Why You Should See Finland By Train

Finland may be somewhat tucked away in the far north of Europe, but it should still be included on the itinerary of any inter-railer. Trains are a relaxing, easy, and eco-friendly way to get around Finland and explore practically the entire country, and even further afield. Eurail passes and Interrail passes both get you unlimited train travel in Finland. These are some of the top reasons why you should take an inter-railing trip through Finland.

See all the major cities

Every major town and city in Finland, including Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, and Rovaniemi, is connected through the train network, so with railcard in hand you can reach them all and take in the sights. Even some of the smaller towns and villages have train stations, or are easy to reach by other means of transport. Some of the larger, long-distance trains also have car carriers and sleeper cars, so you can continue exploring by car after your train journey.

Amazing landscapes

Great on-board services

Modern Finnish trains are incredibly comfortable and have plenty of services on board to make journeys easier. Depending on the type of train, this could include a restaurant car, sleeper carriages, children’s play areas, quiet carriages, and spaces for pets.

Connect to other countries

It is also easy to connect to other countries on your inter-railing journey through Finland. St Petersburg is only 3.5 hours away from Helsinki by train, and you can also get to Moscow overnight (although you will need to obtain a visa in advance when travelling to Russia). While there aren’t any direct trains from Finland to Norway or Sweden, travelling across the border by bus is free with a Eurail pass. Helsinki-Vantaa airport is also easily reached through a quick transfer to the commuter train.

Delay compensation

Even if a train is delayed or cancelled, perhaps by a pesky moose wandering onto the train tracks, you won’t be left out of pocket. EU law states that if your train is cancelled or held up by longer than an hour, you are entitled to a café voucher and a partial refund on the price of your ticket.

Good for the environment

Planes may be faster and cars can take your further, but neither are good for the environment. Finland is so spread out that a lot of petrol is required to see the country by car, which is expensive in the country. Trains are a better (not to mention cheaper) option for the eco-conscious, since the VR Group, which operates Finland’s railways, now uses green trains on almost all of its routes and is striving to become one of the most environmentally friendly train services in Europe.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.