Helsinki Hotels

Helsinki - Getting Around

Helsinki Airport

Located 15 kilometres north of the city centre, Helsinki-Vantaa International (HEL) is a compact, modern airport. It serves all international and domestic flights in two separate terminals that are connected by a walkway. British Airways is the only UK airline that flies there. Regional bus 615 offers the cheapest public transport option to the city centre. It takes around 40 minutes and costs € 3.60, running to the Central Railway Station in the heart of Helsinki. The Finnish airline, Finnair, operates its own bus which also offers direct service to city centre for €5.20 and is slightly faster (and more comfortable) than the regional bus. Taxis to the centre cost between €30 and €40, although the shared Airport mini vans for 1 to 4 people are only €20.

Helsink Airport

General Transport

Helsinki’s public transportation system has been rated second best in Europe. Within the city of Helsinki, it operates under the aegis of HKL (Helsinki City Transport). A single ticket allows you to hop aboard trams, buses, the metro and even the ferry to Suomenlinna. You can buy a ticket with cash upon boarding, or with a Travel Card (matkakortti) – a reloadable smartcard sold at R-kiosks and HKL offices. The Travel Card costs €8.00 (nonrefundable) and gives a 15% discount on fares. To use it, hold your card against the ticket machine reader and simultaneously press the numbered button corresponding to the desired ticket type. (It’s also possible to purchase a single ticket by sending an SMS text message by mobile phone, as long as you have roaming.)

For visitors to Helsinki, the most convenient (and scenic) means of travel is the extensive tram network, especially line 3T which does a figure-eight circuit around the city centre and usually stocks an informative leaflet listing attractions along the way.

While the trams operate in the city centre, buses cover the rest of the city. The main stations for northbound and eastbound buses are on the two squares adjacent to the Central Railway Station: Eliel Square (Elielinaukio) and Railway Square (Rautatientori). Westbound buses operate from the underground bus station in the Kamppi Centre, which is adjacent to the Kamppi metro station.

A single bus or tram ticket (raitiovaunulippu) therefore costs €2.00 from the driver or €1.35 with the Travel Card and is valid for one hour of tram trips and includes unlimited transfers. A city ticket (kertalippu) costs €2.20 from the driver, €1.80 with the Travel Card or €2.00 by mobile phone or ticket machine. It’s valid for one hour within the city limits and includes unlimited transfers.

Both the Helsinki Card and the HKL Tourist Ticket (matkailijalippu) offer unlimited travel within the city. The former costs €25 for one day and €45 for three days; the latter costs €6.00 for one day, €12.00 for three days and €18,00 for five days. The Tourist Ticket is sold at HKL offices, R-Kiosks located in the city centre, ticket vending machines or by the driver (1-day ticket only).

There are plenty of taxi ranks around the city centre. Though regulated by the government's Ministry of Transport and Communications, taxi fares in Helsinki are high. The initial charge is €4.50 (€7.00 at night and on Sundays), plus €1.16 per kilometre thereafter. Bear in mind, though, that the rate increases if there are over two people in the taxi and that there are also surcharges for substantial luggage.