Difference between revisions of "Finland"

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{{infobox Country
 
{{infobox Country
 
|country = of Finland
 
|country = of Finland
−
|language = Finnish, Swedish
+
|language = Finnish, Swedish; recognised regional languages: Sami
 
|capital = [[Helsinki]]
 
|capital = [[Helsinki]]
 
|pop = 5,301,701
 
|pop = 5,301,701
Line 7: Line 7:
 
|hitch = {{good}}
 
|hitch = {{good}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], one of the Nordic Countries. 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 called the [[Via Baltica]] - road [[E67]] between [[Helsinki]], Finland and [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]].
+
'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], one of the Nordic countries. 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 which is called "[[Via Baltica]]" - it is a road [[E67]] between [[Helsinki]], Finland and [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] through Baltic States and [[Poland]].
  
−
In the Northern part of Finland hitchhiking seems pretty easy. When you get closer to Helsinki it could be a good idea to avoid the highways and opt for the older roads.  With less traffic, but easier for cars to stop, and less likely to be stuck at some on-ramp in the middle of nowhere.
+
Hitchhiking seems pretty easy in the Northern part of Finland. It could be a good idea to avoid highways and opt for smaller local roads once you get closer to Helsinki - sure, there will be less traffic, however, you will get more space for the cars to stop, and avoid a chance of getting stuck on some unlit highway ramp in the middle of nowhere (consider the early darkness when hitchhiking in autumn/winter!)
  
 
[[Image:Erga-camping-in-finland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Camping]] is legal almost anywhere in Finland, just stay slightly out of sight and you can even camp next to [[highways]].]]
 
[[Image:Erga-camping-in-finland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Camping]] is legal almost anywhere in Finland, just stay slightly out of sight and you can even camp next to [[highways]].]]
  
 
=== Cities ===
 
=== Cities ===
−
* [[Jyväskylä]], [[Joensuu]]
+
* [[Jyväskylä]]
 +
* [[Joensuu]]
 
* [[Kuopio]]
 
* [[Kuopio]]
 
* [[Lahti]]
 
* [[Lahti]]
−
* [[Helsinki]], [[Hämeenlinna]]
+
* [[Helsinki]]
 +
* [[Hämeenlinna]]
 
* [[Oulu]]
 
* [[Oulu]]
 
* [[Pori]]
 
* [[Pori]]
 
* [[Seinäjoki]]
 
* [[Seinäjoki]]
−
* [[Tampere]], [[Turku]]
+
* [[Tampere]]
 +
* [[Turku]]
  
 
===Other areas===
 
===Other areas===
 
* [[Lapland]]
 
* [[Lapland]]
  
−
== Crossing Borders ==
+
== Crossing the borders ==
−
Nothing special about the Finnish borders. Apart from the Russian border, they exist only on the map, not in reality. Since the dawn of time has there been very liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian borders. Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]], but [[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.
+
Apart from the Russian border, Finnish borders exist only on the map, not in reality. Since the dawn of time there has been very a liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian. However, despite the fact that Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]] there is a random identity and luggage check when you take a ferry from [[Ahvenanmaa]] to [[Stockholm]] (Sweden).
  
−
[[Image:Washing car window in the North of Finland.JPG|thumb|240px|[[User:guaka|guaka]] washing away mosquito corpses]]
+
[[Image:Washing car window in the North of Finland.JPG|thumb|240px|Hitchhiker [[User:guaka|guaka]] washing away mosquito corpses]]
 
