Getting There
Air
Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL)
+358 9 682 701
http://www.helsinki-vantaa.fi
HEL is located 19 kilometers (11 miles) north of the town center. Airlines serving Helsinki-Vantaa include:
Aer Lingus (+1 800 474 7424 / http://www.aerlingus.com)
Air Canada (+1 888 247 2267 / http://www.aircanada.ca)
American Airlines (+1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com)
Blue1 (+358 20 585 6000 / http://www.blue1.com)
British Airways (+1 800 217 9297 / http://www.ba.com)
Finnair (+1 800 950 5000 / http://www.finnair.com)
KLM (+1800 447 4747 / http://www.klm.com)
Lufthansa (+1 800 803 5838 / http://cms.lufthansa.com)
Northwest Airlines (+1 800 447 4747 / http://www.nwa.com)
SAS (+1 800 221 2350 / http://www.scandinavian.net)
Sterling.dk Airline (+457 033 3370 / http://www.sterlingticket.com)
United Airlines (+1 800 864 8331 / http://www.ual.com)
From the Airport
Car Rental:
Car rental desks are located in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall. Onsite companies are:
Avis (+1 800 230 4898 / http://www.avis.com)
Budget (+1 800 527 0700/http://www.budget.com)
Europcar (+1 877 940 6900 / http://www.europcar.com)
Hertz (+1 800 654 3001 / http://www.hertz.com)
Taxi:
A trip to the center of town takes about 30 minutes and the fare will set you back EUR25.
Airport Taxi Service (+358 9 106 464 / http://www.airporttaxi.fi)
Taksi Helsinki (358 9 100 0700 / http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/)
Taksikuljetus (358 9 350 5070 / http://www.taksikuljetus.fi/)
Fillaritaxi (358 9 40 5539 678 / http://www.fillaritaxi.fi/)
The Finnish Taxi Owners Federation (http://www.taksiliitto.fi / 358 9 2530 4200)
Public Bus:
Some 11 public bus routes (+0100 111/ http://www.ytv.fi) network the airport with a web of city locations. Fares start at EUR2 and buses depart every 10 to 30 minutes. Finnair City Bus (+358 9 818 503/ http://www.finnair.com/filecontent/com/citybus_com.txt) stops at both terminals. Service is every 15-30 minutes and costs EUR4.90. Matkahulto (+358 200 04000 / http://www.matkahuolto.fi) has frequent coach service to points around the region.
Getting Around
Car
With a superb public transit system and historic town center that makes walking a pleasure, dealing with a car is probably the last thing you want to do unless you intend on exploring nearby cities or the countryside. Traffic is not nearly as bad as it is in most major European metropolises due mostly to a well thought out series of ring roads that encircle the city and slowly siphon cars to their destination without mass bottlenecks. But once you get off the ring road and start looking to ditch the car you deal with a zone parking system that is rather expensive.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available at various ranks around town (especially outside the train station), and can be hailed from the street or dispatched by calling Helsinki Taxi Centre (+358 9 700 700).
Public Transportation
Helsingin Kaupungin Liikennelaito +358 9 310 1071 http://www.hel.fi/ Helsinki's public transport consists of buses, night buses, ferries, a metro and trams operating from around 5:45a to 11:30p/mid daily (excluding night buses, which travel all night long). The metro stretches from the Railway Station (Rautatientori) through the city and to the eastern districts of Mellunmä and Vuosaari. It expands to the west only a mere two stations to Ruoholahti. Trams are abundant, but tourists will especially want to hop aboard the 3T sightseeing streetcar, which passes by the area's major attractions. Ferries sail frequently to the islands of Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari. A single ticket starts at EUR1.70 and is good for one hour on any form or multiple forms of transport. Multi-ticket packages and multi-day passes are available.
Train
Valtion Rautatiet +358 3072 3703 http://www.vr.fi Finland's national rail company spans the country and has three daily jaunts to Russia from the old and stylish Railway Square (Rautatientori), which opens up on the south side to the always bustling Kaivokatu.
Boat
Port of Helsinki +358 9 173 331 http://www.hel.fi
Helsinki utilizes three harbors (South, West, and North) and six passenger terminals for ferry and cruise ship travel on the open seas of the Baltic. A fleet of companies provide daily highlight reels for the memory bank with journeys between Helsinki and such destinations as Stockholm (Sweden), Tallinn (Estonia), Travem (Germany), Riga (Latvia) and Rostock (Germany). The competition keeps the fares way down and makes hobnobbing by boat one of the better traveling options. Businesses include: Silja Line (+358 9 1804 402 / http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/) Viking Line (+358 9 12 351 / http://www.vikingline.fi) Nordic Jet Line (+358 9 681 770 / http://www-eng.njl.fi) Tallink (+358 9 228 381 / http://www.tallink.com/) Eckerone (http://www.eckeroline.fi/en) Finnlines (+358 9 2510 200 / http://www.ferrycenter.fi)
Bike
Biking around town is popular with locals and rather easy due to the flat terrain.
