Travel to Finland by car, route, prices and what you need to know

What you need to know about a trip to Finland by car on your own, what route to take, how much money to take on the road leaving Moscow, what are the prices for gasoline and food, where to stay and what is the best to see from the sights? Consider all the nuances of rest and financial costs that you will encounter when planning a trip.

A trip to Finland enjoys a well-deserved popularity among Russian citizens. But those who have not yet tasted the delights of such leisure should learn deeper the intricacies before leaving in the direction of the border.

How long does it take to get to Finland?

When preparing to travel to Finland by car on your own, you also need to take into account the distance you will have to travel. A trip to the land of forests and lakes from St. Petersburg takes up to 4.5 hours... This is how much time is spent to overcome the 384 km separating the city on the Neva from Helsinki. Experts advise to go on weekdays, in the morning (preferably check out at 5 am) or at night. On weekends, travel is difficult due to the mass of cars driving in the same direction.

Tourists leaving Moscow spend 15 hours... They have to travel 1115 kilometers. Departure from the Russian capital at night is also optimal so as not to encounter traffic jams on the street and on the federal highway. Experienced travelers use a toll road section that passes the Vyshny Volochek side.

The road from Tver to Helsinki will be 919 kilometers. You can cover this distance by car in 13 hours... The path from Tula is 1100 km. Drive through it in 14 hours.

What you need to know about traveling to Finland by car?

What documents to take?

The answer to the question whether you need a visa to cross the border is in the affirmative!

Along with admission to the Schengen states, you will also need:

• Foreign passport, valid for at least 13 weeks after the completion of the declared trip.
• The questionnaire will have to be filled out remotely.
• Insurance policies should be purchased strictly from firms accredited in embassy structures. The validity of the insurance must coincide with the date of submission of the visa application up to the day.

Also, the documents for traveling to Finland by car include:

• permission to drive a car;
• technical certificate;
• green map;
• OSAGO;
• if necessary - a power of attorney for a car, children's foreign passports and veterinary passports for pets.

Gas prices, where is it better to refuel on the road?

The cost of fuel in Finland is high. For 1 liter of Ai 95 gasoline, you will have to pay over one and a half euros. For 1 liter Ai 98 - already 1.64 euros. A liter of diesel fuel, for comparison, costs 1.4 euros. You will not be able to save money by buying gasoline in Russia. Additional money is paid for fuel in excess of the standard 10 liters in a canister. Experienced travelers fill the tank up to half in front of Vyborg, and refuel already in Svetogorsk, at the entrance to the customs crossing.

Which road?

It is recommended to get to the Finnish border from Moscow and other Russian cities along federal highways. There, the quality of coverage and infrastructure makes the trip more comfortable. But after crossing the border, the choice of suitable highways is not limited. Decent asphalt is made everywhere. There are no toll roads in the Scandinavian republic. But we must remember that the execution of the rules is monitored by thousands of video cameras on any highway.

On major roads, it is allowed to accelerate up to 120 kilometers. On simpler highways - up to 90 kilometers. Suburban local roads are allowed to drive at speeds up to 80 km / h. Within the boundaries of any settlement, a limit of 50 km / h is established. In the cold season, the speed limit goes down everywhere.

Driving is allowed only with the dipped beam always on, and each passenger is obliged to wear a seat belt. Children under 135 cm can only ride in the back seat. Finnish traffic regulations prohibit talking on the phone other than using wireless devices. Passing a red traffic light, exceeding the permissible speed, driving while drunk, or even simply not letting pedestrians pass at the crossing, you can either pay a large fine or get arrested. Paid parking spaces are prepared everywhere. There are also free parking lots, but you can use them only for a limited time.

You can't even just carry the antiradar. Moreover, it is forbidden to turn it on. Your navigator must have local driving maps loaded. The fine must be paid along with a 5% commission (the bank charges it). Banking structures work strictly on weekdays. You can not pay the fine ... by losing the right to the next entry visa.

Outside the cities, moose often go out onto the roads. Special signs warn about potential danger. In the spring, you need to drive more carefully, even where there are no such signs. Studying the nuances of a trip to Finland by car in 2021, it is useful to get acquainted with the latest information on specialized forums. The most adequate information is given there. It is advisable to take into account the instructions of the official bodies.

Where is the best place to eat?

The choice of food outlets is huge. Each of them is equipped not only with tables and benches, but also waste bins and toilets. Food products are also sold at gas stations. In order not to be mistaken, you should read the reviews about specific points in advance. It is useful to note that the staff of small roadside cafes located far from the border often do not know any foreign languages.

How to prepare the car and which rubber to choose?

