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!

Library on wheels

The library system HelMet in the capital area works flawlessly and is just really good both in terms of service and selection. But there is even more to it than just the normal libraries. Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa also have their own mobile libraries.

Big busses filled with books drive through the cities and stop at several destinations every day to make the library service even more accessable. You can just come here and browse through the books or even reserve your book to be brought to your neighborhood by bus.

For the schedule and all stops check out the timetable of the library busses in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa.

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.

Bus on demand till the night hours

You might have seen them, read about them here or maybe used them yourself already. The KutsuPlus mini buses from HSL get you exactly where you need to go for very reasonable rates. Now the service got even better through extended operating hours.

KutsuPlus is the perfect alternative to taking a taxi. And now they even operate late. Till 23.00 you can use the KutsuPlus service all over Helsinki and the capital area. 

Find out more about the bus on demand service from the KutsuPlus website and subscribe now. It's a really great service.

Books for free

You forgot to take something to read for your upcoming bus ride or for your metro trip? No worries. You don’t even have to buy a new book at the store. Just grab a one for free at the book shelf of Kampin Suutari shoemaker shop at the entrance to the long distance buses.

The shelf contains all kinds of second hand books coming from the recycling center and is being refilled regularly. You can find books in Finnish, Swedish and English. The shelf is accessible anytime even if the shoemaker and everything else at Kamppi Kauppakeskus is closed.

Check it out! 

The airport train will come – in 2015

Helsinki-Vantaa is – according to many studies – one of the best airports in Europe. Unfortunately until now you only get there by bus or car. But since 2010 a new train connection from the center is under construction.

The tracks and the new modern station at the airport were supposed to be ready already next year. Now those plans had to be changed and it was announced that the train connection could be taken into use in July 2015.

You will have to have a little more patience. And in less than two years can use the fast and easy connection straight from the center.

Until then the bus 615, the Finnair bus and taxis get you to the airport.

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!

Finland by bus

There are lots of interesting cities and towns to visit in Finland. If you don’t have a car and find the train tickets a bit too pricy check out the bus connections.

One possibility is Onnibus. The company connects all mayor cities in Southern Finland and even operates connections to Oulu. You can buy the tickets from the driver or if you want to save some money buy your ticket online in advance. The price is based on the demand but can be as low as 3€ for each connection.

During the summer you can buy discount gift cards giving you a lot more value for your money (see picture). So if you are interested keep your eyes open in the center next to the Stockmann clock.

Kampin Keskus – a one of a kind bus station

The Kampin Keskus bus station makes traveling with public transport as smooth as possible. Since the Kamppi Center was opened in 2006 using busses in the capital region has gotten much easier. As a passenger you don’t just have the possibility to wait for your bus inside, get a good overview over the departures during the next hours and have an easy connection to the metro. You can also use the waiting time for some shopping or to get a snack or a cup of coffee at one of the many shops, cafés and restaurants. And you are not even bothered by the busses which are waiting behind the big glass doors.

Before Kampin Keskus was opened all busses leaving to western Helsinki and Espoo left from Narinkka Square outside. These days not only connections within the capital area but also to places all over Finland leave from Kamppi. Underneath the Espoo bus terminal lays the long distance bus station.

Building Kampin Keskus took four years and was always considered an ambitious and difficult project but in the end it was worth the effort.

Hyvää matkaa!

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.

Silence, please! We're on a bus.

This might be one of the oddest things for anyway visiting or moving to Finland. But when you use public transport in Helsinki silence is golden. You will barely hear people talk to each other. And if then it’s either teenagers, drunks or tourists.

So if you don’t want to be spotted as a foreigner, get out your newspaper or book or play with your cell phone till you arrive at your stop. Talking has to wait.

But believe it or not, you get used to that pretty soon. After just a few weeks in Finland you will be turning around to foreigners wondering why on earth they have to be so loud –after all they’re on a bus.

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!

Nothing extra for the night bus

Helsinki has an amazing public transport system. Busses, trams and trains basically take you anywhere at any time. And now it gets even better.

As of today the additional night fares for busses after 2 a.m. don’t exist anymore. Meaning now you can travel for the same price at any time of the day. And if you have a season ticket there are no extra costs anymore for taking a late bus.

Therefore prices in general increased by between six and ten percent. For more information check the HSL website.