, reclining seats, AC, sometimes a coffee machine and perhaps a few newspapers to read (often only in Finnish, though). Wi-Fi and power outlets (USB or 230 V) are getting common. Some long-haul services stop at an intermediate destination long enough for you to buy a sandwich or eat an ice cream. Coaches seldom restrict the amount of luggage. They have fees for luggage transport, but these are generally not invoked for any you would carry. Bulky luggage is usually placed in a separate luggage compartment, at least if the coach is more than half-full.
There is no dominating operator, but many smaller ones. Matkahuolto maintains some services across companies, such as timetables, ticket sale and freight. Their browser-based načrtovalec poti, with address based routing for coaches, is available (sometimes useful, but often suggests convoluted connections despite there being direct ones). Njihov Routes and Tickets mobile app has an address based routing and also a ticket purchase option. Some regional public service obligation bus routes are missing. They can be found in the opas.matka.fi route planner, and often from the local bus company, the web page of the municipality (often well hidden in Finnish only) or similar. There are Matkahuolto service points at more or less every bus station, in small towns and villages often by cooperation with a local business. Although the staff generally is helpful, they and their tools may not know very much about local conditions in other parts of the country; checking with locals (such as the local host or local bus company) for any quirks is sometimes advantageous.
Most coaches between bigger towns are izraziti services (pikavuoro/snabbtur), having fewer stops than the "standard" (vakiovuoro/reguljär tur) coaches, near extinction on some routes. Between some big cities there are also special express (erikoispikavuoro/izraziti) coaches with hardly any stops between the cities. Using coaches to reach the countryside you should check not only that there are services along the right road, but also that any express service you are going to use stops not too far away from where you intend to get off or on, and that any service runs on the right day of the week. Non-express services have stops at most a few kilometres apart.
Coaches are generally slightly higher priced than trains, although on routes with direct train competition they can be slightly cheaper. Speeds are usually slower than trains, sometimes very much so (from Helsinki to Oulu), sometimes even faster (from Helsinki to Kotka and Pori). On many routes, though, coaches are more frequent, so you may still get to your destination faster than if you wait for the next train. Tickets can be bought in advance (bargains possible on some routes), with the seldom used option to reserve seats, although paying to the driver is common (there are few if any conductors left). Kreditne in debetne kartice should be accepted on the main express and long-haul services (and when buying tickets in advance), on "regular" services on short distances you are more likely to need cash.
Hišni ljubljenčki are usually accepted on coaches as well as buses. In buses, bigger dogs often travel in the area for prams and wheelchairs. There is a fee for some pets on some services (Koiviston auto: €5 in cash unless they fit on your lap).
Onnibus offers a cheaper alternative (often €5–10 even for long rides if bought early enough) with double-deckers on routes between major cities in Finland. Tickets must be bought online as they do not accept cash. Onnibuses include free unencrypted Wi-Fi and 220 V power sockets. The general standard is lower than on other coaches and there is less legroom than in any other buses in Finland. Also the overhead racks are tight, so put everything you do not need in the luggage compartment. Be at the stop 15 minutes before departure, more if you want good seats. Note that the routes do not necessarily serve the city centres, but can provide direct access to some nearby locations.
Onnibus also has cooperation ("Onnibux flex") with some other bus companies, for legs they do not serve themselves. These services can be found through Onnibus, Matkahuolto or the site of the real operator; standard and prices are mostly the same as usually on coaches, not those of Onnibus.
Discounts
Senior discounts are for those over 65 years old or with Finnish pension decision.
As with trains, student discounts are available only for Finnish students or foreign students at Finnish institutions. You need either a Matkahuolto/VR student discount card (€5) or a student card with the Matkahuolto logo.
For coaches, otroci aged 4–11 pay about half the price (infants free), juniors (12–16) get a reduction of up to 30 % or 50 % on long non-return trips. In city buses age limits vary from one city or region to another, often children fees apply for 7–14 years old. An infant in a baby carriage gives one adult a free ride in e.g. Helsinki and Turku (but entering may be difficult in rush hours).
You can get the BusPass travel pass from Matkahuolto, which offers unlimited travel in specified time, priced at €149 for 7 days and €249 for 14 days. The pass is not accepted by Onnibus.
Local transport
Local transport networks are well-developed in Greater Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Kuopio, Jyväskylä in Lahti. In other big towns public transport networks are often usable on workdays, but sparse on weekends and during the summer, while many small towns only have rudimentary services. For information about local transport in cities and some regions around Finland, see the link list provided by Matkahuolto (in Finnish; scroll to the bottom of the page).
There are route planners usable by web browser. Matka.fi covers most cities (Helsinki, Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Iisalmi, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kajaani, Kotka, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pieksämäki, Pori, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa, Varkaus). Some of the remaining cities are included in Matkahuolto Route Planner (Kemi, Kokkola, Lohja, Loviisa, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Riihimäki, Salo, Savonlinna, Tornio, Valkeakoski).
As for smartphone apps, Nysse in Moovit have a route planner for local transport services of many cities (Helsinki, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kotka, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa).
General advice
Both coaches and city buses are stopped for boarding by raising a hand at a bus stop (blue sign for coaches, yellow for city buses; a reflector or source of light, such as a smartphone screen, is useful in the dusk and night). In some rural areas, such as northern Lapland, you may have luck also where there is no official stop (and not even official stops are necessarily marked there). On coaches, the driver will often step out to let you put most of your luggage in the luggage compartment – have what you want to have with you in a more handy bag.
Ring the bell by pushing a button when you want to get off, and the bus will stop at the next stop. Often the driver knows the route well and can be asked to let you off at the right stop, and even if not (more common now, with increased competition), drivers usually try their best. This works less well though on busy city buses.
S trajektom
In summertime, lake cruises are a great way to see the scenery of Finland, although many of them only do circular sightseeing loops and aren't thus particularly useful for getting somewhere. Most cruise ships carry 100–200 passengers (book ahead on weekends!), and many are historical steam boats. Popular routes include Turku–Naantali, Helsinki–Porvoo and various routes on Saimaa and the other big lakes.
The archipelago of Åland in Morje arhipelaga have many inhabited islands dependant on ferry connections. As these are maintained as a public service they are mostly free, even the half-a-day lines. Some are useful as cruises, although there is little entertainment except the scenery. These are meant for getting somewhere, so make sure you have somewhere to sleep after having got off.
There is a distinction between "road ferries" (yellow, typically on short routes, with an open car deck and few facilities), which are regarded part of the road network and free, and other ferries (usually with a more ship-like look and primarily serving car-less passengers). Whether the latter are free, heavily subsidized or fully paid by passengers varies. Glej Morje arhipelaga for some discussion.
Z avtom
- Main article: Vožnja na Finskem
Ni vstopa
Priority for oncoming traffic
Speed limit for zone
Traffic drives on the right. There are no road tolls or congestion charges. From February 2018, driving licences of all countries for ordinary cars are officially accepted in Finland. The only requirement is that the licence is in a European language or you have an official translation of it to Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, English or French.
Najem avtomobila in Finland is expensive, with rates generally upwards of €80/day, although rates go down for longer rentals. A foreign-registered car may be used in Finland for up to six months. A longer stay requires registering it locally and paying a substantial tax to equalize the price to Finnish levels.
Main ceste are usually fairly well maintained and extensive, although motorways are limited to the south of the country and near the bigger cities. Local roads may to some extent suffer from cracks and potholes, and warnings about irregularities in the pavement of these roads are seldom posted.
Look out for wild animals, particularly at dawn and dusk. Collisions with moose (frequently lethal) are common countrywide, deer cause numerous collisions in parts of the country, and semi-domesticated reindeer are a common cause of accidents in Lapland. Try to pass the rear end of the animal to let it escape forward. Call the emergency service (112) to report accidents even if you are OK, as the animal may be injured.
VR's overnight car carrier trains are popular for skipping the long slog from the south up to Lapland and getting a good night's sleep instead: a Helsinki–Rovaniemi trip (one way) with car and cabin for 1–3 people starts from €215.
A few unusual or unobvious rules to be aware of:
- Headlights or DRLs are mandatory even during daylight. New cars usually come with headlight-related automatics which do not always work properly, so double check your car's behavior and use manual toggles if necessary. This is especially important in the dark Finnish winter.
- Nenehno give way to the right, unless signposted otherwise. The concept of minor road refers only to exits from parking lots and such (a decent rule of thumb is whether the exit crosses over a curb). Nearly all intersections are explicitly signposted with yield signs (either the stop sign or an inverted triangle); watch for the back of the yield sign on the other road. Major highways are often signposted with an explicit right of way (yellow diamond with white borders).
- Turning right on red at traffic lights is always illegal. Instead, intersections may have two sets of traffic lights, one with regular circular lights and the other displaying arrows. A green arrow light also means there is no crossing traffic or pedestrians in the indicated direction.
- Times on signage use the 24h clock with the following format: white or black numbers are for weekdays, numbers in parentheses for Saturdays and red numbers for Sundays and public holidays; npr. "8–16" in white means M–F 8AM–4PM. If the numbers for Saturdays and Sundays are absent, the sign does not apply on weekends at all.
- Trams (present in Helsinki and Tampere) always have the right of way over other vehicles, but not over pedestrians at zebra crossings. You do not want to crash into one.
- Vehicles are required by law to stop at zebra crossings if a pedestrian intends to cross the road or if another vehicle has already stopped to (presumably) give way. Unfortunately, this sometimes causes dangerous situations at crossings over multiple lanes since not all drivers follow the rule properly. Many pedestrians are aware of this and "intend" to cross the road only when there is a suitable gap in the traffic, but you are still required to adjust your speed to be able to stop in case. Use your best judgement and watch out for less careful drivers.
- Using seat belts is mandatory. Children under 135 cm tall must use booster seats or other safety equipment (except when "temporarily" travelling in the car, such as in taxis).
Finnish driving culture is not too hazardous and driving is generally quite safe.Zimska vožnja can be risky, especially for drivers unused to cold weather conditions. Winter tyres are mandatory December–February and studded tyres allowed from November 1st to after Easter, and "when circumstances require", with a liberal interpretation. Most cars are equipped with proper steel-studded tyres, which allow quite dynamic driving. The most dangerous weather is around freezing, when slippery but near-invisible black ice forms on the roads, and on the first day of the cold season, which can catch drivers by surprise.
Omejitve hitrosti default to 50 km/h in built-up areas (look for the sign with a town skyline) and 80 km/h elsewhere. Other limits are always signposted. Major highways often have a limit of 100 km/h, with motorways up to 120 km/h. Some roads have their limits reduced in the winter for safety.
A blood alkohol level of over 0.05 % is considered drunk driving. Finnish police strictly enforce this by random roadblocks and sobriety tests.
If you are driving at night when the petrol stations are closed (many close at 21:00), always remember to bring some cash. Automated petrol pumps in Finland in rare occasions do not accept foreign credit/debit cards, but you can pay with Euro notes. In the sparsely-populated areas of the country, distances of 50 km and more between gas stations are not unheard of, so don't gamble unnecessarily with those last litres of fuel.
S taksijem
Taksit.fi is a catalog for finding local taxi companies in Finland (not complete, though).
Most taxi companies are small, with one or a few cars, but in the cities, and increasingly elsewhere, they have agreements with call centres, which impose common standards. Some drivers might give you their private number, to allow your negotiating a future drive directly with them. This is useful in special cases.
Finnish taxi regulation was largely abandoned from July 2018. Taxi businesses are now free to take any price they wish and to use more or less any vehicle. Still, most companies stick to standards similar to those before the reform, and call centres usually enforce uniform standards and maximum pricing (negotiating a different price with a driver is allowed, but unusual). If the fare is to be more than €100 the customer has to be warned, and in any case the pricing must be stated in print in a standardized way or told to the customer before the journey begins. Taximeters are not compulsory any more (but may return by an amendment 2021). Drivers still have to take a test to get a taxi licence and the vehicle has to be registered as taxi. Formerly the test included local knowledge, but that part was skipped and many drivers rely on their GPS for less common destinations.
Prices differ depending on what call centre the taxi is associated to. There are also a few "wild" taxis setting their own standards. The standard pricing scheme is a flag fall fee differing between daytime in weekdays (usually €4–7) and Sundays, holidays and nights (by varying definitions; usually €7–9), a distance based fee varying by number of passengers, and often a time based fee effectively about doubling the price. Formerly the distance based fee was €1.50–2.15/km (with a waiting time fee for traffic lights etc. added but no other time based fee). You should get roughly the same figures if you add the distance and time fees (the latter doubled in rush hours) – but prices in the capital area have increased notably since then. Pre-booking a taxi is either free or costs about €7. In cities the meter is activated when the taxi reaches your address or you agree on boarding, in the countryside you may have to pay for the fetching distance (formerly according to complicated rules). There are usually extra fees for services out of the ordinary, such as carrying luggage or handling a wheel chair. Some companies have fixed fees for some typical journeys.
When booking on the net or by an app, the fee is usually computed based on addresses and fixed and accepted at the time of booking. In the countryside you should probably check that fetching distance does not make the fee much higher than expected – you may get a taxi from far away.
At nightclub closing times and at air- and seaports there may be some drivers trying their luck with less careful (drunk or foreign) customers. Prices differ also otherwise, e.g. €30–50 between the big companies for getting from Helsinki Airport to Helsinki centre (for that drive there are often special fixed prices). In the capital region prices rose some 14% in the year after the liberalisation, elsewhere they stayed about the same.
The usual ways to get a taxi is either to find a taxi rank, order by phone (in towns mostly using a call centre for the area) or, increasingly, use a smartphone app. In the countryside you might want to call a taxi company or driver directly. The call to the call centre is nearly always extra cost, for some call centres outright expensive. Taxi companies can be found from local tourist services, and any pub or restaurant will help you get a taxi – expect to pay €2 for the call.
Pre-booking is not a guarantee to get a taxi. Most call centres try to get a free car only some time before, and if taxis are busy, they may not take that ride. In cities with many cars this should not be a problem except in the worst hours. Calling a specific small local company, not the call centre, you may get them commit to your ride. In the country side pre-booking may be the only way to get a taxi a quiet night, and also otherwise there is no guarantee that there are cars available when you need them – don't call in last minute for a train or flight.
There are increasingly several call centres to choose from, with different pricing. Many companies are enlarging their area of operation. Check that they have enough cars (or a free car nearby for you to use) in the relevant area – them claiming they serve the area does not necessarily mean they have a big market share there.
Taxis can come in any colour or shape, and the yellow "TAXI" sign (usually spelled "TAKSI") on the roof is not compulsory any more. A normal taxi will carry 4 passengers and a moderate amount of luggage. For significant amounts of luggage, you may want to order a "farmari" taxi, an estate/wagon car with a roomier luggage compartment. There is also a third common type of taxi available, the tilataksi, a van which will comfortably carry about 8 people. The tilataksis are usually equipped for taking also a person in wheelchair. If you want child seats, mention that when ordering, you may be lucky. Child seats are not compulsory for "temporary" rides, such as with a taxi.
In city centres, long queues at the taxi stops can be expected on Friday and Saturday nights. The same is true at ferry harbours, railway stations and the like when a service arrives. It is not uncommon to share a taxi with strangers, if going towards the same general direction. At airports, railway stations and other locations from where many people are going to the same direction at the same time, there may also be "Kimppataksi" minivans publicly offering rides with strangers. They are as comfortable as other taxis and will leave without much delay.
- Valopilkku (Taksi Helsinki). Taksiji, ki jih naroča aplikacija za pametni telefon. Cene niso navedene v spletu.
- 02 Taksi. Call centre and smart phone app offers address based routing and gives price offers from one or more taxi companies (mainly big companies, i.e. useful mostly in cities, towns and around them). Price or price logic told when booking. Price for calling the call centre horrendously expensive: normal tariff €1.25/call €3/min.
- Menevä. Aplikacija Smart Phone ponuja usmerjanje po naslovih in izračuna ceno v skladu z njimi. For price information, see Menevä web site.
- Cabo. Aplikacija Smart Phone ponuja usmerjanje po naslovih in izračuna ceno v skladu z njimi. For price information, see Cabo web site.
