Overview
Helsinki's public transport is coordinated by HSL (Helsinki Region Transport), which runs a unified ticketing scheme across every mode: buses, trams, the metro, commuter trains and the Suomenlinna ferry. This means you only need to work out which zones you will travel through, and a single ticket then covers you across all of them, with unlimited transfers inside its validity period.
The metro itself is the backbone of the system. It is the only metro in Finland and the world's northernmost, opened to the general public on 2 August 1982 after 27 years of planning. It is operated by Helsinki City Transport and Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd for the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and carries around 92.6 million passengers a year. It is a system separate from Finland's main railway network, and it forms the core of Helsinki public transport alongside the commuter rail, the light rail and the trunk bus lines.
Riding end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Plan your trip and buy your ticket in the HSL app (over 70% of passengers do it this way), or tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard on the reader. Your ticket must be valid before you board or enter the metro area — there is no check-in required on trams, the metro, light rail, commuter trains or the orange trunk buses. Fare inspectors do patrol, and travelling without a valid ticket carries a €100 penalty fare.
The network
All public transport within the capital region is coordinated by HSL, so trains, trams, buses, ferries and the metro all use the same ticketing scheme.
- Metro (Helsingin metro): Two lines, M1 and M2, mostly sharing the same track. M1 runs between Kivenlahti and Vuosaari; M2 runs between Tapiola and Mellunmäki. The system has 30 stations, of which 21 are underground and 9 overground, over a total length of 43 km (26.7 mi). It is the predominant rail link between the suburbs of East Helsinki, the western suburbs in Espoo and downtown Helsinki. The line passes under Helsinki Central Station, letting you transfer to and from the commuter rail network, including trains on the Ring Rail Line to Helsinki Airport. Weekday service runs roughly 5:30 AM–11:30 PM, extended to 12:30 AM on Friday and Saturday.
- Commuter trains (lähijunat): Eight lines run from Helsinki Central Station, operated by VR but within HSL ticketing. Lines I and P run to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in about 30 minutes, with departures every 10 minutes on weekdays. The last night train from the airport departs around 01:20, after which night buses take over.
- Trams (raitiovaunut): Green-and-yellow trams have operated since 1891, with 11 city tram lines. Trams run roughly every 10 minutes until midnight, and lines 2 and 3 loop past major central sights.
- Light rail: Line 15, added in October 2023, is a 25 km cross-city route running from Itäkeskus in Helsinki to Keilaniemi in Espoo.
- Buses (bussit): The most extensive part of the network, with 268 routes as of 2024. Regular service runs until midnight, and night buses marked "N" take over from about 1:00 AM. About 40% of the fleet is electric. Note that drivers do not sell tickets, and contactless card payment is not accepted on U-line buses (regional buses beyond the HSL area).
- Suomenlinna ferry: Part of the HSL network, so a standard ticket covers it. It departs from the Market Square pier, the crossing takes 15–20 minutes, and it runs daily year-round with more frequent sailings in summer.
Tickets & fares
All public transport in the capital region uses one ticketing scheme, so you only need to know which zones you will travel through. The area is divided into five HSL zones, A to E, radiating from central Helsinki. Zone A is central Helsinki; Zone B is the rest of Helsinki plus parts of Espoo and Vantaa; Zone C is outer Espoo and Vantaa, including Helsinki Airport; Zone D covers Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Siuntio, Sipoo and southern Tuusula; Zone E covers Järvenpää and northern Tuusula. There are no single-zone tickets — the minimum purchase is two adjacent zones (AB, BC, CD or DE). AB covers central Helsinki and the Suomenlinna ferry, while ABC is what you need for airport–centre travel.
Single ticket validity depends on the zones you buy: 80 minutes for AB, BC and DE; 90 minutes for ABC, CD and CDE; 100 minutes for BCD and BCDE; and 110 minutes for ABCD and ABCDE.
Single ticket prices via the HSL app, card or machine are approximately €3.30 for AB, BC, CD or DE; €4.50 for ABC, BCD or CDE; €5.00 for ABCD or BCDE; and €6.10 for ABCDE. Contactless payment costs slightly more than buying via the app, card or machine. These prices are approximate and change, so check current fares before you travel.
