• Helsinki
• Turku

Helsinki, the capital of Finland is the northernmost national capital on the European continent. The inhabitants of Finland, all 5 million of them, live mainly in and around Helsinki. The remainder of this magical country is very sparsely populated indeed. Finland is a country with great extremes of temperature. Summers in the south and east can see temperatures as high as 30¢ªC but in winter they can plummet below -20¢ªC, particularly in areas such as Finnish Lapland which has the lowest winter temperatures in the country. Finland¡¯s location in northern Europe means that its neighbours are Norway, Russia and Sweden and Swedish and Finnish are its official languages. With over 180,000 lakes and 5,000 rapids, Finland truly is a spectacular country and that chance of seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) makes it that little bit more magical. In Finnish Lapland, in the north, the number of aurora displays can be as high as 200 a year whereas in southern Finland it is usually fewer than 20. The far north of Finland also demonstrates other irregularities. In the summer, the sun doesn¡¯t set for about 73 days, producing ¡®white nights¡¯ and in the winter it can remain below the horizon for up to 50 days. Finland is a low-lying country, mostly forested and interspersed with low hills and thousands of lakes. It is highly industrialised in parts, with the mainstays of the economy being wood and components for the telecommunications industry. It has a culture of growing trees and this makes sleigh rides in the winter that bit more romantic! Finland¡¯s forests form a network of protected areas and are also globally preserved to ensure that the special features and diversity of Finnish nature is conserved for future generations.

While the police in Finland do not give on-the-spot fines, the penalties for driving offences can be extremely high (the minimum fine is 130 euros, and there is no maximum!). Compulsory documents required to drive in Finland are a full driving licence and third-party insurance, while a green card is also recommended. If your stay is for more than a year, then you must obtain a Finnish driving licence. Minimum age for driving is 18 years. All occupants must wear a seat-belt. The vehicle needs to carry a warning triangle, and you are advised to also take a first-aid kit, a spare bulb kit and a fire extinguisher. Motorways are known as ¡°moottoritie¡±, and are not subject to tolls. Speed limits for these roads is 120km/h. The limit for major roads outside towns is 100km/h and for built-up areas 50km/h. All speed limits may be lowered in winter. Headlights must be used at all times, and use of horns is illegal in towns and villages except in dangerous situations. If you are parking in a dimly-lit area, you must display a parking light. Illegally parked vehicles may be towed away. Do NOT drink and drive.