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{{infobox Country|country = of Finland|language = Finnish, Swedish; recognised regional languages: Sami|capital = [[Helsinki]]|pop = 5,301,701|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 NordicCountriescountries. It's neighboring 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 yourway hitchhiking there from Southern Europe is [[Estonia]] as the [[E67|Via Baltica]] ([[E67]]) road connects Finland with [[Prague]] via the Baltic States and [[Poland]].

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

Here would be In the tips how 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 get stop. Finnish drivers will only stop where they feel it is safe, so try to the countrythumb at bus stops. Probably __TOC__*I disagree with most of thepeople coming and leaving Finland by [[thumb]] use above. See the [[Via Balticahttp://hitchwiki.org/en/Talk:Finland Talk-page]]through .--[[EstoniaUser:Astikain|Astikain]]14:40, [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] towards [[Poland]].6 September 2012 (CEST)

==About crossing borders= Regions ===Nothing special about the [[File:Finland european roads.png|thumb|250px|Finnish borders. Apart from the Russian border, they just exist on the mapmotorways (blue) with their European numbers and national roads (red and yellow)]]anyway, [[File:Erga-and not in reality-a-friendly-finnish-man. Since the dawn of time has there beenjpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]]very liberal co[[File:Erga-camping-in-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegianfinland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Find info on camping on [[:nomad:Finland|Nomadwiki]]]]borders.* [[Lapland]]

Finland == Safety ==Hitchhiking is quite safe in the [http://enFinland.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_treaty Schengen treaty]As always, but [[Ahvenanmaa]] where the ferries to[[Stockholm]] stop supposedly isn't, so the border-control can usethat as an excuse to go through common sense is your property. They won't though, butone busload of anti-EU protesters encountered this issue in 2003 whentraveling from Helsinki to an EU summit held in [[Gothenborg]]friend.

==Culture =From/=Hitchhiking used to Sweden===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 around music festivals. Hitching in Finland might be difficult during the [[winter]] time because lack of daylight. The weather differences in Finland seem to effect greatly how well people pick you up. Sunny weather might help you a great deal because it makes people more happy and open-minded.

Ferries Hitchhiking seems to [[Stockholm]] get easier the more North you go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. Thelatter being closer is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stopin [[Maarianhamina]] in [[Ahvenanmaa]], or [[Mariehamn]] in [[Åland]]as the swedish-speaking population there tend to call it. The twocompanies 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 acruise-experience, because towns get smaller and are bound people feel more open to be tackyhelp others. At least Viking Linesells simple tickets without a cabinHowever, which would be rather useless onthe daytime trips between [[Turku]] highways are better in the South and [[Stockholm]] anywaythere is more traffic.

Silja Line == 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 poshier west coast of Finland. Most people speak English too, so most of the two, and thus more expensive. Itforeign hitchhikers won's still tacky, thought have communication problems in Finland.

It isn't to say the archipelagoes of Stockholm or Turku don't make anice scenery. On the ferries there's a constant attempt to lureSome older people to buy as much tax-free booze and other stupid things as muchas allowed by the regulations. It really isn't much more affordablethan , however, might have no English language knowledge at land especially since the regulations for importing from[[Estonia]]all, which they won't tell so you of coursemight as well learn some basic Finnish phrases. SoNote, do bring that with abook. Usually there's free Playstation or XBox games at thekids-section to spend the timeknowledge of Swedish, however, plus usually some other backpackers orother such to chat with. You you can also try to spot a small islandsseverely damaged by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cormorant great cormorants] a few hours off [[Stockholm]]come pretty far (it is useful all over Scandinavia).

Then there====Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers====* Hello = '''Terve'''s the Swedish [http://www.birka.se Birka Cruises], whoseproduct is apparently closer * Hi = '''Moi''' ''or'' '''Hei'''* Hitchhiking = '''Liftaaminen'''* To hitchhike = '''Liftata''' * A ride = '''Kyyti'''* Thank you very much = '''Kiitos paljon'''* Where are you driving to a more proper cruise.? = '''Minne ajat?'''* I don't speak Finnish = '''En puhu suomea'''

==Links =From={{nomadwiki}}* [[:fi:Etusivu|Finnish Hitchwiki]]* IRC Channel [[Liftari @ IRCnet]]* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/liftarit/ Finnish hitchhikers FB group]* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/kjokisal/liftaus/ Hitchhiker's guide to Estonia==Europe] − a hitchhiking site by a Finn* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/ssmoland/peukalo/ Liftausvinkkejä] − hitchhiking tips in Finnish* [http://laavu.org/ List of Laavus] − a site with all the Laavus (hiking shelters) in Finland. [http://laavu.org/lataa.php?paikkakunta=kaikki/ Download] the gpx-file.{{wikipedia-link}}

There is no land-connection between {{Cities Finland and [[Estonia]]. There are}}several daily boats from Helsinki to Tallinn.{{Template:Europe/countries}}{{IsIn|Scandinavia}}

===From/to Norway=== ===From/to Russia=== '''Note'''There is no walking or cycling on any of existing crossing points.Russian visa is not issued on the border   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 first one is always animated, 7/7 and almost 24h/24. 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, cigarette 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. 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.  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 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. ==Where to stay?== ==Money==Finland is a part of the [[EU]] and the currency used is Euro.  ==Language== The language most people in Finland speak is Finnish, which isn't aScandinavian language. The country is officially bilingual, as thereis a large Swedish-speaking minority. Anyhow, most of the people speakat least some English, so most of the international 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=== * 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 senseis your friend. ==Legal matters for hitchhikers== Hitchhiking is legal in Finland. Anyhow, there are some places whereit is illegal for the cars to stop and some places where it's illegalfor pedestarians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking de factoillegal in these places. ==Highways== It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways (called "moottoritie") andsome motorways ("moottoriliikennetie") in Finland. You can recognizethese from the green signs. The cars can not stop in crossing areas, and some cars not obeyingthis rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be fined. Hitching is illegal in Finland on the motorways and two laneexpressways. On any other highway you can legally hitch. On motorwaysyou can also legally use the on-ramps as well as the gas stations.This is the same with most countries in Europe and most states of USA. ==Culture== Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and aconsiderable amount of the rides will tell the hitchkiker(s) they'vehitched themselves back in the day. Nowadays it's quite rare amongFinns, but of course there are some European backpackers, oftenheading to [[Lappi]], [[Lapland]]. ==Places to see== Cities of [[Helsinki]], [[Tampere]], [[Turku]], [[Jyväskylä]],[[Joensuu]], [[Oulu]]. [[Lapland]], [[Lappi]] in is the area spanningnorthern Finland, [[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and also [[Russia]], depending on how youlook at it. ==External 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.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 [[Category:Finland|*]][[Category:Northern Europe]]