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

|currency = Euro (&euro;€)|hitch = {{good}}<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. It's called as the [[E67|Via Baltica]] - road ([[E67]] between [[Helsinki]], ) road connects Finland and with [[Prague]], via the Baltic States and [[Czech RepublicPoland]].

=== Cities ===* [[Jyväskylä]]It is illegal to hitchhike directly on motorways (''moottoritie'') and some two-land expressways roads (''moottoriliikennetie'') in Finland. You can recognize these from the green signs. On these roads, you can hitch from on-ramps (which often have bus stops that drivers will stop at) and [[Joensuu]]* [[Kuopio]]* [[Lahti]]* [[Helsinkipetrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]]. The cars cannot stop in crossing areas, [[Hämeenlinna]]* [[Oulu]]* [[Pori]]* [[Seinäjoki]]* [[Tampere]], [[Turku]]and some drivers who disobeyed this rule and picked up hitchhikers have been fined.

===Other areas===In the south, it is a good idea to avoid motorways and opt for smaller local roads. Though there is less traffic, there is more room for cars to stop. Finnish drivers will only stop where they feel it is safe, so try to thumb at bus stops.__TOC__*I disagree with most of the above. See the [[Imagehttp://hitchwiki.org/en/Talk:Washing car window in the North of FinlandTalk-page].JPG|thumb|240px|--[[User:guakaAstikain|guaka]] washing away mosquito corpsesAstikain]]14:40, 6 September 2012 (CEST)

== Crossing Borders Safety ==Nothing special about the Finnish borders. Apart from the Russian border, they exist only on the map, not Hitchhiking is quite safe in reality. Since the dawn of time has there been very liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian bordersFinland. Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]], but [[Ahvenanmaa]] where the ferries to [[Stockholm]] stop supposedly isn'tAs always, so the border-control can use that as an excuse to go through common sense is your propertyfriend.

=== From/to Sweden =Culture ==Ferries Hitchhiking used to [[Stockholm]] go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. The latter being closer is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in [[Maarianhamina]] in [[Ahvenanmaa]], or [[Mariehamn]] be popular in [[Åland]] as the swedish-speaking population there tend to call it. The two companies running ferries between Finland 70's and Sweden are [http://www.vikingline.fi Viking Line] and [http://www.silja.com Silja Line]. Both of the companies concentrate on bringing the customers a cruise-experience80's, and are bound to be tacky. At least Viking Line sells simple tickets without a cabin, which would be rather useless on many drivers will tell the daytime trips between [[Turku]] and [[Stockholm]] anyway. A ferry from Stockholm to Turku costs about 25 euros and Stockholm-Helsinki 55 euros hitchhiker(both without a cabins).  Silja Line is the poshier of the two, and thus more expensive. Itthey's still tacky, though. The Viking Line cruise ships have free tourist maps of Turku at ve hitched themselves back in their information desks onboarddays. Be warned that if you take a daytime cruise (which Nowadays this practice is about half the price)rather rare among Finns, you will arrive in Turku at night. In the Fallbut there are always some, Winter, and early Spring, that means no daylight for hitchhiking, and possibly extremely cold temperatures, as well. It isn't to say the archipelagoes of Stockholm or Turku don't make a nice scenery. 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 in summer time, plus usually some other backpackers or other such to chat witharound music festivals. 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]]. Then there's the Swedish [http://www.birka.se Birka Cruises], whose product is apparently closer to a more proper cruise. === From/to Estonia ===There is no land-connection between Hitching in Finland and [[Estonia]]. There are several daily boats from Helsinki to Tallinn. It takes 1-3 hours, costs about 20 euros might be difficult during the cheapest without a cabin. === From/to Norway === === From/to [[Russiawinter]] ==='''Note'''* There is no walking on any time because lack of existing crossing pointsdaylight.* Crossing ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border post via cycling was permitted at least The weather differences in 2006 and, most probably, still permitted* Russian visa is not issued on the border The most important crossings Finland seem to Russia ([[St. Petersburg]] region) are ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' one the road [[E18]]/7 Helsinki-St-Petersburg and ''Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoe'' near [[Lappeenranta]]. The first one is always animated, open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. There's lots of through traffic as effect greatly how well as lots of locals from both sides of the border, with Russians coming to buy goods, Finnish people going to the other side to buy alcohol, cigarettes and fuel and all sort of traffickers. On Finnish side they are crowding on the first gas station, just before the customs zone. You can alternate asking drivers on the parking and those queueing to the terminal. A ride to [[Torfianovka]] is enough – there's lots of transport going to [[Vyborg]] and [[Stpick you up. Petersburg]] from there, that doesn't necessarily cross the border to the Finnish side. No use trying to get into Russia with trucks – freight terminal is separate, and sometimes Sunny weather might help you wait hours, sometimes days. Russia–Finland seems to be faster. To get back from [[Russia]] to Finland the best way is to ask on the parking of one of the supermarkets around. The other one is on the road '''13''' going south from [[Lappeenranta]] a great deal because it makes people more happy 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.wikipediaopen-minded.org/wiki/Saimaa_canal Saimaa canal] (Russian: ''Сайменский канал''; Finnish: ''Saimaan kanava'')

Next crossing point north from there is ''Niirala-Värtsilä'', on Hitchhiking seems to get easier the road 70 south of [[Joensuu]]. The trafic is lowmore North you go in Finland, from there a road goes because towns get smaller and people feel more open to [[Sortavala]]help others. However, from where it is possible to reach [[St. Petersburg]] by the south shore of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Ladoga lake Ladoga], with a portion of unpaved road, or [[Petrozavodsk]] via north shore.<!-- see infobox== Money ==Finland is a part of highways are better in the [[EU]] South and the currency used there is Euromore 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 = Terve* Hi = Moi ''or'' Hei* 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 ==[[Image:Finnish_motorway_sign_561.png|right|60px]]It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways (called “moottoritie”) and some motorways (“moottoriliikennetie”) in Finland. You can recognize these from the green signs.

The cars can not stop in crossing areasSome older people, however, might have no English language knowledge at all, and so you might as well learn some cars not obeying this rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be finedbasic Finnish phrases. Note, that with a knowledge of Swedish, however, you can come pretty far (it is useful all over Scandinavia).

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.====Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers====This is the same with most countries in Europe and most states of USA.* Hello = '''Terve'''* Hi = '''Moi''' ''or'' '''Hei'''* Hitchhiking ='''Liftaaminen'''* To hitchhike = Culture '''Liftata''' * A ride ='''Kyyti'''* Thank you very much ='''Kiitos paljon'''Hitchhiking used * Where are you driving to be popular in the 70? = '''Minne ajat?'''* I don't speak Finnish = '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}}