Helsinki has well organised public transfer, buses, trams, metro, local trains.
Metro route from 2011 is simple : letter Y, first 11 stops then 3 stops at both sides.
Metro is very reliable. Only if someone has jumped under metro the traffic can be closed for an hour. It has happened to me three times after they year 2006 and fourth tim there were some technical problesms . In metro you can here the automatic notice of the following stop, but sometimes it is false and comes one station too late. There is usually announcement and text of the next station, but sometimes it is wrong. so dont trust it blindly
Trams are not so relaible. 3B and 3A are the most popular routs. Sometimes three trams come one after another and sometimes half an hour with no tram.
Local trains take you also to some near by cities. Other trains further.
Public transfer works over 20 hours a day although most routes stop earlier or start later.
Official taxis are all reliable and always with tax-meters (except with very long trip 50-100 km or so the price should be agreed on advance). But it is not cheap.
In some European cities you should use taxi only in case of an emergency (like Prague Czech Republic). At least in one European City you can use only 1-2 taxi companies (Stockholm Sweden use only Taxi Stockholm or another one Kurir (?) ).
In Helsinki there is no problem. A man from New York said to a finnish taxi driver that in Helsinki taxi drivers speak better English than in New York, must be true. Taxis are not cheap but Finland is an expensive country. An example: close to midnight from the Airport to City Centrum July 2010: 38 Euro.
There are also some wild taxis but they can be real danger, not to be recommended.
If you are a cyclist then during summer season you can get a city bike with very small money, drive it and return in and get your money back. This system does not work every year and can also stop toatlly. Now in February 2012 it is unclear how it is going to be in summer 2012
Updated Feb 4, 2012
As regards buses in Helsinkiour experience was only from Helsinki port to the city centre . And the cost was expensive. One way ticket costs 2,50 euros, whereas in Tallinn one way ticket costs about 0.35 - 0.90 euros.
Convenience - YES.
Expensive - YES
You cna easily get to the centre from the port and back bu bus number 15A
Written Apr 27, 2011
Website: http://www.hel.fi/hkl
The public transportation is good and easy to use in Helsinki. You could buy a single ticket from bus and tram drivers. At metro stations, single tickets can be purchased from automatic dispensers. The tickets are cheap (same price for buses, metros and trams): you can buy your ticket from the driver but if you buy the multi-user Travel Card (you could load value 5 to 400 € or days 14 to 366 in it) in advance, it's cheaper.
The Travel Card can be used on all buses, trams, local trains (communal trains) and underground in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.
A multi-user Travel Card can be bought from service and sale points.
If you want route maps or a timetable booklet, you can collect them at HKL service points (for example Rautatientori metro station). They are free.
I use tram quite a lot and it's definitely my favourite public transportation in Helsinki.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
There ia a special regional tourist ticket for visitors in Helsinki and you should buy it if you are going to use the public transportation a lot. You should buy your tourist ticket in advance from any of the outlets. You could buy your ticket for one, three or five days. Your ticket will entitle you to travel as much as you like within the city, using every mode of transport with the exception of regional buses.
The price for touristi ticket is €5,40 for one day, €10,80 for three days and €16,20 for five days.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
The best and cheapest Taxi service from airport and back to airport anytime, securely and comfortably.
If you are travelling alone or in a small group, a shared taxi service is an alternative to a traditional taxi. the service coordinate your trip with one or more passengers who are travelling to the same area. The conditions for a shared taxi are the fixed pick-up times and also the fixed prices. From the airport you can get a taxi without advance booking, but if you are booking from city than you have to book in advance for the service.
Do book in advance tel. +358 600 555 555
Written Oct 1, 2010
Phone: +358600555555
Website: http://www.airporttaxi.fi
Helsinki has the northernmost subway in the world. It is only one line and goes from the west to the east of the city.
One day card for all the public transport costs 6,80 eur. One day card for the whole region, including Vanta and Epsoo - 12 eur.
Updated Oct 1, 2010
Website: http://www.hel.fi/hkl
The tram lines 3B and 3T are circle lines that go around Helsinki. This is the best way to do some sightseeing if you're "armed" with a good guide/map and not much time. There's basically no difference between 3T and 3B, as they just go on opposite directions of the same "circular" route. Here's the brochure with the tram stops with and without interesting must sees.
A single ticket for the tram costs 2€ (bought from the driver) and it's valid for 60 minutes. Children up to 7 years of age travel for free with a paying adult.
Updated May 15, 2010
Website: http://www.hsl.fi/EN/Pages/default.aspx
This tram does a loop around the city centre, a great way to have a look around. The journey time is around 1 hour (may become a #3B for some parts).
A day ticket at 6Euro80 (10 '09) is good value.
See website for many more details.
Written Oct 13, 2009
Website: http://www.hel.fi/hkl
Helsinki is a small enough city that you can get around it mostly without public transport. If you need it, however, the transport system is very good. It's clean, efficient, covers a wide area, has an easy to understand English language website, but isn't particularly cheap.
A single ticket costs 2 euros (2.50 if you buy from the bus driver). This will allow you to travel for an hour on all forms of public transport. If you do a lot of travelling, then day tickets can be better value. At 6.80 euros (2009 prices), you will make up the price if you take 3-4 journeys.
Written Jul 12, 2009
Website: http://www.hel.fi/hkl
Helsinki Central railway station (Finnish: Helsingin rautatieasema) is a widely recognised landmark in central Helsinki, Finland, and the focal point of public transport in the Greater Helsinki area. It serves as the point of origin for all trains in the local VR commuter rail network, as well as for a large proportion of long-distance trains in Finland.
The station is used by approximately 200,000 passengers per day, making it Finland's most-visited building.
Written Feb 26, 2009
Website: http://www.hel.fi/hkl
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Helsinki Central railway station (Finnish: Helsingin rautatieasema) is a widely recognised landmark in central Helsinki, Finland, and the focal point of public...
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