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|language = Finnish, Swedish; recognised regional languages: Sami

'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], one of the Nordic Countriescountries. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Its neighbouring countries are [[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and [[Russia]], but possibly the most probable transit country on your way hitchhiking there is [[Estonia]]. Most people use this way. It's which is called the "[[Via Baltica]] " - it is a road [[E67]] between [[Helsinki]], Finland and [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] through Baltic States and [[Poland]].

In Hitchhiking seems pretty easy in the Northern part of Finland hitchhiking seems pretty easy. When you get closer to Helsinki it It could be a good idea to avoid the highways and opt for the older smaller local roads. With once you get closer to Helsinki - sure, there will be less traffic, but easier however, you will get more space for the cars to stop, and less likely to be avoid a chance of getting stuck at on some on-unlit highway ramp in the middle of nowhere.(consider the early darkness when hitchhiking in autumn/winter!)

* [[Jyväskylä]], * [[Joensuu]]

* [[Helsinki]], * [[Hämeenlinna]]

* [[Tampere]], * [[Turku]]

== Crossing Borders the borders ==Nothing special about the Finnish borders. Apart from the Russian border, they Finnish borders exist only on the map, not in reality. Since the dawn of time there has there been very a liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian borders. However, despite the fact that Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]], but there is a random identity and luggage check when you take a ferry from [[Ahvenanmaa]] where the ferries to [[Stockholm]] stop supposedly isn't, so the border-control can use that as an excuse to go through your property(Sweden).

[[Image:Washing car window in the North of Finland.JPG|thumb|240px|Hitchhiker [[User:guaka|guaka]] washing away mosquito corpses]]

Ferries to [[Stockholm]] go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. The latter being closer is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in [[Maarianhamina]] in ([[Ahvenanmaa]]), or [[Mariehamn]] in ([[Åland]] ), as the swedishits Swedish-speaking population there tend to call calls it. The two companies running which run ferries between Finland and Sweden are [http://www.vikingline.fi ''Viking Line''] and [http://www.silja.com ''Silja Line'']. Both of the companies concentrate are focused on bringing the customers a cruise-experience, and are bound to be tacky. At least ''Viking Line '' sells simple cheaper tickets without a cabin, too, which would be rather useless on the daytime trips between [[Turku]] and [[Stockholm]] anyway. A As of 2008, a ferry from Stockholm to Turku costs about 25 euros , and Stockholm-Helsinki - 55 euros (both without a cabin).

''Silja Line '' is the poshier of the two, and thus more expensive. It's still tacky, though.

The ''Viking Line '' cruise ships have free tourist maps of Turku at their information desks onboard. Be warned aware, though, that if you take a daytime cruise (which is about half the price), you will arrive in Turku at night. In During the Fall, Winterautumn, winter and early Spring, spring that means no daylight which is no help for hitchhiking. In winter nights, and possibly extremely cold temperatures, might occur as well.

It isn't to say the archipelagoes When on-bord, during warmer time of Stockholm or Turku don't make a nice scenery. On the ferries there's a constant attempt to lure people year you might go up outside to buy as much tax-free booze and other stupid things as much as allowed by enjoy the regulations. It really isn't much more affordable than at land especially since scenery of the regulations for importing from [[Estonia]], which they won't tell you archipelagos of course. So, do bring a book. Usually there's free Playstation Stockholm or XBox games at the kids-section to spend the time, plus usually some other backpackers or other such to chat with. You can also try to spot a small islands severely damaged by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cormorant great cormorants] a few hours off [[Stockholm]]Turku.

Then Be aware as well of a constant attempt to lure people to buy as much tax-free alcohol and some other things on the ferries. It really isn't much more cheaper, though, than buying them on land. So, do bring a book. Usually there's are free Playstation or XBox games at the kids-section to spend the Swedish time, plus very often other backpackers wander around (you might as well have a chat with them). You can also try to spot small islands severely damaged by [http://wwwen.birkawikipedia.se Birka Cruisesorg/wiki/Great_Cormorant Great cormorants], whose product is apparently closer to a more proper cruisefew hours off Stockholm.

There are Swedish [http://www.birka.se ''Birka Cruises''] boats cruising the sea, too. More info about boatsin the region: [http://www.makupalat.fi/Categories.aspx?classID=aef30d12-31ab-407f-89d6-526dd5d637f5 here] (Sweden, Estonia, Germany + internal lakes]lake tourism)

[[Image:Erga-and-a-friendly-finnish-man.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]]There is no land-connection between Finland and [[Estonia]]. There are several daily boats from Helsinki to [[Tallinn]]. It takes usually 1-3 hours, costs about 20 euros (the cheapest one, without a cabin).

* [httpLinks://www.tallinksilja.com/fi/trips/routeTrips/ Tallink & Silja Line] to Estonia (only in Finnish / Swedish)* [http://www.vikingline.fi/index.asp?lang=en Viking Line] * [http://www.eckeroline.fi/en/default.aspx Eckerö Line]* [http://www.lindaliini.ee/ Linda Line]

=== From* [http://www.tallinksilja.com/fi/trips/routeTrips/''Tallink & Silja Line''], ferries to Norway ==Estonia (only in Finnish/Swedish)* [http://www.vikingline.fi/index.asp?lang=en ''Viking Line''] * [http://www.eckeroline.fi/en/default.aspx ''Eckerö Line'']* [http://www.lindaliini.ee/ ''Linda Line'']

'''Notethat as of 2006:'''* There No walking is no walking permitted on any of existing crossing pointsFinnish-Russian border checkpoints.* Crossing ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border post via checkpoint is permitted to cross by cycling was permitted at least in 2006 and, most probably, still permitted.* Russian visa is can not be issued on at the bordercheckpoint.

