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Planning a trip to Finland? Here is a short guide to Helsinki transportation network that will help you to get around during your stay in this lovely Nordic capital.

From Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to the city center

Like in most big cities, Helsinki airport is not directly in the city, rather on the outskirts of town.

While taxis are plentiful, a cheaper option is to take one of the two shuttles to Helsinki Central Train Station, right in the center of town. Finnair runs a shuttle costing 5.20 EUR every 20 minutes, and the city runs another line costing 3.60 EUR which makes a few more stops along the way.

Upon arrival at the central railway station, there are a myriad of options to get to wherever needed. It’s a major hub for buses, and a map that can be consulted for route information. The commuter trains that run to the further reaches of the city and the suburbs also take off from here, as do the long distance trains to other cities in Finland as well as St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. The city’s east to west metro line also has a stop at the Central Train Station, and the majority of the city’s tram lines run nearby.

Getting around town

All tram, train, metro and most bus stops have Helsinki transit maps showing the area routes. Stations with information booths are highlighted and are a good place to visit to purchase advance tickets and pick up maps to take along (maps can also be obtained for free at the City’s Tourist Information Center at Pohjoisesplanadi 19).

Tickets for public transportation can always be purchased from the driver, or in the case of trains, the conductor but only in wagons specifically marked with the “ticket sale” sign.

As Helsinki is a manageably sized city, many find that it’s even pretty walkable. If that gets too tiring, there are options available.

• Trams are a safe bet for navigating the town as they’re fun and easy to use and maximize sight-seeing potential (the line 3T is often jokingly called the tourist tram as it passes most of the city’s visual attractions).
• Bicycles are also available free in the summer time from the city by putting down a deposit at designated locations. Bike culture thrives in Helsinki, as it’s inexpensive, ecological, and healthy. Most big streets have the sidewalk divided into a special bike lane and a pedestrian walk way.
• Taxis are usually necessary late at night. Trams and the metro stop at midnight, the train becomes sporadic, and very few bus routes run throughout the night. Late night taxis can no longer be ordered, the only way to catch one being to stand in line at a marked taxi station. Naturally, these lines can get very long on at the very end of a weekend night, especially when the weather is bad, so it might be worth considering going home early. Or wait in line with the locals, and see the late night drama unfold.

Photos posted by Ananta Bhadra Lamichhane and Peter van Der Bossche