Finland. Bus tours to Finland Consent to the processing of personal data

Consent to the processing of personal data

I hereby, being the Customer of tourist services included in the tourism product, and the authorized representative of the persons (tourists) specified in the Application, give consent to the Agent and his authorized representatives to process my data and the data of persons (tourists) contained in the Application: last name, name, patronymic, date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, series, passport number, other passport data indicated in the passport; residence and registration address; home and mobile phone; E-mail address; as well as any other data relating to my identity and the identity of the persons specified in the Application, to the extent necessary for the implementation and provision of tourism services, including those included in the tourism product generated by the Tour Operator, for any action (operation) or set of actions ( operations) performed with my personal data and the data of the persons specified in the Application, including (without limitation) collection, recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, clarification (updating, changing), extraction, use, transfer (distribution, provision, access), depersonalization, blocking, deletion, destruction of personal data, as well as the implementation of any other actions provided for by the current legislation of the Russian Federation, using automation tools, including in information and telecommunication networks, or without the use of such means, if the processing of personal data without the use of such means corresponds to the nature of the actions (operations) performed with personal data using automation tools, that is, it allows, in accordance with a given algorithm, a search for personal data recorded on a tangible medium and contained in file cabinets or other systematized collections of personal data, and/or access to such personal data, as well as the transfer (including cross-border) of this personal data to the Tour Operator and third parties - partners of the Agent and the Tour Operator.

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Geographical position

Finland (Suomi), along with Iceland, is the northernmost state on Earth. Located in northern Europe. It borders on Russia in the south and east, Norway in the north, and Sweden in the west. The length of the land border with Russia is 1269 km. The Gulf of Finland separates southern Finland from Estonia. Finland also includes the Åland Islands - about 6.5 thousand small islands off the southwestern coast of the country.
The length of the country's territory from south to north is 1160 km, from west to east - 540 km.
The area of ​​the country is 338,000 square meters. km. The capital is Helsinki.

Climate

Finland is characterized by cold, snowy winters and fairly warm summers. In summer, the air in the south of the country can warm up to +30 o C, the average temperature is about +18 C. The water in the lakes warms up to +20 o C and higher. The average winter temperature ranges from -3 o C in the south (with frequent thaws) to - 20 o C in the north of the country, but often drops below. The lowest temperatures are observed in Lapland. The average air temperature in Helsinki in July is +17°C, and in February -5.7°C.

Time

The time difference compared to Moscow is 1 hour.

Religion

The country is approximately 77% Lutheran and 1% Orthodox.

Language

There are two official languages ​​in Finland - Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken by 93% of the population, and Swedish by 6%. There are about 1,700 native speakers of the Sami (Lapland) language.

Money

Since 2000, the currency of Finland has been the euro. The best rate is offered by FOREX bank exchange offices. Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diner’s Club, American Express, Access cards are accepted for payment.

Attractions

Finland's most famous landmarks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The old part of the city of Rauma (1442), located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, is famous for its wooden architecture.
Suomenlinna Fortress (Sveaborg) is the main attraction of the capital of Finland. The fortress is located on the islands at the entrance to the Helsinki sea harbour. The time of construction dates back to 1746-1770. This famous fortification was built to strengthen the Russian-Swedish border. Nowadays the fortress houses several museums, a naval academy and a prison.
The ancient church in Petjävesi (1763-1764) is a striking example of traditional Scandinavian church architecture. The elegant structure demonstrates a combination of Renaissance, Gothic and wooden architecture.
The wood processing factory in Werl in the Kouvola region was built in 1882 according to the design of the famous Vyborg architect Eduard Dippel. Next to the factory, a few meters away you can see the oldest rock paintings in Finland. The age of the drawings is about 6000 years.

The Bronze Age necropolis of Sammallahdenmäki is located in the Rauma area. The funerary complex dates back to approximately 1500 BC.
The Struve geodetic arc was created in the 19th century to determine the parameters of the Earth. Named after its creator, Russian astronomer Vasily Struve. The length of the arc is 2820 km. Currently, the arc passes through the territories of the states: Finland (Lapland), Norway, Sweden, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.
The high coast and the Kvarken archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia are a striking example for the study of the geological and tectonic processes of the Earth. Since the Ice Age, the surface level of the “High Bank” has risen by 800m.

