Easter timetable

If you want to get from A to B today by public transport you might have to calculate in a little bit more time. During the Easter holidays the timetables are a little different. 

Today as well as on Sunday and Monday all metros, busses, trams and trains operate according to the Sunday timetable. On Saturday nothing changes though. You can find more detailed information on all the changes on HSL's website.

So be sure to check your connection before heading out.

Have a nice Easter weekend!

Messed up public transport

Most of you probably already made your way to the office by now and realized how complicated that is today. The metro and tram drivers in Helsinki are on strike today. And that will last for the rest of this Tuesday. Eventhough HSL has been trying to replace some of the connection with busses the whole public transport is quite a mess today.

Since the strike now even spreads to commute trains and replacement busses, HSL recommends people to rather walk or use the the bike today if they can. So if you have somewhere to be today, plan enough time to get there. Reaching your destination in Helsinki could get quite tricky. For more information stay up to date on the HSL website and on YLE News.

Changes in public transport

Some of you might have already wondered what happened to tram lines 3B and 3T. During HSL’s latest restructuring line 3B has been renamed to number 3 and 3T to number 2. Their routes remain the same (except for changes for line 3 around the Hakaniemi stop due to renovation till the end of September).

Also some other minor changes have been made concerning bus timetables and numbers in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. You find details on all recent changes from the HSL website.

So don’t get lost and travel savely!

Tickets and comments via NFC

Did you know that you can buy your ticket for Helsinki’s public transport easily on the go? For trams, the metro and selected bus lines you can get your ticket with your phone. If you have a smart phone that supports NFC the only thing you have to do is hold your phone against the NFC sticker saying “Kännykkälippu” you find at the stop or station, tap the button to confirm your purchase and you’re good to go.

You will also find a second NFC that gets you to Pysäkkiseinä.fi. Here you can leave comments and questions about your travelling experience.

You can of course also order a ticket with a cell phone without NFC support. Just send a text with “A 1” to the number 16355 (supported by all Finnish carriers) and you will receive your ticket via SMS. The ticket has to be purchased before entering the tram, bus or metro.

For more information see the HSL website or watch the explanation video.

Family and handicaped friendy public transport

Did you know that in Helsinki and the whole capital area using public transport with HSL is for free with a stroller? The same also applies for people in wheelchairs and the ones accompanying them.

In busses they can just use the middle entrance and don't have to pay at the driver.

What do I push?

You have one of those traveling cards for the capital area. If you load it with some money you will have to hold it against the card reader and press a button whenever you want to travel somewhere. But what button is needed when?

1: For travelling within the zone you are in. That could either be Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi or Kerava-Sipoo.

2: For travelling between several zones. The ticket is valid in Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa.

3: For travelling in the whole region. With this ticket you can travel in all zones (Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava, Sipoo and Kirkkonummi).

0 (just on trams): This ticket is only valid in trams within Helsinki.

L (just on busses): Extend your region and buy tickets that are valid in Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava, Sipoo and Kirkkonummi.

Find more detailed information on the HSL website.

Hyvää matka!

Easy travelling

The public transport in Helsinki works perfectly. It is even ranked as one of the best in the whole world. Both for locals and visitors it provides the better and cheaper alternative to using a car in the city.

To make your travelling as easy as possible you should not buy single tickets from the machine or the driver every time but rather get your own Travel Card. With this electronic card you don’t need to carry around cash with you all the time and travelling becomes even cheaper. Especially if you are registered in the capital area tickets become noticeably cheaper. You can either upload time or value onto your card. Then just hold it against the card reader when you enter the bus and that’s it.

You can get a Travel Card on your name from the HSL service center at the main station underneath Elielinaukio. To find more information on prices for travelling in the capital area and to find out how much you can save using the Travel Card check the official website of HSL.

Hyvää matka!

Pub on tracks

Did you know that Helsinki has the only pub tram worldwide? You can sit inside, enjoy your beer that comes fresh from the tap of the small bar inside the tram and watch the Helsinki city life as you are passing by. 

The so called Spårakoff operates on the normal Helsinki tram network and one tour takes 40 minutes. You can just hop on at one of the stops. A single ticket can be bought for 8 Euros (6 Euros with the S-Etukorti). It is otherwise also possible to rent the whole tram for a private party. More information on prices, timetables and stops can be found on the official website.

KAOS at the tram stop

HKL (Helsinki’s public transport) is renewing their tram stops in the center at the moment. And since Helsinki is the world’s design capital this year it couldn’t have been just any new stops. According to HKL the new stops are going to cover a bigger area and will over more possibilities for providing electronic information.

Together with the designer Stefan Lindfors they came up with a new modern design for the stops. The so called KAOS tram stops are going to be inaugurated on August 23^rd. 

For that occasion HKL is organizing an opening party at the new stops at Kamppi on Fredrikinkatu at 21.00. Everyone is welcome.

Take the vintage tram

You are in Helsinki on the weekend? What about a ride through the city in over 60 year old trams?

With old motor cars from 1955 or with an open trailer from 1919 you can go for a ride through Helsinki now every Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the flair of those historical vehicles and experience a whole different way of tram travelling. 

What better time could there be than now in the summer to drive around the city sitting in a historic open trailer?

The trams leave from Kauppatori on the weekend from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. every 20 to 30 min and will operate till the end of August. More information can be found on their website. Don’t get scared away by the pricelist there. They apply just for renting a whole tram for an event. A normal ticket is 5 Euros and can be purchased when entering the tram.