By Public Transportation
Discount Passes -- Visitors to Helsinki can purchase the Helsinki Card, which offers unlimited travel on the city's public buses, trams, subway, and ferries; a free guided sightseeing tour by bus (conducted daily, year-round); free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in Helsinki; and free ferryboat access and entrance to the Suomenlinna Fortress. It also includes discounts on access to the airport via the Finnair airport bus transfer and discounts at selected restaurants and shops. The Helsinki Card is available for 1-, 2-, or 3-day periods. The price of the card for adults is 30€ ($48) for 1 day, 40€ ($64) for 2 days, and 50€ ($80) for 3 days. A card for children (age 7-16) costs 11€ ($18) for 1 day, 14€ ($22) for 2 days, and 17€ ($27) for 3 days. The cards can be bought at approximately 50 sales points in the Helsinki area, including the Helsinki City Tourist Office, the Hotel Booking Center, travel agencies, and hotels. For further information, check with any Finnish Tourist Board worldwide or the Helsinki City Tourist Office, Pohjoisesplanadi 19 (tel. 09/3101-3300; www.helsinkicard.fi).
You can also buy a Tourist Ticket for travel within Helsinki over a 1-, 3-, or 5-day period. This ticket lets you travel as much as you like within the city limits on all forms of public transportation except regional buses to far-flung outlying townships that include Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa. A 1-day ticket costs 6€ ($9.60) for adults, 3€ ($4.80) for children 7 to 16; a 3-day ticket costs 12€ ($19) for adults, 6€ ($9.60) for children 7 to 16; and a 5-day ticket costs 18€ ($29) for adults, 9€ ($14) for children 7 to 16. Children 6 and under travel free. Tickets can be purchased at many places throughout Helsinki, including the Helsinki City Tourist Office and transportation service depots, such as the Railway Square Metro Station, open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 6pm and Friday 7:30am to 4pm.
By Metro/Bus/Train -- The City Transport Office is at the Rautatientori metro station (tel. 09/472-24-54), open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 7pm and Friday from 7:30am to 5pm. The transportation system operates daily from 5:30am to 1:30am. A single ticket, valid for rides on any city bus or tram, costs 2.20€ ($3.50) for adults, 1.10€ ($1.80) for children 3 to 15, and free for 2 and under. Transfers are allowable within 1 hour of your initial boarding, and the penalty for persons caught riding without a valid ticket is around 70€ ($112).
By Ferry -- Ferries depart from the eastern end of Eteläesplanadi (no terminal) heading for the offshore islands of Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari (Zoo).
By Taxi
You can find taxis at taxi stands or hail them on the street. All taxis have an illuminated yellow sign: TAKSI/TAXI. The basic fare costs 6€ ($9.60) and rises on a per-kilometer basis, as indicated on the meter. Surcharges are imposed in the evening (6-10pm) and on Saturday after 2pm. There's also a surcharge at night from 10pm to 6am and on Sunday.
A taxi from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the center of Helsinki costs 30€ to 35€ ($39-$46), and the ride generally takes 30 to 40 minutes. Call tel. 09/251-5330. An airport taxi shuttle service is available for individual travelers to any point in the greater Helsinki area, costing anywhere from 48€ to 58€ ($77-$93). The van is shared by a maximum of eight passengers. Call tel. 09/251-5300.
By Car
Driving around Helsinki by car is not recommended because parking is limited. Either walk or take public transportation. However, touring the environs by car is ideal.
Car Rentals -- The major car-rental companies maintain offices at the Helsinki airport (where airport surcharges apply to car pickups) and in the center of town. Most new visitors prefer to take a taxi to their hotel and then rent a car after becoming oriented. Try Avis Rent-a-Car, Hietanienenktu 6 (tel. 09/44-11-55), Budget Rent-a-Car, Malminkatu 24 (tel. 09/686-65-00), or Hertz, Mannerheimintie 44 (tel. 0800/11-22-33).
Parking -- Helsinki has several multistory parking garages, including two centrally located facilities that almost always have an available space: City-Paikoitus, Keskuskatu (no numbered address; tel. 09/686-9680), and Parking Eliel, adjacent to the railway station (tel. 09/686-9680).
By Bicycle
You can rent a bicycle (and simultaneously contribute to the ecological health of the environment) by contacting Greenbike, Bulevardi 32, entrance via the Albertinkatu (tel. 050/404-0900), at rates that range from 11€ to 15€ ($18-$24) per day. A worthy competitor, charging roughly the same rates, are the bike rental facilities within the Nordic Fitness Sports Park, Mäntymäentie 1 (tel. 09/4776-9760). With the rentals comes a booklet, issued by the Helsinki Tourist Office, showing three distinctly different routes through and around the city. These routes include the orange (city center), the blue (seafront), and the green (city parks) routes, ranging in length from 17km to 37km (11-23 miles) and that require between 2 1/2 and 4 12 hours each, respectively. The Helsinki Tourist office can also put you in contact with reputable tour operators who specialize in 2-night/3-day packages that focus exclusively on bicycle tours through the vast terrains of rural Finland.
