HelsinkiFinland · Ferry Destinations

All About Helsinki

Lovingly known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’, Helsinki is a fascinating Scandinavian capital and a prime waterside location in the Gulf of Finland. While the city oozes an old-world charm and has remarkable design aesthetics, Helsinki residents are famous for being modern thinkers and practicing a sustainable lifestyle with a passion for environmental conservation. Taking a ferry to Helsinki is easy, just use Ferryscanner to compare companies and book ferry tickets. Your trip to Helsinki will include gastronomic discoveries, natural excursions, and seeing some of the 330 islands that make up the archipelago.
 

Routes and Ferries to Helsinki

Helsinki’s proximity to Tallinn in Estonia means there is excellent connectivity between the two capitals via ferry. It takes two hours to cross the Gulf of Finland from Tallinn. Eckerö Line is the leading ferry operator to Helsinki with 16 sailings per week. Passengers can also use the Viking Line and Tallink to sail into Helsinki from Stockholm, Mariehamn, and Riga through ferry journeys that last from 16 to 18 hours. These ferries are well-equipped with cafes, lounges, music, dancing, and children’s activities. Check out Ferryscanner to compare prices, and easily find ferry tickets to Helsinki.

When arriving from overseas, the most convenient way to reach Helsinki is by air. As Finland’s busiest airport, Helsinki-Vantaa handles 350 scheduled departures daily. You can take a 30-minute train from the airport to the Helsinki Central railway station, situated close to the city center.
 

Ports of Helsinki

The Port of Helsinki is the busiest passenger port in the world. Over 12 million people go through its gates to catch ferries and cruise ships departing for cities like Stockholm, Travemünde, St. Petersburg, and Tallinn. Cargo ships also leave Helsinki’s port for several cities, including Hamburg, Rostock, and Antwerp. They mostly carry machinery and equipment for the forest industry.

Keep in mind that this port has various terminals. The Katajanokka Terminal is where ferries from Viking Line depart Helsinki for Stockholm and Tallinn. This terminal is open Monday – Thursday and Saturday from 8:00 until 21:15. On Friday the Katajanokka Terminal is open from 6:00 until 21:00 and on Sunday from 8:00 until 19:00.

Olympia Terminal in the South Harbor is where the daily Tallink departures to Stockholm take place. This terminal is open from 11:30 until 17:00.

West Terminal 2 is where Eckerö Line and Tallink ferries depart for the city of Tallinn several times per day. This terminal is located in Helsinki’s West Harbor and is open Monday, Wednesday – Sunday from 6:00 until 22:15 as well as on Tuesday from 6:00 until 22:45.

Hansa Terminal is the passenger terminal of the Vuossaari Harbour, which is where the Finnlines departures take place from Helsinki to Travemünde, Germany. Access to this terminal is available 1.5 hours before departure and only with a vehicle.

Travemünde is one of the most popular long-distance ferry routes from the port. Finnlines operates a 30-hour ferry across the Baltic Sea to the German city six times during the week. St. Peter Line connects Helsinki and St. Petersburg with ferries leaving four times a week on a 14-hour long trip.

Irrespective of the harbor you arrive at, the Port of Helsinki is approximately 4 km from the city center. There are frequent public transport options in the form of buses and trams. Taxies are also readily available at all arrivals. On the Ferryscanner website, you can easily compare prices or ferry companies and book cheap ferry tickets to Helsinki.
 

Best Beaches of Helsinki

Beach weather in Helsinki spans from late April to early September. While most first-time travellers might not associate the city as a beach destination, its seaside location and record high temperatures of 33.2 °C (91.8 °F) in July make laying under the sun by the water an enjoyable and much-cherished outing. Surprisingly, Helsinki has over 30 beaches of different sizes. However, the following are the best, with excellent on-site facilities.

Aurinkolahti Beach

An underrated Helsinki beach, you can reach Aurinkolahti by waterbus in the summer or by taking the metro to Vuosaari. The beach has a large soft sand seafront with both shallow and deep swimming areas. The water tends to be cold here, so wait till afternoon to get in. If you don’t want to explore the beach alone, there is also a playground, outdoor gym, a promenade, and a few cafes to sit and take in the sights.

Mustikkamaa Beach

Mustikkamaa is a quaint island reachable by bus from the city center. It also connects with Kalasatama through a pedestrian bridge and is an excellent place for a walk during the winter months. Come summer, the island is alive with beach activities and also has a lifeguard on duty. The beach promises panoramic views of Helsinki and you can also find a small outdoor gym, cabins, toilets, and kiosks to keep you well-fed and hydrated.

