E8 through Finland and Norway
Photo: Jari Sjölund from Turku, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
E8 is a 1410 km European route through Finland and Norway, from Turku in south-western Finland to Tromsø in the Arctic region of Norway. Along the route you see most of Finland's landscapes, with the exception of larger lakes and deep forests, and typical Norwegian scenery. This guide is mostly for driving the road, but there are some advice for bikers and those using public transport (see Other than by car below).
UnderstandThe route goes along the west coast of Finland, through the mostly flat Ostrobothnia and Western Oulu regions, by the Swedish border along the Torne river and its tributaries in Finnish Lapland, along the border through…
PrepareThe road goes mostly through countryside, but until Muonio in the Torne/Muonionjoki river valley, there are towns and villages not too far apart, including the main cities of the west coast of Finland.
Get inTurku is quite well-connected. The most common option is to take a ferry from Sweden. Air connections are somewhat sparse, but the well connected Helsinki Airport is a 2½-hr drive away.
DriveThe route starts in Turku with Koulukatu in the west part of the centre leading under the railway, to north-west by Naantalin pikatie.
Other than by carThere are coaches along the road, see Matkahuolto for timetables. Checking services between nearby towns may turn up many more connections than searches for longer legs.
Eat and drinkThere are restaurants and cafés in the towns, and at some nice locations elsewhere. Outside towns, your main options are fuel stations, some of which are open around the clock.
SleepHotels and similar accommodation is as a rule available in cities and bigger towns; sometimes but not always in smaller towns.
Stay safeThe road is well-maintained. Through Ostrobothnia, especially between Kristinestad and Vaasa, the road is quite straight, with a risk of losing concentration.
Go nextIn the northern end, you can in addition to Tromsø explore the fjords, islands and mountains of Troms, or travel along the E6 (Norway's main highway) or Hurtigruten (the coastal ferry) east or south.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "E8 through Finland and Norway" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Jari Sjölund from Turku, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons