You will need
- International passports of all trip participants, visas, hotel reservations, car documents (if traveling by car).
Instructions
The usual tourist package of documents required when entering Finland is as follows: an identity document with a Schengen visa, an insurance policy valid during the trip.
The main document that is required when traveling to Finland is a foreign passport with a pre-obtained single-entry and multiple-entry Schengen visa (if the visa is multiple-entry, obtaining a visa specifically for Finland is not important). The dates on the visa must include the length of stay in the country.
Mandatory documents also include an insurance policy (issued before applying for a visa, which usually affects the length of stay in the country). They don’t always ask for your insurance policy, but it’s better to have it with you. In addition, it is better to have a printed confirmation of your hotel, apartment or cottage reservation with you. You can ask to send it by email and print it yourself. If the trip was purchased at a travel agency, the travel agency must print out the accommodation voucher and give it to the client.
Families traveling with children need to bring documents for all children (foreign passports, original and copy of birth certificate, as well as insurance papers). If a child is “inscribed” in the passport of one of the parents, the visa must be marked “+child”. When traveling under 18 years of age, you need a notarized consent to leave from both parents (if the child is traveling without parents). A child can enter with one of the parents without documentary consent from the other.
Since upon entering the Schengen zone they may be asked about the amount of cash for each travel participant, it is worth having 100-200 euros in cash with you (or a bank statement confirming the presence of money in your bank account).
For those traveling on , list necessary documents increases by 2 times. The most necessary of all documents is a driver's license (you can use a Russian license to drive, but in order to rent a car in Finland, you need an international license). You also need to take with you a vehicle registration certificate (technical passport) and a pre-issued Green Card (car insurance policy valid in the Schengen area). The “Green Card” is issued very quickly; residents of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (and other border areas) can apply for it even on the way to the Finnish border.
Trip to Finland for 1 day or more. How to properly prepare, what you need to know and take with you? Features of the trip for a “visa rollback”, actually on vacation in this country or in transit. What to take with you, what to say at the border and, in general, how to behave?
We have previously written about . This article is again addressed to motorists. But citizens who go on a short visit can also learn something useful for themselves.
A very unusual activity for Russian tourist looks like traveling in a motorhome in Finland. However, it can be a real adventure! The country is large and very beautiful, there are a lot of roads and nearly a million lakes. Equipped campsites - no count. And (almost) any Finn is ready to rent out a cottage to tourists.
Some things in our review may seem experienced travelers too banal. Well, don’t judge strictly - after all, you yourself once traveled for the first time!
Trip to Finland - documents
Let's start from afar - with the visa in the passport. At the Finnish Consulate in St. Petersburg, almost everyone who wishes is issued so-called “cartoons.” They can be for six months, a year or two, or more, and are usually issued quickly and on time. The percentage of refusals does not exceed 1% of applicants. main feature— the first time you need to enter Finland.
If you urgently need, for example, to go to Germany, and you were tempted by a Finnish visa because of the ease of obtaining it, you will still have to “roll back” the stamp with a short trip to Suomi. Otherwise, a forced turn around at a German airport often follows. And return to the homeland with the Finnish Schengen visa annulled.
Also, applicants for a Finnish visa should take into account that it will be opened (most likely) 7-10 days after the application. Therefore, the application must be submitted on dates as close as possible to the planned trip. Health insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 must be valid from date of application V Visa Center or consulate.
Today it is no longer necessary to scour the Internet in search of travel insurance and then waste time calling. Because you can choose a policy based on the price-quality ratio and immediately purchase it directly. At a price that is at least not worse than that of an insurance company.
Despite the fact that insurance for 30,000 € is enough to obtain visas, we recommend taking out insurance for 35-50,000. The difference in contributions is not critical. But in the second case, the list of services includes free transportation of the sick person to Russia. In some cases, this option can simply be a lifesaver.
Traveling to Finland requires international passports with valid visas. When a child travels with one of the parents, the notarized consent of the other is no longer required today (2019)!
- It is important that there is no document of disagreement in the border guards’ database
If the surnames of the child and parent are different, the original birth certificate may be a useful document: at the border, young children are always asked “who are you traveling with?”
What you need on a trip
Medicines. Despite valid insurance, it is doubtful that a persistent Russian tourist who believes in self-medication would consult a doctor in Finland in case of a runny nose, low fever or mild digestive problems.
Therefore, the first aid kit must necessarily contain sprays or drops for the common cold, antipyretic drugs, activated carbon, smecta, especially careful ones take antibiotics. Keeping in mind that in Western Europe you can’t buy them like this in a pharmacy - you need a prescription. Corvalol and other similar drugs cannot be taken with you - they are included in the list of prohibited drugs due to the presence of phenobarbital.