By ridesharing
Peer-to-peer ridesharing services:
- kyydit.net – Carpooling site with search engine
- kimppakyyti.fi – Carpooling site
- kimppa.net – Oldest and most retro looking carpooling site in Finland
S palcem
Hitchhiking is possible, albeit unusual, as the harsh climate does not exactly encourage standing around and waiting for cars. Many middle age and elderly people hitchhiked as young, but in the last decades high standards of living and stories about abuse have had a deterring effect. The most difficult task is getting out of Helsinki. Spring and summer offer long light hours, but in the darker seasons you should plan your time. The highway between Helsinki in Saint Petersburg has a very high percentage of Russian drivers. Glej Hitchhiking Club Finland liftari.org or the Finland article on Hitchwiki for further details if interested.
Pešci, ki hodijo v temi po ramenih neosvetljenih cest, morajo po zakonu uporabljati varnostne odsevnike. Njihova uporaba je na splošno priporočljiva, saj se vidnost pešcev z reflektorjem močno izboljša. Avtoceste z nadzorovanim dostopom (zelene table) za pešce niso dovoljene.
S kolesom
Večina finskih mest ima dobre kolesarske steze, zlasti zunaj središč, kolesarjenje pa je lahko hiter, zdrav in okolju prijazen način lokalnega obiskovanja. Dlje od mest, kjer se kolesarske steze končajo, vse glavne ceste ne omogočajo varnega kolesarjenja. Pogosto lahko najdete primerne mirne poti, včasih pa je za to treba potruditi. Domačini se pogosto vozijo precej hitro po gramoznih cestah z malo prometa; bodite pozorni in se držite desno. Obstajajo zemljevidi kolesarjev za številna območja.
Kolesarjenje po cesti se šteje za del pravica do dostopa, vendar lahko kolesarjenje povzroči erozijo ali drugo škodo, zato previdno izberite svojo pot in odklopite kolo na občutljivih odsekih. Obstajajo nekatere poti, ki so izrecno namenjene (tudi) za terenska kolesa, npr. v nekaterih narodnih parkih.
Otroci, mlajši od 12 let, lahko vozijo po pločniku, kjer ni kolesarske steze, če pešcev ne motijo nerazumno. Kolesa na kolesarskih stezah morajo pri avtomobilih, ki prečkajo ceste, popuščati, razen če je znak za popuščanje, avto zavije ali če je kolesarska pot označena kot nadaljevanje čez križišče (pazite, vsi vozniki ne pazijo na kolesarje). Če vodite svoje kolo, ste pešec.
Ceste so na splošno dobro asfaltirane, čeprav so gramozne ceste včasih neizogibne. Dokler ne greste po brezpotjih, ne boste potrebovali vzmetenja ali utorjenih pnevmatik.
Pazite, da se lahko dobra kolesarska pot nenadoma konča in vas sili med avtomobile; prizadevanja za izgradnjo kolesarske mreže niso preveč dobro usklajena. Tudi pri delih na cestah so navodila za kolesarje pogosto zanemarjena.
Zaradi razmeroma nežnega topografskega reliefa je preveč hribovit teren redko težava, vendar v hladnih mesecih mrzlica in znoj zahtevata bolj skrbno izbiro oblačil kot pri hoji. V nekaterih občinah so kolesarske steze pozimi dobro vzdrževane, v drugih pa ne. Kolesarjenje med avtomobili pozimi je ponavadi preveč nevarno (nekateri domačini to sicer počnejo, vendar poznajo okoliščine). V temnih urah so obvezni žarometi, zadnja luč in zadnji odsevnik, priporočljivi so stranski odsevniki.
Zaradi dolgih razdalj kolesarskim turistom svetujejo, naj dobro načrtujejo in se pripravijo na uporabo javnega prevoza za manj zanimive odseke. Trenerji so dobro opremljeni za vkrcanje nekaj koles. Cene se razlikujejo glede na podjetje in razdaljo, običajno približno polovico običajne vozovnice ali pavšalnih 5 EUR. Pakiranje koles ni potrebno, toda vstop na avtobusno postajo in pravočasen prihod morda pomagata najti prostor za kolo. Na nekaterih vrsticah preverite dan prej.
Vlaki vozijo kolesa za 5 EUR, če je dovolj prostora (odvisno od vrste vlaka, na nekaterih vlakih je potrebna predhodna rezervacija; na vlakih IC potrebujete tudi kovanec 50 c; tandemska kolesa ali kolesa s prikolico, primerno samo za nekatere vlake, 10 EUR) . Pakirana kolesa so brezplačna, če je paket dovolj majhen (zahteva razstavljanje kolesa, natančne mere se razlikujejo glede na vrsto vlaka). Na vlakih v Rusijo je treba spakirati kolesa (100 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm). Kolesa so brezplačna tudi na lokalnih vlakih v regiji Helsinki, vendar so dovoljena le, če je dovolj prostora.
Trajekti običajno vozijo kolesa brezplačno ali z minimalno ceno.
Mogoče bi bilo možno najeti kolo na cilju. V več mestih, vključno s Helsinki in Turkujem, obstajajo tudi občinski sistemi za skupno rabo koles.
Vsaj v mestih pogosto ukradejo kolesa, zato si zaklenite ključavnico in jo uporabite ter se izogibajte puščanju kolesa na nevarnih mestih.
Moj čoln
- Poglej tudi: Čolnarjenje na Finskem
Kot država z veliko jezeri, dolgo obalo in velikimi arhipelagi je Finska dobra destinacija za čolnarjenje. Obstaja približno 165.000 registriranih motornih čolnov, približno 14.000 jaht in približno 600.000 čolnov in majhnih motornih čolnov v lasti domačinov, torej čoln na vsakem sedmem Fincu. Če bivate v koči, obstaja možnost, da je na voljo veslaški čoln.
Jahte in motorni čolni so na voljo za najem v večini večjih mest na ustreznih plovnih poteh. Morda boste želeli tudi najeti kanu ali kajak raziskovanje otočja ali spuščanje po reki.
Peš
V mestih so navadno ustrezni pločniki in prehodi z zebrami. Avtomobili se načeloma morajo ustaviti prehodi zebre, če namerava pešec prečkati cesto - a ker večina prečka cesto le, če je v prometu dovolj velika vrzel, lahko vozniki domnevajo, da "ne nameravate prečkati zdaj", in ne ustavi se. Ne puščajte sence dvoma, da boste prečkali cesto, avtomobili pa se bodo večinoma ustavili. Z nekaj prakse to deluje gladko, učinkovito in brez nepotrebnega tveganja. Ne poskušajte tega, če vas vozniki ne bodo pravočasno videli in ne pozabite, da bodo nekateri gledali na kaj drugega.
Ponoči in mraku odsevniki so v teoriji obvezni - in so izjemno koristni, če jih vozniki vidijo. Še posebej pomembni so na podeželskih cestah z ozkimi rameni.
Govori
- Poglej tudi: Finski zvezek, Švedski zvezek izrazov
Finska je uradno dvojezična Finski (suomi) in Švedsko (svenska), oba jezika pa sta obvezna v skoraj vseh šolah (z različnimi rezultati). Tudi Sami, Romski in finski znakovni jezik so v ustavi priznani, vendar se ne govorijo zunaj njihovih skupnosti, govorci pa so dvojezični s finsko. Cestni znaki in podobno večinoma uporabljajo jezik ali jezike občine, zato so lahko cestni znaki včasih zmedeni, razen če poznate obe imeni, spletni zemljevidi pa lahko uporabljajo oba z malo logike.
Finski, materni jezik 92 odstotkov prebivalstva, ni povezan s švedščino, ruščino, angleščino ali katerim koli drugim indoevropskim jezikom. Namesto tega spada v uralsko skupino jezikov (ki vključuje madžarščino, estonščino in sámi), zaradi česar se govorci večine drugih evropskih jezikov težko učijo. Medtem ko imata finska in estonska določeno stopnjo medsebojne razumljivosti, sta madžarska in finska približno tako blizu kot španska in ruska (ker pa je večjih uralskih jezikov malo, obstaja poseben odnos).
Branje napisov je lahko težavno, saj finski jezik uporablja relativno malo izposojenih besed. Uporaba slovarja, zlasti pri daljših besedilih, je zapletena zaradi pregiba besede; tudi deblo mnogih besed se nekoliko razlikuje (npr. katto, "streha" v spodnjem primeru). Po drugi strani je razmerje med črkovanjem in formalno izgovorjavo preprosto (naučite se le, kako izgovoriti posamezne črke - težava je v tem, da se tega držite), medtem ko se pogovorni govor bistveno razlikuje od tistega, ki ga poučujejo pri večini jezikovnih ur.
Finski jezik ima sorazmerno malo izjem, vendar precej pravil (pri čemer bi nekatera pravila lahko šteli za pametno prikrite izjeme). Slovničnih primerov za "pridobivanje" je 15 nekaj kavo in pridobivanje kava, grem v pivnica, bitje v pub, pridobivanje iz pivnica, biti na streha, pridobivanje na streha, pridobivanje izključeno streho, z uporabo nečesa kot streha in tako naprej, ki so zakodirane v besedne končnice (kahvia, kahvi, pubiin, pubissa, pubista, katolle, katolta, kattona). Konjugacija glagolov je žal nekoliko bolj zapletena. Veliko različnih besed iz istega korena tvorijo drugi končniki: kirjain, kirjasin, kirjuri, kirjoitin, kirje, kirjelmä, kirjasto in kirjaamo so vsi samostalniki, povezani z kirja, "knjiga" (črka, pisava, knjigovodja, tiskar, ...), potem pa so tu še sorodni glagoli in pridevniki.
Švedsko, Germansko kot angleščina in tesno povezano z Norveški in Danski, je materni jezik za 5,6% Fincev. Približno polovica prebivalstva se obvlada švedsko, vključno s skoraj vsemi politiki na nacionalni ravni. Veliko pisnega gradiva javnih zavodov (npr. Mestne vlade, parlament, javni muzeji) je na voljo v švedščini. Ker ima jezik veliko sorodnih besed z angleščino, so lahko fragmenti razumljivi angleško govorečemu.
Švedsko govoreči so skoncentrirani vzdolž večine obale, manjše skupnosti pa so v nekaterih mestih drugje. Danes imajo večja mesta finsko večino, toda npr. občine Närpes, Korsnäs in Larsmo sta bolj ali manj izključno švedsko govoreča, prav tako majhna avtonomna pokrajina Åland in večino podeželja drugje na švedsko govorečih območjih. V Ålandu in na švedskem delu Ostrobothine ljudje običajno govorijo malo ali nič finsko. V mestih s tradicionalno švedsko večino, kot sta Vaasa (Vasa) in Porvoo (Borgå), je skoraj polovica prebivalstva švedsko govoreča, številni švedsko govoreči domačini pa pričakujejo švedsko službo. Po drugi strani pa je v mestih, kot sta Helsinki in Turku, živahna švedska kulturna scena in večina ljudi zna dovolj švedsko, da se spoprijema s preprostimi pogovori, v katerih se turistično pogovarjate in pogosto vsaj nekoliko dlje, vendar bi življenje bilo precej težko, če ne bi znanje finskega jezika. Večina večjih hotelov in restavracij na območjih, kjer se pogosto govori švedščina, ima švedsko usposobljeno osebje. V finsko govorečem zaledju je redkeje, da slučajno najdemo nekoga, ki tekoče govori švedsko.
Večina ljudi govori angleščina zelo dobro ali vsaj dovolj dobro, da ne bi smeli imeti resnih jezikovnih težav: 73% odrasle populacije meni, da je dobro znano, razen majhnih otrok, številnih starejših in nekaterih priseljencev pa bo skoraj vsakdo govoril dovolj, da vam bo dal navodila. Ne oklevajte in prosite za pomoč: Finci so lahko sramežljivi, vendar bodo običajno z veseljem pomagali ljudem v stiski.
Podjetja z domačo stranko imajo svoje spletne strani in druge tržne materiale pogosto samo v finskem jeziku. To ne pomeni, da ne morejo opravljati storitev v angleščini (čeprav bodo morda morali improvizirati več kot podjetja, ki so navajena tujcem). Če se vam zdi podjetje zanimivo, ga pokličite, da dobite informacije, ki jih potrebujete.
Rusko je mogoče razumeti v trgovinah in hotelih, ki skrbijo za ruske turiste, zlasti v bližini ruske meje, na primer v Lappeenranta, Imatra in Joensuu, pa tudi v nekaterih večjih trgovinah v Helsinkih, kot je Stockmann. Turistične destinacije, ki so med Rusi priljubljene na vzhodni in severni Finski, imajo nekaj rusko govorečega osebja. Sicer pa malo Fincev govori rusko.
Poleg zgornjih jezikov lahko govorijo tudi nekateri Finci Nemško (18% se pogovarja) oz Francosko (3% v konverzaciji). Drugi sekundarni jeziki, kot je španski in Italijansko so redkejši. Nekatere turistične storitve pa so na voljo tudi v različnih jezikih, vključno na primer s kitajščino in japonščino: turistični paketi imajo pogosto vodnike, pogosto pa obstajajo brošure, spletne strani in podobno za najpomembnejše destinacije in znamenitosti.
Tuji televizijski programi in filmi, vključno z odseki lokalnih oddaj s tujejezičnim dialogom, se skoraj vedno predvajajo z zvokom v izvirnem jeziku, vendar s podnapisi na finsko ali švedsko. V finski ali švedski jezik se sinhronizirajo le otroški programi, otroški filmi, nekatere vrste dokumentarcev (pripovedovalni del) in filmi o naravi.
Glej
Izbor najboljših znamenitosti na Finskem:
- Osrednji Helsinki, Hči Baltika, na topel in sončen poletni dan
- The zgodovinskih znamenitosti od Turku in Morje arhipelaga okoli njega, najbolje gledano z jahte ali s krova velikanskega avtomobilskega trajekta.
- Potikanje po slikovite lesene hiše od Porvoo, Drugo najstarejše mesto na Finskem
- Najem avtomobila in raziskovanje jezerske dežele vzhodne Finske, območja s približno 60 000 jezeri s podobnim številom otokov, ki pa imajo svoja jezera ...
- Grad Olavinlinna v Savonlinna, Najbolj atmosferski grad na Finskem, zlasti med letnim opernim festivalom
- Grad Hämeenlinna v Hämeenlinna je najstarejši finski grad. Zgrajena v 13. stoletju.
- Križarjenje z ledolomcem in največji snežni grad na svetu v Kemi
- Videti Severni sij in se preizkusite sankanje po kilometru dolgi progi ob Saariselkä
- Vožnja po zgodovinskem lesenem toboganu "Linnanmäki" (Helsinki). Za razliko od sodobnih modelov ga na progi zadržuje le gravitacija, za zaviranje pa potrebuje voznika na vsakem vlaku.
Obstaja muzejska izkaznica (museokortti), ki omogoča brezplačen vstop v večino večjih muzejev za en teden za 40 EUR. V prestolnici sodeluje 40 muzejev, 250 v vsej državi. Obstaja tudi enoletna različica, za 65 €.
Poti
- Pot arhipelaga, po cesti in trajektu skozi arhipelagsko morje
- Modra avtocesta, cesta od Norveške do Rusije ob jezerih in rekah
- E8 skozi Finsko in Norveško, glavna cesta finske zahodne obale
- Finska čez deset dni z avtom, predlagana pot, ki prikazuje nekatere najpomembnejše znamenitosti na Finskem
- Avtocesta 4 (Finska), del evropske poti E75, ki se razteza skoraj po celotni dolžini države od juga proti severu
- Hanko-Uusikaupunki z ladjo, glavna plovna pot za prosti čas skozi arhipelaško morje
- Hämeen Härkätie, zgodovinska pot iz Turkuja v notranjost
- Kraljeva cesta (Finska), stara poštna pot ob južni obali
- Nordkalottleden, pohodniška pot na dolge razdalje skozi območje divjine Käsivarsi
Ali
Šport
Na Primorju primanjkuje skalnatih gora ali zrezanih fjordov ne z adrenalinom zimski športi raj, ki bi ga lahko pričakovali: tradicionalna finska zabava je tek na smučeh skozi bolj ali manj raven teren. Če iščete smučanje, deskanje na snegu itd., se boste morali odpraviti do Laponska in letoviščih Levi in Saariselkä.
