Finland in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

Ready for the North?Finland on a motorhome promises an unforgettable adventure! Here’s all you need to know to prepare your roadtrip.

Want to immerse yourself in large spaces? Finland is an ideal country to travel on a camper or van. It houses about 40 natural parks! There you will find magical wild landscapes: vast lakes, forest areas with lost view... But Finland will also charm you thanks to its many romantic villages.

To enjoy it freely and to go in the footsteps of the folkloric creatures that populate the country, here is how to prepare Finland for a motorhome!

Ideas of itineraries in Finland by motorhome

Are you looking for ideas of itineraries in Finland by camping-car? Finland is enjoying itself. Indeed, it is above all its atmosphere at the end of the world that will remain engraved in your mind. Its extensive and wild landscapes deserve to be attenuated, in order to gently immerse themselves in the magic of the place. Do you have a week or fifteen days in front of you? It is better to simply visit a part of the country, even to return to it later.

Here are two ten-day route ideas. Connecting the two allows you to discover the main points of interest in the country. What if you have at least a month ahead of you to go to the discovery of Finland on a motorhome!

Discover the South

South Finland is a preserved territory. Its landscapes alternate between the boreal Taiga lush and vast agricultural fields. At the edge of the Baltic, the coast is torn into a multitude of small rocky islands. The dark colors and the vastness of the coastline draw an intense picture, particularly in the country.

But southern Finland also attracts visitors for its cultural wealth. This is where the majority of the population is concentrated, especially in Helsinki, the capital. Cities and villages have a unique charm. The little more in the area? Despite what you might think, the climate is pleasant in the summer!

• Days 1 and 2: discovery ofHelsinki. Open the restaurant door to taste local specialties!
• Day 3: direction the town of Porvoo, east. On the way, stop at the church of Saint-Siegfried in Sipoo;
• Days 4 and 5: join the Repovesi National Park and plan hikes. For the bravest, swimming in the waters of the park lakes would be lucky!
• Day 6: Head to Turku by Helsinki. On the way, do not miss the St. Lawrence Church in Lohja and the pretty Fagervik village;
• Days 7 and 8: discover part of the Finnish archipelago from Turku. In particular the Kasnas, Högsara, Kimito and Oro Islands;
• Day 9: join Rauma;
• Day 10: back to Helsinki.

Discover the North

For those who love to lose in an unaltered and fierce nature, Northern Finland is a true paradise. Here you pass the borders of the polar circle. The climate is harsh, especially in winter! However, the polar night is sometimes illuminated Northern ... These are breathtaking landscapes that await you.

In deep forests and white areas, biodiversity is rich and surprising. Even further north, you enter Finnish Lapland. This is an opportunity to discover the culture of the Sami, the indigenous people of this transnational region.

• First day: Arrival in Rovaniemi. Visit the village of Santa. Don't miss the Arktikum Center dedicated to the arctic world;
• Day 2: go back to Kemi to discover the castle of ice;
• Days 3 and 4: cross the park Pyhä-Luosto. On the programme, in addition to hiking, the visit of the Amethyst mines of Lampivaara:
• Days 5 and 6: reach Urho Kaleva Kekkonen Park, near the Russian border. An ideal place to see Northern ! Stop in the village of the Golden of Tankavaara;
• Day 7: push to Inari to discover Sami culture at Siida Museum;
• Day 8: cross the Lemmenjoki National Park to enjoy its valleys, woods and waterfalls;
• Last day: reach Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park;
• Last one: finish the trip to Kittilä.

Driving in Finland by motorhome: traffic rules to know

The first thing to take into account to drive to Finland in motorhome is the weather . Indeed, the extreme climatic conditions of the country will greatly influence driving. Some secondary roads may be blocked in winter. In two words: be vigilant!

However, Finnish roads are in excellent condition . The traffic is fluid. Note that it may sometimes be difficult to find gas stations in isolated areas. Out of agglomeration, encounters with wild animals (reindeer, momentum, etc.) are not rare.

The speed limit is

• 50 km/h in agglomeration;
• 80 km/h out of agglomeration;
• On the highway, the limit is 120 km/h. However, in winter, it passes 100 km/h.

In any case, for motorhomes, the maximum speed is 80 km/h on the whole road network! Be aware of the many radars!