You cannot enter Suomi if the windows are 100% tinted, or films that stop the light flux are used. The throughput of the front glass must be at least ¾. And for side windows the bar is 70%. In winter, no wheel drive without studs is allowed. From the beginning of the calendar spring until the end of the calendar autumn, it is necessary to "shoe" the car according to the summer version. The barrier will be closed in front of cars on one axle of which there are different tires, as well as in front of those on which studded and clean tires are installed at the same time.

Finnish border guards will not fail to look for leaks of fuels and lubricants. They also ask to show the work of headlights and brakes, mud flaps and steering wheel. But traces of corrosion on the case, dents and scratches are not prohibited. Although tourists themselves are unlikely to want to demonstrate such a car in a foreign country. Free passage for vehicles with non-standard tuning. The fuel supply in the canister must not exceed 10 liters.

Penalties

Penalties for drivers are constantly changing, but you should definitely know the approximate cost when planning a vacation:

1. exceeding the speed up to 20 km / h from the recommended speed - 200 €;
2. ignoring traffic lights and driving through a red light - from 70 €;
3. calls during the trip while driving - 100 €;
4. ignoring road signs - up to 110 €;
5. the driver or passenger has not fastened the seat belt - 50 €;
6. a trip by car without a license - up to 130 €.

Crossing the border, what documents are needed?

Let us clarify and concretize the general list of documentary acts given above. The current rules for entering Finland require the presentation of a driver's license in national and international formats. The green card is allowed to be purchased directly in the border zone. But such a step will result in increased costs.

• Border points (open 24 hours a day): Vaalimaa - Torfyanovka, Nuyamaa - Brusnichnoe.

Schedule of other border crossing points:

• Niirala - Vyartsilya (from 7:00 to 21:00),
• Raya-Yooseppi - Lotta (from 8:00 to 22:00)
• Pelkola - Svetogorsk (from 7:00 to 23:00),
• Vartius - Luta (from 8:00 to 22:00),
• Salla (from 7:00 to 21:00).

Optimal route on the map

Where to stay in Finland for a vacation?

When planning a trip to Finland by car from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities, you should focus on the places that experts recommend visiting. It is advisable to start the journey from the national capital. Helsinki is renowned for its beauty and hospitality. The high state status of the city does not prevent it from maintaining a calm atmosphere and living measuredly.

It is recommended to visit the beaches during the summer months. The main part of the sights of the Finnish capital is concentrated in the central districts of the city. Architecture lovers travel west from Helsinki towards the city of Seinäjoki. The journey will take up to 4 hours (distance - 360 kilometers). The town's fame is associated with the complex of buildings designed by Alvar Aalto. On the way there is the village of Iittala. In it, the eponymous enterprise for the production of art glass is noteworthy. There is a similar production in the neighboring village of Nuutajärvi.

The city of Turku is famous for its ancient (more precisely, medieval) sights. The city museum is located in the old fortress. It is recommended to visit the Cathedral, the wooden buildings in the Luostarinmäki area. Tampere is located 180 kilometers north of Helsinki. This city was severely damaged during the Second World War. Now there are concentrated a lot of examples of modern architecture. The espionage museum, which has been actively replenishing with exhibits for 15 years now, is also interesting.

Housing prices in Finland

This is exactly what you need to know about traveling to Finland by car in winter (New Year). Hotels in the central part of Helsinki are very expensive. Comfortable rooms are rented at a price of 16 to 20 thousand rubles per day. Two-star hotels located in the outskirts of the city offer rooms to guests for 4-5 thousand rubles a day. But we must remember that renting such rooms is possible only with advance booking. There are practically no chances to find free places directly upon arrival.

• We recommend booking a hotel in Finland through RoomGuru, the service allows you to significantly save by selecting room prices among all online search engines:

When traveling in Finland, it is recommended to stay in suburban hotels. They manage to settle there for 1000 - 1200 rubles a day. You can rent double rooms in a chalet for 3-5 thousand rubles. Such amounts allow the use of campsites with attractive facilities. Cottage rental prices start at 3000 rubles. In this way, you can feel the maximum closeness to nature. The exact cost of resting in cottages is determined by the distance from the capital, airports and major attractions. It is advisable to compare the offers of different services.

How to save money while traveling? Life hacks:

These tips will help you plan your trip to Iceland at a fraction of the cost:

• We advise you to search for the best prices for hotels using the application from RoomGuru, so you can find any living space even upon arrival at the beach resort, very convenient on a business trip or an unplanned vacation.
• The Sravni service will help you profitably insure your health and life while traveling, the search engine shows results from all major insurance companies, you just have to choose the most profitable option, but it is better not to save on health.
• Flights? We advise you to use Aviasales empirically, he is looking even among low-cost airlines.