Kralj športa na Finskem je hokej na ledu (jääkiekko) in zmaga na svetovnem prvenstvu v hokeju na ledu je tako blizu nirvani, kot jo dobi država - še posebej, če premagajo tekmece na Švedskem, kot so to storili v letih 1995 in 2011. Letno državno prvenstvo je Liiga (finska), kjer se 15 ekip bori. Poleg tega ima sedež v Helsinkih Jokerit, nekdanji član Liige, igra v Kontinentalna hokejska liga, ruska liga, ki vključuje tudi ekipe iz več drugih post-sovjetskih držav, Slovaške in Kitajske. Če ste na obisku v sezoni (od septembra do marca), je ujeti igro vredno. Vstopnice se začnejo od približno 16 EUR, medtem ko so akcije na ledu brutalne, se navijači na splošno dobro obnašajo (če ne nujno trezno). Če ste slučajno na Finskem, ko zmagajo na svetovnem prvenstvu, je lahko promet v mestnih središčih neurejen, saj navijači po ulicah praznujejo, ponavadi vinjeni.
Nacionalni šport Finske pa je pesäpallo, ki se dobesedno prevede kot "baseball", vendar izgleda in igra precej drugače kot ameriški predhodnik. Edina najbolj opazna razlika je v tem, da vrč stoji na domači plošči skupaj z maso in igrišči navzgor, kar olajša udarjanje žoge in močnejši ulov. The Superpeza liga igra za letno prvenstvo poleti, tako z moškimi kot ženskimi ekipami.
In če bi se radi preizkusili v nečem edinstveno finskem, poleti ne zamudite številnih bizarnih športnih tekmovanj, med drugim:
- Svetovno prvenstvo v zračni kitari. Avgust, Oulu. Izpeljite svojega notranjega kitarskega junaka!
- Svetovno prvenstvo v prdežu. Julij, Utajärvi. Da, pravilno ste prebrali.
- Prvenstvo v metanju mobilnih telefonov. Začasno ustavljeno 2016. Avgust, Savonlinna. Reciklirajte svojo Nokia!
- Svetovno prvenstvo v močvirju. Julij, Hyrynsalmi. Verjetno najbolj neurejen športni dogodek na svetu. Vsakega februarja organizirajo tudi svetovno prvenstvo v snežnem nogometu.
- Svetovno prvenstvo žena, ki nosi. Julij, Sonkajärvi. Glavna nagrada je teža žene v pivu.
- Sulkavan Suursoudut. Julij, Sulkava Največji finski veslaški dogodek
Življenje na prostem
V kratkem poletju lahko plavati, kanu, vrstici ali jadra v jezerih ali v morju. Voda je najtoplejša okoli 20. julija s temperaturami okoli 20 ° C (68 ° F). Lokalni časopisi imajo običajno trenutno površinsko temperaturo, zemljevid površinskih temperatur pa lahko najdete tudi na ministrstvu za okolje Spletna stran. V najtoplejših tednih, pozno ponoči ali zgodaj zjutraj, se lahko voda počuti precej prijetno, če je temperatura zraka nižja od temperature vode. Večina mest ima tudi kopalnice z nekoliko toplejšo vodo, vendar so te poleti pogosto zaprte. Številni Finci pozimi plavajte na prostem tudi. Na nekaterih plažah obstajajo reševalci v zasedenih urah, vendar so očitna tveganja redka; lahko se uporablja skoraj vsaka obala, če ne vstopite brez preverjanja ovir. Cvetenje alg (sinilevä/cianobakterier) se lahko zgodi v najtoplejšem obdobju, zato, če se zdi, da voda vsebuje ogromno modrozelenih kosmičev, ne plavajte in ne uporabljajte vode ter ne puščajte vanjo otrok ali hišnih ljubljenčkov.
The pravica do dostopa in redka populacija omogoča enostavno vožnjo pohodništvo kjerkoli že si. Če ste resni glede tega, boste morda želeli preveriti Pohodništvo v nordijskih državah za nasvet in Finski narodni parki za cilje. Obstajajo poti za lahke enodnevne izlete, pa tudi za enodnevne pohode - in veliko zaledje za izkušene. Najboljša sezona za pohodništvo je zgodnja jesen, potem ko je večina komarjev zamrla in so se pojavile jesenske barve, a tudi poletje je dobro in so možni vsi letni časi. Za odprt ogenj je potrebno dovoljenje lastnika zemljišča (ki ga imate na ognjiščih na večini pohodniških destinacij) in je med opozorili pred požari prepovedano, ne glede na dovoljenje.
Lažja različica bivanja na prostem je, da gremo obiranje jagodičja v kakšnem bližnjem gozdu. Tudi v večjih mestih je običajno primeren gozd, prepreden s predmestjem (tj. V pol kilometra od lokalnega avtobusnega postajališča). Borovnica (Vaccinium myrtillus, mustikka/blåbär, tesno povezan z borovnicami) je dovolj pogost, da boste skoraj povsod (od julija do avgusta) hitro našli jagode za jutranjo kašo ves teden, za pite in puščave s smetano in sladkorjem. Druge pogoste jagode vključujejo gozdne jagode (metsämansikka/smultron, od konca junija), brusnica (puolukka/lingon, Avgust – september), močvirska borovnica (juolukka/odon), malina (vadelma/halon) in borovnice (variksenmarja/kråkbär/čáhppesmuorji). Na barjih boste morda našli borovnice (lakka/hjortron/luomi) in brusnice (karpalo/tranbär), slednja je bila nabrana pozno jeseni. Odvečno jagodičje lahko prodate celo na lokalni tržnici (čeprav je to morda omejeno za jagode na Laponskem).
Tudi mnogi Finci izbirajo gobe, vendar to zahteva, da veste, kaj počnete, saj obstajajo smrtonosni, vključno s smrtno kapo in evropskim angelom uničevalcem, ki jih je enostavno zamenjati za Agaricus (polje / gumb / navadna goba in podobno). Dobro pravilo je, da nikoli ne nabiramo nobenih belih gob, gob, ki rastejo na štorih oz Cortinarius vrste, ki imajo kortiko (mrežo vlaken, ki spominjajo na pajčevino) in običajno rdečkaste škrge. Seveda ne smete nabirati gob, ki jih ne poznate, vendar užitnih gob v teh kategorijah zlahka zamenjate s splošnimi smrtonosnimi.
Pozimi (in spomladi na severu) pot seveda gre tek na smučeh. V večini mest so urejene proge, pa tudi okrog centrov za zimske športe in v nacionalnih parkih. Nahrbtniki Wilderness uporabljajo večje smuči in se ne zanašajo na že obstoječe proge.
Mnogi Finci so navdušeni ribiči in rekreativci ribolov je enako dostopna tudi tujcem. V večini mirnih voda je ribolov s palico brezplačen. Ribolov z (enim) kolutom in vabo je dovoljen v večini mirnih voda pod pogojem državljana ribolovna pristojbina je bilo plačano na servisu Metsähallitus (kot je center za obiskovalce narodnega parka) ali R-kioski v spletna trgovina ali na bančni žiro (2016: 39 EUR na leto, 12 EUR na teden, 5 EUR na dan, plus morebitna doplačila za banke ali kioske; oproščeni so otroci do 18 let in starejši od 64 let). Ob plačilu prijavite želeni datum začetka in na zahtevo pokažite potrdilo. Za tekoče vode, bogate z lososom ali sorodnimi vrstami, in nekatere posebej urejene vode je treba kupiti tudi ločena dovoljenja. Z nacionalnim dovoljenjem in dovoljenjem lastnika voda (delež ima večina lastnikov zemljišč na podeželju) lahko lovite z večino zakonitih metod. Obstajajo minimalne velikosti, zaščitene vrste in drugi posebni predpisi, ki jih morate preveriti, npr. pri pridobivanju dovoljenja iz centra za obiskovalce ali ustreznega podjetja. Več informacij od 020-69-2424 (08: 00–16: 00), spletna trgovina ali npr. ahven.net. Ko se premikate med nekaterimi vodami, morate razkužiti opremo, vključno s čolnom in čevlji, ter biti previdni pri ravnanju z vodo in drobovjem (obstajajo paraziti lososa in kuga rakov). Številna mala podjetja organizirajo ribolovne izlete. Ulov in izpust se ne izvaja (izpustijo pa se podmerne ribe).
Åland ima svojo zakonodajo o ribolovu, kjer skoraj ves ribolov zahteva dovoljenje lastnika voda, ki ga lahko dobite na številnih določenih območjih s plačilom pristojbine. Prebivalci lahko v domači občini lovijo s palico in trnkom, razen 15.4–15.6, nordijski prebivalci pa lahko v gospodinjstvih na kakršen koli zakonit način lovijo v vodah brez lastnika (dovolj daleč od naseljenih otokov).
Gozdarska uprava (Metsähallitus) vzdržuje spletno povezavo Zemljevid izletov z označenimi potmi in kočami.
Glasba
- Poglej tudi: Nordijska glasba
Finska gosti številne glasbeni festivali med poletjem. Nekateri najbolj opazni festivali popularne glasbe (festari) vključujejo:
- Savna na prostem. Težka kovina, Tampere, v začetku junija
- Provinssirock. Rock, Seinäjoki, sredi junija
- Nummirock. Težka kovina, Nummijärvi (blizu Kauhajoki), konec junija (kres)
- Raumanmeren juhannus. Pop / disko glasba, Pori, konec junija (kres)
- Tuska Open Air. Težka kovina, Helsinki, konec junija
- Tangomarkkinat. Tango, Seinäjoki, v začetku julija
- Ruisrock. Rock, Turku, Julij
- Ilosaarirock. Rock, pop, reggae, Joensuu, sredi julija
- Pori Jazz. Jazz / svetovna glasba, Pori, sredi julija
- Pretok. Indie / elektronsko / urbano, Helsinki, sredi avgusta
- Qstock. Rock, pop, rap, Oulu, konec julija
Večina festivalov traja 2–4 dni in je zelo dobro organizirana, igra veliko različnih skupin, npr. Foo Fighters in Linkin Park na naslovni strani Provinssirock leta 2008. Običajna cena celotne vstopnice (ves dan) je približno 60–100 EUR, kar vključuje kamp, kjer lahko spite, jeste in spoznate druge goste festivala. Vzdušje na festivalih je odlično in verjetno boste tam našli nove prijatelje. Seveda je pitje veliko piva del izkušnje.
Obstaja tudi veliko festivalov klasična glasba, večina jih je poleti. Na teh festivalih se ljudje zbirajo samo na posameznih koncertih.
Drugi dogodki
- Finncon, Helsinki, Turku, Tampere ali Jyväskylä. Največja finska znanstvenofantastična konvencija in edina velika znanstvenofantastična konvencija na svetu, ki je popolnoma brezplačna. Poleti ob koncu tedna, običajno sredi julija. Zastonj.
Severni sij
Odkrivanje srhljivega Severni sij (Severni sij, ali revontulet v finskem) žarenje na nebu je na dnevnem redu številnih obiskovalcev. Skrajno severno Laponska na Finskem je eno najboljših krajev za opazovanje polarnih svetlosti, saj ima dobro dostopnost, kakovostno nastanitev, celinska Finska pa ima razmeroma jasno nebo, v primerjavi npr. na obalno Norveško. Vendar pa je za njihov ogled potrebno nekaj načrtovanja in nekaj sreče. Če jih želite dobro videti, morate v pravi sezoni ostati vsaj nekaj dni, po možnosti teden dni ali več, na skrajnem severu.
Na jugu severne luči redko vidimo. V npr. V Helsinkih so severne luči približno enkrat na mesec, vendar boste verjetno nekje s preveč svetlobnega onesnaženja. Pozimi pa je na severu Laponske po drugi strani verjetnost nekaterih severnih luči vsako noč 50–70% z jasnim nebom, tam pa se je lahko izogniti svetlobnemu onesnaženju.
Savna
The savna je morda najpomembnejši prispevek Finske k svetu (in svetovnemu besednjaku). Savna je v bistvu prostor, ogrevan na 70–120 ° C; po pogosto citirani statistiki ima ta 5-milijonski narod najmanj 2 milijona savn v stanovanjih, pisarnah, poletnih kočah in celo v parlamentu (številni poslovni in politični dogovori so neformalno doseženi po savnanju). V starih časih so bile savne (najčistejše kraje naokoli) kraj za rojstvo in zdravljenje bolnikov in prva stavba, zgrajena ob postavitvi novega gospodinjstva. Stari finski rek; "Če je savna, katran in alkoholne pijače ne pozdravijo, potem je to za življenje", morda kristalizira finsko čast za sveto sobo.
Če vas povabijo k obisku finskega doma, boste morda povabljeni tudi k kopanju v savni - to je v čast in bi ga morali obravnavati kot takega, čeprav Finci razumejo, da tujci morda niso navdušeni nad to idejo. Po tuširanju vstopite v golo savno, saj je nošenje kopalk ali kakršnih koli drugih oblačil malo faux pas, čeprav se lahko počutiš sramežljivo, se lahko zaviješ v brisačo. V nasprotju z nekaterimi drugimi kulturami finska savna za Fince ni veliko erotična, tudi ko se kopajo uniseks, je namenjena zgolj čiščenju in osvežitvi ali razpravam o npr. življenje ali politika. Javne savne v kopalnicah in zdraviliščih so na splošno ločene po spolu. Obstaja lahko ločena mešana savna z izhodi do moških in ženskih tušev, uporabna za npr. pari ali družine; izogibati se je treba vstopu na napačno stran. V krajih z eno savno so navadno ločeni premiki za moške in ženske in morda tudi premik med spoloma. Otroci, mlajši od 7 let, lahko običajno sodelujejo v kateri koli izmeni. V zasebnih savnah gostitelj ponavadi organizira obrate za kopanje po podobnih poteh.
Ko se napolnite, se lahko ohladite tako, da se odpravite ven, samo da sedite na verandi, se zavijete v sneg (pozimi) ali potopite v jezero (kadar koli v letu, sandali na plaži ali podobno je lahko pozimi praktično) - in se nato vrnite v še en krog. To ponovite nekajkrat, nato odprite hladno pivo, na ognju popecite klobaso in uživajte v popolnem sprostitvenem finskem slogu.
V današnjem času je najpogostejša vrsta savne električno ogrevana peč, ki jo je enostavno nadzirati in vzdrževati. Na podeželju lahko še vedno najdete savne na drva, vendar imajo puristi raje (zdaj zelo redke) tradicionalne brez dimnikov dimne savne (savusauna), kjer se velik kup kamenja segreje in savna nato pred vstopom dobro prezrači.
Vsi starejši ali z zdravstvenim stanjem (zlasti z visokim krvnim tlakom) se morajo pred uporabo savne posvetovati s svojim zdravnikom - čeprav je kopanje v savni kot navada dobro za srce, boste za prve obiske morda potrebovali strokovni nasvet.
Socialni ples
Če imate radi družabni ples - foxtrot, tango, valček, jive itd., Poskusite plesni paviljoni (Finsko: lavatanssit na a tansilava), običajno ob jezeru ali v kakšnem drugem prijetnem podeželju. Od petdesetih let prejšnjega stoletja izgubljajo priljubljenost, imajo pa zvesto občinstvo. Podobne plese prirejajo v številnih podeželskih skupnostih. Poleti se v večini plesnih paviljonov vsaj tedensko pleše, večino dni pa se pogosto pleše nekje v regiji. Pozimi lahko del iste množice najdete na ogrevanih notranjih lokacijah (večinoma v skupnostnih domovih, nekaj paviljonih, nekaterih plesnih restavracijah). Glej tudi Tangomarkkinat, festival tanga v Ljubljani Seinäjoki.
Nakup
Denar
Menjalni tečaji za evre Od 4. januarja 2021:
Tečaji nihajo. Trenutne cene za te in druge valute so na voljo pri XE.com |
Finska uporablja evro, kot več drugih evropskih držav. En evro je razdeljen na 100 centov. Uradni simbol za evro je €, njegova ISO koda pa je EUR. Za cent ni uradnega simbola.
Vsi bankovci in kovanci te skupne valute so zakonito plačilno sredstvo v vseh državah, le da v nekaterih od njih postopoma odpadejo kovanci z majhnimi apoeni (en in dva centa). Bankovci so videti enako v vseh državah, medtem ko imajo kovanci na hrbtni strani običajno skupno obliko, ki izraža vrednost, in na sprednji strani nacionalno obliko, specifično za državo. Spredaj se uporablja tudi za različne modele spominskih kovancev. Zasnova aversa ne vpliva na uporabo kovanca.
