11 USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT FINLAND Banks All banks are open Mon-Fri 9:00–16:30 (office hours may vary regionally) and closed on weekends. Foreign currency and travellers’ cheques can also be exchanged at the currency exchange offices at the Helsinki Central Railway Station, open Mon-Fri 8:00–20:00 Sat-Sun 9:00-19:00, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, open daily 5:30–21:00. There are also exchange offices in the largest cities. Currency The Finnish currency unit is the euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents (cent). The coins in use are: 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. The notes are: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. Traveller’s Cheques Traveller’s cheques are accepted at all banks, travel agencies and hotels as well as in some major shops. The Eurocheques are accepted in banks and some shops. International credit cards Most international credit cards (Visa, Eurocard, Access, Mastercard, Diner’s Club, American Express) are accepted in most Finnish hotels, restaurants, car rentals, department stores, gas stations, and many more. Check first at the cash registry. Electrical appliances The electricity current in Finland is 220 volts (230 volts) and 50 Hz. The plugs are two-pin continental sizes. Emergencies Dial 112 for an emergency. Other emergency numbers and instructions can be found in telephone books and directories or by asking your hotel porter. For medical services information see below. Helsinki Card The Helsinki Card is a bonus card for tourists with unlimited travel on Helsinki public transportation (bus, tram, train and metro), free sightseeing (daily during summer, on Sundays during winter), and free entry to more than 50 museums and sights in and around Helsinki, plus a guide book with maps in five languages. The Helsinki Card can be bought at: Helsinki Expert Sales Points in the city centre or from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (Airpro Travel Services 24H) or online (www.helsinkiexpert.com). The price for adults is EUR 39 (24 hrs), EUR 51 (48 hrs), EUR 61 (72 hrs) and for children EUR 17, 20, and 23 respectively. Lost and found In Helsinki lost property is delivered to the Pasila policestation, address Pasilanraitio 13, telephone +358 71 877 3180, open Mon-Fri 8.00–13.00 or the Lost Property Service (löytötavaratoimisto), telephone +358-600-41006 (EUR 1.67/ min + local net charge), address Mäkelänkatu 56, open Mon-Fri 9:00–18:00. Elsewhere in the country missing items are best inquired for at the local police station. Medical services Medicines are sold only at pharmacies (apteekki). Note that the chemists sell only cosmetics. Many pharmacies have long opening hours and the pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96 in Helsinki has 24-hour service, tel. +358-300 20200 (0,4 €/min. + local net charge). All hospitals have doctors on duty around the clock. There is an increasing number of private practices and hospitals, which also provide for most dental care.
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