{"id":63469,"date":"2020-05-12T14:40:12","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=63469"},"modified":"2021-06-17T16:06:27","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T15:06:27","slug":"helsinki-the-five-minute-spare-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/helsinki-the-five-minute-spare-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Helsinki: The Five Minute Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Helsinki<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Of all major Scandinavian cities, Helsinki is arguably the least well-known and celebrated. While the likes of Stockholm and Copenhagen<\/a> have entered the public consciousness as fabulous locales for a city break, the Finnish capital remains an enigma to many.<\/p>\n

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Thanks to glorious architecture and an ever-evolving social scene, this is likely to change. Helsinki is a quirky jewel in the Nordic crown, often referred as to, \u201cthe Daughter of the Baltic.\u201d It\u2019s arguably the ultimate destination for combining much-needed R&R with new travel experiences.<\/p>\n

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Before You Fly<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning a trip to Helsinki, you\u2019ll need to make a checklist of your requirements.<\/p>\n

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Visas and Entry Restrictions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the time of writing, UK citizens still enjoy freedom of movement in Helsinki. Finland is part of the EU, so you can cross the country\u2019s borders without the need for a Visa, and without restriction as to how long you can stay.<\/p>\n

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If your passport was issued elsewhere, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa before you can enter Finland. Take a look<\/a> to see if this applies your country of citizenship. If you can\u2019t find your nationality on the list, it\u2019s worth double-checking on any travel restrictions with your country\u2019s Finnish embassy.<\/p>\n

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A Schengen visa allows unrestricted movement within 26 European countries that make up the Schengen Area. This territory includes all the Nordic nations, in addition to other popular destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal and Germany.<\/p>\n

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The rules and restrictions of a Schengen via follow the same pattern as most similar documents. You\u2019ll be free to remain in the country for up to 89 days, on the proviso that you remain a tourist. That means no applying for permanent work or looking to take out a long-term residency agreement. If you want to exceed this time in Helsinki, you\u2019ll need a residency permit.<\/p>\n

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Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Finland\u2019s publicly funded healthcare system is the envy of many worldwide authorities. Finnish citizens are entitled to, \u201cfree\u201d treatment as the running costs of medical treatment are extracted from taxes, similar to our own NHS.<\/p>\n

As a visitor to Finland, you will be expected to pay for any treatment. Thankfully, the costs are considered reasonable and the service exemplary. Provided you have an appropriate health insurance policy, you can relax in the event of becoming unwell while in Helsinki.\u00a0 Taking out a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before travelling with provide further peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Getting to Helsinki<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Helsinki Airport is the biggest in Finland, and it\u2019s conveniently located a little over 10 miles from the city centre. The flight will typically take in the region of three hours.<\/p>\n

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Airlines flying directly into Helsinki from the UK include:<\/p>\n

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