Pri gotovinskih transakcijah na Finskem vse vsote so zaokrožene na najbližjih pet centov. Tako se kovanci za en in dva centa redko uporabljajo (čeprav so zakonito plačilno sredstvo), redki finski pa so zbirateljski predmeti. Pri plačilu s kartico se plačilo pripiše centu.
Večina krajev sprejema glavne kreditne kartice (s čipom bo morda potreben osebni dokument). V nekaterih primerih sprejemajo samo gotovino (kot so lokalni in regionalni avtobusi, trgi na prostem in druga mala podjetja), medtem ko vodniki vlakov ne sprejemajo gotovine. Bankomati ne izdajajo bankovcev v vrednosti 100, 200 in 500 EUR in jih redko dejansko uporabljajo. Pripravite se na težave, če poskušate plačati z njimi. Avtobusi in številne vrste manjših kioskov jih pogosto ne sprejmejo, lokalni avtobusi včasih nimajo niti bankovcev za 50 evrov.
Večina Fincev uporablja odsekano debetno kartico (sirullinen pankkikortti ali sirukortti) za vsakodnevne nakupe. Čitalniki brezkontaktnih plačil EMV so običajni za nakupe do 50 evrov. Kreditne kartice (VISA, MasterCard, včasih tudi druge kartice) so splošno sprejete, vendar boste pri nakupu več kot 50 EUR (in morda boste morali, da jo pokažete tudi pri manjših nakupih) zahtevati identifikacijo. Čitalniki kartic Visa Electron in Visa Debit najdete v vseh večjih in manjših trgovinah, zato ponavadi nošenje večjih količin gotovine ni potrebno. Za trge na prostem imajo majhna nastanitvena podjetja, za nakup obrti v delavnici in podobno denar (käteinen) ali preverite vnaprej. Napis "Zaman käteinen"pomeni" Samo gotovina ". Dandanes mnogi Finci uporabljajo kartice tudi za manjše nakupe, poraba gotovine pa se hitro zmanjšuje. Uporaba tuje kartice bi lahko postala težava, če vaša kartica ne temelji na čipih; številni prodajalci potrebujejo PIN. Naj vas ne moti, če Finci s karticami plačujejo majhne zneske v višini 1–5 EUR, tudi če je v čakalni vrsti dolga vrsta. Čeki se nikoli ne uporabljajo. Valute, ki niso euro, so običajno ne sprejet, čeprav je švedska krona lahko sprejeta leta Åland in severna obmejna mesta Tornio (in norveške krone prav tako na skrajnem severu). Kot izjema Stockmann sprejema ameriške dolarje, funt funtov, švedsko krono in ruske rublje. Tudi na trajektih iz Švedske in Estonije je mogoče sprejeti številne valute.
Cene so ponavadi podane brez izrecne navedbe valute. Centi se povejo po vejici, ki je decimalno ločilo. Tako 5,50 pomeni pet evrov in petdeset centov, medtem ko 5, - pomeni pet evrov.
Bančništvo
Pridobitev ali zamenjava denarja je v mestih redko problem, saj bankomati (pankkiautomaatti, bankautomat) so pogosti in jih je mogoče upravljati z mednarodnimi kreditnimi in debetnimi karticami (Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro). Večina bankomatov pripada Otto sistem, nekateri v Nosto (obe imeni si lahko razlagamo kot "risanje"). Prva je sodelovanje med bankami, druga, ki jo pogosto najdemo na trgih S, je neodvisen novi konkurent. Na podeželju je bankomate težje najti. Denar lahko dobite z nekaterimi karticami v nekaterih trgovinah. Menjalnice (npr. Forex, prepoznaven po svetlo rumenem logotipu) je mogoče najti v večjih mestih in blizu meja, običajno pa imajo boljše cene, daljši delovni čas in hitrejše storitve kot banke. Upoštevajte, da vsi bančni uradi sploh ne obdelujejo gotovine, tisti, ki to počnejo, pa še vedno ne bodo mogli zamenjati valut. Zaradi razširjenega elektronskega bančništva redno plačevanje računov in druge bančne naloge redko opravljajo v pisarni banke. Banke so zmanjšale svojo pisarniško mrežo in osebne storitve, tako da boste morda morali v to čakalno vrsto.
Finska je del enotnega območja plačil v evrih (SEPA), ki zajema EU in EGP, Monako, San Marino in Švico. Vsaka odsekana kreditna ali debetna kartica, ki jo je izdala banka SEPA, bi morala delovati, denar pa lahko med bankami nakažete z žiro na celotnem območju SEPA. Kljub temu, če se selite v državo, poiščite finski bančni račun (pankkitili, bankkonto), ker finske banke za žiros na Finskem ne zaračunavajo provizij, če jih oddajo prek spleta, in bančne žiro (pankkisiirto, bankgiro) je - za vse namene - edini način plačevanja računov in izplačila plač. Prejeli boste poverilnice za elektronsko bančništvo, s katerimi lahko izvajate večino dnevnih bančnih nalog, vključno z žiro plačili. Številni prodajalci ponujajo "elektronske račune" (e-lasku, e-räkning), ki račun pošlje neposredno na vaš uporabniški račun v banko v odobritev, lahko pa tudi, da banka samodejno plača račun na določen datum, kar je koristno npr. najemnina. Banking credentials also serve as identity checks for e.g. insurance or government electronic services.
Prekuhavanje
As a rule, tipping is entirely optional and never necessary in Finland and restaurant bills already include service charges. Indeed tipping is almost unheard of outside restaurants with table service and taxi fares; the latter are occasionally rounded up to the next convenient number. Cloakrooms (narikka) in nightclubs and better restaurants often have non-negotiable fees (usually clearly signposted, €2 is standard), and – in the few hotels that employ them – hotel porters will expect around the same per bag. Bar patrons may tip the bouncer when leaving for satisfactory service in the establishment in general. Consequently tips are most often pooled. Bars often have a brass tippikello (tip bell) near the counter. Upon receiving a tip, the service person strikes it with the largest denomination of coin given in the tip.
Tipping government and municipality personnel for any service will not be accepted, as it could be considered a bribe.
Stroški
Declared the world's most expensive country in 1990, prices have since abated somewhat but are still steep by most standards, though somewhat cheaper than Norway; Norwegians living near the border often drive into Finland to purchase groceries. Rock-bottom travelling if staying in hostel dorms and self-catering costs at least €25/day and it's safer to assume double that amount. Groceries in Finland cost approximately 20% over the EU average. The cheapest hotels cost about €50 per night (without breakfast) and more regular hotels start from about €80–100. Instead of hotels or hostels, look for holiday cottages, especially when travelling in a group and off-season; you can find a full-equipped cottage for €10–15 per person a night. Camp-sites typically cost €10–20 per tent or caravan, plus about €5/2 per person.
Museums and tourist attractions have an entrance fee in the range of €5–25. Using public transport costs a few euros per day and depends on the city. One-way travel between major cities by train or by bus costs €20–100, depending on the distance. Children, by varying definitions, often pay about half price or less (small children free), except at children's attractions.
A VAT of 24 % is charged for nearly everything (the main exception being food at 14 %), but by law this must be included in the displayed price. Non-EU residents can get a tax refund for purchases not intended for local use above €40 at participating outlets, just look for the Tax-Free Shopping logo and check how to get the refund.
Shopping
As you might expect given the general price level, souvenir shopping in Finland isn't exactly cheap. Traditional buys include Finnish puukko knives and handwoven ryijy rugs. Za vsakega Lappish handicrafts, look for the "Sámi Duodji" label that certifies it as authentic. Popular foods to try or to bring home to astonish your friends include every conceivable part of a reindeer, lye-soaked lutefisk (lipeäkala), and pine tar (terva) syrup. If you can't bring yourself to try terva on your pancakes, then you can also get soap scented with it in nearly any grocery or drug store. There are also candies with tar flavour, the most common being the Leijona Lakritsi candies.
Popular brands for modern (or timeless) Finnish design include Marimekko clothing, Iittala glass, Arabijo ceramics (especially their Moomin mugs are a must), Kalevala Koru jewelry, Pentik interior design and, if you don't mind the shipping costs, Artek furniture by renowned architect and designer Alvar Aalto. Kids, and more than a few adults, love Moomin characters, which fill up souvenir store shelves.
Shopping hours are not regulated any more, and depend on the location, size and type of shop: it is best to check their websites for opening hours of the day. The most available are local grocery stores, such as Sale, Alepa ali K-Market, which usually are open 07:00–23:00, in some cases around the clock. Larger shops, shopping centres and department stores are generally open until 20:00 or 21:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. For small and speciality shops, normal weekday opening hours are from 9:00 or later to 17:00 or 18:00, but most of them close early on Saturday and are closed entirely on Sundays. Shopping hours in Helsinki are the longest, with some department stores open around the clock. Shopping hours in the countryside and small cities are shorter, although most national chains keep the same hours throughout the country (except for 24 hr operations). During national holidays, almost all stores are closed, although some grocery stores may remain open. Finally, shops may operate longer than usual hours during the Christmas shopping season.
Convenience stores like the ubiquitous R-Kioski keep quite long hours, but still tend to be closed when you most need them. If in desperate need of basic supplies, fuel station convenience stores (Shell, Neste, Teboil, ABC!) are usually open on weekends and until late at night, and especially stores in ABC! stations commonly operate around the clock. Supermarkets in Helsinkije Asematunneli, underneath the Central Railway Station, are open until 22:00 every day of the year, except on Christmas Day (25 December).
For alcohol, see Pijte below.
Most products need to be imported, and unfortunately this shows in the selection of goods and the pricing. It is not uncommon to see exactly the same product in different shops, at exactly the same price. When buying consumer electronics, one should be aware that the shelf life of products can be rather long, especially if the shop isn't specialized in consumer electronics. There is a risk of buying an overpriced product that has already been discontinued by the manufacturer or replaced with a newer model.
While shopkeepers may vehemently deny this to a foreigner, prices in smaller stores are by no means fixed. When buying hobby equipment, it is not uncommon to get 30% discount (hint: find the international price level from a web shop and print it out). In the kinds of shops where such ad hoc discounts are possible, you could at least ask for the price to be rounded down some 5%, or to get some lesser product included. This is not like the bargaining in some other countries – you should mostly ask for the price you hope to get, or just suggest you'd appreciate a reduced price.
Tässä.fi website helps to find the nearest grocery store or supermarket according to the given location.
Jej
Finnish cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbors (see Nordijska kuhinja in Ruska kuhinja), the main staples being potatoes in kruh with various fish and meat dishes on the side. Dairy products are also important, with a wide variety of cheeses and milk a common beverage even for adults. Due to the harsh climate, spices in Finland were historically largely limited to salt and pepper, with lashings of dill in the summer. While traditional Finnish food is famously bland, the culinary revolution that followed joining the EU has seen a boom in classy restaurants experimenting with local ingredients, often with excellent results. Contemporary Finnish cuisine includes tastes and influences from all over the world, and the dining scene in larger cities has become quite cosmopolitan.
As the ingredients make much of the food, in Finland, the agricultural products might suffer of the cold climate. Yet the fish, while small in size and rare in occurrence, are tasty. Salmon in shops and on markets in Finland is often imported from Norway. When traveling in the middle of the Finland, there is a rare occasion to purchase freshly caught and prepared fish from one of the thousand lakes.
Seafood
With tens of thousands of lakes and a long coastline, fish is a Finnish staple, and there's a lot more on that menu than just salmon (lohi). Specialities include:
- Baltski sled (silakka), a small, fatty and quite tasty fish available coal roasted (hiilisilakka), pickled, marinated, smoked, grilled and in countless other varieties
- Gravlax ("graavilohi"), a pan-Scandinavian appetizer of raw salted salmon
- Smoked salmon (savulohi), not just the cold, thinly sliced, semi-raw kind but also fully cooked "warm" smoked salmon
- Vendace (muikku), a speciality in eastern Finland, a small fish served rolled in a mix of breadcrumb flour and salt and fried in butter till crunchy. They are traditionally served with mashed potatoes and you will find them sold at most music festivals.
Other local fish to look out for include zander (kuha), an expensive delicacy, pike (hauki), flounder (kampela) and perch (ahven). If you're in Finland around October, keep an eye out for the Herring Fair (Silakkamarkkinat), celebrated in most larger coastal cities.
Meat dishes
- Karelian stew (karjalanpaisti), a heavy stew usually made from beef and pork (and optionally, lamb), carrots and onions, usually served with potatoes
- Liver casserole (maksalaatikko), consisting of chopped liver, rice and raisins cooked in an oven; it tastes rather different from what you'd expect (and not liver-y at all)
- Loop sausage (lenkkimakkara), a large, mildly flavored sausage; best when grilled and topped with a dab of sweet Finnish mustard (sinappi), and beer
- Meat balls (lihapullat, lihapyörykät) are as popular and tasty as in neighboring Sweden
- Reindeer (poro) dishes, especially sauteed reindeer shavings (poronkäristys, served with potato mash and lingonberries), not actually a part of the everyday Finnish diet but a tourist staple and common in the North. In addition to poronkäristys also reindeer jerky (ilmakuivattu poro) is a known delicacy and hard to come by and slightly smoked reindeer beef cutlets are available at all supermarkets though they too are expensive (delicious with rye bread)
- Swedish hash ("pyttipannu"), (originally from Švedska, Swedish: "pytt i panna") a hearty dish of potatoes, onions and any meaty leftovers on hand fried up in a pan and topped with an egg
- Makkara traditional Finnish sausage. Affectionately called "the Finnish man's vegetable" since the actual meat content may be rather low.
Milk products
Cheese and other milk products are very popular in Finland. Large quantities of sir (juusto) are consumed, much of it locally produced mild to medium matured. Imported cheeses are freely available and local farm cheeses can be sampled and purchased at open air markets (tori) and year round market halls. A flat fried bread-cheese (leipäjuusto) can be eaten cold with (cloud berry) jam, in a salad or reheated with meals, a baked egg cheese (munajuusto) block is a common food ingredient made with milk, buttermilk and egg. The most common varieties are mild hard cheeses like Edam and Emmental, but local specialities include:
- Aura cheese (aurajuusto), a local variety of Roquefort blue cheese, also used in soups, sauces and as a pizza topping.
- Breadcheese (leipäjuusto ali juustoleipä), a type of very mild-flavored grilled curd that squeaks when you eat it, best enjoyed warm with a dab of cloudberry jam
Fermented dairy products help stabilize the digestion system, so if your system is upset, give them a try:
- Piimä, a type of buttermilk beverage, thick and sour and contains naturally healthy lactic acid bacteria.
- Viili, a type of curd, acts like super-stretchy liquid bubble gum but is similar to plain yoghurt in taste. It is traditionally eaten with cinnamon and sugar on top.
Yoghurt (jugurtti), often premixed with jam, is commonly eaten. Skyr, a cultured milk product originally from Islandija, has become a popular yogurt substitute. Kefir, a Russian yoghurt drink, is available in many flavors.
Other dishes
- Pea soup (hernekeitto), usually but not always with ham, traditionally eaten with a dab of mustard and served on Thursdays; just watch out for the flatulence!
- Karelian pies (karjalanpiirakka), an oval 7 by 10 cm baked pastry, traditionally baked with rye flour, containing rice porridge or mashed potato, ideally eaten topped with butter and chopped egg (munavoi)
- Porridge (puuro), usually made from oats (kaura), barley (ohra), rice (riisi) or rye (ruis) and most often served for breakfast
Kruh
Bread (leipä) is served with every meal in Finland, and comes in a vast array of varieties. Rye bread (ruisleipä, rågbröd) is the most popular bread in Finland. It can be up to 100% rye and usually it is sourdough bread, which is much darker, heavier and chewier than American-style mixed wheat-rye bread. Most Finnish types of rye bread are unsweetened and thus sour and even bitter, although Swedish varieties sweetened with malt are also widely available.