Plastic cards in Finland are the main means of payment. Moreover, “there” they constantly promise that they will soon completely replace cash. However, just in case, it is worth taking a small amount in the “cache” - computer failures have not been canceled.
- The average fuel price at Finnish gas stations in 2018 looked like this: 1.45-1.5 euros for a liter of gasoline and 1.25-1.3 for diesel fuel
Don’t forget that if you intend to use a ruble card, the bank will charge you a conversion fee. And it’s not a fact that once: if the main settlement currency of your bank is the American dollar, then it will convert twice (rubles into dollars, dollars into euros) and... write off the commission from the account twice.
No need to take to Finland
Meat and dairy products. And also on sandwiches - no smoked sausage or carbonates. Don’t get confused - butter and cheeses, as well as others!
In general, the import of “banned” products into the European Union is not monitored very closely. And if you want, you can carry it. As a last resort, the customs officer will suggest throwing everything into a special trash container. And then everything depends on you: honestly throw away the food or dishonestly bury it in your pockets or car.
Antiradars and radar detectors. If they are discovered (and some Russian travelers don’t even hide them), they will be confiscated and fined. In some cases, a visa may also be cancelled—precedents have happened.
DVRs today are often combined with radar detectors - it is also better to leave such devices at home.
How to behave at the border
Naturally! Be yourself and finally stop being nervous. Everything will be fine if you are not a smuggler, and the procedure for crossing the state border will take very little time.
There is also no need to lie about the purpose of the visit: if you are going to Italy in transit through Finland, just say so. Moreover, the Border Patrol apparently has access to the bases by airlines and ferries. And if you wish, you can check that you are not going to .
Again, the presence of three suitcases with things in the trunk indicates intentions better than any words. Especially if your items include flip-flops, swimsuits and beach towels...
Where to stay
We are not able to advise here. But we note that the range of prices is very wide: if not for hotel rooms, then for private cottages - for sure. If you give yourself the trouble to search and book well in advance, you can save a lot. At the same time, without losing any quality!
When packing, you need to be especially careful. Because already in September all cottages at reasonable prices are booked!
All about a trip to Finland on own car in 2019! The nuances of passing border control, the quality of Finnish roads, interesting routes around the country and places to stay. Bonus - tips from tourists.
Car travel to Finland is very popular among Russians. Road to northern country It doesn’t take much time, and the travel costs are quite affordable. For residents of North-West Russia, this is one of the cheapest ways to get to Europe. While traveling by car in Finland, it is interesting to get acquainted with the original architecture of Finnish cities, attend local festivals, and visit museums and natural parks.
How long does it take to get to Finland?
The road from St. Petersburg to Helsinki takes 5 hours (388 km). In order to get to the border point closest to the city, you need to travel only 150 km. From St. Petersburg they leave for Vyborg or make their way through Pargolovo and Sestroretsk. The further route depends on the upcoming route through Finland. For Helsinki this is the E18 highway.
The road from Moscow takes much longer. From the Russian capital to Helsinki it takes 15 hours (1115 km) - that is, if you don’t have to stay at the border. Experienced tourists advise starting from Moscow at night, while there are no traffic jams on the streets and when leaving the city. Convenient to use in driveways paid section M11 expressway, which bypasses Vyshny Volochyok.
Advice. If you want to save on fuel, fill your tank completely before crossing the border.
(Photo © mariejirousek / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Passing the border
To enter Finland, tourists also need a passport valid for at least 3 months at the end of the trip. Differences: the form is filled out online, and insurance is purchased from an insurance company accredited by the embassy, and it must begin on the day the visa application is submitted.
Usually the Finnish Schengen visa is issued in 6-9 days. It costs 35 euros plus 26.75 euros for the consular fee. An express visa costs 70 euros.
You can cross the border in several places. Four points operate around the clock: Svetlogorsk-Imatra, Torfyanovka-Vaalimaa, Brusnichnoe-Nuijamaa and Vyartsillya-Niirala. Border crossings at Salla-Salla and Lyttä-Vartius are open from 7:00 to 21:00.
Most cars accumulate at the border on weekends, on holidays, as well as at 9:00 and from 15:00 to 16:00. The border control procedure takes from 0.5 to 1 hour, if there is no large influx of vehicles.
Map of border points
In 2019, tourists traveling to Finland by car will submit a package of documents for control at the border:
- international passport with a valid visa;
- driver license;
- vehicle passport;
- Green Card policy;
- power of attorney for a car;
- for children - international passport;
- for a dog - a veterinary passport.