Hietaranta Beach

Hietaranta’s central location in the Töölö district results in it getting very crowded on warm days. This sandy beach is a favorite with families because of shallow swimming waters and activities for all ages. There are beach volleyball and basketball courts, a playground for small kids, street art, bathroom, and shower facilities. You will also find a mini-golf court and eateries nearby. The water is calm, and it is worth reaching Hietaranta early to occupy a good spot for your beach day.

Pihlajasaari Beach

A 10-minute ferry ride on the JT-Line from Ruohosaari brings you to Helsinki’s most famous summer beach destination, Pihlajasaari. Insta-worthy multi-colored changing rooms, a beautiful sandy beach for the family to enjoy, walking trails, and a boat harbor, there is something for everyone here. Two islands connected via a bridge, the eastern side of Pihlajasaari has a camping ground and a rocky unisex nudist beach. With a restaurant and a café nearby, you only need a beach towel and a juicy summer read to enjoy your time away from the main city.

Seurasaari Beach

Seurasaari is a lovely island known for its open-air museum with displays of authentic old wooden houses from across the country. The beach here is popular amongst those practicing the nudist lifestyle. Unlike the nudist beach at Pihlajasaari, Seurasaari has separate sections for men and women. Moreover, this rocky stretch of land welcomes families on Sundays and Wednesdays as everyone must wear a swimsuit when visiting on either of these days.
 

Neighborhoods of Helsinki

Design-centric, trendy, historically telling, and architecturally unique, it’s easy to fall in love with Helsinki’s atmospheric character.

Töölö

A must-visit for design enthusiasts, Töölö is a quiet yet culturally lively neighborhood with plenty of tourist activities. Home to the Parliament House, the minimalistic exhibition space Finlandia Hall, the National Museum, and Olimpia Stadium, the one place you have to check out here is the Rock Church. A magnificent and visually stunning church made into solid rock, it is avant-garde Finish architecture at its very best.

Kallio

Although Helsinki is a welcoming and open-minded city, Kallio is where its free-spiritedness is most visible. The neighborhood’s laidback aura is accentuated further by the presence of vegan cafes, independent stores selling vinyl and vintage clothing, flea markets, contemporary coffee shops, and the Kallio Library. This library is a mecca for bibliophiles and hosts literary and cultural events throughout the year. If visiting in August, keep a lookout for the iconic Kallio Blok Party, a free music and dance-filled annual happening consisting of live performances and kid-friendly events.

Designkortelli

The ‘Design District’ of Helsinki includes the four neighborhoods of Kamppi, Punavuori, Ullanlinna, and Kaartinkaupunki. Here, you can completely immerse yourself in the city’s imaginative and inventive attitude as regular weekly markets have hundreds of artists showcase and sell their works. Along the streets of the district are art galleries, a thriving restaurant and bar scene, and boutique hotels, making it one of the best places to stay in Helsinki.

Kamppi

While Kamppi might be a part of the Design District, it also stands on its own as a pulsating neighborhood. It’s well known for its proximity to the Central Station, shopping opportunities, and live music venues. In recent years, Kamppi Center has become the top hangout spot for tourists and youngsters alike. A six-floor mall with shops, restaurants, and clubs, the center also has a metro station and a bus terminal.

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna, Helsinki’s most popular tourist attraction, is an imposing sea fortress that spreads over six connected islands and makes for an essential day trip. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the Swedish in the late 1700s, was occupied by Russia for over a century until it finally came under Finland in 1918. The island is home to roughly 800 residents, a few shops, multiple waterfront cafes, a brewery, and six museums. Visitors can roam around for free and take guided tours to learn more about Suomenlinna’s past.
 

Transportation Around Helsinki

Helsinki has a wonderfully efficient public transport system that makes it convenient to see the city. Nevertheless, it is small enough to explore on foot, allowing you to take in the sights at a leisurely pace. If using trams and buses, remember to buy the tickets in advance as they cost less. Remember that you cannot always get them onboard.

Renting a bicycle for the day at around €5 is another excellent opportunity to discover Helsinki on your own terms. However, do hop on the Helsinki Metro as it is a bucket list item for being the ‘northernmost metro in the world’.

There is nothing better than the local ferry system to explore the islands of and around Helsinki. The 15-minute waterbus to Suomenlinna, for example, leaves from Market Place and costs approximately €3 one way. You can buy a single ticket, multi-day, or the HSL Card if planning to travel plenty by public transport during your holiday in Helsinki.