Typically Finnish breads include:
- reikäleipä, round flat rye bread with a hole, western Finland, the hole was for drying it on sticks by the ceiling
- ruispala, the most popular type of bread, a modern unholed, single-serving, pre-cut variant of reikäleipä in a rectangular or oblong shape
- hapankorppu, dry, crispy and slightly sour flatbread, occasionally sold overseas as "Finncrisp"
- näkkileipä, dried, crispy flatbread, traditionally from rye
- ruislimppu, traditionally rye, water and salt only (limppu is a catch-all term for big loaves of fresh bread)
- perunalimppu, rye bread with potato and malt, quite sweet
- svartbröd (saaristolaisleipä ali Maalahden limppu), sweet and heavy black bread from the south-western archipelago (especially Åland), made in a complicated process; originally less sweet, for long fishing and hunting expeditions and for seafarers, excellent as a base for eating roe with smetana
- piimälimppu, wheat bread with buttermilk, usually sweetened
- rieska, unleavened bread made from wheat or potatoes, like a softer and thicker variant of a tortilla, eaten fresh
Seasonal specialities
Attack of the killer mushrooms The false morel (korvasieni) has occasionally been dubbed the "Finnish fugu", as like the infamous Japanese pufferfish, an improperly prepared false morel can kill you. Fortunately, it's easily rendered safe by boiling with the right ceremonies (you should get instructions when you buy it – and don't breathe in the fumes!), and prepared mushrooms can be found in gourmet restaurants and even canned. |
Around Easter keep an eye out for mämmi, a type of brown sweet rye pudding. It looks famously unpleasant but actually tastes quite good (best eaten with creamy milk and sugar). One sweet speciality for May Day is tippaleipä, a palm sized funnel cake traditionally enjoyed with mead. At the Midsummer celebration in late June it is common to serve the first potatoes of that years' harvest with herring. From the end of July until early September it's worthwhile to ask for crayfish (rapu) menus and prices at better restaurants. It's not cheap, you don't get full from the crayfish alone and there are many rituals involved, most of which involve large quantities of ice-cold vodka, but it should be tried at least once. Around Christmas, baked ham (kinkku) is the traditional star of the dinner table, with a constellation of casseroles around it.
Regional specialities
There are also regional specialities, including:
- Savoniaje kalakukko, a rye pie made with small whole fish (often vendace), baked slow and low so that even the fish bones become soft
- Tampereje black sausage (mustamakkara), a blood sausage canonically served with lingonberry jam and a pint of cold milk
Grill kiosks (see below) also like to put their local spin on things, ranging from Lappeenrantaje vetyatomi ("hydrogen atom"), a meat pie with ham and fried egg, to Lahti's spectacularly unappetizing lihamuki ("meat mug"), a disposable soda cup filled with the cheapest grade of kebab meat, your choice of sauce, and nothing else.
Desserts
For dessert or just as a snack, Finnish pastries abound and are often taken with coffee (see Pijte) after a meal. Look for cardamom coffee bread (pulla), a wide variety of tarte (torttu), and krofi. Traditional Finnish deep-fried doughnuts, which are commonly available at cafes, come in two varieties: munkki, which is a deep-fried bun, and munkkipossu, which is flat and roughly rectangular; both contain sweet jam. A slice of giant oven pancake (uunipannukakku) is a common accompaniment to pea soup on Thursdays.
In summer, a wide range of fresh jagode are available, including the delectable but expensive cloudberry (lakka), and berry products are available throughout the year as jam (hillo), soup (keitto) and a type of gooey clear pudding known as kiisseli.
Finnish chocolate is also rather good, with Fazer products including their iconic Sininen ("Blue") bar and Gejša candies exported around the world. A more Finnish speciality is licorice (lakritsi). Particularly the strong salty liquorice (salmiakki) gets its unique (and acquired) taste from ammonium chloride.
After a meal it's common to chomp chewing gum (purukumi) including xylitol, which is good for dental health. Jenkki is a popular domestic chewing gum brand with xylitol (many flavours available).
Places to eat
Finns tend to eat out only on special occasions, and restaurant prices are correspondingly expensive. The one exception is čas za kosilo, when thanks to a government-sponsored lunch coupon system company cafeterias and nearly every restaurant in town offers set lunches for the corresponding prices (around €9–10), usually consisting of a main course, salad bar, bread table and a drink. University cafeterias, many of which are open to all, are particularly cheap with meals in the €2–4 range for students, although without Finnish student ID you will usually need to pay about €5–7. There are also public cafeterias in office areas that are open only during lunch hours on working days. While not particularly stylish and sometimes hard to find, those usually offer high-quality buffet lunch at a reasonable price. Any lunch eatery will have these offers 11:00–14:00, while some have them e.g. 10:30–15:00, very few until dinner time.
For dinner, you'll be limited to generic fast food (pizza, hamburgers, kebabs and such) in the €5–10 range, or you'll have to splurge over €20 for a meal in a "nice" restaurant. For eating on the move, look for grill kiosks (grilli), which serve sausages, hamburgers and other portable if not terribly health-conscious fare late into the night at reasonable prices. In addition to the usual hamburgers and hot dogs, look for meat pies (lihapiirakka), akin to a giant savoury doughnut stuffed with minced meat and your choice of sausage, fried eggs and condiments. Hesburger is the local fast-food equivalent of McDonald's, with a similar menu. They have a "Finnish" interpretation of a few dishes, such as a sour-rye chicken sandwich. Of course most international fast food chains are present, especially Subway and McDonald's (which offers many of their sandwich buns substituted with a sour-rye bun on request.)
The Finnish word for buffet is seisova pöytä ("standing table"), and while increasingly used to refer to all-you-can-eat Chinese or Italian restaurants, the traditional meaning is akin to Sweden's smörgåsbord: a good-sized selection of sandwiches, fish, meats and pastries. It's traditionally eaten in three rounds — first the fish, then the cold meats, and finally warm dishes — and it's usually the first that is the star of the show. Though expensive and not very common in a restaurant setting, if you are fortunate enough to be formally invited to a Finn's home, they will likely have prepared a spread for their guest, along with plenty of coffee. Breakfast at better hotels is also along these lines and it's easy to eat enough to cover lunch as well!
If you're really on a budget, you can save a considerable amount of money by self-catering. Ready-to-eat casseroles and other basic fare that can be quickly prepared in a microwave can be bought for a few euros in any supermarket. Note that you're usually expected to weigh and label any fruits or vegetables yourself (bag it, place it on the scale and press the numbered button; the correct number can be found from the price sign), and green signs mean possibly tastier but certainly more expensive organic (luomu) produce.
At restaurants, despite the high prices, portions tend to be quite small, at least when compared to ZDA in Kanada, and even many European držav. Finns are used to eating a substantial breakfast (included in the price of hotels and some other lodgings) and lunch, so the dinner doesn't need to be very heavy, and can be two- or single-course. Dinner is served rather early, sometimes as early as 16:00, but usually at 17:00 or 18:00.
Dietary restrictions
Traditional Finnish cuisine relies heavily on meat and fish, but vegetarianism (kasvissyönti) is increasingly popular and well-understood, and will rarely pose a problem for travellers. Practically all restaurants offer vegetarian options, often marked with a "V" on menus. Take note that egg (kananmuna ali muna) is found in many prepared foods, ready meals and baked goods, so vegan meals are not common outside selected restaurants but the selection of raw ingredients, speciality grains and health foods is adequate for preparing your own. Likewise gelatine (liivate) in yoghurt, jellies and sweets is common. Both will always be indicated on labels.
Two ailments commonly found among Finns themselves are lactose intolerance (laktoosi-intoleranssi, inability to digest the milk sugar lactose) and coeliac disease (keliakia, inability to digest gluten). In restaurants, lactose-free selections are often tagged "L" (low-lactose products are sometimes called "Hyla" or marked with "VL"), while gluten-free options are marked with "G". However, hydrolyzed lactose (EILA, or HYLA brand) milk or lactose-free milk drink for the lactose intolerant is widely available, which also means that a lactose-free dish is not necessarily milk-free. Allergies are quite common among Finnish people, too, so restaurant workers are usually quite knowledgeable on what goes into each dish and often it is possible to get the dish without certain ingredients if specified.
Kosher and halal food are rare in Finland and generally not available outside very limited speciality shops and restaurants catering to the tiny Jewish and Islamic communities. Watch out for minced meat dishes like meatballs, which very commonly use a mix of beef and pork. The Jewish Community of Helsinki runs a small košer deli in Helsinki.
A range of ingredients that have more common allergies and dietary restrictions associated with them may be printed in krepko text in the list of ingredients (ainekset ali ainesosat) on all packaged goods, at restaurants and markets you will have to ask.
Pijte
Thanks to its thousands of lakes, Finland has plenty of water supplies and tap water is always potable (In fact, never buy bottled water if you can get tap water!). The usual soft drinks and juices are widely available, but there is also a wide array of berry juices (marjamehu), especially in summer, as well as Pommac, an unusual soda made from (according to the label) "mixed fruits", which you'll either love or hate. Juice from many berries is to be mixed with water, also when not bought as concentrate; sugar is often already added. Note the difference between mehu in mehujuoma, where the latter may have only traces of the nominal ingredient.
Coffee and tea
Finns are the world's heaviest kava (kahvi) drinkers, averaging 3–4 cups per day. Most Finns drink it strong and black, but sugar and milk for coffee are always available and the more European variants such as espresso and cappuccino are becoming all the more common especially in the bigger cities. Starbucks has arrived in Helsinki, but all the biggest towns have had French-style fancy cafés for quite some time and modern competitors, like Wayne's, Robert's Coffee or Espresso House, are springing up in the mix. For a quick caffeine fix, you can just pop into any convenience store, which will pour you a cuppa for €2 or so. Tea hasn't quite caught on in quite the same way, although finding hot water and a bag of Lipton Yellow Label won't be a problem. For brewed tea, check out some of the finer cafés or tea rooms in the city centres.
Finnish coffee, however, is prepared usually using filters ("sumppi"), producing rather mild substance. Finding a strong high pressure espresso might be an issue somewhere, but tasting the smooth flavor of mocca blend is something to try about. Discussing the preparation mechanics of coffee with Finns is not such a bad idea, generally they are open for new ideas and tastes. The more traditional option for the filtered coffee in Finland is the Eastern style "mud coffee". In that preparation the grounded coffee beans are boiled in a large pot. Before serving, the grounded coffee is let to calm down, before serving the smooth flavored coffee on the top. Today, one might not be able to find this kind of "pannukahvi" in finer cafés (in big cities), but they are largely available pretty much anywhere else. You can even purchase special grounded coffee in most of the supermarkets for that purpose (it is not that fine-grounded like normal filter coffee let alone like espresso). It is specially tasty with cream, rather than milk.
Dairy
In Finland it is quite common for people of all ages to drink milk (maito) as an accompaniment to food. Another popular option is piimä (buttermilk, Swedish: surmjölk).
Alcohol
Alcohol is very expensive in Finland compared to most countries (though not to its Nordic neighbours Švedska in Norveška), although low-cost Estonija's entry to the EU has forced the government to cut alcohol taxes a little. Still, a single beer will cost you closer to €4–5 in any bar or pub, or €1 and up in a supermarket. While beer and cider are available in any supermarket or convenience store (09:00-21:00), the state monopoly Alko is your sole choice for wine or anything stronger. The legal drinking age is 18 for milder drinks, while to buy hard liquor from Alko you need to be 20. This applies to possession of such alcohol as well; if you are under 20 years old you are not allowed to carry a bottle of vodka with you. Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve all alcohols to customers over 18 within their premises. ID is usually requested from all young-looking clients (nowadays all looking to be under 30). Some restaurants have higher age requirements, some up to 30 years, but these are their own policies and are not always followed, especially not at more quiet times.
Despite the unusually high cost of booze, Finnish people are well known of their tolerance and culture around celebration. Do not hesitate to join the Finnish parties, which usually are not dry. While Finnish people tend to stick to individual bills in the bar, when you get with them into the summer cottage, things usually turn the other way around and everyone enjoys together what there is on the table.
The national drink is ne Finlandia Vodka, but its local brand Koskenkorva ali Kossu in common speech. However, the two drinks are closely related: Kossu has 38% ABV while Finlandia has 40%, and Kossu also has a small amount of added sugar, which makes the two drinks taste somewhat different. There are also many other vodkas (viina) on the market, most of which taste pretty much the same. As a rule of thumb: products with word vodka in their name are completely without added sugar while products called viina have some.
A once very popular Finnish specialty is Salmiakki Kossu or more commonly just Salmari. It is prepared by mixing in salty licorice, whose taste masks the alcohol behind it fearfully well. There are several brands for salmari available. Add in some Fisherman's Friend menthol cough drops to get Fisu ("Fish") shots, which are even more lethal. In-the-know hipsters opt for Pantteri ("Panther"), which is half and half Salmari and Fisu. Other famous classics are Jaloviina ali Jallu in everyday speech, a mixture of vodka and brandy, popular especially among university students, and Tervasnapsi ("tar schnapps") with a distinctive smoky aroma. Both Salmari and Tervasnapsi are strongly acquired tastes and the Finns enjoy seeing how foreigners react to them. Marskin Ryyppy is a spiced vodka which was the favorite schnapps of the marshal and former president of Finland C.G.E. Mannerheim. Marskin Ryyppy should be served ice cold in a glass which is poured as full as ever possible. Spilling the schnapps is, of course, forbidden.
Beer (olut or more softly kalja, öl in Swedish) is very popular. Finnish beers used to be nearly identical mild lagers, but import and the microbrewery trend has forced also the big players to experiment with different types. Big brands are Lapin Kulta, Karjala, Olvi, Koff in Karhu. Pay attention to the label when buying: beers branded "I" are inexpensive due to their low alcohol content (and thus: low tax), while "III" and "IV" are stronger and more expensive. The Finnish standard is "III beer" with 4.5–4.7% ABV. In grocery stores you will not find any drinks with more than 5.5% alcohol. You may also encounter kvass or kotikalja (literally "home beer"), a dark brown beer-like but very low-alcohol beverage. Kotikalja is popular especially at Christmas time but may be served around the year (cf the Swedish julmust and svagdricka). Imported beers are available in bigger grocery stores, most pubs and bars, and Czech beers in particular are popular and only slightly more expensive than local ones. Some microbreweries (Laitila, Stadin panimo, Nokian panimo etc.) are gaining foothold with their domestic dark lagers, wheat beers and ales.
Sahti is type of unfiltered, usually strong, top-fermented beer. Traditionally it is brewed without hops but is flavored with juniper instead. Commercially available sahti is usually around 8% ABV and therefore available in Alko stores only. Sahti is often considered as an acquired taste. Some villages in Häme and Satakunta provinces have prominent sahti-tradition.
A modern development is ciders (siideri, Swedish: jabolčnik). Most of these are artificially flavoured sweet concoctions which are quite different from the English or French kinds, although the more authentic varieties are gaining market share. The ever-popular gin long drink ali lonkero ("tentacle"), a pre-bottled mix of gin and grapefruit soda, tastes better than it sounds and has the additional useful property of glowing under ultraviolet light. At up to 610 kcal/litre it also allows to skip dinner, leaving more time for drinking.
During the winter, do not miss glögi (Swedish: glögg), a type of spiced mulled wine most often served with almonds and raisins. Although it was originally made of old wine the bottled stuff in grocery stores is usually alcohol free and Finns will very often mix in some wine or spirits. In restaurants, glögi is served either alcohol-free, or with 4 cl vodka added. Fresh, hot glögi can, for example, be found at the Christmas markets and somewhat every bar and restaurant during the season.
Finski wines are made of cultivated or natural berries instead of grapes. The ones made of blackcurrant form a fruity alternative for grape wines. Elysee No 1 is a fairly popular sparkling wine made of white currant. Alko stores (especially some of them) have a wide selection of foreign wines, and these are much more commonly drunk than their few domestic rivals.
Quite a few unusual liquors (likööri) made from berries are available, although they're uniformly very sweet and usually served with dessert. Cloudberry liquor (lakkalikööri) is worth a shot even if you don't like the berries fresh.
Home-made spirits (pontikka, Swedish: hembränt): you have been warned! More common in rural areas. It is illegal and frequently distilled on modified water purification plants – which are subject to import control laws nowadays – anecdotal evidence suggests that those are occasionally played as a prank on unsuspecting foreigners. Politely decline the offer, še posebej if still sober. Kilju refers to sugar wine, a fermented mix of sugar and water with an ABV comparable to fortified wine (15–17%). Manufacturing this for one's own use is legal (as is "homewine", basically the same thing but with fruits or berries added), selling isn't.