By Public Transportation
Discount Passes -- Visitors to Helsinki can purchase the Helsinki Card, which offers unlimited travel on the city's public buses, trams, subway, and ferries; a free guided sightseeing tour by bus (conducted daily, year-round); free entry to about 50 museums and other sights in Helsinki; and free ferryboat access and entrance to the Suomenlinna Fortress. It also includes discounts on access to the airport via the Finnair airport bus transfer and discounts at selected restaurants and shops. The Helsinki Card is available for 1-, 2-, or 3-day periods. The price of the card for adults is 30€ ($48) for 1 day, 40€ ($64) for 2 days, and 50€ ($80) for 3 days. A card for children (age 7-16) costs 11€ ($18) for 1 day, 14€ ($22) for 2 days, and 17€ ($27) for 3 days. The cards can be bought at approximately 50 sales points in the Helsinki area, including the Helsinki City Tourist Office, the Hotel Booking Center, travel agencies, and hotels. For further information, check with any Finnish Tourist Board worldwide or the Helsinki City Tourist Office, Pohjoisesplanadi 19 (tel. 09/3101-3300; www.helsinkicard.fi).
You can also buy a Tourist Ticket for travel within Helsinki over a 1-, 3-, or 5-day period. This ticket lets you travel as much as you like within the city limits on all forms of public transportation except regional buses to far-flung outlying townships that include Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa. A 1-day ticket costs 6€ ($9.60) for adults, 3€ ($4.80) for children 7 to 16; a 3-day ticket costs 12€ ($19) for adults, 6€ ($9.60) for children 7 to 16; and a 5-day ticket costs 18€ ($29) for adults, 9€ ($14) for children 7 to 16. Children 6 and under travel free. Tickets can be purchased at many places throughout Helsinki, including the Helsinki City Tourist Office and transportation service depots, such as the Railway Square Metro Station, open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 6pm and Friday 7:30am to 4pm.
By Metro/Bus/Train -- The City Transport Office is at the Rautatientori metro station (tel. 09/472-24-54), open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 7pm and Friday from 7:30am to 5pm. The transportation system operates daily from 5:30am to 1:30am. A single ticket, valid for rides on any city bus or tram, costs 2.20€ ($3.50) for adults, 1.10€ ($1.80) for children 3 to 15, and free for 2 and under. Transfers are allowable within 1 hour of your initial boarding, and the penalty for persons caught riding without a valid ticket is around 70€ ($112).
By Ferry -- Ferries depart from the eastern end of Eteläesplanadi (no terminal) heading for the offshore islands of Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari (Zoo).
By Taxi
You can find taxis at taxi stands or hail them on the street. All taxis have an illuminated yellow sign: TAKSI/TAXI. The basic fare costs 6€ ($9.60) and rises on a per-kilometer basis, as indicated on the meter. Surcharges are imposed in the evening (6-10pm) and on Saturday after 2pm. There's also a surcharge at night from 10pm to 6am and on Sunday.
A taxi from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the center of Helsinki costs 30€ to 35€ ($39-$46), and the ride generally takes 30 to 40 minutes. Call tel. 09/251-5330. An airport taxi shuttle service is available for individual travelers to any point in the greater Helsinki area, costing anywhere from 48€ to 58€ ($77-$93). The van is shared by a maximum of eight passengers. Call tel. 09/251-5300.
By Car
Driving around Helsinki by car is not recommended because parking is limited. Either walk or take public transportation. However, touring the environs by car is ideal.
Car Rentals -- The major car-rental companies maintain offices at the Helsinki airport (where airport surcharges apply to car pickups) and in the center of town. Most new visitors prefer to take a taxi to their hotel and then rent a car after becoming oriented. Try Avis Rent-a-Car, Hietanienenktu 6 (tel. 09/44-11-55), Budget Rent-a-Car, Malminkatu 24 (tel. 09/686-65-00), or Hertz, Mannerheimintie 44 (tel. 0800/11-22-33).
Parking -- Helsinki has several multistory parking garages, including two centrally located facilities that almost always have an available space: City-Paikoitus, Keskuskatu (no numbered address; tel. 09/686-9680), and Parking Eliel, adjacent to the railway station (tel. 09/686-9680).
By Bicycle
You can rent a bicycle (and simultaneously contribute to the ecological health of the environment) by contacting Greenbike, Bulevardi 32, entrance via the Albertinkatu (tel. 050/404-0900), at rates that range from 11€ to 15€ ($18-$24) per day. A worthy competitor, charging roughly the same rates, are the bike rental facilities within the Nordic Fitness Sports Park, Mäntymäentie 1 (tel. 09/4776-9760). With the rentals comes a booklet, issued by the Helsinki Tourist Office, showing three distinctly different routes through and around the city. These routes include the orange (city center), the blue (seafront), and the green (city parks) routes, ranging in length from 17km to 37km (11-23 miles) and that require between 2 1/2 and 4 12 hours each, respectively. The Helsinki Tourist office can also put you in contact with reputable tour operators who specialize in 2-night/3-day packages that focus exclusively on bicycle tours through the vast terrains of rural Finland.
