Changes

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

|currency = 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, called as the [[E67|Via Baltica]] ([[E67]]) road connects Finland with [[Prague]] via the Baltic States and [[Poland]].

=== 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]]* [[Lappi]]* [[Helsinki]]* [[Oulu]]* [[Tamperepetrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]]. The cars cannot stop in crossing areas, [[Turku]]and some drivers who disobeyed this rule and picked up hitchhikers have been fined.

== Crossing Borders ==Nothing special about In the Finnish borderssouth, it is a good idea to avoid motorways and opt for smaller local roads. Apart from the Russian borderThough there is less traffic, there is more room for cars to stop. Finnish drivers will only stop where they exist only on the mapfeel it is safe, not in realityso try to thumb at bus stops. Since the dawn __TOC__*I disagree with most of time has there been very liberal co-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian bordersabove. Finland signed See the [[Schengen Agreementhttp://hitchwiki.org/en/Talk:Finland Talk-page]], but .--[[AhvenanmaaUser:Astikain|Astikain]] where the ferries to [[Stockholm]] stop supposedly isn't14:40, so the border-control can use that as an excuse to go through your property.6 September 2012 (CEST)

=== From/to Sweden Regions ===Ferries to [[StockholmFile:Finland european roads.png|thumb|250px|Finnish motorways (blue) with their European numbers and national roads (red and yellow)]] go from [[Helsinki]] File:Erga-and [[Turku]]-a-friendly-finnish-man. The latter being closer is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in [[Maarianhaminajpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]] in [[Ahvenanmaa]], or [[Mariehamn]] File:Erga-camping-in [[Åland]] as the swedish-speaking population there tend to call itfinland. The two companies running ferries between Finland and Sweden are jpg|thumb|250px|right|Find info on camping on [[http://Www.vikingline.fi Viking Linenomad:Finland|Nomadwiki] 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 * [[StockholmLapland]] anyway.

Silja Line == Safety ==Hitchhiking is the poshier of the two, and thus more expensivequite safe in Finland. It's still tackyAs always, thoughcommon sense is your friend.

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]]. Then there's the Swedish [http://www.birka.se Birka Cruises], whose product is apparently closer to a more proper cruise. === From/to Estonia =Culture ==There is no land-connection between Finland and [[Estonia]]. There are several daily boats from Helsinki Hitchhiking used to Tallinn. === From/to Norway === === From/to [[Russia]] ==='''Note'''* There is no walking on any of existing crossing points.* Crossing ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border post via cycling was permitted at least be popular in 2006 and, most probably, still permitted* 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 70''Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoe'' near [[Lappeenranta]]. The first one is always animated, open 7 days a week s and 24 hours a day. There80'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 many drivers on will tell the parking and those queueing to the terminal. A ride to [[Torfianovka]] is enough – there'hitchhiker(s lots of transport going to [[Vyborg]] and [[St. Petersburg]] from there, that doesn) they't necessarily cross the border to the Finnish sideve hitched themselves back in their days. No use trying to get into Russia with trucks – freight terminal Nowadays this practice is separaterather rare among Finns, and sometimes you wait hoursbut there are always some, sometimes daysespecially in summer time around music festivals. Russia–Finland seems to Hitching in Finland might be faster. To get back from difficult during the [[Russiawinter]] to time because lack of daylight. The weather differences in Finland the best way is seem to ask on the parking of one of the supermarkets aroundeffect greatly how well people pick you up. Sunny weather might help you a great deal because it makes people more happy and open-minded.

The other one is on Hitchhiking seems to get easier the road '''13''' going south from [[Lappeenranta]] more North you go in Finland, because towns get smaller and bypassing the village of Niirala on the north. There is less traffic here, but the route is people feel 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]]open to help others. The trafic is low, from there a road goes to [[Sortavala]]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 = Moi* Hitchhiking = Liftaaminen* To Hitchhike = Liftata * A Ride = Kyyti* Thank You = Kiitos* Where are Some older people, however, might have no English language knowledge at all, so you driving to? = Minne ajat?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).

== Safety ==Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland indeed. As always, common sense is your friend. Useful Finnish expressions 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* Hello = '''Terve'''s illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking de facto illegal in these places.* Hi = '''Moi''' ''or'' '''Hei'''* Hitchhiking ='''Liftaaminen'''* To hitchhike = Highways '''Liftata''' * A ride ='''Kyyti'''* Thank you very much ='''Kiitos paljon'''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 * Where are know you driving 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.This is the same with most countries in Europe and most states of USA.? = '''Minne ajat?'''* I don't speak Finnish == 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 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/liftarit/forum forumFinnish 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* [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}}