For many Russians, Finland is associated with a fairy tale. It is not surprising that tours to Finland are in demand among people of all ages. Most often people come to the northern country in winter to enjoy the New Year holidays. But here you can get maximum pleasure in the summer, admiring the abundance of beauty and incredible landscapes.

It is better to go to Finland in winter for those who want to enjoy the silence, and in summer for lovers of untouched nature. Numerous attractions and ancient cities will add charm to your trip.

When choosing tours to Finland from Moscow in 2020, we must not forget that it is in this country that the real Santa Claus, Joulupukki, lives. Children will have a fabulous experience, and adults will be able to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of fun and

holiday. The unique combination of modern infrastructure and untouched nature guarantees a pleasant experience. Guests of the country will enjoy impeccable service and plenty of entertainment.

Fans of cold weather should definitely go on a sled or motor sleigh safari. Winter holidays in Finland are the ideal time to practice winter sports. Many ski centers will surprise guests with a variety of pistes.

One of the most popular is the Ruka ski resort, equipped with modern equipment and a wide selection of slopes. Infrastructure, service and unique location attract millions of tourists from all over the world. There is a separate park for snowboarding enthusiasts.

It is noteworthy that not far from the resort there is the Yolupukki residence. Therefore, he often visits the resort, delighting children and adults. The season at the Ruka ski center opens in October, and

ends in early summer.

The Nordic country is considered one of the best places in the world for a winter holiday. But Suomi will not disappoint lovers of summer holidays. It should be noted that prices for tours to Finland are much more affordable than to other European countries. In summer there are no deer or Santa Claus here, but there are vacationers

More than 190,000 lakes with unique nature await you. Protected areas, mushrooms and berries, fishing, many festivals - these are just a small part of the benefits that Suomi will delight vacationers in the summer. In this country, sunsets last a long time. Therefore, while relaxing in a cozy cottage, it may seem that time has stopped.

Transport

Direct flights from Moscow are carried out daily by Finnair, Aeroflot, and Siberia airlines. Travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes. In addition, Finnair has regular flights from St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan.
The Lev Tolstoy train departs from Moscow to Helsinki every day. Travel time is 14 hours.
From St. Petersburg, the Finnish train “Allegro” has several departures to Helsinki every day. Travel time is 3.5 hours.
The St.Peter Line cruise ferry runs between St. Petersburg and Helsinki.

Rules for entering the country

To enter the Republic of Finland for tourism purposes, citizens of the Russian Federation must obtain a Schengen visa in advance from the relevant Consular Services. The permitted period of stay of tourists in Finland is determined in accordance with the marks in the visa with which they entered the territory of the Schengen countries, as well as the tourist voucher.
To enter the country, tourists must have with them: a passport with a visa, valid for at least 3 months from the end of the trip, as well as a hotel voucher, air tickets (if entry and exit by air) or confirmation of other transport, medical insurance, proof of financial solvency in the amount of at least 50 euros per day per person. If you enter the country by car, you are also required to present a Green Card (car owner's civil liability insurance policy) at the border.

Useful general information about the Schengen countries:

The Schengen territory includes: the following countries of the European Union (EU): the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Malta.
The Schengen area also includes the following non-EU countries: Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, Liechtenstein.

IMPORTANT! EU countries: Great Britain and Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus are not members of the Schengen Agreement!
I. To enter the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement for tourism purposes, Russian citizens must obtain a Schengen visa in advance from the relevant Consular Services. The permitted period of stay of tourists in a particular Schengen country is determined in accordance with the marks in the visa with which entry into the territory of the Schengen countries was made, as well as the duration of the trip indicated in the voucher (or another document confirming the tourist’s temporary stay in the Schengen zone for a specific address).
In general, to enter the countries of the Schengen Area, tourists must have with them: a passport with a visa, valid for at least 3 months from the date of completion of the trip, as well as a hotel voucher or hotel reservation, air tickets, including return tickets (evidence of otherwise means of transportation: train tickets, bus tickets, car documents), medical insurance, proof of financial solvency (for example, a bank card, travel checks or cash) in an amount corresponding to the purpose and duration of the trip. However, when entering each specific country, requirements different from those indicated may apply (see above)

