Airport transit

Transfer between the airport and Helsinki centre is most conveniently achieved by train, bus or taxi.

By train

The new Ring Rail Line means that the Helsinki-Vantaa airport is also accessible by train running directly from the airport to the Helsinki Central Railway Station. The trains will run every 10–15 minutes, travel time should be less than 30 minutes, and the fare is 5.50 €.

By bus

Finnair City Bus runs a direct service from the airport to downtown Helsinki and back. The fare is 6.30 €.

The regional bus number 615 also runs between the airport and city centre but makes a few stops along the way. Travel time is appr. 35 minutes and the fare is 5.50 €.

Both bus services terminate at the Helsinki Central Railway Station, which is within walking distance from most of the hotels you’re likely to stay in.

By taxi

The taxi service at the airport is quite efficient and this might be the best option if you have more than light luggage. Taxies, like most things, are expensive in Finland, and the 30 minutes ride to town will cost about 45–50 €.

There are also some specialist airport taxi services available for larger groups.

Getting around in Helsinki

If you booked yourself into one of the recommended hotels, you should be within walking distance from the main conference venue. The public transport network in Helsinki is extensive and more or less punctual, so you can also get around quite easily by local bus or tram.

All public transportation in the Helsinki metropolitan area use the same ticket system. Single tickets can be purchased from the driver or from ticket machines found on some of the stops. All of Helsinki belongs to a single zone, so there is no need to announce where you are going. Single tickets cost 2.70 € when bought from a ticket machine and 3.20 € when bought from the driver in a tram or bus or from a conductor on a train. The ticket is valid for one hour from purchase and you can transfer freely from one line to another for that time. If you plan on using the public transport extensively, there are also day tickets available for periods of 1–7 days.

If you plan on exploring the city by public transport, the online journey planner works very well.