Helsinki is the capital city of Finland. I spent time only 1 day in Helsinki where is the world's happiest country. Tap water is clean and drinkable. The transportation in Helsinki are bus, tram, metro. Mostly, I often took the tram because the trams cover the sightseeing place and the harbour.
One day in Helsinki is enough for me and cover the main tourist attractions for me so I bought 24 h ticket. The day ticket provides the unlimited riding by bus, tram and metro within specific period. You can purchase the ticket at the vending machine or in advance.
The main central station is Helsingin päärautatieasema / Helsingfors centralstation. It is near the bus station, the hotel, shopping place and restaurants. The tram station is in front of the central station. There are 2 sides of trams stops, right? In case you would like to go to Helsinki Cathedral, crossing the road to on the opposite side of main central station. You must see the main station in front of you.
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| Helsinki Central Station |
Helsinki Transportation Map
Trunk Route
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| Trunk Route: HSL website Tram Routes |
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| Trunk Route: HSL website |
The ticket price is based on adult, child, pensioner, disable and senior 70+, the zone and the place you purchase the ticket. Purchasing the ticket on the application, vending machine or sales point are cheaper than from the bus driver who accepts only cash.
Single Tickets: The ticket valid for 80-110 minutes. If you purchase the ticket from the ticket machine, the ticket is valid 10 minutes longer than from the sales point.
More detail -> Click here
Day Tickets: The ticket is valid for 1-7 days. You can buy the ticket in advance from the sales points or the large HSL ticket machine. The valid time is counted from the time swipe the card to card reader. If you would like to travel in around downtown of Helsinki and between city and airport (Vantaa), please select ABC zone ticket.
More detail -> Click here
Sample of ABC Zone ticket:
1 Day: adult 12 euro, child 7-17 years 6 euro
2 Days: adult 18 euro, child 7-17 years 9 euro
3 Days: adult 24 euro, child 7-17 years 12 euro
Season Tickets: The ticket is valid for 30 days / 60 days / 90 days / 360 days.
Helsinki Card: It includes the free entry to 25+ attractions, tours, and museum, free Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, unlimited journeys on public transport* with Helsinki Card CITY and Helsinki Card REGION including train to/from the Helsinki Airport - Trams, Buses, Metro, Local trains, Suomenlinna Ferry, Discounted Price to 25+ extra attractions. The ticket is valid for 1-3 days.
More detail -> Click here
What is difference between day ticket and Helsinki Card?
The day ticket does not include the free entry to attractions and tours, can only use for free public transportation.
Regarding my previous article, I bought the day ticket so I could take the tram / bus / metro with unlimited rides within a specific period. I mostly take the tram because it's convenient and also covers the major attractions. I will not put the information about the history as you can search from the official website but focus on the detail of access.
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| The Card Reader on tram |
Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square
Helsinki Cathedral (Finnish: Helsingin tuomiokirkko, Suurkirkko; Swedish: Helsingfors domkyrka, Storkyrkan) is located not far from Central Station. You can walk 800-900 m. or take the tram no. 7 and get off "Senaatintori " or "Hallituskatu" I went there around 8 a.m. so there were not many tourists. Senate Square (Finnish: Senaatintori, Swedish: Senatstorget) is in front of Helsinki Cathedral.
Helsinki Cathedral Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:00-18:00,
June-August: Mon-Sun 9:00-24:00.
Closed during services and other church events.
The nearest public toilet. Cross the road to opposite side of Helsinki Cathedral. The toilet is on the right side and you can see the Old Market Hall as the below photo. Fee is 0.5 euro.
Old Market Hall
I walk 450 m. from Senate Square to Old Market Hall or you can take the tram no.2 to "Kauppatori"
I went to Old Market Hall at 9 a.m. The market seems quite, may be it was Saturday.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 08:00-18:00, Close on Sunday.
I went there around 08:30 but I saw only few shops, probably came too early.
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 06:30-19:00
Sat: 06:30-18:00
Sun: Closed
During summer also Sun 10:00-17:00
Access: Tram to "Kauppatori"
The nearest public toilet is orange mark. It's the dark green box. The fee is about 0.2-0.3 euro (I could remember the exact fee).
Next, I took the tram to Stockwomann (Stockmann, changed its name to Stockwomann) which is Finland’s biggest department store. The reason changed the name was supporting gender equality. I am not interested in the fashion, including the cloth, accessories so I went to the supermarket on the basement floor. The department store in Finland opens quite early comparing with other countries.
Food at the supermarket are interesting. There are various instant food for taking home, also the snack, drink and etc.
Free and clean toilets are available.
Opening Hours:
Mon–Fri 09:00 – 21:00
Sat 9:00 – 19:00
Sun 11:00–18:00
Access: Tram "Ylioppilastalo"
Temppeliaukio Rock Church
The rock church is one of the main attractions in Helsinki. Free entry with Helsinki Card.
What you will see in this church? only this area and the surrounding. You can take photo on the 1st floor and on the upper floor. I spent time here about 15 minutes.
Opening Hours: Vary, please check on website
Access: Sammonkatu or Kauppakorkeakoulut, walk 300 m.
Only 15 minutes from Central Station
Admission Fee: 3 Euro (Purchasing at the counter or in advance)
Free entry on Wednesday afternoons and evenings since April 2019. Free entry begins at 3 PM (October-April) and at 4 PM (May-September).
Website
Kamppi Shopping Center
Kamppi Shopping Center has shopping mall, restaurants and cafe. You can also find some reasonable price of clothes i.e. I could see 10 euro of a sweater. It is busy area. Supermarket is available in this building.
I went there around noon so I had lunch at Kamppi. The easy meal for me was burger at McDonald's. I bought Mc chicken (do not have filet-o-fish) which is 4.4 euro and one Mozzarella stick 2 euro. The price is not cheap but it's convenient. The order could be made at the counter or the machine.
The alternative for sightseeing in Helsinki is Hop On Hop Off bus. It is sightseeing bus tour. You can hop on and off as much as you like. The ticket is valid for 24 hours or 48 hours. This tour is free for Helsinki Card. The tour departs from Senate Square from 10:00-16:00. The online booking has 10% discount.
Hop on Hop Off 24 hour. 27 euro (Online Booking)
Hop on Hop Off 48 hour. 39.60 euro (Online Booking)
For more information, click here
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