Travelling Documents
Passport: Citizens of Nordic countries do not need a passport for entering Finland. EU-nationals, and citizens of Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland and Schengen Agreement countries can enter Finland with a valid passport or a valid identity card. All other nationalities require a valid passport.
Visa: There are 34 countries whose nationals do not need a visa to visit the EU for three months or less. These include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. If your visa is from a country fully applying the Schengen rules, it automatically allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries as well. Similarily, if you have a valid residence permit from one of those Schengen countries, it is equivalent to a visa. Please check for up-to-date information at the web pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, http://formin.finland.fi/.
Health and Insurance: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are entitled to free medical care in Finland, please carry your European Health Insurance Card. Other social security agreements may apply. Proper insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers.
Getting to Helsinki
BY SEA
Helsinki has daily overnight ferry connections with Stockholm, Sweden. The ferries – in fact, cruisers – are large, comfortable, and offer various bars and restaurants, tax-free shopping and entertainment.
There are frequent connections from Tallinn, Estonia, too, by ferries, catamarans and airfoils. Fastest ships make the 90 km trip across the Gulf of Finland in 1.5 hours.
See Tallink Silja Line, Viking Line, Linda Line
All harbours are quite close to the city centre and have tramway connections.
BY RAIL
Helsinki has international rail connections to St. Petersburg and Moscow. From St. Petersburg, four daily Allegro trains reach Helsinki in 3.5 hours. Check vr.fi for further information.
Travellers planning a trip across the Russian border usually must have a visa. It is advisable to get it at an embassy of Russia in the traveller’s country of origin, because of long waiting times.
BY AIR
Helsinki Airport has extensive connections to all parts of Europe and to a number of destinations in Asia and North America. Stockholm and Copenhagen can be reached from a even larger number of cities around the world, and they offer smooth changes and frequent connecting flights for travellers destined to Helsinki.
Airport Connections: Helsinki Airport web pages have all the information needed. Finnair City Bus fare is 6,30 €, HSL line 615 fare is 4,50 €.
Travelling in Finland
Railways. Railway company VR has a modern stock and frequent connections from Southern Finland all the way to Lapland. More information and ticket sales at http://www.vr.fi/en.
Coaches. All timetables, rates, and tickets are available at http://www.matkahuolto.fi/en/
Flights. Several carriers offer connections to almost 20 domestic destinations. See www.finnair.fi, www.blue1.com, www.flybe.com, and www.norwegian.com.
