Getting around Helsinki
Explore Helsinki effortlessly! With its pedestrian-friendly city center, efficient public transport, and eco-friendly options like the iconic yellow city bikes, getting around is a breeze. Use the HSL app for easy access to trams, buses, trains, and bikes—all with one ticket. Whether you’re walking, cycling, or riding, Helsinki makes travel simple, sustainable, and fun!
The capital of seamless and sustainable transportation
In Helsinki, the best way to experience the city is on foot with short distances between major attractions, shopping areas, and cultural sites. The layout of the city center is designed with pedestrians in mind, letting visitors and locals absorb the atmosphere safely and at their own pace.
However, if you’re looking to see all Helsinki has to offer, public transport is an efficient and accessible way to extend your exploration beyond the city center, connecting you seamlessly to the wider urban area and surrounding neighborhoods.
The city is dedicated to sustainability, urging residents and brief visitors to choose walking, biking or public transport. So as you explore Helsinki, you’re participating in a city-wide commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
The HSL app guides you
Helsinki’s public transportation, managed by HSL, is built on efficiency and sustainability. It integrates trams, buses, trains, bicycles, and even ferries under one seamless service.
The convenience of unified ticketing makes navigating the city a breeze – with just one ticket, travelers gain access to all modes of transport. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading out for a day of sightseeing, or just running errands, the unified ticket system ensures a smooth and efficient journey across Helsinki.
To obtain your ticket, follow the steps below:
- Download the app. The HSL app is your guide to everything from buying tickets to finding the best routes. But if you’re not that tech savvy or just avoiding screen time, there’s also multiple ticket machines to print out your physical ticket.
- Single ticket, multiple rides: Grab a ticket that spans buses, trams, trains, and even ferries. There’s multiple different ticket options to choose from – whether your traveling needs a single day ticket (for zone AB ticket costs 3,20 euros) or a week ticket (for zone AB ticket costs 40 euros). See all prices here.
- Check the transport zones: Helsinki’s public transportation system is divided into zones from A to D that extend from the city center to outer suburbs and neighboring towns. The app guides you through which zone your destination falls into, and helps you to purchase the correct ticket and avoid fines. For example, the easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to the city center is using public transportation. For that you need to buy an ABC zone ticket that costs 4,40 euros for an adult.
- Always on time: Known for its punctuality, Helsinki’s public transport keeps the city running smoothly, connecting residents and visitors alike to their destinations without delay (usually). The HSL app gives you real-time updates of your route to keep your plans on track, no matter the weather.
Explore Helsinki with the iconic yellow city bikes
In Helsinki, there’s no need to buy your own bike to get around. The city bikes, better known among the locals as ‘Alepa bikes’ recognizable by their vibrant yellow color, offer a practical yet eco-friendly transportation option. The nickname stems from their bright yellow color and the logo they bear, which advertises Alepa, a popular local grocery store chain.
Easy to rent through the same HSL app for a day or even for a month, the city bikes allow both locals and visitors to navigate Helsinki efficiently and all the while reducing carbon emissions and contributing to Helsinki’s sustainability goals.
The bikes are available at numerous docking stations throughout the city, and through the app you can even check the bike availability situation at each docking station. The bike is at your use for 30 minutes at a time (plenty of time to get where you’re going in the city), and can be recharged simply by docking the bike at a station, and then continue the ride wherever you desire to go.
Embrace sustainable sightseeing with Helsinki’s extensive network of bike lanes and find all docking stations here.
Top tips for navigating Helsinki
We’ve already established that getting around Helsinki is both practical and easy on your wallet and the environment. But to make it even more smooth, here are some useful tips to enhance your commuting experience:
- Family benefits: Children under seven travel free on all public transport, making it easier and cheaper for families to explore together. Also, parents with children in strollers travel for free on all public transportation.
- Night-time travel: The night bus service allows you to enjoy Helsinki’s nightlife without worrying about getting home, as buses run well into the early hours.
- Ask locals for advice: Helsinki residents are generally fluent in English and known for being helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions or recommendations on the best routes and hidden gems to discover.
- Scenic routes: Consider taking tram lines 2 and 3, often referred to as the “tourist ring routes” which circle through major tourist attractions. This is a cost-effective way to see the city’s highlights.
- Accessibility: Most of the public transport options are well-suited for travelers with mobility issues. Trams, buses, and metro stations are equipped with facilities to assist passengers with disabilities, including low-floor vehicles and lifts at metro stations.
Whether you opt to wander through the city center on foot, bike along scenic routes with a city bike, or take advantage of the public transportation system, Helsinki provides a variety of ways to immerse yourself in its vibrant culture.
