Helsinki Transport
Helsinki is compact and easy to get about on foot and by bicycle, while driving is made easy by the lack of congestion. The transportation system, Helsingen Kaupungin Liikennelaitos, is known as the HKL and involves the Metro, trains, buses, trams and the ferry to Suomenlinna. Apart from the Suomenlinna ferry, the only real public transportation that is of use to tourists are the tram lines, with Metro, train and bus routes mainly running to and from suburban destinations.
By Metro
Although Helsinki has a metro service, it isnt very useful for tourists, with just the one line that splits into two serving the residential suburbs of the city. The metro line runs east to Itkeskus and then splits, leading to both Mellunmki and Vuosaari. Trains run every 10 minutes and take about 20 minutes to reach their final destination.
By train
All trains run north, with VR's commuter railways splitting into three directions; none of these services are of much use to tourists, however. The HKL tickets only cover the metropolitan area.
By bus
Buses are not particularly useful to tourists, as the town is compact and mostly accessible on foot. Trams prove more useful than buses, although there are some good bus routes. For points north and east of the city, use the main bus stations which are adjacent to the Central Railway Station, and for access to western areas, use the bus station at the Kamppi Centre.
Taxis
Taxis in Helsinki are very expensive and sometimes difficult to find. There is a set charge for entering a taxi and then a stiff per-kilometre metered rate as well as excess passenger and baggage charges, and an extra airport pick-up charge. However, taxis provide the fastest and most convenient transport option for getting around the city, and there are taxi ranks located at various points. Taxis can also be booked by phone or hailed on the street.
Tourist services
The best way for tourists to get about Helsinki is, without doubt, by tram. There are a few circuits, yet the most useful to tourists is the 3T line, which completes a regular figure of eight circuit of the city and is reasonably priced. This circuit is also the most scenic and can be done in the reverse direction on line 3B.
By bicycle
The cheapest way to get around Helsinki is to cycle and make use of the free Citybikes, which are available at a number of locations around the city. The free Citybikes are available for a nominal refundable deposit and are for use in the city centre. Citybikes and stations are bright green and easy to spot. There is an extensive system of quality bicycle paths in the city and bicycles can be rented for rides to destinations beyond the city boundaries.
By ferry
One of Helsinkis top attractions, the Suomenlinna Fortress, is located on an island just to the southeast of the city centre and accessible by regular ferry from Market Square (Kauppatori). The government-run HKL tourist tickets are also available for use on the ferries to Suomenlinna, while many private operations also run services to and from various other islands in the summer.
From the airport
All transport options, except rail, are available for getting to Helsinki city centre from Helsinki Vantaa Airport, with Finnair buses running every 30 minutes from 05:00 to midnight, public buses 615, 451 and 415 running throughout the day (30-minute journey time) and both private and shared taxis running at all hours.