Advice. Many people apply for a Green Card on the way to Finland at kiosks and gas stations. But it’s better to buy a Green Card in advance so as not to waste time on the road and not think about documents.
When traveling to Finland by car, you can have both an international and a Russian driving license. If you don’t have a Green Card, you will have to buy a policy at the border. However, this will cost more - 100 euros.
What you need to know about traveling to Finland by car and how to prepare your car:
- Entry with fully tinted windows and the use of light-protective films is prohibited. The windshield must transmit light at least 75%, and the side windows - 70%.
- In the winter months, people are allowed into the country only with studded tires, and in the spring, summer and autumn - with summer tires. Cars that have different tires on the same axle, as well as cars with both studded and non-studded tires, are not allowed through.
- At the border checkpoint, they must check for gasoline and oil leaks, the serviceability of headlights, brakes, and the working condition of mudguards and steering. No one is interested in dents, rust or unusual tuning of cars.
- In addition to gasoline in the tank, it is allowed to carry no more than 10 liters of fuel in a canister. It should be a fuel similar to that used to fuel the car.
Passing the border of Finland. Adviсe
Finnish roads
Driving around Finland by yourself is a lot of fun! All highways have a smooth surface. There are no toll roads, but control over compliance with traffic rules is strengthened - there are many video cameras. There are plenty of rest areas along the trails with tables, benches, toilets and trash cans. You can stop and eat at cafes and gas stations.
There are speed limits throughout the country: for large highways - 120 km/h, for highways - 90 km/h, on country roads - 80 km/h, in populated areas- 50 km/h. In winter the speed decreases.
When traveling in Finland by car, please follow the local rules:
- All passengers are required to fasten their seat belts.
- The driver should always use low beams.
- Children under 135 cm are not allowed to sit in the front seat, and a child under 3 years old must be transported buckled in a car seat.
- Conversations on mobile phone allowed only via wireless headset.
- Significant fines or even arrest are provided for driving while drunk, driving on a red light, for speeding violations and for refusing to allow a pedestrian to pass in a designated place.
(Photo © unsplash.com / @jhonkasalo)
In cities and smaller towns there are paid parking and limited-time free parking. Fines for parking violations range from 10 to 40 euros.
When planning your budget for traveling to Finland by car in 2019, consider the cost of fuel. It's expensive here. The average price of 1 liter of gasoline 95 is 1.56 euros, gasoline 98 is 1.64 euros, and diesel fuel is 1.39 euros.
Adviсe:
- In Finland it is prohibited to use or even carry a radar detector in a car.
- Don't forget to load maps of Finland into your navigator.
- If you violate traffic rules, the video recorder sends your car's license plate number to customs. When leaving the country, violators are asked to pay a fine. If you refuse, you will be deprived of your next entry visa. Keep in mind that when paying a fine, a Finnish bank will charge 5% for the transfer. Important detail: local bank branches are open only on weekdays.
- Be careful on country roads in Finland. Sometimes moose unexpectedly cross the route. This usually happens in the spring, when animals are looking for convenient pastures for feeding. To avoid trouble, follow the warning signs, keep the speed limit and distance.
(Photo © jackmac34 / pixabay.com)
Travel route in Finland
What to see during independent trip around Finland by car? Most tourists start their road trip from the capital of the country. Helsinki is a beautiful and hospitable city. Despite its high status, it has a calm atmosphere and a measured pace of life.
In summer you can visit local beaches which are located on the shore Vantaa River and nearby islands. Basic Helsinki attractions are located in the city center. These are Senate Square, Lutheran and Orthodox cathedrals, a monument to the composer Sibelius, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, the Temppelinaukio rock church and the sea fortress of Sveaborg.
(Photo © insouciance / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)
Connoisseurs of unique architecture, Finnish furniture, paintings and glassware from Helsinki head to the west of Finland - to Seinäjoki. The road there takes a little more than 4 hours (360 km). The city of Seinäjoki is located in a picturesque river valley and is famous for its large architectural complex. It was designed by the famous architect Alvar Aalto, often called the father of Northern European modernism. The complex includes six buildings and a 65 m high bell tower.
3.5 km from the city center, on the site of a rich noble estate, there is a park and museum area Thornyavya. It’s good to plan a car trip to Finland with one of the popular holidays Seinäjoki: Provinssi rock festival, tango festival, music festival Solar Sound or the Vauhtiajot Race&Rock festival for rock music and bike lovers.
