To help you have as smooth a trip to Helsinki as possible, we would like to give you some information regarding your arrival and moving around the city. That way, you won’t need to spend so much time wondering how everything works and you are more free to fully enjoy the conference!
How to get to Helsinki
Helsinki is easily accessible from most parts of the world. You can arrive by air, by train, and by sea.
By air
There is only one international airport in Helsinki, called Helsinki Airport. The airport offers non-stop flights to 145 destinations in over 50 countries and it has also been ranked multiple times as one of the top airports in the world and in Europe.
After exiting the baggage reclaim area, you are faced with a choice of different transportation options to get to the city centre. There is a train service that departs approximately every 10 minutes from the intersection of terminal 1 and terminal 2 (follow the signs to find the station). The tickets can be bought from the machines close to the train station, on the platform (the ones marked with “HSL”), or from the HSL mobile application (https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes/mobile-apps). Please note that they don’t sell tickets on board the trains, so you will need to buy a ticket before you jump in. The trip takes about 30 minutes.
Travel by bus is another option, there are regular airport buses that run every 20 minutes. Again, follow the signs to get to the bus stops, which are located outside of terminal 2. If you are heading to the Central Railway Station or a hotel close to the conference center (Paasitorni) you can take bus number 615, the final stop is in Hakaniemi. Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver (prepare to pay by cash; also big bills might not be accepted) or via the HSL mobile application. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
When using the HSL mobile application to buy train and bus tickets, you should choose the regional ticket type since the airport is located in Vantaa (a neighbouring city of Helsinki). The ticket price in the application is 4,20€. If you buy your ticket from a ticket machine or from the bus driver, the price may be a bit higher.
If you prefer to take a taxi, there are multiple taxi companies operating from the airport to the city centre. All of them are reliable, so no need to worry. The taxis can be found close to the bus stops and most of the companies offer a fixed price for the journey to the city centre that varies between 39-42€. You can pay for the trip either by cash or by card, card is preferred.
By train
Those arriving from Russia can use the Allegro train from St. Petersburg and the Tolstoi train from Moscow. Both trains arrive to Helsinki Central Railway Station. The travel time is around 3,5 hours for Allegro. More information, including timetables and tickets can be found on the VR website.
By sea
It is also possible to arrive to Helsinki via ferry, from Estonia (Tallink & Silja Line, Eckerö Line, Viking Line) Sweden (Tallink & Silja Line, Viking Line), Germany, (Finnlines), and Russia (St. Peter Line). Timetables, prices and other information can be found from the abovementioned operator’s websites.
How to move around Helsinki
After arriving to the city centre, the public transportation system will help you find your way around the city. The system in Helsinki consists of buses, trams, the metro, commuter trains, and ferry services. A good source of information is HSL’s “Reittiopas”, where you can search for routes to different destinations easily.
The single tickets are valid with all of the transportation methods. They can be bought from ticket machines (marked with “HSL”, they can be found for instance at every metro station), R-kiosks, or via the HSL mobile application. When using buses you can also buy the ticket directly from the driver (paid in cash and preferably using smaller bills or coins). The HSL mobile application also helps you with planning your routes if you decide to use it. In addition to single tickets, there are also day tickets available and with Helsinki card you can travel free of charge on public transportation within the city for 1, 2, or 3 days. You can check the other ticket prices from the HSL website. On the website you can also find the metro map and the map of the tram routes. Please note that when using metro or tram, you need to have a valid ticket before jumping on board the tram or moving down to the metro platform.
There are also multiple taxi companies operating in Helsinki. You can check for example Lähitaksi and TaksiHelsinki If you need a taxi, you can order one by phone or via the company’s mobile application, take one from a taxi stand, or hail a free one from the street. Taxis are available whenever the yellow light on the roof is on and the prices are fixed and shown on the meter. You can pay for the trip either by cash or by card, card is preferred. In addition to taxis, Uber is also operating in the Helsinki area.
How to get to Paasitorni?
The Conference Day will be held at Paasitorni conference center. The distance between the Helsinki Central Railway Station and Paasitorni Conference Center is around 1 km, so if you are feeling sporty, you can walk there. Other options are the trams 3, 6, 7, and 9 (stop: Hakaniementori), the metro (stop: Hakaniemi), and for example the buses 64, 65, 71, and 75 (stop: Hakaniemi). All of them leave from the Central Railway Station.
How to get to A-Grid?
The Contributor Day Venue, A-Grid, is located in Espoo (neighbouring city of Helsinki) but it is easily accessible via metro. The right stop to get off is called “Aalto-yliopisto”. The trip takes approximately 11 minutes.
From Helsinki to Espoo you need regional ticket.