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You are very welcome to Finland and Helsinki! From these pages you can find answers to frequently asked questions related to traveling in Finland, as well as links to additional information sources.
A good way to get to know Finland, the country of thousands of lakes, midnight sun, and technology is to visit Virtual Finland, which provides general information about the country. You can even learn a bit Finnish, while browsing their web pages. In general, the majority of the population speaks fluent English (some also Swedish and German), so you don't need to learn the whole Finnish dictionary. The official language of the conference is English.
All international and domestic flights land at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, which is located in Vantaa, 20 kilometers to the north of the central Helsinki.
Taxis to the center cost 30-40€. If you don't want to use taxi, then you can take either Finnair city bus (€6.20, every 20 min) or regional bus line 615 (€4.50, every 15 min), about 40 min to the Central Railway Station in the heart of Helsinki. The regional bus 615 also stops at Hakaniemi, which is the nearest bus stop to the conference venue. The price of the regional bus includes onward transfers to tram, bus, metro, etc.
Information about the public transportation and ticket prices in Helsinki area is provided by HSL. The journey planner is a very handy tool when you need to check what bus, tram or train line you should take.
Taxi is also an option, all taxi drivers are honest and will not drive around randomly to earn higher fare. Taxis take credit cards and tipping is not required.
The time in Finland is GMT +2. The current time in Finland can be found at World Time Server.
The currency of Finland is Euro (EUR, €). You can use for example Yahoo's Currency Converter to check out the exchange rates. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants, and hotels. Cash can be withdrawn with credit cards from Otto ATM machines. You can also change Euros at Forex.
In Finland, VAT (24 %) is included in all prices. In restaurants, tipping is not expected. You may, however, tip for extraordinarily good service.
Please check well in advance whether you need a visa to visit Finland. If you would want to visit Russia (St. Petersburg is relatively close) during your trip, arrange your visa already in your home country by contacting the local Russian Embassy.
There are no vaccination requirements for any international travelers.
Electrical socket type: 50 Hz, 230 V (the same as in the continental EU countries). Additional information about electrical and phone plugs and adapters as well as mobile phones can be found at www.kropla.com.
Helsinki and the surrounding cities Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen form the capital area of Finland with about 1.2 million inhabitants. Helsinki forms the heart of trade, culture, and science in Finland. The head offices of the most prominent Finnish companies are located in Helsinki, as well as eight of the 20 universities in Finland. The most well-known museums and sights in Finland can be found in the Helsinki area. The center of Helsinki offers the best possibilities for shopping: large department stores and small boutiques are within walking distance.
Information about sights in Helsinki is available at helsinki.fi pages. Espoo Travel web pages offer information about what to do and see in Espoo.
Helsinki Festival is the largest arts festival in Finland, organised annually in late summer. The festival's aim is to make art accessible for all.
In 2013, the Helsinki Festival is arranged from August 16 to September 1. During the conference Helsinki will be alive. The Night of the Arts is arranged on the Thu 22nd of August 2013 and Art Goes Kapakka is running during the whole conference.
For more info and full program visit: www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi/en/