The most important crossings border checkpoints to Russia ([[St. Petersburg]] region's district) are ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' one on the road [[E18]]/7 Helsinki-St-.Petersburg , and ''Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoe'' near [[Lappeenranta]].

The first one ====Vaalimaa–Torfianovka====It is always animatedopen. Traffic is high there, open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. There's lots of through traffic you might find there both long-distance trucks (however, see info below about trucks ) as well as lots of locals , from both sides of the border, with Russians coming to buy goodsthey don't have in Russia, Finnish people and Finns going to the other side to buy alcohol, cigarettes and fuel and all sort of traffickers. On a Finnish side they are crowding on , you can find most of them at the first [[gas station]], just before the customs zone. You can alternate asking also ask drivers on the parking , and those queueing queuing to the terminal. A ride to [[Torfianovka]] is enough – there's lots of transport going to [[Vyborg]] and [[St. Petersburg]] from there.  As of 2006, that doesn't necessarily cross it was a complete waste of time to hitch a truck over the border to the Finnish side. No use trying to get into Russia with trucks – freight terminal is separate, for trucks and the queue there is extremely slow: sometimes you wait for hours, sometimes for days. Russia–Finland Same terminal from Russia to Finland, though, seems to be faster.  To get back from [[Russia]] to Finland the best way is to , simply ask on drivers at the parking of lot by one of the supermarkets aroundthere on the Russian side.

The other one ====Other checkpoints====There is a checkpoint on the road '''13''' going south from [[Lappeenranta]] and bypassing the village of Niirala on the north. There is less traffic here, but the route is more scenic, going along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saimaa_canal Saimaa canal] (Russian: ''Сайменский канал''; Finnish: ''Saimaan kanava'').

Next crossing point border checkpoint to the north from there is ''Niirala-Värtsilä'', on the road 70 south of [[Joensuu]]. The trafic is low, from there a road goes to [[Sortavala]], from where it is possible and then further to reach [[St. Petersburg]] by via the south shore of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Ladoga lake Ladoga], (with a portion of an unpaved road), or [[Petrozavodsk]] via the north shore.<!-- see infobox== Money ==Finland is a part of the to [[EUPetrozavodsk]] and the currency used is Euro.-->Also, there There are some a few more border crossings more, checkpoints: from [[Imatra ]] to [[Svetogorsk]], from [[Kuhmo ]] to [[Kostamuksha]], from [[Salla ]] towards [[Kandalaksha ]], and from [[Inari ]] towards [[Murmansk]]. These days most of these checkpoints work 24/7. Good way to hitch a ride from Russia to Finland is to hang around some stores near the border looking borders and look for Finnish licence license plates and offer . A smart trick you can do to lift up your chances to get a ride is by offering a driver you speak to to bring the driver an extra load of cigarettes and booze. They will be appreciate alcohol - most of the Finnish drivers won't resist that.!

The language most people in Finland speak is Finnish, which isn't a Scandinavian language. The country is officially bilingual, as there is a large Swedish-speaking minorityon the west coast of Finland. Anyhow, most of the people speak at least some good English, too, so most of the international foreign hitchhikers won't have big language problems in Finland.Though you might encounter some old people who don't speak English. In this case it's good to know some Swedish (which is useful all over Scandinavia).

=== Some older people, however, might have no English language knowledge at all, so you might as well learn some basic Finnish phrases. Note, that with a knowledge of Swedish, however, you can come pretty far (it is useful all over Scandinavia). Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers ===: * Hello = '''Terve'''* Hi = '''Moi ''' ''or'' ''' Hei'''* Hitchhiking = '''Liftaaminen'''* To Hitchhike hitchhike = '''Liftata ''' * A Ride ride = '''Kyyti'''* Thank You you = '''Kiitos'''* Where are you driving to? = '''Minne ajat?'''

Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland indeed. As always, common sense is your friend.

Hitchhiking is legal in Finland. Anyhow, there are some places where it is illegal for the cars to stop , and some places where it's is illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking illegal de facto illegal in these places.

Hitching is illegal in Finland on the motorways and two lane expresswaysis prohibited. On any other highway you can legally hitch. On motorways you You can also legally use hitchhike at the motorway on-ramps as well as , and at the motorway [[gas stationsstation]]s' areas.This is the Basically, same with most rules as in countries in Western Europe and in most states of the [[USA]].

Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and a considerable amount of the rides many drivers will tell the hitchkikerhitchhiker(s) they've hitched themselves back in the daytheir days. Nowadays it's quite this practice is rather rare among Finns, but of course there are always some , especially in summer time, when local hitchers get inspired by European backpackers, often heading to [[Lappi]], [[Lapland]].

* [http://www.liftari.org Finnish hitchhiker's club] The - the site is mostly in Finnish but there is an English section in the [http://www.liftari.org/forum forum].* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/kjokisal/liftaus/ Hitchhiker's guide to Europe] A Hitchhiking - a hitchhiking site by a Finn* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/ssmoland/peukalo/ Liftausvinkkejä] Hitchhiking - hitchhiking tips in Finnish