Transportation

"Public transportation and walking in Finland have been liberating and very easy, even in winter. -U.S. Fulbright Scholar 2016-2017"

Biking

Biking is a good alternative to getting around in cities. Increasingly popular all over Finland, biking is safe, and biking networks are constantly being improved. It is a highly recommended mode of transport, even during winter (with the right gear).

If you don’t want to buy a new bike, buy one used online at www.tori.fi or www.huuto.net - popular classifieds' websites where you can find used bikes (and literally everything else) for a low price. Unfortunately, both sites are in Finnish. Good places to look are also Facebook marketplace and your local Kierrätyskeskus (website in Finnish), which is a second-hand recycling center chain in the greater Helsinki area. Smaller cities will also have second-hand centers available, for example, through the Finnish Red Cross (website in Finnish).
 
By law, you are required to have a white light pointed forward and an optional red light on the rear if you are riding in the dark. Ignoring these regulations will result in a fine. If you get pedaling, learn the Finnish traffic laws.
 
Helsinki and some other bigger cities have a comprehensive, easily accessible, and very popular public city bike network, which is accessible in spring, summer, and fall. See more info: www.hsl.fi/en/citybikes.

Buy a used bike! That was the best decision I made while here. I love being able to ride all over town. - Fulbright scholar grantee 2015-2016

More information about biking in Finland:

Railway - VR

The railway company in Finland is called VR. You can find all the railway stations and routes on the VR website, see the schedules, and buy the tickets online. 

Trains are clean and comfortable, and run on time. The fares are reasonable. Buying a ticket early will ensure a lower price.
 
Various discount fares, including student prices, are available for both domestic and international travel. The ticket counter staff at the railway stations will provide details. If you're traveling with a family, please note that children aged 7 to 16 years are entitled to the child discount. Finland belongs to the Eurail pass system, but note that you must purchase Eurail pass tickets in North America before your departure.

Buy train and bus tickets online in advance, you will save money! 

Intercity Coaches

There is also an extensive network of coaches between places in Finland. Like the trains, they are safe, clean, comfortable, and punctual.

Tickets may be purchased either at bus stations, online or on the bus. Student discounts are available, but you may need an appropriate student ID.

Travel in Finland is really easy and things such as OnniBus are really affordable, even for those of us who don’t get student discounts. It made it really easy to travel around and see and experience a lot of the country. - U.S. Scholar Grantee 2014-2015

Cars

For its size, climate, and population, Finland has an excellent road network. Most Finnish families own a car or two, especially in rural areas where distances can be long. Driving is expensive, though. Cars are highly taxed, while gasoline and oil prices are at least 2-3 times those in the United States. However, there are no road tolls in Finland. Electric cars have become increasingly popular with a pretty good charging network throughout Finland (northern Finland might have longer distances between charging stations, but more are being built all the time).

Rent a Car

If you are looking to travel extensively in rural areas such as national parks and Lapland, you should consider renting a car. To ensure that you won't face “unexpected” charges, read the contract as all the expenses will be listed there. Before renting, make sure that you either get the contract in English or, if it’s in Finnish, ask someone to read it through.

If you rent a car, bring along:

  • Driver’s license (admitted minimum 12 months prior, sometimes 24. U.S. license is OK)
  • Passport
  • Credit card (you need credit to cover the deposit sum, which will be refunded when you return the car)

Remember also to check with the dealer:

  • the required minimum age of the driver
  • possible cost for additional drivers
  • cost for fuel and mileage
  • cost for extra accessories, e.g. baby seat
  • where to call if you have problems with the car
  • travel outside of Finland ­– you will need written permission from the dealer/broker.

Car rentals


Importing or Buying a Car

I can’t imagine any worse idea than trying to import your car from the U.S. to Finland, or even buying one here if you are on a short-term grant. - U.S. Grantee, 2013-2014

Foreigners are permitted to bring automobiles into Finland free of any import duties or taxes for a period of one year. Moreover, Americans are permitted to purchase cars in most European countries free of any local purchase taxes or duties for a period of six months. Car insurance is mandatory.
 
Information on buying a car can be found on the Traficom website.

Driving Regulations

Regulations and traffic signs in Finland differ significantly from those in the U.S. For example, you are not allowed to turn right on red in Finland. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Learn the traffic regulations prior to operating a vehicle in Finland.

Driver's License

As the U.S. is part of the Geneva or Vienna Convention on road traffic, U.S. drivers licenses are valid in Finland provided the holder is here with a tourist status. If you are in Finland temporarily, you can use your American driver's license until it expires. After the holder of the license has permanently settled in Finland, the license is valid for two years or until the license expires. Please see the Traficom website for more information.

Public Transportation

Finnish public transit is world class and you should use it. There are different kinds of discount rates (for students, children, the unemployed, etc.), monthly passes, and handy mobile apps for buying tickets and planning your journeys. In most cities, you can also pay for tickets with your bank card or your phone with the contactless card reader (read more about paying contactless in the greater Helsinki region).

