Currency of Finland - EUR.

Banks are open from Monday to Friday. Opening hours are usually from 9:15 to 16:15. The exchange rate is shown on the scoreboard. It is most profitable to change the currency in banks, the least profitable - in hotels. The currency can also be changed at some post offices (Postipankki), at the airport, seaports, on trains Moscow-Helsinki (Leo Tolstoy) and St. Petersburg-Helsinki (Repin and Sibelius).

Withdraw money from a bank card it is possible in banks or through automatic machines. Almost everywhere, even in some taxis, in Finland, Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, Diner's Club, American Express, Access are accepted. With the help of a bank card, you can pay for medical care in most hospitals in Finland, buy medicines in pharmacies (apteekki). However, it is recommended to purchase medical insurance before the trip, including the evacuation of the patient to Russia, and paying for medical services, keep checks and documents.

Russian tourists can make purchases with receipt of personalized Tax Free checks, that is, purchases with 10-16% VAT refund when leaving Finland . Tax Free Checks are issued only in the shops of the Tax Free Shopping system, which customers are informed by a special sign . The minimum amount of purchases for obtaining such a check in the store is 40 EUR . To receive a Tax Free check, present the seller his pass ort, and after registration, attach the usual cash register check to the Tax Free check and save both documents . Check Tax Free for unpaid purchases made in Finland is valid for three months .

VAT refund is made:

• at the ticket offices of the Duty Free shops (Finnair and Stockmann) of the international airport in Helsinki - put the stamp on the Tax Free check before putting the purchase in luggage and after the passport control make a refund of money
• on the roads in the settlements of Torfyanovka (customs building), Brusnichnoe customs and shop Raja-Kaapa), Niirala (Itahuolinta office), Warth (Raja-Kontti cafe), Raioyo-seppi (Tax Free office on the Russian side),
• in the trains on the Kouvola-Vainikkala freeway by Tax Free employee - prepare a passport, purchases and a check Tax Free in advance,
• in the seaport in the building of the port terminal - if it is closed, put a stamp of the Finnish customs on the check, and the amount will be returned to Russia
• at VTB24 banks in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Vladivostok
• at any Finnish return point during the next trips to Finland.

From the end of 2009, tourists who frequently visit Finland and make purchases Tax Free, to They were able to issue personalized cards that would allow them to avoid queues at GlobalRefund points with VAT refunds.

Natalia Dorovskaya