Here are some traffic rules that differ from France:

• The passing beam headlamps shall be 24 hours a day ;
• On the roundabouts, the Priority ♪ Incoming cars ;
• On several-way roads, the right-hand overtaking is Authorized ;
• He is prohibited de se parking countersense of the way;
• He is prohibited de se park less 5 meters from a pedestrian crossing ;
• ♪ children under 12 to be transported on one seat suitable ;
• ♪ trams are always priorities.

The maximum alcohol rate is the same as in France: 0.5 g/L blood .

Motorcycle tolls in Finland: what price for your motorhome category?

Good news: there is no No tolls Finland! You can circulate freely throughout the territory.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to go to Sweden with your Camping-Car or van for example? It is now easy to rent a motorhome in France. How? The best way is to use interpersonal linking platforms, such as the fact Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. When you return, after squashing Swedish roads, sign the state of the return places and the tour is played!

How and where to rent a motorhome in Finland?

To rent a vehicle in Finland, you must be at least 19 years old and have a B licence for at least 1 year.

It’s better to get there in advance ! It would be a shame not to find anything once on the spot... Here are the main features to consider to choose your vehicle:

• Number of layers ;
• Cuisine ;
• Shower and toilet ;
• Heating / Water heater ;
• Storage space ;
• Electrical autonomy ;
• Water autonomy.

Where to rent a motorhome, a van or a van in Finland? You will find "key-in-hand" solutions on online rental platforms. The prices turn around 100€ a day for two people. Most of the time, starting cities are Helsinki and Rovaniemi.

You can also bet on rental platforms among individuals . The prices will be lower and it may be an opportunity to glean some valuable advice from the owners!

Here are some rental platforms: WorlWideCampers, CoolDrive Nomad, VanCraf Finland, Campanda...

Camping-car areas in Finland: where to park?

The wild campsite is Authorized Finland. When you were told that it was a paradise for the fitted vehicles! Of course, you will need to ensure that your environment is always respected. Do not park too close to the wild places so as not to disturb fauna and flora.

But you will also find service areas for camper on the territory. However, they are not not many and most ferment in winter.

Do you want to find the best spots to enjoy Finland on a motorhome? Download the park4night app, which lists the best places to park around the world. It will also be useful to find points for draining and water recharge.

Finally, don’t hesitate to knock at the door of the Finns if you don’t find room! They are very welcoming and may be able to offer you a place in their garden. Even water advice, which can sometimes be difficult to find.

How to get to Finland on a motorhome?

The most distant country in Europe if we take its north side, Finland is nevertheless beautiful and accessible by camping-car. For the itinerary, it is at the beginning identical to that proposed for the Norway and Sweden : Belgium or Switzerland according to the city of departure, Germany . Then there are no less than four possibilities to access Finland.

One is excluded in advance, from passing through Russia and St. Petersburg. The reason is simple: it is necessary to obtain a visa even for a simple transit in Russia. The other three require at least one ferry.

There is the option for adventurers and those who have time: a long journey to Tallinn in Estonia ! You will then discover the German, Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian roads to finally board Tallinn. From the Estonian capital, it is very easy to reach Helsinki and start your journey through southern Finland. Count about 65€ per vehicle for 2 hours.

Always to start with the south, the option Sweden is interesting and requires the crossing of the expensive bridge Øresund: 54€ for a car ( 50 € online ), 108€ for a camping-car ( 100 € online ). Then, in Stockholm, take the ferry to Turku for a cost per vehicle about 100€ . The crossing lasts 11 hours and is beautiful!

Finally, for those who wish to start with Lapland, the very long journey passes through Norway, via the ferry between Hirtshals in Denmark and Kristiansand, for a cost of about 150€ by vehicle. Then, heading north of Norway, which can take several days with stops and the city of Siebe, last before the border. A long journey but offering breathtaking landscapes!

If the route is quite different depending on the chosen option, the total cost is nonetheless similar: about 300€ to 350€ , tolls and petrol included, from Paris.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Finland?

To enjoy Finland by camping-car, the best time is April to September . The days are longer and the temperatures softer. Beware, between August and November, the sky can be rainy.

However, it is good in winter Magic works the most. Around December, the country is packed with light snow and Northern are less rare. If this option is tempting, think well! The conditions are very rough .

You wish to discover the Lapland ? Here, winter is eternal (and glacial). So you can go to any period of the year.