Travel Tips
Helsinki's major museum was closed for renovations but apart from that, everything was open. Finns have a much better attitude towards winter than their Scandinavian cousins. The Finnish winter is sufficiently long and cold that the Finns have come to accept it as just another season - unlike the Swedes who walk around looking pinched and sulky as the mercury drops below five degrees.
A bad entertainment warning also needs to be issued regarding the Baltic ferries. Scandinavians are like the Japanese - all solemn and buttoned down until they get a couple of tax-free margarites inside them, whereupon they start pissing in the pot-plants and smoking their cigarettes the wrong way around. Here's the warning; they LOVE karaoke. They're dreadful at it, but they love it. Elvis and Pat Boone standards are popular with the men, while the women incline more towards folkie twaddle like "My Bonnie". The sight (and sound) of a burly Norwegian, lying supine on the stage and grinding out "Heartbeat Hotel" in a kind of strangled hop-laden scream is enough to send sane men and women running for the lifeboats.
Early afternoon movies are a good way to avoid inclement weather and first run movies can be seen for as little as 30 marks.
The high point of any visit to Turku has to be the castle. Open every day, hours can slip by as you follow the narrow passages and winding staircases, or wander from room to room in the museum that takes up most of the bailey. Well worth the 30 marks entrance fee.
Vaasa is a downbeat and fairly nondescript in winter but it's greatest asset is the offshore archipelago of small, medium and large islands. These can be reached with absolutely no difficulty whatsoever by simply walking across the Boothnian Gulf; snowplows push roads out to the islands across the ice but if they haven't gotten around to it yet, just follow one of the millions of snowmobile tracks.
Rovaniemi - a trap for young players here - the late train from Helsinki gets in at 11:07 pm; unfortunately, the hostel closes its doors at 10 pm. The all-night cafe at the Shell service station across the road has friendly staff who don't mind if you sit there all night, drinking coffee and writing letters to obscure relatives.
Matt Anderson, Canada (Mar 99)
Winter travel in the far north of Finland is very limited. I had been hoping to take a trip to Nordkapp, but it is closed in the winter. Most buses running from Rovaniemi to anywhere in Norway do not start running again until June 1.
If you want to keep up with current events in Finland (in English or Swedish) via internet, visit http://virtual.finland.fi (this is the new address as it has changed recently). It's great not only for news, but a (sometimes amusing) look at Finnish culture, with many links to other sources of information.
The prices to go skiing at Ounasvaara in Rovaniemi increase for the last 8 weeks of the season, starting during Hiihtoloma (the skiing holiday week in Finland - late February). You can ski for 2 hours up to the whole day and rent equipment according to the amount of time you chose to ski.
Carmen Boudreau-Kiviaho (Mar 99)
The first public cybercafe will be opened in Helsinki early November, 1998. The netcafe will be located in Lasipalatsi on Mannerheimintie next to the bus station.
Two movie complexes will open before Christmas. "Kinopalatsi" with ten theatres is located in Kaisaniemi near the railway station and another with 14 theatres, media centre and a museum will open in Tennispalatsi (the old Olympic tennis palace) next to the bus station and the Kamppi metro station.
Juha Levo, Finland (Oct 98)
There is a new catamaran service from Finland to Tallinn, Estonia called the Nordic Jet Line. The cats are very comfortable, very quick (great for people prone to sea sickness). Each cat holds 430 passengers and 55 cars. For further details contact Nordic Jet Line, Kanavaterminaali K5, PL 134, Fin-00161 Helsinki (tel) 358 9 681 770, fax 358 9 260 9244, email : booking @njl.fi.
Sheridan Pettiford (Oct 98)
One good tip that everyone should know about - when arriving at Helsinki-Vanataa airport there is a so-called "Yellow Cab" service which will drive you for 70 FIM (fixed price) to any hotel/place within the Helsinki city area and for a few FIM more, will take you to the outer suburbs. Because it's quite a long way from the airport into town which makes taxis expensive and the Finnair terminal bus does not have a very flexible schedule - this can be a good idea. Just go to the exit and you'll find friendly staff assisting you in any question about this. Hotels will also arrange this for you.
Sonja Beierlein (Sept 98)
In Helsinki, the Kiasma is open and very worthwhile. It's the new contemporary art museum full of the work of young Finnish artists and contained in a beautifully designed building by architect Steven Holl. Being there for Alvar Aalto centenary and seeing some sort of Aalto exhibit in every town of consequence I visited proved to me not only the veneration they have for him and his work, but also for his contribution to the Finnish national identity, something of which Finns seem to be proud of.
I suggest that interested travellers should read at least some of the Kalevala (Kalevala combines poetry, runes and folk tales with various personalities and biblical themes, such as creation and the fight between good and evil)as so much of the important art work in the Ateneum and elsewhere will make so much more sense - it is a wonderful collection of pagan myths and stories rivalling the Sagas.
Go there, walk on the felltops and admire the expanses of Lapland. Eat a sugared doughnut with a coffee in a gas station cafΘ in the middle of nowhere but knowing that Russia is only 30 kms away. And oh yeah, check out those clouds. The Finnish flag has a blue cross for the lakes and a white field for the clouds - makes sense to me.
Chris Featherman, USA (Sept 98)
The Helsinki City Transport guide details the places of interest on the route of the Number 3T tram. The route starts at the Market Square and describes a figure of eight, returning to the start point in approximately 55 minutes. The various ticket prices as described under the Helsinki tram section of the guide are applicable, thus enabling the traveller either to traverse the entire route or to hop on and off trams if using the extended ticket.
