Helsinki - Essential Information
- Nearby guides:
- Tallinn
- Riga
- Mariehamn - Åland
- Kaunas
- St Petersburg
- Umeå
- Luleå
- Gotland
- Minsk
- Stockholm
- Other guides in Finland:
- Mariehamn - Åland
- More
Exchange Office
FOREX Bank is since 1965 the Scandinavian market leader in foreign currencies. Since mid-2003 FOREX Bank also offers a growing range of other banking services deposits, loans, payment services, transaction services and credit and debit cards. FOREX Bank is centrally located throughout Scandinavia with more than 110 branches. At FOREX Bank you can buy foreign currency free of charge, at hours that suit you.
Arriving in Helsinki
Helsinki can easily be reached from anywhere in the world.
By plane - Around 200 international flights a day arrive at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which is situated 19 kilometres from the centre of Helsinki and can be reached by car in approximately 25 minutes. You can also take taxi, the Finnair airport bus or Bus 615 to the Central Railway Station. A taxi to city centre costs approximately 30 euros. www.finavia.fi
By train - There are excellent train connections from Helsinki to all major towns in Finland as well as to Lapland. There is also a daily train service to St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Central Railway Station is a landmark unto itself in Helsinki. www.vr.fi/en
By bus - Buses from all around Finland arrive to the central bus station, from the largest cities approximately every hour. www.matkahuolto.fi/en/
By ferry - There are daily ferry services to Helsinki from Estonia, Sweden and Germany. All the ferry companies offer also possibility to take a car with you. www.portofhelsinki.fi, www.eckeroline.fi/en, www.lindaliini.ee/en, www.tallinksilja.com/fi, www.vikingline.fi/en
Public Transport
With a single ticket you can hop aboard trams, busses, the metro and even the ferry to Suomenlinna – why not to try for instance a sightseeing tour with the 3B/3T tram. Single tickets can be purchased from the driver, from ticket machines or even by sending an SMS text message by mobile phone (requires a Finnish service provider).
Daytickets are available for unlimited use on public transportation for 1-7 days. They can be purchased from ticket machines, from the Tourist Information or from the Helsinki City Transport service point in the Central Railway Station. One day ticket is also sold by the drivers. http://www.hsl.fi/EN/ticketsandfares/singleticketsanddaytickets
Regional tickets allow the holder to travel freely in Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa. Regional tickets and regional tourist tickets can be purchased eg. from ticket machines.
Some Helsinki Region Transport (HST) buses and trams offer free wireless internet access. Look for the WLAN sticker on the front window or door of participating buses and trams.
Helsinki Card holders can travel free of charge on public transportation within the city. www.helsinkiexpert.com/helsinki_card
HRT Helsinki Region Transport www.hsl.fi/EN
Journey Planner: Find the quickest route from A to B http://aikataulut.hsl.fi/reittiopas/en/
Tourist Information
Helsinki City Tourist Information
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 19
Tel: +358 9 3101 3300
tourist.info@hel.fi
www.visithelsinki.fi
Opening hours: 15 May-14 Sept: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. 15 Sept-14 May: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Central Railway Station
Address: Kaivokatu 1
Tel: +358 9 3102 8398
asemainfo@hel.fi
Opening hours: 1 Jun-31 Aug: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. 1 Sept-31 May: Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat 10am-4pm.
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Terminal 2, Arrival Hall 2A
Tel: +358 40 186 5417
airport.info@hel.fi
Opening hours: daily 10am-8pm.
Taxi
Taxis are easy to hail in the city centre except during the busiest periods. Taxi stands are conveniently located throughout the centre.
Taksi-Helsinki
Tel. +358 100 0700 (1,15€/call +0,08€/10 seconds + local call charge)
www.taksihelsinki.fi/htdeng
Airport Taxi Yellow Line
Tel. +358 600 555 555 (1,25 €/call+local call charge). From airport to city centre with special price.
www.airporttaxi.fi
Seaport Express
Tel. +358 9 2316 5070 (local call charge). From harbours to city centre with special price.
Lähitaksi
Tel. +358 100 7300 (0,984€/call+0,082€/10 seconds +local call charge)
www.lahitaksi.fi/eng
Pharmacy
24-hour service:
Yliopiston Apteekki
Address: Mannerheimintie 96
Tel. +358 300 20200 (nationwide customer service number)
Other pharmacies in the city centre:
Yliopiston Apteekki, Mannerheimintie 5, open Mon-Sun 7am-12midnight
Kauppatorin apteekki, Eteläesplanadi 2, open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Telephone
Country code: + 358
Area code: (0)9
Electricity
220 V
