Finland Guide
Getting around
Save for the fact that traffic tends to follow a north– south pattern, you'll have few headaches getting around the more populated parts of Finland. The chief form of public transport is the train, backed up, particularly on east– west journeys, by long-distance coaches. For the most part trains and buses integrate well, and you'll only need to plan with care when travelling through sparsely inhabited areas such as the far north and east. Feasible and often affordable variations come in the form of ferries, planes, bikes and even hitching – car rental is strictly for the wealthy.
The complete timetable (Suomen Kulkuneuvot) for train, bus, ferry and air travel within the country is published every four months; it's sold primarily at large bookshops for €30. This is essential for plotting complex routes; for simplified details of the major train services, pick up the Rail Pocket Guide booklet, available at most train stations for around €1 (or downloadable as a PDF for free from 
www.vr.fi ).