Tip - how to hide your money.

Thieves know that travellers like to keep their money around their waists, so that is not the place to keep it. Try taking a bandanna and folding it into a triangle, sew up the two open sides, leaving a small gap of about an inch, at one end. Stuff the money you wont be using that day inside then tie it around your neck as a scarf. The money for the day you can simply keep in your pocket. Always spread your money around a bit, so if your wallet is stolen you still have your money that's in your pocket, if that goes you have money in your bag. etc.

Photo by Lastonein

Day 4, From Rovaniemi to Inari

We had a bus to catch to Inari in the North scheduled for 11:45, so the plan was to see the museum in town - Arktikum - It focuses on Arctic areas and Finnish Lapland’s history and modern day life, as well as a multimedia show about the Northern Lights, exhibitions on the Sami culture and the wild life in the area. Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Cost 12Euro for an adult. It is clearly marked on the city map that the hotel reception supplies, and is within walking distance. However, we got up slowly and instead walked up and down the pedestrian street, visited the most Northerly McDonald's, and the town mall where the Lordi restaurant is. If you remember they are a rock band that won the Eurovision a few years back, and they all dress up like some kind of fantasy monster like creatures. The restaurant is decorated accordingly. Opposite the restaurant is a supermarket, and an Aloco - the outlet where you can buy alcohol in Finland. So we stocked up and then went back to the hotel and caught a taxi to the central bus station. This I admit is a flaw in my planning - the bus to Inari leaves from the central bus station which is a walkable distance but not with luggage, so this adds extra cost - Taxi fare 10Euro.
The bus left promptly at 11:45. It is a very comfortable bus with a toilet, and one are at the back with a table and 4 chairs around it, so try and catch this space for your trip. The ride to Inari takes 5 hours, it costs 93Euro per person one way, and makes several stops. There are about 3 stops just for a cigarette and to use the toilet, and then there is a slightly longer stop(30 min) in Ivalo.
Ivalo is one of the options for staying in the North, but once I had seen it I was glad we chose Inari. Ivalo, although small, is about 3 times the size of Inari, which is very small, and the main road is very wide and long, so getting around on foot would have been more challenging. Although if your purpose is just to have a place to lay your head and then go out every day on excursions, Ivalo would be fine. There is also the cute Hotel Kultahippu which has a warm wood paneled, lobby, which features a bar, slot machines and a fireplace.
The bus delivers the post/mail to all the small villages along the way, and the bus trip gives you the opportunity to see the wide open spaces of Finland, with trees, trees, more trees and ice covered lakes and rivers. Extremely beautiful.
We arrived in Inari. Basically a one street village, where everyone is friendly, and they all know each other. The bus drops you off right outside your hotel, whether you stay at the Inari Hotel of the Kultahovi, where we stayed. There is also a camping ground with cabins a little out of town, and a relatively new Bed and Breakfast, Villa Lanca, opposite the Inari Hotel. How to choose where to stay: Inari Hotel is in the "centre" of town, and has an active bar and pub scene on weekends. The B&B is also central, clean and new, but quieter and more personal. The pro of camping is the price, the con is the distance from town, although they offer all the trips and excursions. The Kultahovi, my choice and favorite: small enough to be intimate, a 5 minute walk from the "centre", and if you get a room like ours you will be very satisfied. Ask for a room in the new wing - the river hotel I think they call it, with a sauna in your bathroom and a sliding door leading on to your own porch, which faces the river and forest. They too provide all the trips and excursions, as well as having a classy restaurant, and a small library. There is also a computer you can use paying by the time you use.

Tip - Eating for free in Greece

If you are running low on cash and traveling in Greece, drop in on your local University. The University students in Greece get hot free meals. You do need to show your student card to enter, or, hang around the cafateria until a helpful student offers to get you in!

Tip - Bus Tours

Save your money on those fancy bus tours, take a local bus that does a circular route, and that way you will probably get to see things a little further out of the city centre. It is always nice to see where the people really live, and not just the touristy areas in the centre. For example 3T in Helsinki, and tram 19 in Munich. It is cheaper than a tourist bus and you will be sitting with locals.

Finland, Day 3

You can leave Helsinki on a SAS flight at 12:00 to Rovaniemi and arrive at 13:30. Now as I have only planned one day in Rovaniemi, maximize your time by going directly to the Santa Village by taxi (+/- 12 Euro) which is only 2km from the airport, instead of going all the way into town and then out again to Santa. Once in the Santa village you can leave your luggage at the reception, and also pick up a map of the village there. Entrance is free. An hour is enough time in the village if you are not with kids, and if it is not Christmas time. There are many souvenir shops, a few restaurants, and the attractions which are a snow park, meeting Santa( free, but no self-taken photos, photos sold starting at 30 Euro), send a letter "from"Santa to your kids (6Euro) and a museum. But of course the place is magical just to walk around, as the Christmas carols are softly played over head. Avoid the high seasons here. We were told that around Christmas you can wait 2 hours in line for Santa, when we just went straight in. You can also buy a certificate to signify that you have crossed the Arctic circle. The certificate is 12 Euro from the restaurant and 6Euro from the reception. Then it is on to Roveniemi by bus(2.90Euro). Tell the bus driver the name of your hotel and he will indicate where to get off. Stay at the City Hotel. It is warm, welcoming, reasonably priced and in the middle of town.
Take a walk up the pedestrian street, or just get some rest until the evening. Then you can do one of the evening activities on offer, like sledding, searching for the Northern Lights, or what we did, have a ski lesson.
We used the ski school at the nearby Ounasvaara Ski slops.

