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

|currency = Euro ( € )|hitch = ?<rating country='fi' />|BW = FI|map = <map lat='64.8' lng='25.9' zoom='4' view='0' width='300' height='350' country='Finland'/>

'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], and 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 from Southern Europe is [[Estonia]]. Most people use this way, called as the [[E67|Via Baltica]].<!--== Arriving and leaving the country ==Here would be the tips how to get to the country. Probably most of the people coming and leaving Finland by ([[thumbE67]] use the ) road connects Finland with [[Via Baltica]] through [[Estonia]], [[LatviaPrague]] via the Baltic States and [[Lithuania]] towards [[Poland]].-->===Cities===* [[Jyväskylä]], [[Joensuu]]* [[Lappi]]* [[Helsinki]]* [[Oulu]]* [[Tampere]], [[Turku]]

==Crossing Borders ==Nothing special about the Finnish bordersIt is illegal to hitchhike directly on motorways (''moottoritie'') and some two-land expressways roads (''moottoriliikennetie'') in Finland. Apart You can recognize these from the Russian bordergreen signs. On these roads, they exist only you can hitch from on the map, not in reality. Since the dawn of time has there been very liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish ramps (which often have bus stops that drivers will stop at) and Norwegian borders. Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]], but [[Ahvenanmaa]] where the ferries to [[Stockholmpetrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] . The cars cannot stop supposedly isn'tin crossing areas, so the border-control can use that as an excuse to go through your propertyand some drivers who disobeyed this rule and picked up hitchhikers have been fined.

=== From/In the south, it is a good idea to Sweden ===Ferries to [[Stockholm]] go from [[Helsinki]] avoid motorways and [[Turku]]opt for smaller local roads. The latter being closer Though there is less traffic, there is considerably cheapermore room for cars to stop. Both ferries also Finnish drivers will only stop in [[Maarianhamina]] in [[Ahvenanmaa]]where they feel it is safe, or [[Mariehamn]] in [[Åland]] as so try to thumb at bus stops.__TOC__*I disagree with most of the swedish-speaking population there tend to call itabove. The two companies running ferries between Finland and Sweden are See the [http://Wwwhitchwiki.vikingline.fi Viking Line] and [http:org/en/www.silja.com Silja LineTalk:Finland Talk-page]. Both of the companies concentrate on bringing the customers a cruise-experience, and are bound to be tacky. At least Viking Line sells simple tickets without a cabin, which would be rather useless on the daytime trips between -[[TurkuUser:Astikain|Astikain]] and [[Stockholm]] anyway.14:40, 6 September 2012 (CEST)

Silja Line is the poshier of the two, === Regions ===[[File:Finland european roads.png|thumb|250px|Finnish motorways (blue) with their European numbers and national roads (red and yellow)]][[File:Erga-and thus more expensive-a-friendly-finnish-man. It's still tacky, thoughjpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]][[File:Erga-camping-in-finland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Find info on camping on [[:nomad:Finland|Nomadwiki]]]]* [[Lapland]]

It isn't to say the archipelagoes of Stockholm or Turku don't make a nice scenery== Safety ==Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland. On the ferries there's a constant attempt to lure people to buy as much tax-free booze and other stupid things as much as allowed by the regulations. It really isn't much more affordable than at land especially since the regulations for importing from [[Estonia]], which they won't tell you of course. So, do bring a book. Usually there's free Playstation or XBox games at the kids-section to spend the timeAs always, 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]]common sense is your friend.

Then there== Culture ==Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's , and many drivers will tell the Swedish [http://wwwhitchhiker(s) they've hitched themselves back in their days.birka.se Birka Cruises]Nowadays this practice is rather rare among Finns, but there are always some, whose product is apparently closer to a more proper cruiseespecially in summer time around music festivals. === From/to Estonia ===There is no land-connection between Hitching in Finland and might be difficult during the [[Estoniawinter]]time because lack of daylight. There are several daily boats from Helsinki The weather differences in Finland seem to Tallinneffect greatly how well people pick you up. Sunny weather might help you a great deal because it makes people more happy and open-minded.

=== From/Hitchhiking seems to Norway ===get easier the more North you go in Finland, because towns get smaller and people feel more open to help others. However, the highways are better in the South and there is more traffic.

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 Most people speak at least some Englishtoo, so most of the international foreign hitchhikers won't have big language communication 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). === Useful expressions for hitchhikers ===* Hello = Moi* Hitchhiking = Liftaaminen* To Hitchhike = Liftata * A Ride = Kyyti* Thank You = Kiitos* Where are you driving to? = Minne ajat? == Safety ==Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland indeed. As always, common sense is your friend. == Legal matters for hitchhikers ==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 illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking de facto illegal in these places.

== Highways ==It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways (called "moottoritie") and Some older people, however, might have no English language knowledge at all, so you might as well learn some motorways basic Finnish phrases. Note, that with a knowledge of Swedish, however, you can come pretty far ("moottoriliikennetie"it is useful all over Scandinavia) in Finland. You can recognize these from the green signs.

The cars can not stop in crossing areas, and some cars not obeying this rule and taking ====Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers on board are know to be fined.====* Hello = '''Terve'''Hitching is illegal in Finland on the motorways and two lane expressways. On any other highway you can legally hitch. On motorways you can also legally use the on-ramps as well as the gas stations.* Hi = '''Moi''' ''or'' '''Hei'''This is the same with most countries in Europe and most states of USA.* Hitchhiking = '''Liftaaminen'''* To hitchhike = '''Liftata''' * A ride ='''Kyyti'''* Thank you very much = Culture '''Kiitos paljon'''* Where are you driving to? ='''Minne ajat?'''* I don't speak Finnish =Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and a considerable amount of the rides will tell the hitchkiker(s) they've hitched themselves back in the day. Nowadays itEn puhu suomea'''s quite rare among Finns, but of course there are some European backpackers, often heading to [[Lappi]], [[Lapland]].

{{nomadwiki}}* [http[:fi://www.liftari.org Etusivu|Finnish hitchhiker's clubHitchwiki]]* IRC Channel [[Liftari @ IRCnet]] The site is mostly in Finnish but there is an English section in the * [httphttps://www.liftarifacebook.orgcom/groups/forum forumliftarit/ Finnish hitchhikers FB group]* [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{{wikipedia-link}}