Owais Crawford
Helsinki, the Finnish capital, is a slightly enigmatic Nordic city with extraordinary architecture, great museums, and restaurants. The Helsinki-Vantaa International airport (HEL) is a hub serving around 140 destinations, and it's quick and easy to get out of the airport and into the city. You can leave Helsinki Airport during your transfer if you are entitled to enter the Schengen area and Finland and hold the required travel documents. There are baggage storage services in the arrivals hall of Helsinki Airport, and the airport is open 24/7. The airport also has plenty to keep you busy, from shops and restaurants to napping pods and art galleries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaving Helsinki airport during layover | Yes, there is nobody tracking passengers and stopping them from leaving the airport. However, you must be entitled to enter the Schengen area and Finland and hold the required travel documents. |
| Transportation to Helsinki city | Trains, buses, and taxis are available. Trains and buses are affordable options, costing €5 and €8, respectively, and taking 25-30 minutes. The taxi ride costs between €35 and €50 and takes around 30 minutes. |
| Things to do in Helsinki | Visit Helsinki's Central Library Oodi, go ice swimming, experience local nature, visit the Helsinki Design Museum, and check out the art galleries and restaurants. |
| Things to do at the airport | The airport offers shopping, restaurants, napping pods, massages, and lounges. |
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What You'll Learn
Getting to Helsinki city centre
Helsinki Airport is located 20 kilometres from the city centre. There are several ways to get downtown, including train, bus, taxi, or bike.
The train is a quick, convenient, and affordable way to get from the airport to the city centre. The Ring Rail Line between Helsinki Airport and the city centre is served by the I and P trains, which depart from the airport every 10 minutes and arrive at Helsinki Central Station in around 30 minutes. The train station is located underground between Terminals 1 and 2. Tickets can be purchased from the HSL app or from ticket machines at the train platform.
Local bus line 600 also operates between the airport and the city centre. The bus station is located outside the Arrivals Hall, and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from the HSL app or at the bus station's ticket machine.
Taxis are available outside the Arrivals Hall on the first floor and typically cost between €35 and €50 for a ride to the city centre, which takes around 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Finally, Helsinki Airport has a bike parking area located next to the bus station, which is free to use and covered by camera surveillance.
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Helsinki Design Museum
Leaving Helsinki Airport During a Layover
Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL) is located in Vantaa, 20 kilometres from the centre of Helsinki. There are several transport options available to get you from the airport to the city centre in around 30 to 40 minutes.
By Train
The Ring Rail Line between the airport and the city centre is served by the I and P trains, with the journey taking around 30 minutes. Trains depart every 10 minutes and tickets cost €5. You can purchase tickets in the station or on the HSL app.
By Bus
The airport's bus station is located outside the Arrivals Hall on the first floor. The local bus line 600 operates between the airport and the city centre, with the journey taking around 40 minutes. A ticket costs €8.
By Taxi
Taxis from Helsinki Airport to the city centre cost between €35 and €50, with the journey taking around 30 minutes depending on traffic. The airport is partnered with three agencies: Fixu Taxi, Taksi Helsinki and Menevä. You can grab a cab from the line, pre-book a ride with a taxi agency's mobile app, or book by phone.
If you're looking to make the most of your layover in Helsinki, the Helsinki Design Museum is a great option. Located in the heart of the hip Helsinki Design District, it's just a 15-minute stroll from the city centre or a short ride on Tram Line 10. The museum houses the best collection of Finnish and Scandinavian design in the world, showcasing global design through a series of ever-changing exhibitions.
The museum includes a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of Finnish design from 1870 to the present day, as well as space for temporary exhibitions. The permanent collection consists of over 75,000 objects, 40,000 drawings, and 100,000 photographs. The museum also arranges international touring exhibitions and publishes books and exhibition catalogues. From the museum's website, you can access several free web exhibitions on Finnish design, such as those featuring the production of the Arabia Factory, Marimekko, and designers Kaj Franck and Oiva Toikka.
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Helsinki Art Museum
Yes, you can leave Helsinki Airport during a layover. Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL) is located in Vantaa, about 20 kilometres from central Helsinki. The city is easily accessible by train, taxi, or bus, with the journey taking between 25 and 40 minutes.
Now, on to the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM). HAM is responsible for over 9,000 works of art owned by the public, half of which are displayed in parks, libraries, and other public spaces throughout the city. HAM's permanent home, a former tennis venue, is well worth a visit. HAM also participates in a major biennial contemporary art event, featuring 37 artists or collectives from Finland and beyond, with exhibitions held at Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park, and HAM's Tennis Palace premises. Admission to HAM is always free for those under 18.
