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 Travemünde and Lübeck (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.