(Photo © jonathan rieke / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC 2.0)
On the way to Seinäjoki lies Iittala. The modest village is home to one of the country's most famous art glass factories, Iittala. The glass-blowing factory and the glass museum are open to tourists.
There is a village near Seinäjoki Nuutajarvi. The history of the local glass blowing factory goes back more than 225 years. This is the oldest glassblowing factory in the country, where craftsmen and artists create unique products from colored glass. In a former warehouse built in the 19th century, there is a shop selling souvenirs and glass gifts.
When traveling around Finland by car in 2.5 hours from Seinäjoki it is not difficult to get to the city of Jyväskylä, where I lived and worked for many years architect Alvar Aalto. A museum with glassware, original lamps and Finnish furniture is open to tourists.
(Photo © unsplash.com / @stevenspassov)
Housing prices in Finland
If your trip around Finland by car lasts several days, you need to resolve the issue of accommodation. Hotels in Helsinki City Center are expensive. According to tourists' reviews, the 4* Glo Hotel Kluuvi and Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Helsinki offer comfortable rooms. However, they cost 16,000-20,000 rubles per night.
Much cheaper, for 4200-5400 rubles, you can stay in 2* hotels with parking, which are located some distance from the center of Helsinki. For example, in Kongressikoti Hotel l or Hotel Sofia. It should be kept in mind that budget options You need to book in advance as they are in great demand among tourists.
(Photo © booking.com / Seinäjoen leirintäalue)
When traveling around Finland by car, it is convenient to spend the night in cheap suburban hotels. The 3* hotel complex Seinäjoen leirintäalue is located 4.3 km from the center of Seinäjoki. This is a well-equipped campsite surrounded by gardens, with a terrace and children's play area. playground. Some rooms have kitchenettes with microwaves. The prices here are quite affordable. A place to pitch a tent costs 1,179 rubles, and a double room in a chalet costs 4,400 rubles per night.
If you want to live in nature, rent cottages and small houses. Prices start from 3,000 rubles and depend on proximity to Helsinki, airports and popular tourist attractions. Holiday Village Himmerki and Villa Wästä-Räkki received good reviews from tourists.
Advice. In roadside cafes and restaurants that are far from the border, English is not always spoken.
(Photo © booking.com / Holiday Village Himmerki)
conclusions
Pros of traveling by car to Finland in 2019:
- Traveling by private car is cheaper than flying or traveling by rail.
- The car makes us much more mobile. You can see more in one trip interesting places and get to places where public transport does not go.
- No need to pay for excursions and bus tickets.
Costs and inconveniences:
- Strict parking rules.
- Expensive gasoline.
- Fines in Finland are higher than in Russia.
- Language problems when using a Finnish car service.
In any case, the positive aspects of traveling by car in Finland significantly outweigh the disadvantages of an independent car trip.
Introductory image source: © unsplash.com / @kirsipirukas.
Travel tips: we tell you how to get there, where to stay and have lunch in Helsinki.
How to get to the country profitably
For residents of St. Petersburg the most cheap way getting to Helsinki is a bus. During the off-season, bus carriers often organize sales (for example, on Black Friday) and you can go to the capital for 600-700 rubles. You can catch it completely cheap tickets, if you start monitoring them a couple of months before the trip (the golden rule applies here: the earlier, the better). The most expensive tickets- for New Year's and May holidays. To find out about discounts and promotions, subscribe to pages about budget travel in in social networks. It is also convenient to get to Helsinki by minibus. The journey will cost from 800 to 2400 rubles.
When traveling for a couple of days, it is, of course, convenient to stay in the center. If you are not afraid of the prospect of using public transport, you can live in areas remote from the center, near the metro - such options are usually cheaper.
Don’t forget to take a printout with the address of your hotel or apartment or write it down on your smartphone, as at the border they may ask where exactly you will live.
So, the visa has been issued, tickets have been purchased, accommodation has been booked, what else do you need to know before your first trip to Finland?
- Finns speak English very well, especially young people, so with knowledge of this language you will feel quite comfortable here. In large shopping centers, tourist information office and museums will be able to serve you in Russian.
- Install apps to help you travel. For example, an application with free offline maps from around the world Maps.me and a currency converter XE Currency.
- A free city map can be obtained from the Information Office (Pohjoisesplanadi 19).
- A popular method of transportation among city residents is a bicycle. Finns ride them all year round, there are bike parking and bike paths everywhere in Helsinki. To rent a bike, go to the shops: Ecobike (Savilankatu 1b), Greenbike (Bulevardi 32) and Bicyclean Helsinki (Luotsikatu 14). In the Citybike service, renting a bicycle for a day costs 5 euros, for a week – 10 euros.