Day tickets give unlimited travel in your selected zones and are sold for 1 to 13 days. Approximate prices are €10.60 for one day in AB, €12.80 for one day in ABC, €13.80 for one day in ABCD and €17.20 for one day in ABCDE, rising with each additional day up to €74.20 (AB), €89.60 (ABC), €96.60 (ABCD) and €120.40 (ABCDE) for 13 days. One-day tickets are available via the HSL app, sales and service points and some ticket machines; 2–13 day tickets are sold via the HSL app.
For longer stays, season tickets give unlimited travel within a period and can be bought as a one-off or as an auto-renewing subscription. An adult season ticket costs approximately €61.60 per month with a one-year commitment. Discounts are available for children, students, pensioners, customers over 70 and people with reduced mobility. Customers with impaired visibility, wheelchair users, and one adult travelling with a child aged 0–6 in a pram, stroller or bicycle trailer travel free on regular HSL services (but not on U-line buses).
Where to buy: the HSL app is free and is the main tool for planning trips and buying mobile tickets valid on all HSL modes. An HSL card can be purchased at an HSL service point for a small initial fee and can hold value or a season ticket. HSL Customer Service can be reached on +358 9 4766 4000 (local network rate), open Mon–Fri 8.30–18.00 and Sat 9.30–17.00. Since 20 March 2025, contactless Visa and Mastercard (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) has been accepted at the card reader by the driver on buses, trams, commuter trains, the metro and ferries — but not on U-line buses.
If you are considering a tourist pass, note that the Helsinki Card comes in versions: the CITY version includes public transport in zones AB, the REGION version covers ABC (including the airport), and the standard digital Helsinki Card does not include public transport at all.
From the airport
All international and domestic flights land at Helsinki Airport (HEL), a compact, modern and airy airport in Vantaa, about 18–20 km north of central Helsinki. It sits on a commuter train loop, and the train station is beneath the terminal — reach it by escalator or elevator from arrivals.
- Commuter trains (lines I and P): These run to Helsinki Central Station in about 30 minutes, with departures every 10 minutes on weekdays. Trains run every 10–30 minutes from 04:30 until 01:15, and there are luggage spaces near the carriage doors. The last night train from the airport departs around 01:20, after which night buses take over.
- Bus 600: Airport to Central Station, about 40 minutes.
- Bus 570: Airport–Tikkurila–Mellunmäki, about 45–55 minutes.
- Bus 562: Airport–Itäkeskus, about 50–60 minutes, with a metro connection at the eastern end.
- Night buses 415N and 431N: Airport to the centre via Myyrmäki or Kivistö respectively, about 45–50 minutes.
- Taxis: Available outside arrivals, roughly €35–50 to the centre depending on the time and company.
The bus stop is at arrivals level in front of the terminal. For airport–centre travel you need an ABC ticket, since the airport lies in Zone C.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing: Finns queue calmly and expect you to do the same — wait your turn at stops and let passengers off before boarding.
- Escalators: Stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking past.
- Quiet and priority seating: Public transport is generally a quiet space, and priority seats are reserved for those who need them; give them up without being asked.
- Eating and drinking: Keep food and drink to a minimum on board, and avoid anything messy or strongly scented during busy periods.
- Rush hour: Move down the carriage or tram to make room, keep bags and backpacks off the seats, and have your ticket ready — fare inspectors patrol and the penalty fare is €100.
- Prams: One adult accompanying a child aged 0–6 in a pram or buggy travels free on regular HSL services, but not on U-line buses.
Official links
Survival terms
- Subway/metro: metro (metro) — Finnish; metro (metro) — Swedish
- Ticket: lippu (lippu) — Finnish
- Line: linja (linja) — Finnish
- Entrance: sisäänkäynti (sisäänkäynti) — Finnish
- Exit: uloskäynti (uloskäynti) — Finnish
- Transfer: vaihto (vaihto) — Finnish
- Single fare: kertalippu (kertalippu) — Finnish
- Day pass: päivälippu (päivälippu) — Finnish
Buy your ticket in the HSL app before you board, and remember that the airport sits in Zone C, so you will need an ABC ticket for the trip into the centre.