Attention: The final decision on the possibility of crossing the border is made by a border service officer of a foreign country, depending on a number of factors. The presence of a visa in a tourist’s passport is not a guarantee of entry into the territory of a foreign state, but only a necessary condition. In particular, you should keep in mind the following important circumstances that can be taken into account when making a decision by a border service officer about the possibility of entry of a foreign citizen.
A visa issued by the relevant representative office of one of the Schengen countries gives the right to visit or short-term stay throughout the Schengen territory. With a Schengen visa, you can stay in the Schengen territory for no more than 90 days within six months. For a longer stay, a residence permit is required.
However, this does not mean that you can enter a Schengen country with a visa issued by a random Consular Office. According to the established rules, when traveling to Schengen countries, a visa application must be submitted:
- when visiting one country - to the consular office of that state;
- when visiting several countries - to the consular office of the main state, based on the duration or purpose of stay;
- if such a state cannot be determined - to the consular office of the country whose border will be crossed first.
In other words, when planning a trip (or several trips) to a number of countries belonging to the Schengen Agreement, the applicant should first request a Schengen visa from the Embassy or Consulate of the country of primary residence (the country of primary residence is determined by such factors as the purpose of the trip, the duration of stay in the country, number of departures from the Russian Federation to the specified country, etc.) If the main country of residence is another Schengen country than the one from whose representative office the visa is requested, this is a violation of the rules for entry into Schengen territory.
Thus, when applying for a visa with the right to multiple or single entry at the representative office of a Schengen country, the applicant must do this consciously, taking into account his intended trips abroad.
In general, according to the Schengen rules, visas can be issued for single, double or multiple entries. Multiple entry visas are issued for periods ranging from 6 months to 5 years. In this case, the applicant must provide evidence of the need for frequent or regular travel due to his professional or family status. In addition, valid use of previous visas is taken into account.
Tourists who violate the rules for using a Schengen visa may be subject to punishment: difficulties in obtaining Schengen visas upon further applications to Consular Offices (refusal of a visa, including with quarantine for the next request; visa with a shorter period of stay or number of entries ; issuance of a national visa instead of a Schengen visa and others); denial of entry into a foreign country on an incorrectly used visa.
In connection with the above, when purchasing a combined tour (with a visit to several countries, at least one of which requires preliminary visa from the Consular Services), it is strongly recommended to check with the responsible employee of the Tour Operator "NTK Intourist" about the possibility of submitting documents, visa processing times, and most importantly - representation which country will issue visas and what special requirements will be imposed on documents from the tourist. When arranging group tours, you should also take into account that the terms of assistance from the Tour Operator in obtaining entry visas for tourists in the group may differ from the generally established ones.

II. To enter the Schengen countries, citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan also need to obtain a visa in advance from the relevant Consular Services.

III. Citizens of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia do not require a visa to enter the Schengen countries, because These countries are themselves participants in the Schengen Agreement.
The information provided regarding entry and exit rules was obtained from open and official sources of information on migration policy and visa regime, such as information stands, telephone consultations, answering machines, the own web pages of consular offices or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the relevant country, as well as reservation systems of various air carriers.
Due to the fact that there is a possibility of changes to the rules of entry and exit to various countries, as well as due to the lack of homogeneous and unified sources of information about such changes, as well as about changes in visa requirements of various consulates, the Tour Operator "NTK Intourist" does not guarantee the relevance and reliability of the information provided and warns about the need to clarify it at a given specific point in time in the competent authorities.

Finland is a country in great demand among Russians. Travel here choose:

• fans of ski resorts and outdoor activities,
• single and family lovers of European attractions,
• connoisseurs of wild northern nature.

The country borders the north of Russia, and flying there by plane is a matter of a couple of hours.

Where to go

There is a lot to do in Finland: ski resorts and Scandinavian nature will appeal to lovers of active recreation, sightseeing tours of the country's sights will captivate fans of history and architecture. The most popular among Russian tourists are tours to Finland from Moscow with visits to the following places.

Helsinki. The capital of Finland is a relatively small but very picturesque city that attracts many tourists who want to see the sights. Excursion programs are designed in such a way as to show travelers the main tourist sites in a short time.

Attractions:

• Senate square,
• Botanical Garden of the University of Helsinki,
• Lutheran Cathedral
• Assumption Cathedral

Tampere. This is a picturesque ancient city, the most famous place of which is Pyynikki Park, which is distinguished by a truly unique topography. There is a summer theater with a revolving hall, allowing you to admire the beauty of nature. An excellent choice for connoisseurs of northern landscapes.

