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fiogf49gjkf0d ROAD ==== TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE RIGHT IN FINLAND, WITH OVERTAKING ON THE LEFT. MAIN ROADS ARE SURFACED WITH ASPHALT OR OIL AND SAND. MOST OF THE MAIN ROADS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION ALL YEAR ROUND. WHEN SNOW AND ICE ARE MELTING, LOCAL WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE PUT IN USE. ROAD TOLLS DO NOT EXIST IN FINLAND. VEHICLES MUST USE HEADLIGHTS AT DUSK, IN THE DARK OR IN FOG OR RAIN. SEAT BELTS MUST BE WORN BY ALL PEOPLE IN THE CAR, INCLUDING BACKSEAT PASSENGERS. SPEED LIMITS ARE 50KPH IN TOWNS, 60-120KPH ON THE OPEN ROAD AND 120KPH ON EXPRESSWAYS. IN WINTER STUDDED TYRES ARE NOT COMPULSORY, BUT ARE ALLOWED FROM NOVEMBER THE FIRST TO MARCH THE THIRTY FIRST. WATCH OUT FOR ELK OR DEER IN YOUR PATH.
CAR RENTAL - MOST INTERNATIONAL FIRMS ARE REPRESENTED IN FINLAND. BICYCLE RENTAL - CYCLING IS QUITE POPULAR IN FINLAND AND BIKES MAY BE RENTED AT YOUTH HOSTELS, HOTELS, SPORT SHOPS AND CAMPSITES. THERE ARE MANY PLANNED TOURS, OR TRAILS THAT YOU MAY LIKE TO FOLLOW. TAXIS - TAKSI, AS THEY ARE KNOWN IN FINLAND, HAVE AN ORANGE BORDER AROUND THEIR LICENCE PLATE AND HAVE A YELLOW LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY ARE VACANT. THESE TAKSI'S MAY BE FOUND AT A TAXI STAND OR MAY BE HAILED DOWN IN THE STREET. ALL TAXIS HAVE METERS. FARES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE AT NIGHTS. BUSES - BOTH STREETCARS AND BUSES RUN IN HELSINKI AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES. WHEN VEHICLES HAVE A BLACK E MARKED ON A YELLOW BACKGROUND, THIS MEANS YOU PAY THE DRIVER, IF THERE IS NO E, A MACHINES FOR PUNCHING YOUR TICKET IS INSIDE THE DOOR. A HELSINKI CARD MAY BE INTERESTING FOR TOURISTS AND COVERS ENTRANCE FEES TO MUSEUMS, TRAVEL BY BUS OR STREET CARS, BOATS AND SOME HOTEL DISCOUNTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US. LONG DISTANCE BUSES - BOTH EXPRESS AND REGULAR BUSES TRAVEL THE COUNTRY. THIS IS AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO TRAVEL AND TO SEE THE COUNTRY. ---------------------------------------------------------
RAIL ==== TRAINS TRAVEL THROUGHOUT FINLAND, EXCEPT IN THE FAR NORTH. THESE TRAINS TEND TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE AND CLEAN. RESERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY ON EXPRESS TRAINS AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO RESERVE ON REGULAR TRAINS ALSO. THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF TICKETS, FROM A WEEKLY TO A MONTHLY TICKET. WHEN BUYING THESE TICKETS YOU WILL NEED YOUR PASSPORT. FINNISH TRAINS RUN ON 168 CM. TRACK GAUGE (SAME AS RUSSIA) UNLIKE THE REST OF EUROPE WHICH IS 144 CM. THEREFORE THERE ARE NO THROUGH SERVICES BETWEEN FINLAND AND SWEDEN. TRAINS CONNECT AT TORNIO/HAPARANDA ----------------------------------------------------------
AIR === ABOUT 23 DOMESTIC AIRPORTS ARE LINKED TOGETHER BY A VERY EFFICIENT AIR SYSTEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE BUT QUICK WAY OF TRAVELLING, BUT YOU DO NOT SEE THE COUNTRYSIDE. --------------------------------------------------------- SEA === REGULAR FERRY SERVICES RUN TO MOST TOURIST ISLANDS. ALAND FERRIES LEAVE TURKU AND NAANTALI REGULARLY. MANY OF THE LAKES IN THE FINNISH LAKE DISTRICT HAVE TRIPS ON OLD FASHIONED STEAMERS. THESE STEAMERS RUN FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER. BOTH THE SEA AND LAKES ARE FROZEN IN WINTER, BUT ICEBREAKERS KEEP THE MAIN PORT OPEN. SEVERAL DAILY SERVICES BY SEA TO TALLINN (ESTONIA) TRAVEL TIME IS 3-4 HOURS BY BOAT OR 1.5 BY HYDROFOIL. FARE FIM 200 RETURN, DAY RETURN 95.
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