Finally, there is traditional beverage worth looking for: the mead (sima, Swedish: mjöd). Sima is an age-old wine-like sweet brew nowadays usually made from brown sugar, lemon and yeast and consumed particularly around Mayday (Vappu). If you are lucky you might encounter some varieties of sima such as one spiced with meadow-sweet. Try them!
Spi
Accommodation in Finland is expensive, with typical hotel rooms about €100/night or more. Many large hotels are cheaper during the weekends and in summer. In addition to the usual international suspects, check out more or less local hotel chains Scandic, Finlandia in Sokos. The Omena chain offers often very cheap self-service hotels, where you book online and get a keycode for your room, with no check-in of any kind needed (and little service available). What is remarkable is the absence of foreign hotel chains outside the capital, you only rarely find global hotel brands, but most of the hotels are run either by locals or by some domestic brand. So do not expect to accumulate your points when staying in the rural areas. Also, if you insist on a five-star hotel, the rating is up to the individual hotelier.
When searching for budget options – and outside cities – check whether breakfast and linen are included, they are in regular hotels, but not in many budget options. Extras, such as sauna, are sometimes included also in cheap prices, and virtually all accommodations (except remote cottages) nowadays have free Wi-Fi.
One of the few ways to not spend too much is to stay in youth hostels (retkeilymaja/vandrarhem ali hostelli), as the Hostelling International has a fairly comprehensive network and a dorm bed usually costs less than €20 per night. Many hostels also have private rooms for as little as €30, which are a great deal if you want a little extra privacy.
There are also camping grounds all around the country. Typical prices are €10–20 per tent or caravan €4–6/€2 per person, although there are some more expensive locations. A discount card may be worthwhile. Night temperatures are seldom an issue in season (typically 5–15°C, although freezing temperatures are possible also in midsummer, at least in Lapland). Most campsites are closed off season, unless they have cottages adequate for winter use.
An even cheaper option is to take advantage of Finland's pravica do dostopa, ali Every Man's Right (jokamiehenoikeus/allemansrätten), which allows wild camping. This is occasionally misinterpreted by visiting foreigners, so check what to respect – or simply ask at the nearest house – to avoid embarrassing situations. V Åland the right to access is somewhat more limited than on the mainland. Note that making an open fire always requires landowner's permission.
Virtually every lodging in Finland includes a savna for guests — don't miss it! Check operating hours though, as they're often only heated in the evenings and there may be separate shifts of men and women. Saunas at cottages are often heated with wood, you should probably ask for instructions unless the hosts take care of heating and drying.
Kabine
- Poglej tudi: Vacation rentals, Second homes
For a taste of the Finnish countryside, an excellent option is to stay at a koča ali kabina (Finsko: mökki, Swedish: stuga, Ostrobothnia: vila), thousands of which dot the lake and sea shores. These are generally best in summer (and many are closed in winter), but there are also many cottages around Lapland's ski resorts. In fact, at some localities hiring a cabin is not just the cheapest but perhaps the only option. Usually, cottages are clean and nice, but as the Finns themselves are mostly fairly happy with minimal services, the small amount of services available may confuse foreign travelers. When making the reservation check carefully what will be included.
Beware that, while all but the most basic ones will have electricity, it is very common for cottages to lack running water! Also, the cottage might have a shared toilet, either a standard one or maybe even a pit toilet. You are probably expected to bathe in a shared shower or a sauna (you might have to book the sauna in advance) or even in the sauna and lake.
Traditionally (into the 1990s) most cottages for rent were cottages built for private use, and although facilities were very basic, they were fairly roomy. Some of these are former farm houses, with kitchen serving as living room (perhaps also with beds), a bedroom, and possibly other rooms. Other ones were built as cottages, with combined kitchen and living room plus one or two minimal bedrooms fairly common. Pogosto so tudi poslopja, zgrajena kot sobe za goste za poletno uporabo. Ker so te hiše in počitniške hiše zgradili za zasebno uporabo na podeželju, jih je sama družina pogosto odmaknila od poti, gostitelj pa lahko živi na daljavo in obišče le po potrebi.
V poznejših letih imajo zasebne počitniške hiše vedno boljše prostore, elektrika in tekoča voda pa so povsod nove in nameščene v številnih starejših (čeprav se mnogi Finci radi vračajo k osnovam in kar koli od tega zavračajo). Ti so morda na voljo za najem, ko jih lastniki ne uporabljajo. Po drugi strani pa je veliko počitniških hiš zgrajenih za plačljive goste, ki pa so pogosto minimalne - 6 m² za dve osebi ni nič nenavadnega - razen če so namenjene luksuznemu trgu. Običajno so te hiške razporejene v skupine, da olajšajo administracijo in storitve, včasih z dovolj razmikom, da zagotovijo zasebnost, včasih zapored v bližini parkirišča in skupnih prostorov. Za tiste, ki želijo več prostora, je morda nekaj domovanj nekoliko dlje, morda zgrajenih že prej. Skupni prostori običajno vključujejo kuhinjo (pogosto z minimalno majhno kuhinjo v kabini), vodno stranišče, prhe, savno in morda kavarno in kiosk. Obstajajo lahko veslaški čoln, kakšno igrišče in podobna infrastruktura za dejavnosti. Večina ima kakšno plažo za kopanje in hlajenje po savnanju.
Počitniške hiše za zimsko in ramensko sezono so večje, saj sta toplotna izolacija in ogrevanje razmeroma bolj ekonomična, pozimi pa so pomembnejši notranji objekti. Lahko so stare vrste (glej zgoraj) ali zgrajene na smučiščih ali kot osnova za ribolov ali lov. Nekatere so nekdanje koče v divjini (za uporabo s strani javnosti ali mejne straže), dovolj oddaljene, da je bilo njihovo vzdrževanje za javno uporabo ocenjeno kot negospodarno. Vse te hiške so seveda na voljo tudi poleti.
Cene se zelo razlikujejo glede na objekte, lokacijo in sezono: preproste počitniške hiše s posteljami in kuhališči znašajo že 20 EUR na noč, čeprav je bolj značilno 40–80 EUR. Obstajajo tudi dragi veliki in celo dokaj luksuzni, ki stanejo nekaj sto evrov na noč. Cena zimskih letovišč se lahko v zimskih počitniških časih v šolah več kot podvoji. Vse hiše niso na voljo za eno noč, včasih morate ostati vsaj dve noči ali teden. Morda bo potreben najem avtomobila ali kolesa, saj v bližini ni nobenih objektov (trgovin, restavracij itd.) (Avtobusi na podeželskem Finskem ne vozijo prepogosto). Odločite se, ali želite počitniško hišico dobiti daleč od ljudi, blizu običajne vasi, v "vikend naselju" ali kakšnem kompromisu. Največje storitve najema koč so Lomarengas in Nettimökki, oba imata angleški vmesnik.
V nacionalnih parkih, območjih divjine in po priljubljenih pohodniških poteh je finska uprava za gozdove (Metsähallitus/Forststyrelsen) vzdržuje koče v divjini, zlasti na severu, večina jih je odprta in jih lahko dan ali dva brezplačno uporablja kdorkoli, ki pride samostojno peš ali smuča. Zamudniki imajo nesporno pravico, da ostanejo na odprtih kočah, zato boste morda želeli postaviti šotor, če pridete zgodaj. Obstajajo tudi zaklenjene in rezervirane koče. Glej Finski narodni parki # Sleep in Pohodništvo po nordijskih državah # Sleep kaj pričakovati.
Nauči se
Finske univerze so na splošno dobro cenjene in ponujajo številne programe izmenjave. Čeprav Finska ni ena največjih študijskih destinacij, je v primerjavi z lokalnim prebivalstvom na večini univerz precej mednarodnih študentov. Programi izmenjave so pogosto v angleščini, prav tako nekateri napredni tečaji. Medtem ko druga predavanja običajno potekajo v finskem jeziku (ali švedščini, kot v Åbo Akademi ali Novia), so najbolj napredni učbeniki v angleščini. Pogosto je mogoče vse tečaje opraviti z nalogami in izpiti v angleščini. Univerze ponujajo tudi možnost študija finskega (ali švedskega) jezika na različnih ravneh.
Za redne študente, vključno s tujimi, ki študirajo v finskem ali švedskem jeziku in študenti na izmenjavi, ni šolnine, vendar šolnine (v razponu od 8.000–15.000 EUR / leto v letu 2019) so bili uvedeni jeseni 2017 za nove študente iz držav zunaj EU / EGP, ki študirajo v angleščini za dodiplomski ali magistrski študij. Vzpostavljen je bil tudi sistem s štipendijami.
Običajno je kar nekaj dejavnosti za študente iz tujine, ki jih organizirajo študentski sindikati in izmenjujejo študentska združenja, vključno z družabnimi dejavnostmi in izleti v druge dele države ali druge zanimive destinacije.
Finski visokošolski sistem sledi nemškemu modelu, kar pomeni, da obstajata dve vrsti univerz: akademska (yliopisto/universitet) in poklicno (ammattikorkeakoulu/yrkeshögskola, okrajšano AMK v finskem jeziku; mnogi od njih so bili prej znani kot politehnika). Yliopisto študentje naj bi magistrirali. Univerzitetna univerzitetna diploma je v glavnem mišljena kot vmesni korak in ni koristna za veliko drugega. Za tujce obstaja nekaj magistrskih programov v angleščini. Študenti AMK naj bi diplomirali kot prvošolci in neposredno vstopili v delovno silo. Diplomirani študent AMK ni neposredno upravičen do akademskih magistrskih programov; če bo sprejeto, so potrebne približno eno leto dodatnih premostitvenih študij.
Primerni mesečni proračun (vključno s študentskimi domovi) bi znašal 700–1.000 EUR. Za dodiplomski študij je obvezno članstvo v študentski uniji približno 100 EUR / leto. Za pridobitev stanovanja je odgovoren študent in stanovanj je malo, ko študentje prispejo jeseni (od julija, ko študentje prvega letnika spoznajo, da so sprejeti); obstajajo čakalni seznami in nekaj let zasilno stanovanje v skupnih sobah. Obstajajo lahko kvote za študente na izmenjavi in vsi ljudje, ki niso iz mesta, imajo pogosto prednost. Številni programi izmenjav v celoti ali delno subvencionirajo nastanitev v študentskih domovih, država pa študentskih nastanitev ne zagotavlja.
Študentska stanovanja so običajno na lokacijah, ki so v lasti študentskih zvez neposredno ali prek fundacij, in stanejo od približno 250–400 EUR / mesec v sobi s skupno kuhinjo in kopalnico do približno 500–700 EUR / mesec za samostojna enosobna stanovanja ( na voljo tudi večji apartmaji, predvsem za družine). Najemnine na zasebnem trgu se razlikujejo glede na lokacijo, tako da so lahko v Velikem Helsinkih in zlasti v Helsinkih ustrezne cene dvakrat cene cenejših lokacij ali študentskih stanovanj. Nekaj prijateljev, ki si delijo večje stanovanje, je precej pogosto, vendar preverite, kako napisati pogodbo, da se izognete pastem. Če ste (štejeta se kot) skupni par, se bodo dohodki partnerja upoštevali pri morebitnih subvencijah za življenje, v nekaterih konfiguracijah pa boste morda odgovorni za neplačane najemnine itd.
Osnovno zdravstveno varstvo študentov organizira fundacija v lasti študentskih zvez. Od leta 2021 imajo dostop tudi študenti AMK, letna članarina pa se plača Kela / Fpa, namesto da bi bila vključena v članarino študentske zveze. Storitev je primerljiva s storitvijo v občinskih zdravstvenih domovih, vključuje pa tudi osnovno zobozdravstvo. Preverite podrobnosti.
Državljani EU / EGP lahko preprosto vstopijo v državo in se po prihodu prijavijo kot študenti (če so sprejeti v neki program), študenti od drugod pa si bodo morali predhodno urediti dovoljenje za prebivanje. CIMO (Center za mednarodno mobilnost) upravlja programe izmenjav in lahko organizira štipendije in pripravništva na Finskem, medtem ko Finski nacionalni odbor za šolstvo ponuja osnovne informacije o možnostih študija.
Delo
Finska stopnja združevanja je visoka (70%), plače so razmeroma dobre tudi za preprosta delovna mesta in zakoni o zaposlovanju so strogi, toda na drugi strani je dejansko zaposlitev lahko težavna - in življenje, zlasti stanovanja v prestolnici, je drago . Neformalnega dela je malo in nekateri razredi delovnih mest zahtevajo vsaj popravni nivo finskega jezika in Švedščina (čeprav so tujci lahko izvzeti iz zahteve).
Državljani Evropske unije, nordijskih držav, Švice in Lihtenštajna lahko prosto delajo na Finskem, vendar pridobitev delovnega dovoljenja iz drugih držav pomeni bitko z zloglasnim Finska služba za priseljevanje (Maahanmuuttovirasto). Na splošno mora za pridobitev delovnega dovoljenja primanjkovati ljudi v vašem poklicu. Študentom je dovoljen redni študij na Finskem so dovoljeno delo s krajšim delovnim časom (do 25 ur na teden, če lahko uspejo na študiju) ali celo s polnim delovnim časom med počitnicami.
Finska je znana po nizkem vnosu priseljencev v primerjavi s sosednjimi državami. V večini univerzitetnih mest in v nekaterih podeželskih občinah še vedno obstajajo skupnosti tujcev iz številnih držav. V nekaterih panogah so strokovnjaki iz tujine zelo pogosti.
Za delovna mesta boste morda želeli preveriti Ministrstvo za delo. Večina objavljenih delovnih mest je opisanih v finskem jeziku, zato boste morda potrebovali pomoč pri prevajanju, nekatera pa so v angleščini. Javno objavljena delovna mesta so ponavadi zelo konkurenčna in običajno zahtevajo tako diplomo ali poklicno kvalifikacijo kot posebne delovne izkušnje. Zato so dragoceni neformalni kanali ali pomoč izkušenega lokalca. Neposreden stik z morebitnimi delodajalci lahko prikaže delovna mesta, ki niso nikjer objavljena. Če imate pravi odnos in spretnosti, je pogosto na voljo sezonsko delo v letoviščih in stik vzpostavite dovolj zgodaj.
Ker domačini praviloma govorijo dobro angleško, položaj poučevanje angleščine na splošno zahteva posebne kvalifikacije; tujcev ne zaposlujejo za osnovno poučevanje, vendar v nekaterih primerih. Največ položajev za tujce je v zasebnih jezikovnih šolah za otroke in študente, na tečajih ESP za odrasle, v vrtcih in v nekaterih mednarodnih šolah. Za učiteljska dela v običajnih šolah potrebujete lokalno priznan učiteljski izpit. Učenci so običajno motivirani. Plača učitelja v javni šoli je 2.600–4.300 EUR / mesec (vključno s poletnimi počitnicami, začasni učitelji pa tega morda ne bodo dobili). V splošni šoli pričakujte približno 20 ur na teden pri pouku in približno enako pri pripravah in drugih povezanih delih, pri čemer se plača nadure v pouku, nadure za ostalo pa običajno ne. Kot tuji obiskovalec verjetno ne boste dobili zaposlitve za polni delovni čas, zato je povprečno 1200–2000 EUR na mesec realno. To lahko vključuje zasebne tečaje za 10–30 EUR / uro.
Hitro rastoči trend na Finskem, zlasti za mlajšo generacijo, je delo za agencije za posredovanje zaposlitve. Čeprav je v zadnjih desetih letih prišlo do velikega porasta javnih podjetij, ki so prešla v zasebna podjetja, se zdi, da ta trend spodbuja povečano povpraševanje po prožnejših delovnih rokih in svoboda sezonskega ali občasnega dela. Zaradi narave tovrstnih agencij in vrst dela, ki jih opravljajo, je običajno, da najemajo nefinance. Nekatere agencije vključujejo Adecco, Staff Point, Manpower, Aaltovoima in Biisoni.
Za poletna delovna mesta, kot so mesta pripravnikov za univerzitetne študente in poletna delovna mesta v hotelih in kavarnah, se iskanje začne zelo zgodaj, približno januarja, obdobja za prijavo pa konec marca. Pozicij v zadnjem trenutku, ki se odpirajo maja, je zelo malo in jih hitro zavzamemo.