=== From/to Sweden ===
 
=== From/to Sweden ===
−
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 swedish-speaking population there tend to call it. The two companies running ferries between Finland 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-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 [[Turku]] and [[Stockholm]] anyway. A ferry from Stockholm to Turku costs about 25 euros and Stockholm-Helsinki 55 euros (both without a cabin).  
+
Ferries to Stockholm go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. The latter is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in [[Maarianhamina]] ([[Ahvenanmaa]]), or [[Mariehamn]] ([[Åland]]), as its Swedish-speaking population calls it. The two companies 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 are focused on bringing the customers a cruise-experience, and are bound to be tacky. ''Viking Line'' sells cheaper tickets without a cabin, too, which would be rather useless on the daytime trips between [[Turku]] and [[Stockholm]] anyway. 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.
+
''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 that if you take a daytime cruise (which is about half the price), you will arrive in Turku at night. In the Fall, Winter, and early Spring, that means no daylight for hitchhiking, and possibly extremely cold temperatures, as well.
+
The ''Viking Line'' cruise ships have free tourist maps of Turku at their information desks onboard. Be aware, though, that if you take a daytime cruise (which is about half the price), you will arrive in Turku at night. During the autumn, winter and early spring that means no daylight which is no help for hitchhiking. In winter nights, extremely cold temperatures might occur 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 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]].
+
When on-bord, during warmer time of the year you might go up outside to enjoy the scenery of the archipelagos of Stockholm or Turku.  
  
−
Then there's the Swedish [http://www.birka.se Birka Cruises], whose product is apparently closer to a more proper cruise.
+
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 are free Playstation or XBox games at the kids-section to spend the 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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cormorant Great cormorants] a few hours off Stockholm.
  
−
More boats: [http://www.makupalat.fi/Categories.aspx?classID=aef30d12-31ab-407f-89d6-526dd5d637f5 Sweden, Estonia, Germany + internal lakes]
+
There are Swedish [http://www.birka.se ''Birka Cruises''] boats cruising the sea, too.
 +
 
 +
More info about boats in the region: [http://www.makupalat.fi/Categories.aspx?classID=aef30d12-31ab-407f-89d6-526dd5d637f5 here] (Sweden, Estonia, Germany + lake tourism)
  
 
=== From/to Estonia ===
 
=== From/to Estonia ===
−
[[Image:Erga-and-a-friendly-finnish-man.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]]
+
[[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 1-3 hours, costs about 20 euros the cheapest without a cabin.
+
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).
  
−
* [http://www.tallinksilja.com/fi/trips/routeTrips/ Tallink & Silja Line] to Estonia (only in Finnish / Swedish)
+
Links:
−
* [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/to Norway ===
+
* [http://www.tallinksilja.com/fi/trips/routeTrips/ ''Tallink & Silja Line''], ferries 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/to [[Russia]] ===
 
=== From/to [[Russia]] ===
−
'''Note'''
+
'''Note that as of 2006:'''
−
* There is no walking on any of existing crossing points.
+
* No walking is permitted on any of existing Finnish-Russian border checkpoints.
−
* Crossing ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border post via cycling was permitted at least in 2006 and, most probably, still permitted
+
* ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border checkpoint is permitted to cross by cycling.
−
* Russian visa is not issued on the border
+
* Russian visa can not be issued at the border checkpoint.
  
−
The most important crossings to Russia ([[St. Petersburg]] region) are ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' one the road [[E18]]/7 Helsinki-St-Petersburg and ''Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoe'' near [[Lappeenranta]].
+
The most important border checkpoints to Russia ([[St. Petersburg]]'s district) are ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' on 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 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 [[St. 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 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.
+
====Vaalimaa–Torfianovka====
 +
It is always open. Traffic is high there, and 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 goods they don't have in Russia, and Finns going to the other side to buy alcohol, cigarettes and fuel. On a Finnish side, you can find most of them at the first [[gas station]], just before the customs zone. You can also ask drivers on the parking, and those 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, it was a complete waste of time to hitch a truck over the border to Russia – freight terminal is separate for trucks and the queue there is extremely slow: sometimes you wait for hours, sometimes for days. Same terminal from Russia to Finland, though, seems to be faster.  
 +
 
 +
To get back from [[Russia]] to Finland, simply ask drivers at the parking lot by one of the supermarkets around there on the Russian side.
  
−
The other one is 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'')
+
====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 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 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.
+
Next border checkpoint to the north from there is ''Niirala-Värtsilä'', on the road 70 south of [[Joensuu]]. The trafic is low, a road goes to [[Sortavala]] and then further to [[St. Petersburg]] via the south shore of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Ladoga lake Ladoga] (with a portion of an unpaved road), or via the north shore to [[Petrozavodsk]].
−
<!-- see infobox
+
 
−
== Money ==
+
There are a few more border 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 borders and look for Finnish license plates. 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 an extra load of cigarettes and alcohol - most of the Finnish drivers won't resist that!
−
Finland is a part of the [[EU]] and the currency used is Euro.
 
