Local Public Transport in Finland

Finnish public transport is generally efficient, reliable, safe and on time. Getting around any town by public transport is manageable without fuss, and pretty quickly, even for a foreign visitor. Day tickets can be economical for visitors, and for regular travellers Season tickets offer savings. Consult the local authority for details. Taxis are government-regulated; all are in good condition. Taxi fares can be prohibitive.

Transport terminology: Finnish to English

Helsinki Region Transport & Tickets

The travel authority is Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) En, Fi, Sw
Helsinki boasts a network of trains, buses, trams and an underground. Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava, Kirkkonummi and Sipoo are all part of the Helsinki system:

• Helsinki region tickets are valid on buses, trams, the Metro, commuter trains and the Suomenlinna ferry
• The easiest way to buy tickets is using the HSL App. Tickets are also available from R-kioskis (small service fee applies), HSL service points, ticket machines and bus drivers. Tickets are not sold on commuter trains, trams or on the metro.
• Single tickets and Value tickets are valid for 80–110 minutes, and allow you to transfer between modes of transport during their validity.
• Children’s tickets are for children aged 7-17 years; children under 7 travel free of charge.
• Pensioners receiving the national pension, full-time students, persons with limited mobility, and people over 70 are entitled to reduced rate tickets.
• See also HSL's Tips for Visitors

Which Ticket? The HSL area is divided into four zones identified by the letters A, B, C and D, spreading out from the centre of Helsinki. Prices are based on distance traveled.

• Helsinki internal -> AB
• Espoo and Vantaa internal tickets -> BC
• Regional ticket -> ABC
• Kerava–Sipoo–Tuusula -> D
• Kirkkonummi–Siuntio -> D
• Extended region 2 -> BCD
• Extended region 3 -> ABCD
• HSL Area & Zones

Ticket validity: AB, BC and D tickets are valid for 80 minutes, ABC and CD tickets for 90 minutes, BCD tickets for 100 minutes and ABCD tickets for 110 minutes.

HSL App: The most popular way to use Helsinki public transport. HSL tickets, Journey Planner, and tailored transport information. Free of charge, available for Android and Apple iOS devices.
Download and FAQs:
hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/hsl-app

HSL Card & Card Readers: The HSL Card is a simple way to keep a ticket in your pocket. Load it with value and buy tickets using the card readers on buses, trams, trains and ferries, and at Metro stations. For use on all HSL public transport services. Available for residents of the HSL area and neighbouring municipalities from HSL service points for €5 (photo ID required).
Info and Usage:
hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/hsl-card
including card balance, season tickets, transferring from one vehicle to another, buying value tickets, and buying tickets for several passengers.

Helsinki Region Transport www.hsl.fi/en - Fi, En, Sw  Timetables & routes, Tickets & fares, HSL Cards, Passenger guide
Helsinki Region Journey Planner www.hsl.fi/en - Fi, En, Sw Point to Point Route Search, Timetables & stops, Route map, Cycling & walking, Traffic bulletins
Helsinki Taxis www.taksihelsinki.fi Ph: 0100 0700

Helsinki Airport - Public Transport:
Tickets: A regional ABC ticket is required for journeys from Helsinki to the airport and vice versa. Purchase from a ticket machine or bus driver.

Train: Ring Rail Line trains I and P. The Airport station is underground. At each end of the station there are escalators and lifts giving access to two different exits. It's a short walk from the station to Airport Terminals 1 and 2 along a connecting passageway.
Bus 615: Rautatientori (Helsinki Centre) - Airport
Bus 617: Hakaniemi - Airport
Bus 415: Elielinaukio - Ylästö-Airport
Bus 561: Itäkeskus - Malmi-Airport
Yellow Line airporttaxi.fi: Shared airport taxis can be an economical option for travelling to/from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Suomenlinna Ferry

World Heritage sea fortress Suomenlinna is a great day out. Even if you don't have time to get off at Suomenlinna, the ferry ride itself is a fantastic value 'harbour cruise'! The Helsinki-Suomenlinna ferry is operated by Helsinki Region Transport and uses regular public transport tickets. There are numerous Market Square - Suomenlinna - Market Square crossings daily. Besides the usual outlets for buying public transport tickets, Suomenlinna Ferry tickets are available from machines on the piers. Bicycles can be taken on board for an additional charge.
Timetables and info: www.hsl.fi/en > Use the Journey Planner or search Suomenlinna

Public Transport Information - City by City

Most towns have their own websites with timetables, prices and other public transport information. A feature at many sites is a Reittiopas - Journey Planner; you enter the addresses of your origin and destination, and either your departure time or required arrival time, and the Journey Planner will provide you with options for making the trip. Results include walking distance, bus stop or train station names and numbers, connection information and more - fantastic!

