Plane
Helsinki 's airport is 19km north of the city, in Vantaa. There are
flights to Helsinki from the USA, Europe and Asia. Finnair, Scandinavian
Airlines and many other carriers offer international as well as domestic
services, with flights to 20 Finnish cities at least once a day. Departure
tax is included in the airfare price.
The cheapest public transport option to the city center from the airport
is the regional bus 615, which takes around 40 minutes and costs ?3.60 to
the Central Railway Station in the heart of Helsinki. The national airline
Finnair operates its own bus which also offers direct service to city center
for ?5.20 and is slightly faster (and more comfortable) than the regional
bus. Taxis to the center cost ?30-40, although the shared
Airport Taxi (tel. 0600 555 555 for
bookings) mini-vans start from ?22.
Train
Trains run from Finland to Sweden or Russia. The train
station is in the city centre and is linked by pedestrian tunnel with the
metro system. Helsinki is the terminus for three main railway lines, with
regular trains from Turku in the west, Tampere in the north and Lahti in the
northeast. There is a separate ticket counter for international trains,
including those to St. Petersburg and Moscow (Russia).
Ferry
International ferries travel to Stockholm (Sweden), Tallinn (Estonia),
and Travem?nde and L?beck (Germany). There is also a catamaran and hydrofoil
service to Tallinn. Of the five ferry terminals in the city, four are just
off the central kauppatori. Ferry tickets may be purchased at the terminal,
from a ferry company's office in the centre or in some cases from the city
tourist office. Avoid disappointment by booking in advance during the high
season (late June through mid-August).
Car
By car, there are land border crossings into Finland from northern
Sweden, Norway and Russia. Swedish and Norwegian border posts are very
relaxed, Russian ones are somewhat less so.
Bus
Buses run between Finland and Sweden, Norway and Russia. Purchase
long-distance and express bus tickets at the main bus station (below the new
Kamppi shopping centre) or on the bus itself. Local and regional buses also
depart from this station.