Attractions:

• Nyasinneula observation tower,
• town hall,
• Cathedral,
• Näsilinna Palace.

Naantali. A trip to Finland with a visit to these places is an excellent option for family tours. In Moomin Valley, little travelers meet the heroes of fairy tales, and on Pirate Island they test their courage during difficult trials. Parents and children will remember a few days in a fairyland for a long time and leave a pleasant impression.

Attractions:

• Kultaranta park,
• Rymättylä gray stone church,
• Moomin Valley,
• Pirate Island.

Tourists who love wildlife and fishing should visit the many lakes in this country. It’s not for nothing that Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes. Oulujärvi, known for its clearest water and abundance of fish, especially stands out among them. You can catch salmon, pike perch and pike here. To make your trip interesting and eventful, you should buy a tour to Finland from a travel agency. Prices for tours to Finland are among the most affordable among Scandinavian countries. This is another reason for the growing popularity of holidays in these places.

You should know it

• Holidays in Finland require a visa. Usually the registration is handled by a travel agency that creates a tourist package, but you can do it yourself.
• Finns speak excellent English, so if you speak this language, a tourist will feel great. But the Russian language is also known to many Finns, since Russian tourists regularly visit this country. Many sellers in shopping centers and guides in museums will understand and serve Russian tourists, communicating in their native language.
• Most residents move around city streets on bicycles all year round. There are bike racks and bike paths everywhere. You can rent a bike for five euros per day or ten per week. Don't forget to wear a helmet: you may be fined for driving without protection.
• You can drink tap water: it is very clean in Finland.
• Finland is considered the birthplace of Santa Claus: the Santa Claus Village park is located here, which is open even on polar nights.
• Be sure to pay attention to the famous Finnish saunas: they say there are only three times fewer of them in the country than there are people.
• You can save on excursions if you plan a cultural holiday on museum days that are free for visitors.

Finland is so close and so far at the same time. So familiar and so mysterious.

Despite the fact that Finland borders on three Russian regions - the Leningrad region, the Murmansk region and Karelia, this country is significantly different from Russia. You cross the border a little - and it seems that everything looks different... Roads, houses, intersections, gas stations - all this is really different from what we are used to. But it seems that the forest, the fields, the rocks along the road, and the moss in the forest - everything is more European!

It is nature that is considered the main attraction of Finland, and it is for the natural beauty, for the tranquility, for the comfort of Finnish cottages, for fishing on numerous lakes that tourists come to Finland.

But Finland has prepared a lot of interesting things for lovers of excursion routes! Of course, the most popular place among tourists is the capital of Finland Helsinki. Getting to Helsinki is very easy both from St. Petersburg (by train or by excursion bus) and from Moscow (by train from Leningradsky Station). Tours to Finland are especially popular during the holidays: May, June and November. But Russian tourists especially love to go to Finland for the New Year holidays. A magnificently decorated city, Christmas mood, luxurious New Year's banquets in hotels, and after the holidays - Christmas sales - all this awaits tourists when choosing a New Year's tour to Finland.

Helsinki is a beautiful modern European city, with interesting architecture, colorful locals, and unusual sights. "Heart of the City" - of course, Cathedral on Senate Square. Huge, majestic, it impresses at first sight. Its steps are a favorite place among young people and tourists!

Monument to the composer Jean Sibelius- one of the most visited attractions by tourists. It is unusual: it consists of hundreds of pipes of different diameters. It looks unusual and grandiose. You will not see such a sculptural composition anywhere else!

Worth a visit and Suomenlinna fortress, located on the island, and the city zoo, which is also located on the island (ferries run from the pier to both islands). Linnanmäki is a huge amusement park with a Ferris wheel, from which you can see the city perfectly, SeaLife is an interesting oceanarium, where you can see both bright fish from the southern seas and huge aquariums with schools of herring, there is also an aquarium with sharks - and a glass tunnel is made under it.

The Assumption Cathedral, the Eureka popular science museum, the design museum, the amazing church in the rock - all the most interesting and beautiful things in Helsinki are difficult to cover in one, even the most eventful, tour!

