More tips for visitors
Travelling from Helsinki-Vantaa airport
Bus number 615 runs between the airport and Helsinki main railway station every 15 to 20 minutes. Journey time 40 min, single ticket €3.
Finnair Buses run between the airport and the Finnair City Terminal two to four times an hour. The City Terminal is located beside the main railway station in Helsinki. Finnair buses also stop at the Scandic Hotel Continental. Journey time 30-35 min, single ticket about €5.
Airport taxis can be booked from the arrival hall at the airport. Group taxi services to central Helsinki cost about €10-15. A normal taxi fare to central Helsinki is about €35.
Distances from Helsinki
- Helsinki-Oulu: 607 km
- Helsinki-Tampere: 176 km
- Helsinki-Turku: 165 km
- Helsinki-Lappeenranta:221 km
Credit cards
Credit cards are widely accepted. They can be used in department stores, restaurants and hotels, taxis and even in many small shops.
Drinking water
Finnish tap water is of the highest quality and can be consumed safely throughout the country. Bottled mineral and spring water is available in shops and restaurants.
Electricity
Electric current in Finland runs at 230 volts. Wall sockets are for two-pin plugs and adapters can be bought at airports, department stores, hardware stores and specialist shops.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency number: 112
- Ambulance and fire brigade: 112
- Police: 100 22
Opening Hours
Banks
Banks are open from 09.00 to 16.30 Monday to Friday but are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. ATMs for cash withdrawal are widespread and open 24 hrs a day. Office hours are generally from 08.30 to 16.30.
Shops
Weekdays: from 07.00-09.00 to 20.00-21.00
Saturdays: from 09.00 to 14.00-18.00
Sundays: Grocery stores with a floor space of less than 400 square metres may open between 12.00-21.00 throughout the year.
These times are a general guide and there are seasonal and regional variations.
Post Offices
Traditional post offices are open from 09.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday. There are also franchised post offices, managed by groceries and service stations. These may stay open after office hours. Yellow mailboxes are for daily collections. Stamps are available at post offices, book and stationery shops, kiosks and hotels.
Public phones
It may prove quite difficult to find a public payphone in Finland. With the widespread use of personal mobile phones most payphones have been phased out but they can still be found in hotels and kiosks.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places such as airports, bus and railway stations, theatres and cinemas. In restaurants and licensed premises smoking is only allowed in designated areas. The no-smoking rule also applies inside the Presidency meeting venues.
Taxis
Taxi fares throughout Finland are comparable to those in continental Europe. The meter is switched on as the customer steps into the vehicle. At the start of the journey, the meter displays a fixed basic charge. In daytime, a five-kilometre journey costs about €10 and a ten-kilometre ride €16. In Helsinki, the telephone number for ordering taxis is 0100 0700. Night-time fares include a surcharge.
Time
Finland has adopted Eastern European Time, EET, which is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Eastern European Summer Time, EEST, is three hours ahead of GMT.
- Eastern European Time (EET) + 0
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 2
Tipping
In restaurants and taxis, service is included in the price. Tipping is not necessary but customers may leave a tip if they so wish.