It is nice that there are only a few providers of transportation that can get you almost anywhere in the country. - U.S. Student Grantee 2015-2016

Christmas in Lapland was magical! And getting around the country by train is very easy and affordable. Getting around the city of Tampere without a car was also very manageable, and even free when traveling with my daughter in her stroller!
- U.S. Student Grantee 2015-2016

Public transportation is world class but study the routes in the cities before you venture out.
- U.S. Scholar Grantee 2016-2017

Many Finnish cities have journey planners that will guide you on which route to take from point A to point B according to a chosen timetable:

The Basics of Using Public Transportation in Finland

It might seem daunting at first to use public transportation in a foreign country, but by following a few basic rules, you will be sure to notice that it is both handy and easy.

  • Flag down the bus or tram you want to get on, otherwise it will just drive by the stop (if nobody else flags it down either). Well before the bus arrives to the stop, put out your hand so the driver can see it, maybe even holding your phone (with the screen on) or a reflector in your hand if it is dark.
  • Greet the (bus) driver. On most buses, you can only enter through the front door and it is polite to say hello to the driver (an exception is the orange bus line in the greater Helsinki area, where you can also enter through the middle doors). On trams, trains, and metros you can enter through all doors.
  • Buy your ticket from the ticket reader on the bus, tram, or train if you haven't bought one in advance. Choose the ticket type you need first and then pay with your bank card or phone or a public transport card, if you have one. If you have bought your ticket beforehand using the mobile app, show your electronic ticket to the bus driver as you walk in (no need to show the ticket to a tram driver). For metros, you must buy the ticket before going down to the platform.
    • Recap: If you don't have the mobile app, you can buy your ticket from a ticket reader on board buses, trams, and trains but not metros. For metros the ticket readers are usually situated before the escalators that go down to the platform.
  • Ticket inspectors do make routine check-ups on all forms of public transportation, and those traveling without a valid ticket will be fined (around EUR 80 to 100). You could also get fined if you have bought an electronic ticket on the mobile app but your phone runs out of battery during your travel.
  • Don't take it personally if nobody sits next to you. Finns love their personal space and will avoid sitting next to anybody they don't know until the very last vacant row is full. This is both a cultural norm of respecting others' personal space, as well as preserving their own personal space.
  • When you want to get off a bus or tram, remember to press the STOP button before arriving at your stop. If the bus or tram stop is empty or nobody has waved the bus or tram down, and nobody has pressed the STOP button, the bus or tram will skip that stop and drive on by.
  • Good to know: if you are traveling with a small child in a stroller, the child and one adult can travel for free (children under the age of 7 travel for free at all times). This is especially because of safety reasons; do not leave a child in a stroller without supervision, especially while a bus/tram/train/metro is moving. When getting on a bus, enter through the middle doors if you have a stroller - the middle of the bus has a section especially for strollers and wheelchairs. Trams, trains, and metros will have several of these stroller-friendly areas, marked with a picture of a stroller or wheelchair by the door.
  • Good to know: the Suomenlinna ferry is also part of the Helsinki public transportation area, meaning you can buy a ticket for the ferry as you would for other forms of transportation.

If you want to learn more about using public transportation in Finland, check out, for example, the HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) website on traveling.

Getting to Helsinki City from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

The easiest way to get to Helsinki from the airport is by train. The I- or P-train will take you downtown to the Central Railway Station in about 30 minutes. You can buy your ticket (for zones ABC) using the HSL app or by using contactless payment (your bank card or your phone).

Follow the signs marked with a picture of a train to find the station at the airport.

You can also take a taxi or a Bolt/Uber from the airport. A taxi will usually cost between EUR 40-70, depending on the number of passengers and the traffic. To avoid any surprises, ask the driver beforehand how much the ride will cost.

Ships and Ferries

Finland is well served by ships to Sweden, Germany, and Estonia. Most boats leave from Helsinki and some from Turku. Tallinn is only a couple of hours boat ride away, whereas Sweden and Germany take overnight to reach. The shipping lanes are open throughout the year.

Flying

In proportion to the size of the population, the Finnair domestic service is one of the most extensive in Europe. It provides regularly scheduled, full-service flights to nearly all major population centers in Finland and continental Europe.
 
Although normal fares are pricey, there are discounts for both commuter and tourist travel. Students may obtain reduced fares on domestic flights. Over the past few years, there has also been an influx in the number of no-frills and discount carriers servicing Finland.

  • Air Baltic - International flights
  • Blue 1/SAS - International and domestic flights
  • Finnair - Finland’s flagship international and domestic carrier
  • TUI Airways - International and domestic cheap flights
  • Norwegian - International and domestic cheap flights
  • Ryanair - International cheap flights from Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Lappeenranta