- You can connect to the city's free Wi-Fi network. See the map with Wi-Fi points.
- If you plan to thoroughly explore the city, we recommend investing in a Helsinki Card. You can buy a card for 24 hours (46 euros), 48 hours (54 euros) and 72 hours (66 euros). Its price includes visits to nine museums, including the Athenaeum Art Museum, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, a tour of the Suomenlinna Fortress, bus tour around the capital and free travel on public transport. More detailed information about the Helsinki Card can be found.
- Good way save on cultural program– plan a visit to city museums on days when admission is free for all visitors. List of free days, as well as short description The best metropolitan museums are in our article.
- Find out about interesting events, which take place in Helsinki, can be found on the website http://www.visithelsinki.fi/ru.
- The most low prices for groceries in stores of the German chain Lidl and Prisma supermarkets.
Helsinki resident Olga Korka especially for eFinland.ru she gave some advice to novice tourists:
The city center is compact and can be navigated on foot. Using public transport is also convenient: it runs strictly on schedule, and the ticket is valid for an hour for all types of transport. I recommend using a route planner website public transport reittiopas.fi.
A taxi costs at least 20 euros, the price depends on the distance and the carrier. A trip to the airport usually costs 40-50 euros.
I advise you to walk along the Esplanade - the central park of Helsinki. Walk along the embankments, go to the Old Market, drink coffee and eat a fish sandwich or a cinnamon bun. Climb to observation deck to the Assumption Orthodox Church cathedral and look at the city from above. You can go to areas where northern modernity dominates - this is either the Katajanokka area, right behind the Assumption Cathedral, or the Eira area, which can be reached by tram number 2 or 3.
You can have lunch wherever you see the word lounas - this is a business lunch in Finnish. Standard time for a business lunch is from 10.00 to 14.00 or 15.00, cost is from 10 to 14 euros.
Be sure to try the fish. Most of all, Finns value white wild fish caught in the natural environment.
If you are traveling with a child, in any cafe you can safely ask to warm up a jar of baby food, a bottle of formula or milk.
No need to spend money on bottled water. In Finland you can drink tap water anywhere, in any public place.
If we talk about the character of Finns, they differ from Russians in that they value personal space more. Therefore, try not to get too close in line, at a bus stop, or on public transport. It is not customary here to talk loudly or wave your arms.
Where to have lunch
Helsinki can hardly be called a cheap city, so you won’t be able to eat delicious food for pennies here. Business lunches and special lunch offers can be a salvation for tourists. Below is a list of verified addresses of metropolitan cafes and restaurants.
1. Ekberg
An old bakery, pastry shop and cafe in the city center. We recommend trying brioche (3.30 euros) with cappuccino (4.40 euros); for a more substantial lunch, you can choose salad (6.90-14.50 euros) or salmon soup (11.50 euros).
Address: Bulevardi 9
Opening hours: Mon – Fri from 07.30 to 19.00
Sat from 08.30 to 17.00
Sun from 09.00 to 17.00
2. Cafe Bar No 9
Large portions and reasonable prices. The menu includes Caesar salad with chicken or smoked salmon (12.50/13.50 euros), woks (10 euros each) and burgers (10-16.90 euros). The establishment is popular among the locals.
Address: Uudenmaankatu, 9
Opening hours: Mon – Fri from 11.00 to 02.00
Sat – Sun from 12.00 to 02.00
3. Fazer Café
In the legendary Fazer Café on the eighth floor of the Stockmann department store you can dine for a reasonable price by Finnish standards. A salad bar will cost from 9.90 to 14.20 euros, a full lunch will cost 13.50 euros. For this money you will get a salad (or appetizer of your choice), soup, main course and drink.
Address: Aleksanterinkatu, 52
Opening hours: Mon – Fri from 09.00 to 21.00
Sat from 09.00 to 19.00
Sun from 11.00 to 18.00
4. Tiedekulma Cafe
Cafe of the university art space Think Corner. Good coffee (cappuccino - 3.50 euros) and the freshest desserts (local hit - banana cake for 4.90 euros). There is a salad bar at lunchtime, and you can order the soup of the day.
Address: Aleksanterinkatu 7
Cafe opening hours: Mon-Fri from 08.00 to 21.00
Sat, Sun from 10.00 to 18.00
5. Kappeli
On the menu you can find traditional salmon soup (15/20 euros), meat dishes(22–42 euros) and green salad Kappeli (from 9 euros). Desserts, such as creme brulee and cloudberry panna cotta, cost about 10 euros.
Address: Eteläesplanadi 1
Opening hours: from 10.00 to 00.00