HAM is just one of many cultural attractions in Helsinki. The city boasts extraordinary architecture, great museums, and excellent restaurants. It is also known for its unique blend of nature and technology, with thick forests right in the heart of the city. For those interested in design, the Helsinki Design Museum in the Helsinki Design District is a must-see, showcasing the best Finnish and Scandinavian design as well as global trends.
If you're looking for a quick bite to eat, Helsinki offers a range of dining options, from outstanding salmon soup to vegan restaurants and Finnish specialities. For a mid-range meal, Hello Stranger is a great choice for international cuisine that won't break the bank. Drinks tend to be on the pricier side, with a half-litre of beer costing around €6.75.
When it comes to transportation, trains depart from the airport every 10 minutes, costing €5 and taking about 25 minutes to reach the city centre. You can also take the Finnair bus for €8 or a taxi for €35-€50. The city itself is quite walkable, with many attractions within walking distance of each other.
So, whether you have a short or long layover in Helsinki, there is plenty to explore and experience in this vibrant Nordic city.
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Vantaa's Backas Manor and Kuninkaan Lohet restaurant
Yes, you can leave Helsinki Airport during a layover. The airport is located 17 km north of Helsinki, in the city of Vantaa. If you are travelling within the Schengen area, you are allowed to exit the airport during a layover. Travellers from outside the Schengen area can also leave the airport if they don't need a visa to enter the Schengen area or if they already have a visa that allows them to visit Finland. However, it's important to keep in mind that border control procedures will apply when entering and exiting the Schengen area, which may impact your visa. Additionally, you will need to go through passport security when entering and exiting Finland.
If you have a long layover, you might want to visit Vantaas Backas Manor, a charming 200-year-old manor located in Vantaa, Southern Finland. The manor has been converted into Restaurant Backas, offering diners a unique opportunity to experience Finnish hospitality in a historic setting. The restaurant is known for its delicious Finnish cuisine, featuring Arctic flavours and decorative details, with beautiful views of the surrounding garden and nearby buildings.
Not far from Backas Manor is Kuninkaan Lohet, a restaurant located in a culturally and historically significant area next to the Vantaankoski rapids. The park-like setting includes the old file factory, Vanha Viilatehdas, and the lovely Gustavian estate, Kuninkaan Kartano, which has a long history as an inn dating back to the 16th century. Kuninkaan Lohet offers a lunch buffet on weekdays and hosts various events open to the public throughout the year, making it a great option for those seeking a unique dining experience rich in Finnish culture and history.
If you're looking for a quick visit, there are plenty of spots in Vantaa that are just a 15-minute trip from the airport. Helsinki's Central Library Oodi, ice swimming, and urban forests are all recommended experiences. The journey from the airport to Helsinki's city centre takes over half an hour by public transport, so if you plan to visit the city, be sure to schedule enough time for travel.
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Finnish Aviation Museum
Yes, it is possible to leave Helsinki Airport during a layover. The airport, which has the airport code HEL, is in Vantaa, 20 kilometres from the centre of Helsinki. There are trains, taxis, and buses available to take you into the city. The journey will take between 25 and 40 minutes, depending on your chosen mode of transport.
If you decide to take the train, you can take either the I or P train on the Ring Rail Line, which will get you into the heart of Helsinki in around 30 minutes. Trains depart every 10 minutes and tickets cost €5. You can purchase tickets in the station or on the HSL app.
You can also take the local bus line 600, which operates between the airport and Helsinki City Centre. The bus station is located outside the Arrivals Hall on the first floor, and the journey takes around 40 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the city centre will cost between €35 and €50, and the drive takes around half an hour, depending on traffic.
Once you're in Helsinki, you can visit the Finnish Aviation Museum, located in the heart of the Aviapolis area in Vantaa. The museum houses dozens of aircraft related to the history of Finnish aviation and offers virtual flying experiences in flight simulators. You can also browse the museum's aviation-themed souvenirs in the shop or online, and relax in the Museumcafé Yläpilvi. The museum's library and archives, which include thousands of items, photographs, and archive material, can be accessed by contacting the museum in advance.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can leave Helsinki Airport during a layover, provided you are entitled to enter the Schengen area and Finland, and hold the required travel documents.
You can take a train, taxi, or bus to Helsinki city centre. The train takes around 25-30 minutes and costs €5. The bus takes around 40 minutes and costs €8. A taxi will take around half an hour and costs between €35 and €50.
If you have a long layover, you can visit the Helsinki Design Museum, the Helsinki Art Museum, or the Finnish Aviation Museum. You can also visit Central Library Oodi, go ice swimming, or experience local nature. If you only have a short time, you can grab a coffee in the city or visit the Art in the Airport gallery near Gate 37.
Yes, there are baggage storage services in the arrivals hall of Helsinki Airport.