Finland, Day 2, part 2

On arriving back in Market square you can begin a walk around the city taking in the major sites. Take a map with all of the sites marked. As you exit the Old Market on your right you will see the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral on to top of a slight hill. Walk to it, up the hill and have a look around. The church has an exquisite interior and is used by Orthodox Christian worshipers. Then down again. At the base of that hill you will see the Garlic restaurant. So keep it in mind if you are looking for an interesting place to eat at later. Continue straight up the rather narrow street opposite the restaurant, and this will bring you to Senate Square at the corner of Unioninkatu and Aleksanterinkatu streets. I maybe wrong but this is the greatest concentration of souvenir shops you will find in Helsinki, so if you have to have a mug, troll, or magnet this is the place to buy it. On the square is also the tourist info, library, Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and a shop for sauna paraphernalia. The oldest stone building in Helsinki is the Sederholm House located on the southeast corner of the square. The main building of the City Museum can be found on the Sofiankatu museum street. Standing centre is the statue of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Take a run up the steps of the Cathedral - great photo op - and poke around in this far let ornate Cathedral. The entrance is on the left hand side of the building, not the side where the steps are. Open Mon-Sun 9-18, during summer 9-24. Leave from the same side entrance you used to go in and go straight down the steps in front of you, not the ones on the square. Now you are walking to the shopping area of the city, and Alexander Street. On this street you can catch a 3T tram to Kauppakorkeakoulut. Get off here and follow the sign to the Rock Church or Temppeliaukio Church at Lutherinkatu 3. This unusual church is built into the granite rock that Helsinki is built on. There is also a touristy shop just by the entrance. Open basically from 10am to 8pm and closed on Tuesdays in winter between 12:45-14:15. Check out the site for the complicated open hours. Now return on 3T ending up back on the Esplanade and have a casual stroll down this attractive street. Round off your day with one of the restaurants in the area. You may enjoy the tractor decorated Zetor, or the Iguana, for a good Pizza. The Iguana also has a bar, and a sauna for rent.

Photo by Jenn

Finland, Day 2, part 1

The busiest day, as I want to fit in all the "must sees" so that I am sure we don't miss anything. Make your way to the Market Square, where the ferry leaves for the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress The ferry-boats leave from between 6am and 2.20am. at a rate of 1 or 2 per hour. There is an additional service boat from Katajanokka on weekdays between 7.25am and 3.25pm. Ferry-boats are part of Helsinki City Transportation system. The normal City Transport tickets are valid on the ferry-boat, so you can use the same ticket you used to get from the airport to town the previous day.Suomenlinna, Viapori-Sveaborg fortress is one of the biggest sea fortresses in the world, unless you are set on knowing every detail and seeing every nook and cranny of the place, I would say it is enough to take a walk from one end of the island to the other. That way you see all the major sites. Don't skip on the submarine, which is a little off the main path and may be open. Because I planned to see this first thing in the morning some of the indoor sites on the island are closed, but the main museum is open. Finish off your visit with coffee in the quaint coffee house near the ferry stop. There are guided walks but they are not really necessary.

Once back in Market Square, as you step off the ferry, look to your left and you will see the Old Food Hall-Hakaniemen kauppahalli. Take a slow stroll around the interesting and flavorsome stalls.

don't miss the chocolate stall, and their delicious mint chocolate- buy by the chunk!

Finland in a winter week - Day 1.

This trip tries to see more than just Helsinki, and to see the incredible Lapland.

Arrive in Helsinki when you exit the International terminal you will see the bus stops. Go to platform 1B and take bus #615. There are other ways to get to town but this is the cheapest and just as easy and quick as the other ways. It takes 30-40 minutes and goes every 20 minutes. You can buy a one way ticket from the driver for 3.40 Euro and this will last you 80 minutes, which means that when you arrive in town you can take a connecting tram/bus/tube using the same ticket. Or you can buy a regional ticket which costs 6 Euro but lasts 24 hours and is good for all the city transport including the ferry to Suomenlinna. This is preferable to the Helsinki card unless you intend to go to a lot of museums.

Once in the city you can find your hotel easily as the bus puts you at the central train station where there are buses and trams to other parts of the city. The Scandic, Holiday Inn, Palace, Glo, Kamp and others are central. We stayed at the Palace but were not too impressed, but later stayed at the Glo and loved it, so I would go straight to the Glo which is walking distance from the station. Having arrived late in the evening we only had time to go out for dinner at the unusual Zetor restaurant which is decorated with tractors and farm paraphernalia. They also have a blackjack table and a dance floor with DJ. Interesting menu and interesting decor. And then to bed.