Most of Finland's attractions are concentrated in the capital, but this does not mean that the rest of the country's cities are not worthy of visiting! The cities of Finland are both large and small, charming and well-groomed, it is pleasant to walk around them at any time of the year and absorb the feelings of calm and tranquility that reign there.

Holidays in Finland also mean trips to the north of the country, to Lapland, to the homeland of Santa Claus! Children love these tours! And adults also enjoy immersing themselves in a fairy tale, riding reindeer sleighs, building snow igloos, playing snowballs and making wishes!

Visa to Finland necessary for Russians. But the Finnish visa regime for Russians follows a simplified scheme. The easiest way to get a Finnish visa is for residents of the Leningrad region, Karelia and Murmansk region. But for tourists from other regions, a visa to Finland is not a problem, it does not require proof of employment (as for other Schengen visas), the procedure for submitting documents is simple, but the easiest way is to order a visa from a travel company when purchasing a tour - in this case the likelihood of visa refusal is minimal.

For many tourists, a trip to Finland is not only excursions, but also shopping! You can buy anything you want in shops in Finland. Most often they buy children's and adult winter clothes and shoes, environmentally friendly products, eco-friendly household chemicals - goods from Finland are always of good quality, some products have a symbol drawn on them - a key with the flag of Finland, it means that the product is intended for the domestic market and is not exported. Tourists prefer such goods (you can’t buy them in Russia!) first of all. Prices in Finland are not low, but during sales there are very good discounts, and shopping is profitable.

Today I will talk about bus tours to Finland and their specifics. The fact is that this country has long and firmly established itself in the hearts of bus tour lovers, especially those living in the North-West region. And I know at least a few good reasons for this. Firstly, the close location: you can drive to the nearest checkpoint from St. Petersburg in 3-4 hours, and from Vyborg in 40 minutes. Secondly, attractive prices for tours. Thirdly, of course, there is the need to “roll back” (this is a well-established word among travelers that means receiving the required number of stamps from the country that issued the visa) multi-Schengen, which citizens of the territories closest to the Finnish border are still willingly issued for a year, two, or even more. I’ll be honest: I personally mainly travel to Finland for the latter reason, because I often and with pleasure take the opportunity to travel to other European countries on last-minute tickets, for which it is very useful to always have an open visa in your passport.

One-day tours to Finland are the most popular among our compatriots: in a few hours you can easily explore some cute little town plus buy Fairy and fish in border shops. Those traveling for several days usually combine Finland with some other country.

Bus versus bus: tours or transfers

Before choosing a route, you should be concerned about the following difference: there are, in fact, bus tours, when you are taken to various interesting places, and the guide on the bus tells you all sorts of interesting things about them. And there are just regular (regular) buses that will take you to Finland only “there” or “there and back” without any sound and without stopping while waiting for tourists to drink coffee/get high/buy buns. This point needs to be understood: once in my memory, a company was catching up with a LuxExpress regular bus by taxi and then loudly indignant that they were abandoned on the road.

On the other hand, if your main goal is to “skate”, perhaps a regular bus will be a better option for you than a tour. The same LuxExpress brings very modern and comfortable vehicles to Finland with power sockets and personal TVs. It will be more expensive than a one-day tour, but you don’t stop anywhere, aren’t distracted by the guide’s voice, and calmly write your dissertation on soil science during the entire 8-10 hour journey from St. Petersburg.

There is one more detail. If you still choose a tour, try not to get involved with small and dubious companies. The same applies to private taxis and minibuses. The Scandinavia highway (St. Petersburg - Finland), alas, is notorious for its regular traffic accidents. European companies like LuxExpress and Ecolines work according to European standards, which means that drivers there are required to change shifts after a certain number of hours. For many domestic travel agencies, this regime is too expensive. Once, in my memory, a bus (with me inside) rammed a bump stop and went into a ditch due to the driver being tired/sleeping. After which we spent 5 hours in the December night dancing around the stuck transport, waiting for a replacement sent.

Prices for tours to Finland, if we are considering large tourist buses, start from 700 rubles. True, a short-term minibus tour can be found for 500 rubles, although you won’t see much in the country for that money (in fact, only a checkpoint and a couple of shops). Regular buses will be more expensive: 550-900 rubles. one way, but such companies often have seasonal discounts.

Customs subtleties

First: if you are traveling to Finland for just a day, then you do not have the right to bring alcohol there in any quantity.