Za Nordijska mladina (18–28 / 30) - ali drugi državljani EU / EGP, ki znajo švedsko, norveško ali dansko - obstaja Nordjobb. Osredotoča se na poletna delovna mesta kot kulturno izmenjavo, zdaj pa ponuja tudi nekatere druge položaje.
Če ste povabljeni na razgovor za službo, ne pozabite, da je skromnost na Finskem odlika. Finci cenijo dejstva in neposrednost, zato ostanite pri temi in bodite iskreni. Pretiravanje in hvalisanje je običajno povezano z laganjem. Pri sindikatu lahko preverite pričakovane plače za svoje področje; ponavadi imajo določene minimalne plače - nacionalne minimalne plače razen teh ni. Za večino rednih zaposlitev plače znašajo od 1.200 do 6.500 evrov na mesec (2010), povprečje pa znaša približno 3.500 evrov. Pristojbine za obvezno zavarovanje, socialno varnost in pokojnine si delijo delodajalec in zaposleni in jih zaposleni ne more izbrati ali upravljati (lahko so tudi prostovoljne ugodnosti, o katerih se je mogoče pogajati).
Ena kategorija neformalnega dela je obiranje jagodičja, bodisi na kmetiji bodisi nabiranje gozdnih jagod. Za takšno službo morate večinoma prepričati delodajalca, da boste trdo delali, bolj kot večina Fincev. Nabiranje gozdnih jagod in njihova prodaja sta oproščena plačila davka in posel lahko opravljate sami (tako kot domačini), vendar bi to verjetno storili le, če želite zabaven način dobiti žepnine. Če pridete po dohodek, boste morali nekoga urediti za vse (vključno s nastanitvijo in prevozom), samostojni pa boste samostojno (prevzemite ekonomsko tveganje: brez plače, samo nekdo, ki kupuje jagode; morda boste dejansko lahko dokazali, da ste zaposleni, vendar le z dobrim odvetnikom). Na kmetiji boste formalno zaposleni: še vedno slabo plačano delo, vendar velja delovno pravo.
Vedno morate prositi za pisno pogodba o zaposlitvi. Ni obvezno, vendar vam noben resen delodajalec ne bi smel ugovarjati; kot nekdo, ki manj pozna finski trg dela, boste bolj verjetno stopili v stik s tistimi, ki ne igrajo po pravilih. Gotovinsko plačilo običajno ni mogoče (prevelike težave za delodajalca), zato boste potrebovali finski bančni račun. Na žalost je pripravljenost različnih bank, da jih izdajo tujcem, različna. Morda boste potrebovali tudi finsko številko socialnega zavarovanja (henkilötunnus) od lokalnega maistraatti (matična pisarna); glej spletno mesto urada za informacijo. Za gradbišča je potrebna davčna številka; glej davčno upravo informacije o davčnih številkah.
Ostani varen
Tveganja na Finskem
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Zločin
Finska ima razmeroma nizko stopnjo kriminala in je na splošno zelo varno mesto za potovanje. Starši med obiskom trgovine pogosto pustijo speče dojenčke v otroški kočiji na ulici, na podeželju pa avtomobili in hišna vrata pogosto ostanejo odklenjeni.
Uporaba zdrava pamet ponoči, še posebej v petek in soboto, ko se finska mladina napoti na ulice, da se napije in v nekaterih nesrečnih primerih išče težave.
Rasizem je na splošno manjša skrb za turiste, zlasti v svetovljanskih večjih mestih, vendar so nekateri pijani ljudje, ki iščejo težave, bolj verjetno usmerjeni v tujce. Izogibanje prepirom s pijanimi tolpami je morda bolj pomembno, če ustrezate temu opisu. Priseljevanje na Finsko je bilo pred devetdesetimi leti precej omejeno in se še niso vsi navadili globalizacije.
Žeparji včasih so bili redki, danes pa so se razmere spremenile, zlasti v zasedenih turističnih mesecih poleti, ko iz vzhodne Evrope prispejo organizirani žeparji. V restavracijah ne puščajte telefona, prenosnika, tabličnega računalnika, ključev ali denarnice brez nadzora. V Helsinkih je bilo nekaj primerov, ko so tatovi ciljali na samopostrežne zajtrke v hotelih, kjer ljudje dragocenosti pogosto pustijo nekaj minut brez varovanja. Ne glede na to večina Fincev nosi denarnice v žepih ali torbicah in se ob tem počuti povsem varno.
Tatovi koles so povsod, kolesa nikoli ne puščajte odklenjenega niti za minuto.
Finski policijo (poliisi/polis) so v javnosti spoštovani, spoštljivi tudi do pijancev in tatov in niso pokvarjeni. Če se kaj zgodi, ne oklevajte in stopite v stik z njimi.
V primeru, da se vam policist dejansko obrne, boste mirni in vljudni pripomogli, da bodo razmere na ravni razprave. Imajo pravico preveriti vašo identiteto in pravico do bivanja v državi. Lahko postavijo čudna vprašanja, na primer od kod prihajate, kam greste naprej, kje bivate ali ali ste nekoga že videli, spoznali ali poznate. Če menite, da bi kakšno vprašanje lahko ogrozilo vašo zasebnost, vljudno to povejte. Finska policija ima široka pooblastila za prijetje in preiskavo, vendar jih verjetno ne bo zlorabila. Če se bo stanje poslabšalo, pa vas bodo verjetno po potrebi prisilili v pripor.
Karkoli se bo zgodilo, ne pozabite, da je Finska ena najmanj koruptivnih držav na svetu. Predlog podkupnine bo začuden ali še slabši. Če vas kaznujejo, plačilo na kraju samem ni nikoli pričakovano ali celo mogoče. "Policija", ki prosi za denar, bi bila mrtva obdarovanja, saj niso prava policija. Poleg same policije, mejni stražar (rajavartilaitos/gränsbevakningsväsendet) in cariniki (tulli/tull) imajo policijska pooblastila; mejni policist deluje v imenu policije na nekaterih redko poseljenih območjih. Vse te bi morale biti običajno v uniformi.
Carina in policija sta stroga do mamil, vključno s konopljo. V pristaniščih in na letališčih se uporabljajo vohači psi, pozitivna ocena pa bo vedno povzročila popolno iskanje. Prebivalstvo na splošno ne prenaša konoplje.
Prostitucija ni nezakonita in je večinoma neurejena. Bordelov pa ni, saj je zvodništvo nezakonito. Prav tako je nezakonito uporabljati storitve prostitutke, ki je žrtev trgovine z ljudmi.
Narava
Na Finskem je malo resnih tveganj za zdravje. Vaš glavni sovražnik bo mraz, zlasti pozimi in na morju.
Finska je redko poseljena država in, če se odpravite v divjino, je nujno, da načrt potovanja prijavite pri nekom, ki lahko reši reševalne službe, če se ne vrnete. Če naletite na težave, vedno imejte mobilni telefon s seboj. Toplo se oblecite v plasteh in v snežnih časih s seboj nosite dobra sončna očala, da preprečite snežna slepota, še posebej spomladi in če nameravate cel dan preživeti na prostem. Med trekingom po divjini vedno imejte s seboj zemljevid, kompas in po možnosti GPS. Bodite previdni na Laponskem, kjer je lahko večdnevni pohod do najbližje hiše ali ceste. Vreme se lahko hitro spreminja, in čeprav zdaj že sije sonce, lahko uro ali dve kasneje imate na rokah srednje velik snežni metež (brez heca!). Čeprav so vremenske napovedi na splošno kakovostne, obstajajo okoliščine, v katerih je vreme težko napovedati, zlasti v regijah s padci ali otoki. Upoštevajte tudi, da številne napovedi navajajo le dnevne temperature, medtem ko je ponoči in zgodaj zjutraj pogosto 10–15 ° C (20–30 ° F) hladneje.
Če ste na jezerih in morju, ne pozabite, da vas bosta veter in voda ohladila hitreje kot hladen zrak, ohranjanje suhega pa pomeni ohranjanje toplote. Osebo, ki pade v vodo blizu ledišča, je treba hitro rešiti in tudi poleti vas bo voda kmalu ohladila. Varnost v majhnih čolnih: Ne uživajte alkohola, ne pozabite sedeti in ves čas nositi rešilni jopič. Če se čoln prevrne, naj bodo oblečena, da ostanejo topla in se držijo čolna. Majhni čolni so narejeni tako, da jih ni mogoče potopiti.
Glede na velikost finskega prebivalstva se poleti vsako leto v jezerih utopi presenetljivo veliko ljudi. Kot je poudarila letna kampanja za ozaveščanje javnosti (deloma finski črni humor, delno resnica), v stereotipni nesreči gre za pijanega ljubiteljskega ribiča, ki prevrne svoj čoln, medtem ko stoji, da se pokaka. Druga tveganja vključujejo poskus predolge razdalje čez vodo ali udarce v podvodno skalo ali potopljeni hlod, ko prvi skočite v glavo.
Pozimi so jezera in morje zamrznjeno. Pogosto je videti hojo, drsanje ali celo vožnjo z avtomobilom po ledu, a tudi smrtnih nesreč ni mogoče slišati, zato vprašajte in upoštevajte lokalni nasvet. Če led odpove, je težko priti nazaj iz vode, saj bo led spolzek. Izdelovalci ledu se prodajajo kot varnostna oprema (par jeklenih igel s svetlimi plastičnimi ročaji, povezanih z varnostno vrvjo). Bodite mirni, kričite na pomoč, prebijajte led v smeri, od koder ste prišli, vstanite, odplazite in brez odlašanja pojdite v zaprte prostore. Morda bo potrebna pomoč nekoga z vrvjo, dolgo palico ali kakršnim koli podobnim improviziranim pripomočkom (brez koristi, če boste oba v vodi).
Najpomembnejše strupene žuželke na Finskem so ose (ampiainen), sršeni (herhiläinen), čebele (mehiläinen) in čmrlji (kimalainen). Njihovi piki so lahko boleči, vendar niso nevarni, razen če vas po sapniku prejme veliko pikov ali pika (ne zvabite ose na svoj sendvič!) Ali če ste nanj izredno alergični. Konec poletja lahko ose postanejo moteče, sicer pa te žuželke puščajo ljudi same, če jih ne motijo.
Na Finskem obstaja samo ena vrsta strupenih kač, Evropski seštevalnik (Finsko: kyy ali kyykäärme). Njihovi ugrizi so zelo redki s smrtnim izidom (razen za majhne otroke in alergike), vendar je v poletnih mesecih treba biti previden. Če vas ugrizne kača, vedno poiščite zdravniško pomoč.
Kot za druge nevarne prostoživeče živali, rjavi medvedi (karhu), volkovi (susi), risi (ilves) in wolverines (ahma) se pojavljajo po Finski, vendar imate srečo, če vidite katero od teh velikih zveri! Pogovor z družbo v gozdu bi moral biti dovolj, da bi se držali stran, zlasti da bi se izognili medvedu in njenim mladičem. Če vidite medveda, se mirno umaknite.
Pazite tudi na druge prostoživeče živali, kot je npr los. Biki lahko postanejo agresivni in napadejo ljudi, prav tako krave, ki branijo svoja teleta. Najhujše tveganje pa je naleteti na eno na poti. Na Laponskem, Severni Ostrobotniji in Kainuu obstaja tveganje severni jeleni trki. Pogosto se mirno zadržujejo na cesti; če kje v bližini ceste vidite enega severnega jelena, takoj zmanjšajte hitrost in razumejte, da jih je več naokrog. Po trku vedno pokličite 112, tudi če se niste poškodovali, kot je verjetno žival.
V nujnem primeru
112 je nacionalna telefonska številka za vse nujne službe, vključno s policijo in socialnimi službamiin ne zahteva območne kode, ne glede na to, kakšen telefon uporabljate. Številka deluje na katerem koli mobilnem telefonu, ne glede na to, ali je zaklenjena s tipko ali ne, in s kartico SIM ali brez nje. Če vas mobilni telefon izzove s kodo PIN, lahko preprosto vnesete številko 112 kot kodo PIN - večina telefonov bo lahko izbirala, da pokličete številko (ali pokličete brez vprašanja). Operater bo odgovoril v finski ali švedski, vendar prehod na angleščino ne bi smel predstavljati težav.
Obstaja aplikacija 112, ki bo uporabila vaš GPS, da bo našla vaš položaj, ko ga boste uporabljali za klic v sili. Aplikacija pozna tudi nekatere povezane telefonske številke. Posodobljena različica je na voljo za android in iphone v ustreznih trgovinah z aplikacijami. Namestite ga, preden ga potrebujete! Zanaša se na mobilne podatke, zato na nekaterih oddaljenih območjih ni zanesljiv, položaj GPS pa je nezanesljiv, razen če je GPS vklopljen že nekaj časa. Toda ob glavnih cestah, kjer najverjetneje ne poznate svojega položaja, je mobilna pokritost dobra.
Za vprašanja o strupih ali toksinih (iz gob, rastlin, zdravil ali drugih kemikalij) pokličite nacionalno Informacijska pisarna za toksine ob 358 9 471-977. Finci imajo pogosto "seštevalnik" (kyypakkaus, 50 mg hidrokortizona) v njihovih kočah, čeprav to samo po sebi ni dovolj, razen morda za pike čebel ali os: ob piku seštevalca je treba brez nepotrebnega odlašanja poklicati tudi številko 112.
Čas za pomoč je lahko na redko poseljenih območjih precej dolg (približno eno uro, več v ekstremnih območjih; v mestih le nekaj minut), zato je smiselno imeti na voljo osnovne zaloge prve pomoči ob obisku koč ali divjine. Trening prve pomoči je precej pogost, zato je morda na voljo amaterska pomoč. V primeru srčnega zastoja javni defibrilatorji (finsko: defibrilattori) so včasih na voljo; še vedno začnite s CPR takoj, kolikor je le mogoče, potem ko nekomu naročite, naj pokliče 112.
Ostani zdrav
Znaki, na katere morate biti pozorni (v finskem in švedskem jeziku)
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Od takrat verjetno ne boste imeli težav s trebuhom na Finskem voda iz pipe je vedno pitno (in na splošno tudi okusno), higienski standardi v restavracijah pa so strogi. Če imate kakršno koli alergijo, številne restavracije pogosto prikažejo v meniju najpogostejše sestavine, na katere so ljudje običajno alergični. Primeri: (L) = brez laktoze, (VL) = z malo laktoze, (G) = brez glutena, če niste prepričani, vprašajte natakarico ali osebje restavracije.
Zdravila so na voljo samo v lekarnah, ne pa v običajnih trgovinah (razen po posebnem dogovoru v mnogih oddaljenih območjih). Za vsa trivialna zdravila je potreben recept (strožja merila kot v mnogih drugih državah).
Škodljivci
Najnevarnejši škodljivci so klopi (Finsko: puutiainen ali pogovorno punkki, Švedščina: postenje), ki ima lahko Lymejevo bolezen (boreliozo) ali virusni encefalitis, ki se prenaša s klopi (TBE). Pogosti so na nekaterih območjih, vendar jih je mogoče srečati v večjem delu države, do Simoin so aktivni, ko se temperatura dvigne nad 5 ° C. Pri visoki travi in grmovju je priporočljivo, da hlače vtaknete v nogavice, in preverite svoje telo (ali bolje: naj ga pregleda vaš zakonec), ko se zvečer vrnete, v idealnem primeru, ko še vedno plazijo in iščejo dobro mesto. Borreliozo je mogoče zlahka zdraviti, če jo opazimo dneve po ugrizu (zaradi lokalnih simptomov), medtem ko sta oba pozneje resna (z nevrološkimi).
Obstajajo tudi številne dražilne žuželke, a če nameravate ostati v središčih večjih mest, jih verjetno ne boste srečali. Resna nadloga poleti so komarji (hyttynen, mygga, Sámi: čuoika), katerih horde se pojavljajo poleti - zlasti na Laponskem, kjer se imenuje ta in njeni kolegi räkkä. Tukaj so tudi črne muhe (mäkärä, vozel, muogir), bližnji sorodniki komarjev, veliko manjši in tudi številni na Laponskem, in gadflies (paarma, bromov; pogosta tam, kjer je govedo). The jelenski kedi (hirvikärpänen, älgfluga), ki se pojavijo pozno poleti, redko ugriznejo, vendar se po izgubi kril plazijo naokoli in se jih je težko znebiti.