We obtained our copy from a tourist information bus which parks beside the ferry terminal, when cruise liners are in port. Otherwise, pamphlets may be obtained from the Transport Department or from the information office at Market Square. You can imagine the reaction of our fellow travellers, who had paid anything up to ú25.00 for an organised bus tour to find that we had had our own City Tour of Helsinki for just under 90 pence.
JL Walls, UK (Aug 98)
I'd like to emphasise very strongly the value which the Helsinki card provides. The cost has risen slightly.
The national museum on Mannerheimintie is closed for renovations and will reopen in 1999. During this time exhibitions will be held at Laivurinkatu 3, via tram 1A, 3B or 3T. However the exhibitions are very narrow in their scope and concentrate on only a few aspects of Finnish history and culture. In my opinion, it is not worth the trek.
The Helsinki city museum, opposite the national museum is also closed for renovations this year.
The Lutheran Cathedral on Senaatintori square is also closed for renovations during 1998.
The indoor market on the quay above the Tallink express depot is worth a visit for the variety of foods on display.
Breda Fell, Ireland (July 98)
If you are planning on taking a ferry to Estonia via Tallinn, the capital, from Helsinki, Finland, but do not plan on returning, it is cheaper to purchase a return ticket for a one day trip at 75 Finnish Markka than to buy a one-way ticket (120-130 Finnish Markka).
Derek Paauw (July 98)
Helsinki is a great city with a booming nightlife, but Tallin in Estonia, is also not to be missed. The cruise to get there is worth the trip alone and for young people you should have no trouble meeting fellow travellers with similar interests.
CH Doyle
On a recent trip to Helsinki, I went to the Zoo, one of the world's most respected. You can well imagine my annoyance when I found that over half the exhibits are missing. There are part of the zoo complex that just comprise empty cages. One of the wardens told me that it was because of on-going improvements and building - expected for another two years.
Colin Viney (May 98)
If you are in Finland, absolutely don't miss a Baltic Sea cruise. Ships to Stockholm, Tallinn or St Petersburg leave from Helsinki and Turku. You can choose either Viking or Silja Line, which seem fairly comparable. Cruises are fairly inexpensive. Cabins are a little cramped, but between the various restaurants, dance clubs, gift shops and casinos, you won't want to spend your time sleeping anyway.
Shannon De Vaney (Apr 98)
Over the past few years many amusing restaurants have opened up in Turku. One of them is opened in a former bank and another in a former schoolhouse. Turku is a great place to visit and see how history and the modern world meet in the same town.
Jussa Pekkala (Apr 98)
All ferry lines running between Stockholm and Finland (Turku, Helsinki, Mariehamn) offer super cheap "cruises" (kryssningar) for a couple of dollars. These are usually good for two nights on the ferry and a full day in Finland. If you're just looking for a one-way ticket, you can book one of these and then just hop off in Finland. It's cheaper than buying the one-way ticket.
Ray Baker (Mar 98)
If you're looking for a cheap way to spend a couple of weeks in Finland, try an international volunteer service. I went through Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). It only cost $300 US for the program which included room and board. I spent 2 weeks in Lempaala, Finland rebuilding nature trails with local teenagers. The experience is very rewarding and you can make a lot of life long friends. It is also a great way to be immersed in a culture and learn from such wonderful people. CIEE charges a fee to receive the list of programs which is applied to your program fee. The new one comes out in April.
Ian Broughton (Jan 98)
There is an American express office in Helsinki where you can change American express travellers cheques commission free. There are no AE offices in the rest of Finland, however.
Katherine Dixon (Sept 97)
Tampere is a truely splendid place. I believe there are over 300 bars and clubs, catering for all tastes in music, beer, and dress sense. The range of fast food joints is extensive, from burgers, mexican, curry and chinese with of course the traditional Finnish kebab, and plenty of makkara. The place is sandwiched between two lakes, so water based activities abound in summer. During the winter you can skate or take a X-country ski trip. The people are very friendly and some people even speak to visitors when they are sober.
Ian Holmes (Apr 99)
It is definitely worthwhile to stay in Turku for a few days. It's a beautiful, charming little port city with loads of history. And while you're there, you might want to consider biking the Turku archipelago. With camping gear you can do a leisurely bike tour in two to three days and spend less than 200 FIN.
Christine Kwong, Canada (Sept 98)
The city of Espoo, known as the garden city, is like a minature Finland. Even though it has the second most inhabitants after Helsinki, it has managed to stay very close to nature. In Espoo, you should visit the suburb of Tapiola which is one of its kind in the world as far as architecture and culture are concerned. Tapiola is only aobut 10 minutes away from Helsinki and all the attractions there are within walking distance.
Aino Laakso (Sep 98)
I've just spent two weeks on a motorcycle travelling the length and breadth of the country, with side-trips to Sweden and Norway. A word of warning to anyone else considering driving here : petrol prices in Finland and Sweden are about the same as in the UK.
Lapland was wonderful except for the mosquitos. It became very tedious scraping dead insects off my helmet every two hours. That aside, there is something magical, amazing even about driving in daylight, at midnight, with the sun in your eyes.
And the traffic! Oh, the traffic!!. There isn't any ! A traffic jam is two cars in a line. This place is biker heaven.
Alexander Morris (July 1998)
Definitely make the 14 hour train trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. This is the largest town in northern Finland and is full of adventure. During the Summer, you're close enough to the arctic circle to experience the midnight sun and there is even a huge festival in mid June.
If you are looking for recreation activities, Lapin Safarit offers multiple day trips and rents bicycles and scooters. If you are short on cash, try renting a bike and riding to Napapiiri (home of Santa's village and the arctic circle).
Ian Broughton (Jan 98)