And second: no matter how many days you travel, if you enter Finland by vehicle (a bus, of course, is one) - you should not have more than two packs of cigarettes with you. The last rule is relatively new, and many people are not aware of it.

Shopping on bus tours

In general, bus tours are not the most convenient way to shop in Finland, but it is no secret that many “travelers” look at them that way. Wherever you go, you will probably be dropped off at at least some shops, most often in Finland these are:

• Prisma,
• Lidl,
• Stockmann.

But the most suitable tours for purchasing are trips to Imatra/Lappeenranta. I refer those who are interested in this topic in detail to the article, and here I will only briefly mention the coveted goods and the places where they can be obtained.

Trout and "Fairy"

The absolute hit is, of course, the fish. It literally starts throwing itself into your bags almost immediately after crossing the border - raw, salted, smoked. In fact, raw fish (that has not undergone heat treatment, that is, salted fish too), like meat in the same form, is prohibited from being imported into the Russian Federation according to customs rules. Yes, and you can officially take no more than 5 kg of smoked/canned food back home. But in fact, customs officers turn a blind eye to this, because almost every second person on the bus strives to smuggle this unfortunate lightly salted salmon or trout from Finland, and, in all honesty, it is a sin to deprive people of such pleasure.

The next most popular are general consumer goods, for which bus tourists raid cheap supermarkets Laplandia and Rajamarket. These are household detergents, coffee, olive oil, thermal underwear. For some reason, it is believed that all these goods in Finland are of much better quality than in Russia. Personally, I didn’t notice anything like that; However, it’s really hard to resist buying Fazer chocolates.

In principle, a visit to just two of the most famous border shops: Laplandia and Disa's Fish allows you to satisfy the passion of domestic tourists for trout and "Fairies". A stop with them is included in the program of the vast majority of bus tours in the directions of Imatra/Lappeenranta/. But a visit to Duty Free is more complicated, buses stop there only if the border has been passed quickly, and there is a little extra time left. But just in case, it’s worth knowing that in 2016 Laplandia at the Svetogorsk checkpoint was closed, only the one at the Brusnichnoe checkpoint remained. "

On a note:

• For those traveling to Kotka/Hamina/Helsinki/Porvoo: at the Torfyanovka checkpoint there is no “Laplandia” and never has been.
• For those who are generally only interested in Laplandia and Disa's Fish: many travel agencies offer the most stripped-down “Finland for 2 hours” tour. In fact, its program only includes crossing the border, stopping at these two shops and returning back.

Day Tours

One-day tours are the highlight of Finland: in fact, you can count on the fingers of one hand the countries where you can go by bus from Russia and return in less than a day. Their prices start from 700 rubles (Imatra, Lappeenranta) and go up to 1500 rubles (Helsinki,), which, of course, directly depends on the mileage.

Imatra and Lappeenranta

The most popular destinations for one-day visa withdrawals may disappoint those who plan to immediately experience the European flair after crossing the border. The truth is that both of these towns are very provincial, quiet and, in general, not very touristy. I combine them under one heading, since going from one to the other is nothing at all, although officially Imatra has its own checkpoint (Svetogorsk/Imatra), and Lappeenranta has its own (Brusnichnoe/Nuijamaa). Often, bus drivers, regardless of the destination city, choose the point where the queue is shorter.

Of this pair, it is smaller in size and much more modest. There are no special architectural, cultural or historical attractions there, with the exception, perhaps, of the water slide on the Saimaa Canal, but its inspection is usually not included in the tour program. Most involve a stop of choice at a water park - this is what they go to Imatra for. You should know that the water park is not located in the town itself, but nearby, so if you stay there, you won’t see anything else.

Lappeenranta is larger and busier than its neighbor: there is even a center where you can stroll, and a small cove where you can watch the boats. If you are interested in purchasing, then your choice is definitely Lappeenranta, because it is here:

• Stockmann,
• Lidl,
• Prisma,
• Rajamarket,
• Shopping center "Gallery" with clothes and other non-grocery goods.

Another specific attraction of Lappeenranta is the huge second-hand store Kirppis, located near the Prisma store: hipsters come here for vintage clothes, housewives for household and garden utensils, young parents for children's things, and everyone else for other various sundries.