Finland-wide Journey Planner
The Finnish Transport Agency provides a point-to-point local and long-distance journey planner for Finland. Results include flights as well as rail and bus connections, and walking routes. You can save your regular routes for later searches. The service also includes local transport connections for 21 cities.
opas.matka.fi - En, Sw, Fi

Public Transport Sites, Route Planners and Taxi Phone Numbers

If your city is not listed below type www.yourcity.fi (ex. www.pori.fi ) in the address bar of your browser.
Taxi booking phone numbers may entail a charge per minute. Consult sites for details

Helsinki: Public transport  Route Planner
Taxis www.taksihelsinki.fi Ph: 0100 0700

Joensuu: jojo.joensuu.fi En, Fi Route Planner
Taxis www.taksiitasuomi.fi + Eastern Finland Ph: 0601 10100

Jyväskylä: linkki.jyvaskyla.fi - Fi, Brief English Route Planner
Taxis www.jytaksi.fi Ph: 0100 6900

Kuopio: vilkku.kuopio.fi - En, Fi Route Planner
Taxis www.meneva.fi Ph: 0800 02120

Lahti: www.lsl.fi En, Fi Route Planner
Taxis www.lahdenaluetaksi.fi Ph: 0601 10001

Oulu: ouka.fi/oulu/public-transport - En, Fi, Sw Route Planner
Taxis www.otaxi.fi Ph: 0600 30081

Rovaniemi: www.visitrovaniemi.fi - International Route Planner
Taxis www.rovaniemenaluetaksi.fi Ph: 0200 88000

Tampere: www.nysse.fi - En, Fi Route Planner
Taxis www.taksitampere.fi Ph: 0100 4131

Turku: www.foli.fi - En, Fi, Sw Route Planner
Taxis www.taxidata.fi Ph: 021 0041

Vaasa: www.vaasa.fi - En, Fi, Sw Route Planner
Taxis www.taksivaasa.fi Ph: 06100 411

City Bikes Finland-wide

Shared bicycle programs across the country. Bikes don't have to be picked up from, and returned to, the same location.

Helsinki & Espoo
The City Bike season is open from 1 April 2024 until 31 October 2024 inclusive.
Helsinki City Bikes are shared bicycles available seasonally in Helsinki and Espoo. One of the most popular city bike systems in the world, the 2024 season offers 4600 bikes at 460 bike stations. Daily (5€), weekly (10€) and seasonal (35€) passes are available. You need to have an HSL account regardless of whether you sign up for a day, a week, or the entire season. Strong authentication and details of a valid credit or debit card are required for an account. The minimum age for riders is 15.
Info: hsl.fi/en/citybikes

Vantaa

The City Bike season is open from 1 April 2024 until 31 October 2024 inclusive.
The Vantaa system is not compatible with the Helsinki-Espoo scheme, so Vantaa bicycles cannot be dropped off in other municipalities or vice versa. In 2024 Vantaa offers over 1,000 bikes at 121 bike stations in the Tikkurila, Aviapolis, Myyrmäki and Martinlaakso areas. Daily (5€), weekly (10€) and seasonal (30€) passes are available. You need the Vantaan kaupunkipyörät app to register for the service and to use the bikes. The app is only available in Finnish.
Info: hsl.fi/en/citybikes/vantaa

Turku
The City Bike season is open from 1 April 2024 until 31 October 2024 inclusive.
Operated by Donkey Republic in conjunction with Föli, Turku offers over 700 bikes at 200 bike stations. Hourly (2€), monthly (9€) and seasonal (35€) passes are available. You need the Donkey Republic app to register for the service and to use the bikes.
Info: foli.fi/en/föli-bikes

Other Cities
Donkey Republic, operating in conjunction with local authorities under the name Kaakau in Finland, runs 'city bike' sharing in Hamina, Iisalmi, Imatra, Kokemäki, Kotka, Kouvola, Lappeenranta, Mäntsälä, Porvoo, Raasepori, and Riihimäki. Season dates vary city by city, but are generally April-October. Pricing ranges from 15-minute single rides to season passes. You need the Donkey Republic app to use the service.
Info: kaakau.fi

Local Ferries Finland-wide, including the Archipelago

Finland's ferry authority is Finferries, with over 40 routes around Finland. Most services are conducted by cable ferries, for which a cable is attached from one shore to the other, and the ferry pulled along the cable. Bigger vessels are freely navigating ferry-boats, the largest of which carries nearly 60 cars.

The Finferries website includes ferry locations by listing and on the map, online ferry schedules, downloadable ferry timetables, traffic information, and terms of transportation:
Finferries www.finferries.fi - En, Fi, Sw

Uber

As of 2024, in Finland Uber operates in the Greater Helsinki region, Hämeenlinna, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Tampere, and Turku. Drivers are professionals and prices are often lower than taxis.
uber.com/global/en/cities/
Apps: iOS  Android

Related Links
Links to other sites are direct to the relevant page, where possible

• Traffic Conditions: Live local road / rail / air / sea traffic information, from Traffic Management Finland
• Car Hire / Rental: Expat Finland's listing of car & other vehicle hire / rental companies
• Yellow Line airporttaxi.fi: Shared airport taxis can be an economical option for travelling to/from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
• Maps of Helsinki: Helsinki maps. Searchable, printable. More 'local knowledge' than Google Maps but slightly harder to use!
• ViaMichelin: Europe-wide route planner, maps, tourist information, hotels and restaurants

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