−
-->
 
−
Also, there are some border crossings more, 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 for Finnish licence plates and offer to bring the driver an extra load of cigarettes and booze. They will be appreciate that.
 
  
 
== Language ==
 
== Language ==
−
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 minority. Anyhow, most of the people speak at least some English, so most of the international hitchhikers won't have big language problems in Finland.
+
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 minority on the west coast of Finland. Anyhow, most of the people speak good English, too, so most of the 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).
 
  
−
=== Useful expressions for hitchhikers ===
+
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).
−
* Hello = Terve
+
 
−
* Hi = Moi ''or'' Hei
+
Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers:
−
* Hitchhiking = Liftaaminen
+
 
−
* To Hitchhike = Liftata  
+
* Hello = '''Terve'''
−
* A Ride = Kyyti
+
* Hi = '''Moi''' ''or'' '''Hei'''
−
* Thank You = Kiitos
+
* Hitchhiking = '''Liftaaminen'''
−
* Where are you driving to? = Minne ajat?
+
* To hitchhike = '''Liftata'''
 +
* A ride = '''Kyyti'''
 +
* Thank you = '''Kiitos'''
 +
* Where are you driving to? = '''Minne ajat?'''
  
 
== Safety ==
 
== Safety ==
−
Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland indeed. As always, common sense is your friend.
+
Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland. As always, common sense is your friend.
  
 
== Legal matters for hitchhikers ==
 
== 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.
+
Hitchhiking is legal in Finland. Anyhow, there are some places where it is illegal for the cars to stop, and some places where it is illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking illegal de facto in these places.
  
 
== Highways ==
 
== Highways ==
Line 97: Line 107:
 
The cars can not stop in crossing areas, and some cars not obeying this rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be fined.
 
The cars can not stop in crossing areas, and some cars not obeying this rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be fined.
  
−
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.
+
Hitching on the motorways and two lane expressways is prohibited. On any other highway you can legally hitch. You can also hitchhike at the motorway on-ramps, and at the motorway [[gas station]]s' areas. Basically, same rules as in countries in Western Europe and in most states of the [[USA]].
−
This is the same with most countries in Europe and most states of USA.
 
  
 
== Culture ==
 
== Culture ==
−
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 it's quite rare among Finns, but of course there are some European backpackers, often heading to [[Lappi]], [[Lapland]].
+
Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and many drivers will tell the hitchhiker(s) they've hitched themselves back in their days. Nowadays this practice is rather rare among Finns, but there are always some, especially in summer time, when local hitchers get inspired by European backpackers heading to [[Lapland]].
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
−
* [http://www.liftari.org Finnish hitchhiker's club] The site is mostly in Finnish but there is an English section in the [http://www.liftari.org/forum forum]
+
* [http://www.liftari.org Finnish hitchhiker's club] - 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 site by a Finn
+
* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/kjokisal/liftaus/ Hitchhiker's guide to Europe] - a hitchhiking site by a Finn
−
* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/ssmoland/peukalo/ Liftausvinkkejä] Hitchhiking tips in Finnish
+
* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/ssmoland/peukalo/ Liftausvinkkejä] - hitchhiking tips in Finnish
  
  
 
[[Category:Finland| ]]
 
[[Category:Finland| ]]
 
[[Category:Northern Europe]]
 
[[Category:Northern Europe]]
 +
 +
[[trash:Finland]]
 +
[[wikipedia:Finland]]
  
 
[[de:Finnland]]
 
[[de:Finnland]]

Revision as of 00:58, 1 December 2008

Flag of Finland Finland
Information
Language: Finnish, Swedish; recognised regional languages: Sami
Capital: Helsinki
Population: 5,301,701
Currency: Euro (€)
Hitchability: Good.png (good)
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots

Finland is a part of the Northern Europe, one of the Nordic countries. 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 which is called "Via Baltica" - it is a road E67 between Helsinki, Finland and Prague, Czech Republic through Baltic States and Poland.