Savonlinna and Mikkeli

The town is located approximately in the same direction as Lappeenranta, but further away. If a one-day tour for the above-mentioned couple begins in the morning and ends in the evening, then a one-day trip to Sanvonlinna takes a full day (usually leaving St. Petersburg from the evening of the previous day). And even this is not very helpful: Sanvonlinna or the “land of lakes” is, first of all, nature. It makes sense to go there for several days, equipped with fishing rods/nets/tents/friends.

The tour schedule is similar to the Sanwonlinn tour and differs from it only in the nature of the tourist sites. – a former and current military town with corresponding museums and attractions. It makes sense to visit it if you love military history.

Kotka and Hamina

Since these towns are located nearby, they are often combined into a single tour, also one day. It takes longer to get to them than to Imatra and Lappeenranta, but here you can already admire something: various churches, parks, the estate of the Russian emperor and a marine aquarium (in Kotka).

Moreover, Kotka and Hamina are located on the Helsinki highway, so you will have to go there through another checkpoint - Torfyanovka / Vaalimaa. This border point is considered busier than Brusnichnoe or Svetogorsk.

Helsinki and Porvoo

The minimum duration of a bus tour is one day (departure from St. Petersburg in the evening). In this situation, you have about 6-7 hours left to explore the city, which, in principle, is enough to get a basic idea about it. Tourists are usually given a choice: dropped off in the center or sent to a large shopping complex (formerly Itakeskus) on the outskirts. The second option is hardly worth the effort: lovers of shopping centers, as I already said, should go not to Helsinki, but to Lappeenranta.

The trip to Helsinki usually takes the same amount of time as the Helsinki tour and follows the same schedule. The city is quite large and interesting, with an abundance of museums and small designer shops. This, of course, is also not a destination for mass shopping; it is rather one of the “wander/look/find something exclusive” series.

Tampere

Despite the fact that Tampere is located further than all other “one-day” cities for tours in Finland, most companies manage to somehow manage trips there in the same day (well, a little more). The question is how much do you need it. Tampere is a pretty lake town with museums and even beaches, and a wide variety of water cruise options. Again, it’s good to go here for a few days and explore the surrounding area.

One of the most striking Tamperean attractions is the Särkänniemi amusement park (this is where the Eden water park is located). The problem is that all this beauty is not in the city itself, but underneath it, and a standard one-day bus tour takes about 2 hours to visit the water park alone. Which, of course, is offensively little.

Multi-day tours

Those who are willing to spend several days exploring this unusual country have, of course, a much richer choice. Prices for weekend tours range from 5,000–9,000 rubles; tours lasting 3 days or more cost an average of 11,000 rubles.

Trips to Northern Finland (lakes, recreation centers, fishing, sauna), Jyväskluja (autumn light festival), Loviisa (charm of wooden fishermen's houses). Even (untouched wild nature) can be reached by bus (more precisely, you can get to Turku, and from there by ferry - after all, the islands).

The main catch is that you need to really love Finland in particular in order to select more and more new route options for these small cozy places. To be absolutely honest, after you see the first 2-3, they become very, very similar to each other.

Finland + ...

A separate story is combined tours, in which Finland is the place of border crossing and one or two overnight stays. The prices for such trips can pleasantly please tourists who are greedy for the maximum number of countries visited: for example, a three-day Finland + Sweden tour may well fit within the budget of 8,000 rubles. I also used last-minute offers for 5,000 rubles a couple of times.

However, I have to note that almost always semi-bus tours are disguised as ferry tours: it is understood that tourists travel to dry land, then board a ferry in the Finnish capital and sail further - to Sweden, Estonia or Germany. One of the most common combinations of Helsinki + + Talinn usually looks like this. If you look at Finland on a map, you will understand why: getting to the neighboring country by land from there would be too long. I note that ferries are different, and spending the night on a ferry does not always mean sleeping in a horizontal position on a human bed: I also had to sleep in chairs that are not much different from bus ones.

Reminder for bus tourists

In order to avoid surprises, and in general always, in a good way, you need not only to carefully read the tour program, but also not to be ashamed to bombard the manager of your travel agency with questions, and then, already on the way, continue to bombard the guide with them. Due to traffic conditions and other unfathomable circumstances, the actual program may differ significantly from that stated on the website. Although, in fairness, I note that this usually does not happen with large and reputable companies.