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LOCAL INFORMATION
Airport taxis
Arrivals:
Transport from the airport to the city is organised by the Airport taxi service. Airport taxis are shared taxis which take 2 to 10 passengers at the same time. The journey takes about 20 minutes and costs €19 per person. The airport taxis need to be ordered in advance. The conference secretary can book an airport taxi for you from the airport to your hotel. If you want to book an airport taxi through the conference secretary, please send an email to: minna.jokinen@ktl.jyu.fi by 15.8.2008, including your name, the date and time of your arrival at Jyväskylä Airport, your flight number, and the name of your hotel. Please send this information even if you included it in the registration form.
It is also possible to take your own taxi from the airport, which costs about €37. However, you are recommended to make an advance reservation for a private taxi. To make your own reservation, either for an airport taxi or for a private taxi, call the taxi service number at +358 100 6900.
Departures:
Airport taxis (shared taxis) from the hotels to the airport must be booked in advance. You can ask your hotel receptionist to do this. If your flight departs in the morning at 6.10 or 7.35 the taxi reservation needs to be made the night before, by 20.30. Otherwise the reservation should be made two hours before the flight departure time. If you wish to use a private taxi you can ask the receptionist to order one, or you can call the taxi service number yourself at +358 100 6900.
Currency, exchange, credit cards
The official currency in Finland is the Euro.
Foreign currency exchange services in Jyväskylä are only available at banks.
Banks (pankki in Finnish) are open from Monday to Friday, between 10 am and 4.30 pm. Most banks (e.g. Nordea, Osuuspankki, Sampo) are situated in the pedestrian street (at the lower end of the city’s main street, Kauppakatu).
There is an extensive network of cash machines, often in locations where there are no other banking services. The cash machines have the sign Otto. Unfortunately there are no cash machines in the campus area itself: the nearest machines are situated in the pedestrian street (part of Kauppakatu) and in the Travel Centre (at the train/bus station, address: Hannikaisenkatu 20).
Most international credit cards (e.g. Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, Diner’s Club, American Express) are accepted in hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, etc.
Drinking, water and alcohol
The tap water in Finland is safe to drink.
Alko is a nationwide network of liquor stores with a virtual monopoly to sell alcohol. The Alko stores are open from Monday to Friday 9 am - 8 pm, and on Saturdays 9 am - 6 pm. Beer and cider (max. strength 4.7%) can also be bought in grocery stores.
Electricity supply
The voltage in Finland is 220 V (230 V), 50 Hz. Round “European style” two-pin plugs and sockets are used. Participants will need adapters and transformers of their own.
Emergencies
Dial 112 for emergency services in Finland.
Internet services
Internet access will be available in the computer room at the conference venue (Agora building).
In addition, wireless Internet access is available to laptop users in the entrance hall. Passwords will be given to you at registration.
Outside the conference venue, Internet access is available in all the conference hotels, at the Tourist Information Centre, at public libraries (reservation recommended), and in the Internet Café Avatar (address: Puistokatu 1 A, www.avatar.fi) which is open from 10 am to 10 pm every day.
Jogging paths
There is a nice route round Lake Jyväsjärvi, and another in the Harju area. (Look at the map: http://kartta.jkl.fi/)
Maps
See http://www.jyvaskyla.fi/lang/english/map or http://kartta.jkl.fi/.
Pharmacies
Medicines are sold at pharmacies (apteekki in Finnish). Many pharmacies have long opening hours, e.g. Yliopiston apteekki (address: Kauppakatu 23) which is open from 8 am to 11 pm.
Note that chemists (kemikaalio) sell only cosmetics.
Post Offices and mail
Post offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, 9 am - 8 pm. Jyväskylä Main Post Office is open Mon - Fri 8 am - 8 pm (address: Vapaudenkatu 61). Stamped mail can be posted in the yellow mailboxes (mainly in the street and freestanding) for collection. Stamps can be bought at e.g. post offices, bookshops, grocery stores, R-kiosks.
Restaurants and bars
The range of restaurants and bars is extensive. Most of them are located in the pedestrian street. See also http://jyvaskylanseutu.fi/travel/restaurants
Shell Veturi, a 24 hour diner and grocery store is located in Hannikaisenkatu 24, next to the Travel Centre (bus/train station).
Shops
In the centre of Jyväskylä, there are plenty of good places to shop. Along the pedestrian street, at the upper end of Kauppakatu, and in Väinönkatu, you can find a variety of shops selling interior design articles and giftware, and also shops selling exclusive lines of clothing. Shops are generally open from 10 am to 6-7 pm on weekdays, and from 10 am to 3-4 pm on Saturdays; department stores and shopping centres are open 9 am - 9 pm on weekdays, and 9 am - 6 pm on Saturdays. Some shops and shopping centres are also open 12 am - 8 pm on Sundays.
Grocery stores are open from at least 9 am - 9 pm on weekdays (some open as early as 7 am) and at least 9 am - 6 pm on Saturdays. Most grocery stores are also open on Sundays, 12 am - 9 pm.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted indoors in any public buildings or other places open to the public, except in designated smoking zones. Smoking is also prohibited on trains, buses and aircraft, schools and other educational institutions, offices and other places of work, including bars and restaurants.
Telephone
Calls from Finland
By direct dialling: first dial the international prefix (00, 990, 994 or 999), second the country code (without the general prefix 0), third the trunk code (without the general prefix 0) and fourth the subscriber's number.
Calls to Finland
To call Finland from abroad: first dial the international prefix for the country you call from, second the country code to Finland (358), third the trunk code (without the general prefix 0), fourth the subscriber's number.
Time
The time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Tipping
The “tipping culture” is almost non-existent in Finland. Service charges are included in hotel room rates, restaurant, bars and taxi prices. Thus tips are not expected, although you can leave small change if you wish.
Tourist information
More information on Jyväskylä and the Jyväskylä region (e.g. activities and events) is available from http://jyvaskylanseutu.fi/travel
Transport
Bus service: In the Jyväskylä region you can travel by local buses using an ordinary ticket (central area 2.80€) or a travel card (valid for 1 day, adults 7€). A card entitles the holder to free travel on local buses. For further information see http://www.jyvaskylanliikenne.fi/
Taxis can be obtained by telephone, tel. +358 100 6900 (0.99 € + LCC) or from taxi ranks. All taxis have an illuminated yellow sign taksi/taxi. When the sign is lit the taxi is available for hire.
Car rental, for further information, see http://jyvaskylanseutu.fi/travel/transportation
Travel information
The train and coach stations and a taxi rank are located in the Travel Centre (address: Hannikaisenkatu 20).
Information on train connections: http://www.vr.fi/heo/eng/index.html
Information on coach connections: http://www.matkahuolto.fi/en/
Weather
Though Finland is a northern country, the weather in August is usually warm (average high 20°C/68°F, average low 12°C/54°F). The days are still quite long in August, even if there is no midnight sun. At the end of August sun sets at 9 pm. For more information on the weather, see http://www.fmi.fi/en/index.html
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