Helsinki - Travel Tips
Find useful travel tips for Helsinki, Finland on our site www.helsinkihotels.biz
| Climate |
| Climate in Helsinki is temperate continental.
Average summer temperature is about 15°C. The temperature
in July may reach 25-30°C. The second part of June Helsinki
admires long days (White Nights) – days lengthen up to
19 hours. Winter in Helsinki is mild, intensely cold weather
is uncommon. Average winter temperature is about 0-4°C.
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| Time |
| In Finland there is Eastern European Time (UTC+2)
and Eastern European Summer Time (UTC+3). |
| Language |
| There are two official languages in Finland
– Finnish and Swedish. Guide signs and street names are
written in these two languages. Besides, in Helsinki as well
as in Finland in general there are many people speaking English
– especially among the youth. |
| Climate |
| Crime rate in Helsinki as well as in Finland
in general is low in comparison with the majority of the European
countries. Pickpocketing and robberies occur seldom. However,
it is advisable to be cautious and watch your belongings, make
copies of your papers and have them with. |
| Electricity |
| In Finland the voltage comprises 220-230 V,
50 Hz. Sockets satisfy the requirements of European Union (EU).
Electric devices made in UK and the USA require adapters. |
| Etiquette |
| Conversing with the Finns take into account
that rich gesticulation is uncommon.
To attract attention of an interlocutor it is better to
say “Listen!” Reference by name is not unallowed,
but considered as undesirable. It is impolite to speak about
those who are not present, as well as to tell about your problems
– according to the opinion of the Finns it is not friends
whom you have to talk to if you have a problem, but physicians
and social workers. It is considered inappropriate to ask
for a piece of advice or give advices yourself, in that way
you are either dependant or intrusive person, interfering
in somebody’s private affairs. Both qualities are disapproved
in Finnish culture.
The Finns are accustomed to avoid verbosity in conversations
and use precise and exact word, if only the subject is not
delicate. They are inclined to express themselves just as
to understand others very concrete, that is why conversing
with a Finn it is better not to exaggerate. If you say to
a Finn that you are dying from starvation, he will not understand
why then you are looking so blooming.
In Helsinki and in Finland in general it is a common and
widespread practice that women visit restaurants, cafes or
bars alone. At dancing-parties women choose partners together
with men. In many restaurants and clubs ladies’ nights
are usual, at these parties only women may choose men, and
it is a pure tactlessness from a man to decline an invitation.
Streets of Helsinki are clean and well-groomed. It is considered
unthinkable to litter in the streets, break official prohibitions
and traffic regulations. The same behaviour is expected from
tourists.
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| Hotels in Helsinki |
| Helsinki offer tourists a wide choice of hotels
of various categories. Pay attention that in Helsinki hotels
prices for weekends are much lower than for work days, there
are also summer discounts from the end of June (Midsummer Day)
to the beginning of August. As a rule, breakfast (smorgasbord)
and a morning sauna are included into the room price, but it
is advisable to inquire about more specific information in a
definite hotel.
It is better to reserve a hotel in the centre of the city.
Hotels in remote districts are cheaper, of course, but the
public transport in Helsinki is rather expensive. If you want
to save time, put up at a hostel – a cheap hotel reminding
of dormitories.
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| What to take with? |
| It is advisable to pack all things that you
may need during your trip into a light handy bag that you will
be able to take with, unlike other luggage. Put your passport,
tickets, insurance, money and necessary medicines into this
bag. Before leaving the house, please, check once more all documents
and money.
Since climate in Finland is mild, but the weather is changeable
even in summer period, it is recommended to take some warm
pieces of clothing and an umbrella.
Shampoo, soap, shaving cream, and etc. is better to transport
in special travel packagings.
If it is a private trip and you have a private invitation,
do not forget to take addresses and telephones of your hosts.
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| Money |
| Since 2000 the official currency of Finland
is euro. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Notes in circulation
are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 euro, coins in circulation
are 1 and 2 euro, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
In Helsinki you may use cash as well as credit cards, Visa
Classic, MasterCard, American Express are prevalent.
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| Tax-Free |
| In some retail outlets in Finland a Tax Free
Shopping service exists. It means that on leaving the country
or the European Union you are paid back a sum of money equal
to the paid VAT. For this you need to make a purchase to the
amount of 40 euro or more in a retail outlet using Tax Free
system and ask for a Global Refund or Tax Free cheque. For drawing
up of a cheque, you need a passport. On departure show your
intact purchases, receipts and passport to custom-house officers
and have your Tax Free cheques validated. Pay attention that
packaging damage may become a cause of Tax Free refund denial.
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| Transport |
| Public transport
Public transport in Helsinki is presented with bus lines,
ferry lines, trams, light commuter rail and the subway. The
fare is equal for all means of public transport. Tickets can
be bought in news stalls, in trams and buses from a driver,
in the subway from ticket machines on platforms.
A ticket is valid during 1 hour and 5 minutes from the moment
of validation. Ticket validity term doesn’t depend on
a number of changes your trip contains and means of transport
used. Children under 7 years old don’t need to pay fares.
Children from 7 to 16 have a 50 % fare reduction.
Helsinki Metro
The subway in Helsinki consists of only one line that goes
via the railway station. On workdays and Saturday the Helsinki
Metro works from 5.15 till 23.45, on Sunday – from 6.15
till 23.45. There are no turnstiles in the Helsinki subway
– tickets are to be validated in ticket-stamping machines
placed at the entry.
Taxi
Apart from the public transport, taxicabs are widespread
in Helsinki. The price for getting in a taxi comprises 5 euro,
than the price grows according to the meter reading and time
of day. Tips are not customary. Many taxi drivers accept cash
as well as credit cards.
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| Helsinki Card |
| In Helsinki it is advisable to use tourist tickets
or a Helsinki Card.
Tourist tickets are sold in news stalls. These tickets are
to be punched once and then to be used in any means of transport
with any number of changes. There are 24-hour, three-day (72
hours) and five-day (120 hours) tourist tickets.
The Helsinki Card (Matkakortti) is an electronic ticket
for all means of public transport including ferries to Suomenlinna
and Korkeasaari Islands. The Helsinki Card is also an entrance
ticket to 51 museums of the Finish capital and a discount
card for many restaurants, shops and theatres. With the Helsinki
Card you receive two presents – a free tour of the city
and an English guidebook to Helsinki. The Helsinki Card is
considered to be active from the first trip or museum visiting.
There are the one-day (24 hours), two-day (48 hours) or three-day
(72 hours) Helsinki Cards. It can be purchased at a railway
station, in a travel agency and in almost all city’s
hotels.
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