Arrival & Transport

Airports

Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL) is Finland's main international airport and one of the key hubs for flights to Asia (Finnair uses the short northern route). From Germany, the following airlines fly:

• Finnair — The Finnish airline flies from Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf to Helsinki. Flight time: 2.5–3 hours. Prices: 120–350€ return.
• Lufthansa — From Frankfurt and Munich to Helsinki.
• Eurowings — More affordable connections from various German cities.
• Norwegian / Ryanair — Seasonally cheap flights, sometimes from 50€ one-way.

Lapland Airports: For Northern Lights trips, it's best to fly directly to Lapland. Finnair and Norwegian fly in winter from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (RVN), Kittilä/Levi (KTT), Ivalo/Saariselkä (IVL), and Kuusamo (KAO). In winter, there are also direct flights from London, Paris, and sometimes Germany. Domestic flights: From 60€ one-way with Finnair or Norwegian.

From Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the center: Ring Rail Line (train, 30 min., 5.50€) or Finnair City Bus (30 min., 7.20€). Taxi: approx. 45€.

Ferry Connections

Finland is accessible by ferry from several directions — and the Baltic Sea ferries are an experience in themselves: floating hotels with restaurants, duty-free shops, saunas, and entertainment.

• Tallinn → Helsinki: The shortest connection (2h). Tallink Silja and Viking Line operate several times a day. From 25€ per person. Many Finns travel to Tallinn for affordable shopping.
• Stockholm → Helsinki: Overnight (16h) with Tallink Silja or Viking Line. Cabin from 80€. Via the Åland Islands (duty-free!). One of Europe's most popular ferry routes.
• Stockholm → Turku: 11h overnight with Viking Line. Cabin from 50€. Also via Åland.
• Travemünde → Helsinki: Finnlines operates directly from Germany (29h). Cabin from 120€. Convenient with a car, but time-consuming.
• Rostock → Helsinki: Finnlines, approx. 30h. Similar prices.

Tip: The Stockholm–Helsinki ferry is an experience, even if you don't want to go to Sweden. Many Finns book a "cruise to nowhere": round trip without disembarking, just for the buffet and the duty-free shop.

Trains (VR — Finnish Railways)

The Finnish rail network connects all major cities comfortably. The trains are punctual, clean, and have Wi-Fi. Important connections:

The night train to Lapland (Santa Claus Express) is an experience: sleeper compartment, waking up in Rovaniemi. Sleeper berth from 50€, car loading possible (from 70€). Early Bird Tip: VR releases tickets 60 days in advance — the earlier, the cheaper.

Long-Distance Buses

• Onnibus — Finland's cheapest bus company. Tickets from 5€ (!). Connects all major cities. Book online at onnibus.com.
• Matkahuolto — Also covers rural areas where no train runs. From 8€. matkahuolto.fi.

Rental Cars

For Lapland and the lake district, a rental car is the best choice — many places are hard to reach without a car. Prices: from 40€/day (small car) to 80€/day (SUV, recommended in winter). Providers: Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Budget, as well as local providers (Scandia Rent).

Winter Driving: Finnish roads in winter are surprisingly well-maintained — snow removal is world-class. All rental cars have winter tires (mandatory from November to March). Nevertheless: drive carefully, keep distance, watch out for moose and reindeer (especially at dusk). In Lapland, there can be ice patches on the road — steer gently, don't brake.

Public Transport in Helsinki

The HSL network (Helsinki Regional Transport) includes metro, tram, buses, and ferries. Day ticket: 9€ (1 day), 13.50€ (2 days), 18€ (3 days). The "HSL" app works perfectly for ticket purchase and route planning. The ferry to Suomenlinna is included in the HSL ticket!