Changes

|hitch = {{good}}<rating country='fi' />|BW = FI

'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], and 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 from Southern Europe is [[Estonia]]. Most people use this way which is called "as the [[E67|Via Baltica]]" - it is a road ([[E67]] between [[Helsinki]], ) road connects Finland and with [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]] through via the Baltic States and [[Poland]].

Hitchhiking seems pretty easy in the Northern part of Finland. It could be a good idea is illegal to avoid hitchhike directly on motorways (''moottoritie'') and opt for smaller local some two-land expressways roads (''moottoriliikennetie'') in Finland. You can recognize these from the green signs. On these roads once , you get closer to Helsinki can hitch from on- sure, there ramps (which often have bus stops that drivers will be less traffic, however, you will get more space for the stop at) and [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]]. The cars to cannot stopin crossing areas, and avoid a chance of getting stuck on some unlit motorway ramp in the middle of nowhere (consider the early darkness when hitchhiking in autumn/winter!)drivers who disobeyed this rule and picked up hitchhikers have been fined.

Since Finland mostly lacks a motorway network, most of the hitchhiking happens in In the "classical manner"south, standing thumb up on roadsideit is a good idea to avoid motorways and opt for smaller local roads. While doing thisThough there is less traffic, be aware that the there is more room for cars to stop. Finnish drivers are a lot more careful in traffic than drivers elsewhere in Europe. They will only stop if the place where they feel it is super-safe. This means a bus stop or similar. Even if there is a bus-stop-sized widening in the road, it does not help if it is unpaved.. Travellers not taking this into account has caused Finland so try to be known among foreigners as a difficult country to hitchhike, although it isn't actually worse than other western countries if you get around the culture of requiring crazy amounts of safetythumb at bus stops.

*I disagree with most of the above. See the [[Filehttp://hitchwiki.org/en/Talk:ErgaFinland Talk-campingpage].-in-finland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[CampingUser:Astikain|Astikain]] is legal almost anywhere in Finland14:40, just stay slightly out of sight and you can even camp next to [[motorways]].]]6 September 2012 (CEST)

=== Cities Regions ===* [[EspooFile:Finland european roads.png|thumb|250px|Finnish motorways (blue) with their European numbers and national roads (red and yellow)]]* [[HämeenlinnaFile:Erga-and-a-friendly-finnish-man.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Erga and a friendly Finnish driver]]* [[Helsinki]]* File:Erga-camping-in-finland.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Find info on camping on [[Joensuu:nomad:Finland|Nomadwiki]]* [[Jyväskylä]]* [[Kuopio]]* [[Lahti]]* [[Oulu]]* [[Pori]]* [[Seinäjoki]]* [[Tampere]]* [[Turku]] === Other areas ===

== Crossing the borders Safety ==Apart from the Russian border, Finnish borders exist only on the map, not Hitchhiking is quite safe in realityFinland. Since the dawn of time there has been very a liberal co-operation between the FinnishAs always, Swedish and Norwegian. However, despite the fact that Finland signed the [[Schengen Agreement]] there common sense is a random identity and luggage check when you take a ferry from [[Ahvenanmaa]] to [[Stockholm]] (Sweden)your friend.

[[File:Washing car window in the North of Finland.JPG|thumb|240px|Hitchhiker [[User:guaka|guaka]] washing away mosquito corpses]]=== From/to Sweden =Culture ==Ferries Hitchhiking used to Stockholm go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. The latter is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop be popular 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 the 70''Viking Line''] s and [http://www.silja.com 80''Silja Line'']. Both of the companies are focused on bringing the customers a cruise-experiences, and are bound to be tacky. ''Viking Line'' sells cheaper tickets without a cabin, too, which would be rather useless on many drivers will tell 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 hitchhiker(both without a cabins).  they''Silja Line'' is the posher of the two, and thus more expensive. It's still tacky, though. The ''Viking Line'' cruise ships have free tourist maps of Turku at ve hitched themselves back in their information desks on boarddays. Be aware, though, 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. 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-board, 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 but there are always 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 especially in summer 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 Stockholmmusic festivals. There are Swedish [http://www.birka.se ''Birka Cruises''] boats cruising the sea, too. More info about boats Hitching in the region: [http://www.makupalat.fi/Categories.aspx?classID=aef30d12-31ab-407f-89d6-526dd5d637f5 here] (Sweden, Estonia, Germany + lake tourism) === From/to Norway === Its possible to hitch from lapland. Aim for Kilpisjärvi down the E8. You do not go into Sweden. If going South down the E8 its possible to go on to Oulu. There is much less traffic up there so longer rides are more common. Just after Oulu there is a service station that is quite busy. There is no customs stopping, unless there is a new car that has not travelled that way before. Then you may get lifts at the border. There is a lot of tourism there and wilderness huts for free staying are possible to find.  === From/to Estonia ===[[File: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 usually 1-3 hours, costs about 20 euros (might be difficult during the cheapest one, without a cabin). Links: * [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''winter] * [http://www.eckeroline.fi/en/default.aspx ''Eckerö Line'']* [http://www.lindaliini.ee/ ''Linda Line''] === From/to [[Russia]] ==='''Note that as time because lack of 2006:'''* No walking is permitted on any of existing Finnish-Russian border checkpoints.* ''Vaalimaa–Torfianovka'' border checkpoint is permitted to cross by cyclingdaylight.* Russian visa can not be issued at the border checkpoint. The most important border checkpoints weather differences in Finland seem 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 effect greatly how 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, people pick you can find most of them at the first [[petrol station]], just before the customs zoneup. 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 Sunny weather might help 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]] 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.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saimaa_canal Saimaa canal] (Russian: ''Сайменский канал''; Finnish: ''Saimaan kanava''). Next border checkpoint to the north from there is ''Niiralaopen-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]]minded.

There are a few Hitchhiking seems to get easier the more border checkpoints: from [[Imatra]] to [[Svetogorsk]]North you go in Finland, from [[Kuhmo]] because towns get smaller and people feel more open to [[Kostamuksha]], from [[Salla]] towards [[Kandalaksha]]help others. However, the highways are better in the South and from [[Inari]] towards [[Murmansk]]. These days most of these checkpoints work 24/7. Good way to hitch a ride from Russia to Finland there is to hang around some stores near borders and look for Finnish license platesmore traffic. 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!

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 Most people speak good English, too, so most of the foreign hitchhikers won't have big language communication problems in Finland.

====Useful Finnish expressions for hitchhikers:====

* Thank you very much = '''Kiitospaljon'''

 == 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. [[File:Finland european roads.png|thumb|250px|* I don't speak Finnish motorways (blue) with their European numbers and national roads (red and yellow)]] == Motorways ==[[File:Finnish_motorway_sign_561.png|left|60px]]It is illegal to hitchhike on the motorways (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 known to be fined. Hitching on the motorways and two lane expressways is prohibited. On any other motorway you can legally hitch. You can also hitchhike at the motorway on-ramps, and at the motorway [[petrol station]]s' 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) theyEn puhu suomea'''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]].

* [http://bookslaavu.google.comorg/books?id=ZY_XZW9AtYgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=finland Lonely Planet List of Laavus] − Finland eBook a site with all the Laavus (2003hiking shelters) ''preview'']in Finland. [[trashhttp:Finland]//laavu.org/lataa.php?paikkakunta=kaikki/ Download]the gpx-file.[[{{wikipedia:Finland]]-link}}