Helsinki Getting there & around

Getting around

Public transport

Central Helsinki is easy to get around on foot or by bicycle and. there's also a metro line and reasonably comprehensive transport network. The city's public transport system, Helsingin Kaupungin Liikennelaitos (HKL; www.hkl.fi) operates buses, metro and local trains, trams and a ferry to Suomenlinna. A one-hour flat-fare ticket for any HKL transport costs €2 when purchased on board, €1.40 when purchased in advance. The ticket allows unlimited transfers but must be validated in the stamping machine on board when you first use it. A single tram ticket (no transfers) is €1.80 full fare and €1.50 concession.

Tourist tickets can be purchased at €5.40/10.80/16.20 for one/three/five days; a 24-hour group ticket (two adults and up to four children) costs €8, making it better value even for a couple. Alternatively, the Helsinki Card gives you free travel anywhere within Helsinki.

There are also regional tickets for travel by bus or train to neighbouring cities such as Vantaa and Espoo which cost €3.40 for a single ticket, €8.50/17/25.50 for one/three/five days, and €12 for a 24-hour group ticket. Children's tickets are usually half price.

HKL offices (Mon-Fri) at the Kamppi bus station and the Rautatientori and Hakaniemi metro stations sell tickets and passes, as do many of the city's R-kiosks. Metro services run daily from about 6am to 11.30pm. The metro line extends to Ruoholahti in the western part of the city and northeast to Mellunmäki and Vuosaari.

The Helsinki Route Map, available at HKL offices and the city tourist office, is an easily understood map of the bus, metro and tram routes.

Boat services leave from the kauppatori to Suomenlinna and to the zoo.

^ Back to top

Car & motorcycle

Cars can be rented at the airport or in the city centre. The big companies include Avis (441 155; www.avis.fi; Hietaniemenkatu 6); and Hertz (020-555 2300; www.hertz.fi; Mannerheimintie 44) a few blocks north of the centre.

Some of the more economical rental companies include Lacara (719 062; Hämeentie 12) north of the centre, and Budget (686 6500; Malminkatu 24) near the Radisson SAS Royal hotel. Motorcycle rental is not common in Helsinki.

Parking in Helsinki is strictly regulated and can be a big headache. Metered areas cost €0.50 to €1 per hour. There are a few free, long- or short-term parking areas around the city; for locations consult the Parking Guide for the Inner City of Helsinki, a free map available at the city tourist office.

^ Back to top

Local transport

Taxi

Vacant taxis are hard to come by during morning and evening rush hours. If you need one, hail one off the street or join a queue at one of the taxi stands located at the train station, bus station or Senaatintori. You can phone for a cab on 0100 0700. A trip across town from the kauppatori to somewhere like the Olympic Stadium costs about €10 to €15.

^ Back to top

Bicycle

Helsinki is ideal for cycling: the inner city is flat and there are well-marked and high-quality bike paths. Get hold of a copy of the Helsinki cycling map at the tourist office.

The city of Helsinki provides 300 distinctive green 'City Bikes' at stands within a radius of 2km from the kauppatori - although in summer you'll be lucky to get one. The bikes are free: you deposit a €2 coin into the stand that locks them, then reclaim it when you return it to any stand.

For something more sophisticated, Greenbike (8502 2850; www.greenbike.fi; Mannerheimintie 13A2; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, 10am-2pm Sun) rents out quality bikes for €10 per day, €15 for 24 hours, or €50 per week (hybrid bikes €10/20/70). By the time of publication, they will have moved, so check the website or give them a ring to find the new location.

^ Back to top