Ose včasih se zberite, da si delite prigrizek na prostem. Ne jejte jih skupaj s šunko in sokom (zaradi česar je njihov pik nevaren), ampak izmenično dobijte ugrize - fascinantni so, odletijo z veliko bremena drobnih kock šunke - ali pa pojdite stran, če jih ne prenesete. Tudi čmrlji in čebele lahko piči, vendar le kot izzvano. Jeseni so ose razdražljive in najbolje, da sploh ne.
Kvaliteta zraka
Kakovost zraka je v mestih večinoma dobra in zunaj mestnih središč odlična, v mestih pa so lahko problematične ulice in problematični časi. Nekaj spomladanskih tednov je v mnogih mestih najslabši čas, ko snega ni več in ulice so suhe, pozimi pa ostane prah. Inverzija se zgodi v nekaterih mestih, vendar je običajno manjša težava. Meteorološki inštitut nadzira kvaliteta zraka.
Skrb za zdravje
Finsko zdravstvo je večinoma javno, zlasti intenzivno, napredno in nujno zdravstveno varstvo. Institucije, ki so za potnike najbolj pomembne, so predvsem ambulante v občinah (terveyskeskus/hälsocentral), (centralna) bolnišnica s kirurškim posegom ((keskus) sairaala, (centalni) sjukhus) in univerzitetne bolnišnice (yliopistollinen keskussairaala, universitetscentralsjukhus). Zobozdravnik dela zunaj tega sistema in je večinoma zasebnik.
Tukaj so tudi zasebne klinike (lääkäriasema/läkarstation ali lääkärikeskus/läkarcentral), ki lahko pogosto določijo sestanek z manj čakalnimi vrstami z večjimi honorarji (prebivalci običajno dobijo povračilo). Če niste rezident EU / EGP, je lahko razlika v ceni manj pomembna, preverite pri svoji zavarovalnici. Vendar pa bodo klinike morda vseeno morale bolnika napotiti v javno bolnišnico, če bodo potrebne napredne storitve. Razlika med javno in zasebno oskrbo je bila v zadnjih letih manj jasna, nekatere občine so del zdravstvenih storitev oddale zunanjim izvajalcem (deloma kot odgovor na veliko kontroverzno reformo - recimo "sote", da bi kdo globoko vzdihnil - nova inkarnacija od tega se pripravlja še enkrat).
Za nujne primere, pokličite 112. V nasprotnem primeru se obrnite na terveyskeskus ali zasebno kliniko. Vsaka občina bi morala imeti ambulanto, ki je odprta 24 ur na dan, 7 dni v tednu, vendar je včasih v bližnjem mestu, lokalna ambulanta pa ima omejeno število ur, ko je prebivalcev malo. Nasvet lahko dobite po telefonu. Običajno je treba rezervirati obisk pri zdravniku, medtem ko boste morda videli medicinsko sestro, ki samo vstopi (vprašajte po telefonu). Številke za rezervacijo časa pogosto pripravijo medicinske sestre, ki pokličejo nazaj (običajno čez kakšno uro), potem ko je aparat odgovoril na vaš klic in vam dal priložnost, da določite, katero storitev potrebujete. Če pustite, da govori, dokler ne prekine, je morda dovolj, da se klic registrira.
Univerza in AMK študentov imeti dostop do osnovne zdravstvene oskrbe, ki jo organizirajo študentski sindikati. Glej Nauči se nad.
EU / EGP in švicarski državljani lahko dostopajo do nujnih in zdravstvenih storitev s svojo evropsko kartico zdravstvenega zavarovanja, kar v večini primerov pomeni nominalne pristojbine za javno zdravstveno varstvo (obisk zdravnika običajno 15–30 EUR, mladoletniki brezplačni, dnevna operacija 100 EUR; nekatere s tem povezane stroške je mogoče povrniti ). Drugi tujci se nujno zdravijo, vendar bodo morda morali plačati vse stroške. Oglejte si več informacij na Kontaktna točka za čezmejno zdravstveno varstvo.
Spoštovanje
Ribolov finski slog Bil je lep poletni dan, Virtanen in Lahtinen pa sta bila v majhnem čolnu sredi jezera in lovila ribe. Minili sta dve uri, oba moška sta mirno sedela, nato pa je Lahtinen rekel "Lepo vreme danes." Virtanen je zagodrnjal in napeto gledal v svojo ribiško palico. |
Finci imajo na splošno sproščen odnos do manir in oblačenja, obiskovalec pa jih verjetno ne bo slučajno užalil. Zdrave pameti je v večini primerov povsem dovolj, nekaj pa je treba upoštevati:
Finci so znani tiho ljudje, ki imajo malo časa za majhne pogovore ali družabne lepote, zato ne pričakujte, da boste prepogosto slišali besedne zveze, kot so "hvala" ali "dobrodošli ste". Običajno gredo naravnost v posel. V finskem jeziku manjka posebna beseda za "prosim", zato ga Finci včasih pozabijo uporabljati, ko govorijo angleško, ne da bi bili nesramni. Also lacking in Finnish is the distinction between "he" and "she", which may lead to confusing errors. Loud speaking and loud laughing is not normal in Finland and may irritate some Finns. Occasional silence is considered a part of the conversation, not a sign of hostility or irritation. Notice that although the phrase mitä kuuluu translates to "how are you", it has a literal meaning in Finnish, i.e. a longer discussion is expected; it is not a part of the greeting as in English.
All that said, Finns are generally helpful and polite, and glad to help confused tourists if asked. The lack of niceties has more to do with the fact that in Finnish culture, honesty is highly regarded; one should open one's mouth only to mean what one is about to say. Do not say "maybe later" when there is no later time to be expected. A visitor is unlikely to receive many compliments from Finns, but can be fairly sure that the compliments received are genuine.
Another highly regarded virtue in Finland is punctuality. A visitor should apologize even for being a few minutes late. Being late for longer usually requires a short explanation. Ten minutes is usually considered the threshold between being "acceptably" late and very late. Some will leave arranged meeting points after fifteen minutes. With the advent of mobile phones, sending a text message even if you are only a few minutes late is nowadays a norm. Being late for a business meeting, even by one or two minutes, is considered rude.
The standard greeting is a handshake (although avoided since a few years by healthcare personnel, and now by many, to avoid spreading a disease). Hugs are only exchanged between family members and close friends in some situations, kisses, even on the cheek, practically never. Touching is generally restricted to family members. The distance between strangers is ca. 1.2 m and between friends ca. 70 cm.
If you are invited to a Finnish home, the only bad mistake visitors can make is not to remove their shoes. For much of the year, shoes will carry a lot of snow or mud. Therefore, it is customary to remove them, even during the summer. During the wet season you can ask to put your shoes somewhere to dry during your stay. Very formal occasions at private homes, such as baptisms (often conducted at home in Finland) or somebody's 50th birthday party, are exceptions to these rules. In the wintertime, this sometimes means that the guests bring separate clean shoes and put them on while leaving outdoor shoes in the hall. Bringing gifts such as pastry, wine, or flowers to the host is appreciated, but not required.
In Finland, there is little in the way of a dress code. The general attire is casual and even in business meetings the attire is somewhat more relaxed than in some other countries, although sport clothing in a business meeting would still be bad form. Topless sunbathing is accepted but not very common on beaches in the summer, and thong bikinis have become fashionable in 2018. While going au naturel is common in saunas and even swimming by lakeside cottages, Finns aren't big on nudism in itself, as there are very few dedicated nudist beaches. At normal public beaches swimwear is expected for anybody over 6 years old.
Finns are highly egalitarian. Women participate in society, also in leading roles up to the Presidency. Equal respect is to be given to both genders, and there is little formal sex segregation. Social rank is not usually an important part of social code, thus a Dr. Roger Spencer is usually referred to as simply "Spencer", or even as "Roger" among coworkers, rather than "tohtori Spencer" or "herra Spencer", without meaning any disrespect. Nevertheless, compared to similar European nationalities, Finns are rather nationalistic. Finns are neither Swedes nor Russians or any mixture of the two and will reject any suggestion to this effect. Finland was not a part of the Soviet Union or the Soviet bloc, so prepare for strong opinions if you want to discuss these things. There is mandatory military service, so that most men (80%) have been in the army, and war veterans are highly respected.
When traveling with javni prevoz, it is generally accepted to talk with your friends or ask for help, but only if you keep your voice down. No need to whisper, just don't shout or laugh too loud. It is of course appreciated if you give your seat to someone in need, but it is in no way a vital part of the culture today, and most Finns won't do that themselves.
Povežite se
Po pošti
Finland's mail service is run by Posti, nowadays a state owned business concentrating on parcels; the delivery time of normal domestic letters has increased to four days. A stamp for a postcard or normal letter (max 50g domestic, max 20g abroad; as of 2020) costs €1.75. Most stamps are "no-value" (ikimerkki, fixvärdesmärke), which means they are supposed to be valid indefinitely for a given service. Real post offices are all but extinct, with the services mostly handled by local businesses and automats. Stamps etc. can be got from these businesses or e.g. in book stores. The network of letterboxes is still adequate.
Obstajajo Poste restante services in the cities, but often a better option is to get the post to some trusted address, e.g. your accommodation.
Åland has its own mail service, with stamps of its own.
Po telefonu
As you'd expect from Nokia's home country, mobile phones are ubiquitous in Finland. Modern 4G/5G networks blanket the country, although it's still possible to find wilderness areas with poor signal, typically in Lapland and the outer archipelago. The largest operators are Telia, Elisa (a Vodafone partner) and DNA'. Most locals use packages with data, messages and normal calls included in the monthly fee (from €20, as of 2020).
Prepaid packages cost from about €5, including all the price as value. Ask at any convenience store for a list of prices and special offers. Finland has an exception to the EU roaming rules because of low domestic prices, so if you need to use the SIM abroad, check the fine print (EU roaming is usually free or cheap, but is treated separately and may not even be included). Also note prices for calling abroad (home) – you are typically referred to the internet, but might want to insist on the clerk finding the right page and translating if needed. For data, you typically pay €1/day or €0.01/MB, for normal domestic calls €0.066/min (surcharge for service numbers often more), for SMS à €0.066 (as of 2020). A prepaid card with data (100 Mbit/s), messages and normal calls included costs about €1/day, either counting days in use (even for a second) or days from activation. Reserve some leeway for calls not included in an "all included" package.
Public telephones are close to extinction in Finland, although a few can still be found at airports, major train/bus stations and the like. It is best to bring along a phone or buy one – a simple GSM model can cost less than €40 (be very clear about wanting a cheap, possibly used one: the shops might otherwise not suggest their cheapest options).
The area codes (one or more digits following the 358) are prefixed by 0 when used without the country code, i.e. 358 9 123 456 (a land line number in Helsinki) can be dialled as 09 123 456 (123 456 from local land lines), and is often written "(09) 123 456". Mobile phone numbers – as other numbers without true area codes – are always written without the parenthesis: "0400 123 456" za 358 400-123-456. Mobile phone numbers usually start with 04x or 050 as in the example. If you have a local SIM, note that any service numbers, including the 020 numbers, may have an inflated operator's surcharge, and are usually not included in the "all included" packages.
Numbers starting with 0800 or 116 are toll free with domestic phones. Numbers starting with 0700 are possibly expensive entertainment services. There is no guarantee that any service number is reasonably priced – e.g. Eniro number and timetable information is €6/min, with the price told in Finnish only – but prices should be indicated where the number is advertised; "pvm/mpm" or "lsa/lna" stands for your operator's surcharge, for landlines the price of a normal local call, for mobile phones often slightly more. Queuing may or may not be free. Service numbers usually start with 010, 020, 030, 060, 070 or 075 (here including the area code prefix 0) or 10 (without 0). There are also service numbers prefixed with a true area code (such as often for taxi call centres). Many service numbers are unavailable from abroad.
The prefix for international calls (from local land lines) is 00, as in the rest of EU. Other prefixes may be available.
Telephone numbers can be enquired from e.g. the service numbers 0200 16100, 020202, 0100 100,0300 3000 and 118, with hard to discover varying costs (often given per 10s instead of per minute), e.g. €1–2/call €1–6/min with some combinations of operators, service and time of day. Having the service connect the call usually costs extra. For the moment (February 2021) e.g. 0200 16100 costs €1.84/call €2,5/min (€0.084/min mpm during a connected call). Some services have a maximum cost of e.g. €24/call.
All of the main carriers offer good roaming services, so using your foreign SIM card should not be an issue. However the costs can be rather impressive. The European Union has agreed on the abolishing of roaming charges; domestic calls with an EU SIM via an EU operator should cost as domestic calls in the country of origin (and likewise with SMS and data), but again, check the fine print. The Finnish operators got an exception, but most will probably have reasonable surcharges and some have none – check before buying a Finnish SIM for use abroad.
By net
Internet cafés are sparse on the ground in this country where everybody logs on at home and in the office, but nearly every javna knjižnica in the country has computers with free Internet access, although you will often have to register for a time slot in advance or queue, unless there is Wi-Fi and you are using your own device.
Wi-Fi hotspots are increasingly common: in cafés, public transport, marinas, what have you. University staff and students from institutions in the Eduroam cooperation have access to that net on most campuses and at some other locations.
Mobile phone networks are another option, either for your smartphone or for a 3G dongle for your laptop. The dongles themselves (mokkula) are usually sold as part of a 24 months' subscription, so check how to get one if using this option. At least Elisa/Saunalahti and DNA offer a dongle with a prepaid subscription, likely a better alternative for most travellers. There are used ones to be bought on the net (tori.fi, huuto.net etc.), with seemingly random prices.
LTE (4G) networks cover most of the country. The mobile phone operators all offer SIM cards for prepaid Internet access (some tailored for that, some for all-round smartphone use – but check surcharges for incoming calls): DNA, Elisa/Radiolinja in Sonera. You can buy them as soon as you arrive at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at the vending machine by baggage claim, or at R-kioskis, post offices and mobile phone stores around Finland. Remember that you can use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. Prices start from under €10, with about €20–30 for thirty days (one month or individual calendar days) of unlimited use. As of 2021 also 5G coverage is available in major cities and urban areas.
Spopadite se
Newspapers
There are usually newspapers available in libraries for the public to read. In bigger towns these often include a few in foreign languages, including English. Foreign language newspapers are also on sale in some bookstores and in some R kiosks.
Radio
Most stations are on analogue FM channels.
The public broadcasting company YLE sends short news in English 15:55 on Yle Radio 1 (87.9 or 90.9 FM) and 15:29 or 15:30 on Yle Mondo, the latter a multilingual channel aired only in the Helsinki region. There are programmes also in Švedsko (own channels), Sami (Northern, Inari and Skolt) and Rusko. The programmes can be heard also by Internet, usually up to a month since they where aired. Yle also publishes written news.
Toilets
Toilets are usually marked with "WC", image of rooster (and hen, if separate), pictograms for men and women (now sometimes also unisex pictograms) or the letters "M" (miehet, men) and "N" (naiset, women). Where there is more than one toilet, there is usually also an accessible/family toilet marked with a wheelchair pictogram, equipped for use with wheelchair, for changing nappies and for small children. A family room can also have its own pictogram.
There should be toilet paper, sink and soap, some method for drying your hands, a waste basket for paper towels and often one with lid and pedal for used sanitary napkins. Bidet showers are nowadays common. At cottages without running water there are usually only outhouses of varying standard: at some summer cottages they are a sight, with carpet, lace curtains and a nice view, for wilderness huts you might need to bring toilet paper and take care of hand washing on your own.
Toilets in public buildings are free, while toilets in the street (quite rare), at bus stations, in shopping malls and the like usually require a suitable coin (€0.5–2). There are toilets for the customers in all restaurants and cafés, while others often can use them for a token fee – but it is more polite to become a real customer. At festivals there are usually free (and stinky) portable toilets. Also toilets at rest spots are sometimes in bad condition.
Pojdi naprej
- Rusija na vzhodu. You will probably need a visa unless just visiting Vyborg ali Saint Petersburg on a cruise, but even Moskva is just an overnight train away. There are tours and regular connections to some internationally less known destinations, such as Petrozavodsk (Finsko:Petroskoi).
- Švedska, of which Finland was part for 650 years, is reachable by an overnight (or day) cruise, or overland from Laponska.
- Estonija, a couple of hours away from Helsinki.
- Norveška's county of Finnmark in Troms can be accessed overland from Laponska.