Parameters arecity 860955 enBase url is http://djangoapp:8000/
Travel to Helsinki
Flying to Helsinki
Airlines offering direct flights to Helsinki from the UK include British Airways, Finnair and Norwegian. Finnair also operates direct flights from the USA. It's worth booking in advance for the cheapest deals, particularly if you're travelling around Christmas time or in July and August.
Travel by road
Traffic drives on the right and the legal driving age in Finland is 18 years. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 80kph (50mph) on non-urban roads and 80-120kph (50-75mph) on motorways. In winter, the limit outside built-up areas drops by 20kph (12mph).
It should be noted that cars entering a junction from the right always have right of way, even when the car is on a minor road. All motor vehicles must have headlights on at all times. An EU driving licence or an International Driving Permit are required to drive in Finland. All drivers must be fully insured and accidents must be reported promptly to Liikennevakuutuskeskus, the Finnish Motor Insurance Centre (tel: +358 40 450 4750; www.liikennevakuutuskeskus.fi). A Green Card is helpful, but not compulsory.
There are some hazards specific to Finland that drivers should be aware of. Although well maintained, Finnish roads can be hazardous in winter and all vehicles must use winter tyres from December to February. When driving through rural areas, be wary of elk and reindeer on the carriageway, particularly at dusk. Additional information is available from Autoliitto - Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (tel: +358 9 7258 4400; www.autoliitto.fi), which also runs the emergency service Tiepalvelu.
Emergency breakdown services
Tiepalvelu (tel: 0200 8080, in Finland only).
Routes
Most people who drive to Helsinki arrive via the car ferry from Stockholm or the E18 motorway from Turku. Other important roads leading to Helsinki include the E12 from Vaasa and the E75 from Rovaniemi.
Coaches
The main provider of coaches in Finland is Oy Matkahuolto (tel: 0200 0400, in Finland only; www.matkahuolto.fi), which handles all long-distance and express bus travel.
Various private companies provide local bus services. International coach services run to Helsinki from Sweden, Norway and Russia - numerous companies operate on the Helsinki-St Petersburg route. In Helsinki, coaches arrive at and depart from Helsinki Bus Station, between Salomonkatu and Simonkatu.
Time to city
From Turku - 1 hour 45 minutes; Vaasa - 5 hours; Rovaniemi - 9 hours; St Petersburg - 5 hours.
Travel by Rail
Services
Finnish trains are clean and efficient and there are convenient international connections to St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia. In Helsinki, trains arrive at and depart from Rautatientori (Railway Square), located on Kaivokatu, off Mannerheimintie.
Operators
Valtion Rautatiet - VR (tel: 0600 41902, in Finland only or +358 9 2319 2902; www.vr.fi) provides national and international rail services to Helsinki. Fast, comfortable Pendolino trains run around the country, with regular services to Turku, Tampere, Lahti, Vaasa, Rovaniemi and other Finnish cities.
Many people come to Helsinki to take advantage of the convenient train service to St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia. There are three daily trains to Finlyandsky Vokzal station in St Petersburg, and every evening, the Russian-operated Tolstoi runs overnight from Helsinki to Moscow’s Leningradsky Vokzal station. You can buy tickets in advance through Valtion Rautatiet, but allow time to pick up the tickets on arrival in Helsinki.
Journey times
From Lahti - 1 hour; Turku - 2 hours; Tampere - 2 hours; Vaasa - 4 hours 30 minutes; St Petersburg - 3 hours 35 minutes; Rovaniemi - 10 hours; Moscow - 13 hours 30 minutes.
