Emergency numbers
t 112 for all emergency services.
Most towns have a tourist office, some of which will book accommodation for you, though in winter, their hours are much reduced and some don’t open at all. You can pick up the decent map of Finland free from tourist offices.
www.visitfinland.comThe Finnish tourist board site.
www.finland.fiA well-run, informative government information site on Finnish culture and society.
www.sauna.fi Everything you ever wanted to know about saunas but were afraid to ask, from the Finnish Sauna Society.
www.festivals.fi A comprehensive listing of festivals throughout Finland.
www.nationalparks.fi A handy starter for planning your visit to the Finnish outdoors.
Money and banks
Finland’s currency is the euro (€). Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Some banks have exchange desks at transport terminals, and ATMs are widely available. You can also change money at hotels, but the rates are generally poor. Credit cards are widely accepted right across the country.
Opening hours and holidays
Most shops generally open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm. Along with banks, they close on public holidays, when most public transport and museums run to a Sunday schedule. These are: January 1, January 6 (Epiphany), Good Friday and Easter Monday, May 1, Ascension (mid-May), Whitsun (late May), Midsummer (late June), All Saints’ Day (early Nov), December 6 and 24 to 26.
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