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

Camping is legal almost anywhere in Finland, just stay slightly out of sight and you can even camp next to highways.

Cities

Other areas

Crossing the borders

Apart from the Russian border, Finnish borders exist only on the map, not in reality. Since the dawn of time there has been very a liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian. However, despite the fact that Finland signed the Schengen Agreement there is a random identity and luggage check when you take a ferry from Ahvenanmaa to Stockholm (Sweden).

File:Washing car window in the North of Finland.JPG
Hitchhiker guaka washing away mosquito corpses

From/to Sweden

Ferries to Stockholm go from Helsinki and Turku. The latter is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in Maarianhamina (Ahvenanmaa), or Mariehamn (Åland), as its Swedish-speaking population calls it. The two companies which run ferries between Finland and Sweden are Viking Line and Silja Line. Both of the companies are focused on bringing the customers a cruise-experience, and are bound to be tacky. Viking Line sells cheaper tickets without a cabin, too, which would be rather useless on the daytime trips between Turku and Stockholm anyway. 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 aware, though, that if you take a daytime cruise (which is about half the price), you will arrive in Turku at night. During the autumn, winter and early spring that means no daylight which is no help for hitchhiking. In winter nights, extremely cold temperatures might occur as well.

When on-bord, during warmer time of the year you might go up outside to enjoy the scenery of the archipelagos of Stockholm or Turku.

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 are free Playstation or XBox games at the kids-section to spend the 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 Great cormorants a few hours off Stockholm.

There are Swedish Birka Cruises boats cruising the sea, too.

More info about boats in the region: here (Sweden, Estonia, Germany + lake tourism)

From/to Estonia

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).

Links:

From/to Russia

Note that as of 2006:

  • No walking is permitted on any of existing Finnish-Russian border checkpoints.
  • Vaalimaa–Torfianovka border checkpoint is permitted to cross by cycling.
  • Russian visa can not be issued at the border checkpoint.

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

Vaalimaa–Torfianovka

It is always open. Traffic is high there, and 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 goods they don't have in Russia, and Finns going to the other side to buy alcohol, cigarettes and fuel. On a Finnish side, you can find most of them at the first gas station, just before the customs zone. You can also ask drivers on the parking, and those 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, it was a complete waste of time to hitch a truck over the border to Russia – freight terminal is separate for trucks and the queue there is extremely slow: sometimes you wait for hours, sometimes for days. Same terminal from Russia to Finland, though, seems to be faster.

To get back from Russia to Finland, simply ask drivers at the parking lot by one of the supermarkets around there on the Russian side.

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 Saimaa canal (Russian: Сайменский канал; Finnish: Saimaan kanava).

Next border checkpoint to the north from there is Niirala-Värtsilä, on the road 70 south of Joensuu. The trafic is low, a road goes to Sortavala and then further to St. Petersburg via the south shore of lake Ladoga (with a portion of an unpaved road), or via the north shore to Petrozavodsk.

There are a few more border 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 borders and look for Finnish license plates. 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 an extra load of cigarettes and alcohol - most of the Finnish drivers won't resist that!

Language

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 minority on the west coast of Finland. Anyhow, most of the people speak good English, too, so most of the foreign hitchhikers won't have big language problems in Finland.

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 = Liftata
  • A ride = Kyyti
  • Thank you = Kiitos
  • Where are you driving to? = Minne ajat?

Safety

Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland. 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 is illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking illegal de facto in these places.

Highways

Finnish motorway sign 561.png

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 areas, and some cars not obeying this rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be fined.

Hitching on the motorways and two lane expressways is prohibited. On any other highway you can legally hitch. You can also hitchhike at the motorway on-ramps, and at the motorway gas stations' areas. Basically, same rules as in countries in Western Europe and in most states of the USA.

Culture

Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and many drivers will tell the hitchhiker(s) they've hitched themselves back in their days. Nowadays this practice is rather rare among Finns, but there are always some, especially in summer time, when local hitchers get inspired by European backpackers heading to Lapland.

Links

trash:Finland wikipedia:Finland


Countries of Europe

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