Helsinki
The town of Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden . It has a colourful history, and nowadays Helsinki is the centre of Finland 's cultural and business life. More than one million people, one-fifth of the country's population, live in the Helsinki area. The city is clean and tidy and it is safe to get around the capital. The sea and islands are dominant features of the landscape, and that is why there is always a lovely sea smell in the air all year round!
For more information please visit:
www.hel.fi/tourism
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Getting to Helsinki |
By air : There are several daily flights to Helsinki from the major cities of Europe . Good connections from overseas destinations are also available.
Airport transport : Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is located 19 km (about 30 minutes) of the centre of Helsinki . Public transport, buses and taxis, operate 24 hrs a day. There is a regular airport bus running every 20 minutes between the airport and the city centre (bus stops at railway station).
For further information , see: http://www.helsinki-vantaa.fi/airports |
Airline |
The preferred airline is Scandinavian Airline SAS.
To obtain a special fare from SAS please call your nearest SAS Office and quote your reference number FI0511 |
Getting around in Helsinki |
Trams 7A and 7B and bus 17 bring you to the Helsinki Fair Centre from the city centre ( see timetables at www.hkl.fi/english.html ) Both trams 7A and 7B stop at the main street of Helsinki , Mannerheimintie. One-way ticket bought from the driver is 1,70 €.
Bus 17 stops at front of the main railway station and at Kaisaniemenkatu. One-way ticket bought from the driver is 2,00 €.
Also all local trains which departure from main railway station stop at Pasila station. Helsinki-Vantaa airport lies at 15 km distance from the Fair Centre. |
Congress venue |
The Helsinki Fair Centre is the largest fair and conference venue in Finland . It attracts yearly over a million visitors to trade fairs, conferences, banquets, concerts, training sessions, meetings and other events.
The Fair Centre has 6 exhibition halls and 34 meeting rooms of different sizes. The adjacent Holiday Inn Helsinki hotel and 11 restaurants and cafés complement the services.
Registration and information desk at the congress site
Registration will take place in Helsinki Fair Centre.
The registration desk will be open for delegates accordingly:
Tuesday 26 April 2005 8.00-18.00
Wednesday 27 April 2005 8.00-17.30
Thursday 28 April 2005 8.30-18.00 |
General information |
Badges |
The congress badge, which will be handed out at the registration desk, is the entrance ticket to all sessions. Delegates are also kindly requested to wear the badge at social events and coffee breaks. Only badge holders are admitted to the sessions.
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Banks |
The opening hours are 9.30-16.30 Monday-Friday.
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Check-in/out |
Hotel check-in time is 14.00-24.00. If arriving after 18.00, please notify the TAVI Congress Bureau. Check out time is at 12.00.
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Cheques |
Personal or company cheques will not be accepted at the registration desk nor in shops in Helsinki . Leading banks in Finland cash traveller's cheques.
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Credit cards |
The major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and shops. Visa, Eurocard and MasterCard are accepted at the registration desk.
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Currency |
The monetary unit in Finland is euro (EUR). There are exchange bureaus at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport as well as in the centre of the city. |
Dress |
Informal dress.
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Electricity |
Electricity is 220 volts (50 HZ) and plugs are with the Northern European Standard two round pins. Most hotels provide 100-volt outlets for shavers.
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Insurance |
The registration fee does not include insurance. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the conference and book your travel, you take out an insurance policy of your choice and check the validity of your own insurance.
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Tax-free shopping |
Visitors from the countries outside European Union can reclaim VAT on goods purchased in tax-free shops when leaving the country, either at the airport or at the border. Look for tax-free sign in shops, and remember to ask for the VAT reclaim form at purchase.
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Time difference |
The time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
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Tipping |
All restaurant prices and taxi fares include service charge. Tips are not commonly used, but good service at a restaurant can be rewarded with a tip.
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Visas |
Visas for Finland are not required for the citizens of most countries. If in doubt, consult a Finnish Embassy or your travel agency.
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Weather |
End of April is mostly changeable. The average afternoon temperature is 5-11 °C. It is advisable to bring clothes for cool and rainy weather. The daily weather forecast can be checked from the website of the Finnish Meteorological Institute: www.fmi.fi/en/index.html |
