2017 Worlds Helsinki Info and Chat

[Merjan]

I have few question about public transport in Helsinki

1. In few competicion the public transport was free for people who have the competicion tickets. Do you now if it is the case?
2. Someone who lives in Helsinki, is there a weeklly ticket? And where can I buy it?
3. Where can I buy "normal" tickets?

Thank you in advance.

I think only the volunteers get free public transport tickets ( those who work there). I read about it maybe in December.
The Helsinki region transport company is HSL, here you'll find more about tickets etc: https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares
There are day tickets for at least 1- 7 days, and single tickets + others, too. If you come from the airport ( which is in Vantaa), it's a bit more expensive ( not the same fare as inside Helsinki).
You can buy single tickets from the driver ( bus, tram) but it costs a bit more. And it's good to have coins ( 2 eur, 1 eur etc) in that case. There are normally ticket machines at the train stations and metro stations.

Where to buy tickets:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/sales-points

 

[TMC]

I think only the volunteers get free public transport tickets ( those who work there). I read about it maybe in December.
The Helsinki region transport company is HSL, here you'll find more about tickets etc: https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares
There are day tickets for at least 1- 7 days, and single tickets + others, too. If you come from the airport ( which is in Vantaa), it's a bit more expensive ( not the same fare as inside Helsinki).
You can buy single tickets from the driver ( bus, tram) but it costs a bit more. And it's good to have coins ( 2 eur, 1 eur etc) in that case. There are normally ticket machines at the train stations and metro stations.

Where to buy tickets:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/sales-points

This is correct. The officials and skaters also get free passes.

 

[Winnie_20]

So would it make sense to buy a 7-day Helsinki city internal travel card from Sunday to Saturday, if I arrive on Saturday? I guess that first Saturday, day of arrival, would not be covered by the travel card because of the distance from the airport to the city, but Sunday to next Saturday should be okay? So I would then get two single tickets to get from and to the airport?

The 7-day travel card is 36 euros, looks like.

 

[seniorita]

I had also the same question. Is the 7- day card valid for airport too?

 

[Winnie_20]

I had also the same question. Is the 7- day card valid for airport too?

I cannot find anything definite on it on the page, but I assume (?!) the 36 euros card only covers the city area, which I guess includes the Pasila and Hartwall arena area, but not the airport.

 

[tzazu]

I had also the same question. Is the 7- day card valid for airport too?

Here you can look for all that, because there are links to the different airports:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes
But if the airport is Vantaa, the answer is no, the 7-day card is not valid. Or at least that is the answer that they gave me when I asked for information

 

[seniorita]

I know but it looks from the ticket price table that One-zone tickets (then 32, now 36 euros) covers Helsinki, Espoo–Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava–Sipooor Kirkkonumm.
https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hinnastoen_nettiin.pdf

Maybe it means one or the other though.

 

[tzazu]

I know but it looks from the ticket price table that One-zone tickets (then 32, now 36 euros) covers Helsinki, Espoo–Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava–Sipooor Kirkkonumm.
https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hinnastoen_nettiin.pdf

Maybe it means one or the other though.

Dunno, I'm looking there and you are right, looks like the ticket for the week is valid . I was planning to take a taxi from the airport to the apartment, but now I have doubts. I'll look more and I'll tell you

 

[Pamigena]

The seven day ticket for Helsinki region only let's you use public transport within the Helsinki region for seven days. If you want to go further, you need another ticket. The airport is at Vantaa, which is another region. You'll need a single ticket to get to the airport. (I think it was something like 6-8 € IIRC.)

 

[Winnie_20]

I know but it looks from the ticket price table that One-zone tickets (then 32, now 36 euros) covers Helsinki, Espoo–Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava–Sipooor Kirkkonumm.
https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hinnastoen_nettiin.pdf

Maybe it means one or the other though.

Okay, it means that Helsinki is one zone, Vantaa is one zone, Espoo/Kauniainen is one zone etc. They are not all zone one, they just make up single zones.
So I guess that answers my question, anyway, Vantaa is not included in the 36 euros card for Helsinki (city).

 

[tzazu]

I know but it looks from the ticket price table that One-zone tickets (then 32, now 36 euros) covers Helsinki, Espoo–Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava–Sipooor Kirkkonumm.
https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hinnastoen_nettiin.pdf

Maybe it means one or the other though.

I found this:
https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes

You write in the pink zone: Airport, Vantaa and where you want to go in Helsinki. It gives you the itinerary, trains that you need, price, tickets and so. But I believe that the 7-day ticket is not valid for that.

 

[TT_Fin]

The system is changed couple of years ago and it is so complicated that I do not understand what the citizens outside Helsinki have told me. I myself borrow a ticket from my brother and buy "saldo" to it. He has a ticket for his quests anyone can use but only 1 person at a time. Then i choose the zone in the rain. Do not take any train, though. The tickets are not valid VR long distance trains, pendolinos and IC trains. And conductors do not sell tickets in them from Helsinki to Pasila, if I have understood right.

Notice that the tickets are valid in HSL trams and buses, too.

 

[Merjan]

Okay, it means that Helsinki is one zone, Vantaa is one zone, Espoo/Kauniainen is one zone etc. They are not all zone one, they just make up single zones.
So I guess that answers my question, anyway, Vantaa is not included in the 36 euros card for Helsinki (city).

Yes, that's right. If I checked correctly, the local train ticket from the airport to the city centre is 5 EUR or 5,50 EUR depending on where you buy it (and if it isn't night). I think the taxis are terribly expensive so I prefer bus or train.

 

[TMC]

The system is changed couple of years ago and it is so complicated that I do not understand what the citizens outside Helsinki have told me. I myself borrow a ticket from my brother and buy "saldo" to it. He has a ticket for his quests anyone can use but only 1 person at a time. Then i choose the zone in the rain. Do not take any train, though. The tickets are not valid VR long distance trains, pendolinos and IC trains. And conductors do not sell tickets in them from Helsinki to Pasila, if I have understood right.

Notice that the tickets are valid in HSL trams and buses, too.

The system is terrible. I use it and half the time I have no idea what I'm buying, so I probably end up paying way too much. A couple of months ago I was with my husband buying tickets at the main railway station, and a couple of tourists asked us to help them buy theirs. We couldn't - there's just no way to know or easily find out whether the place you're going to is within zone 1 or 11. And for commuter tickets you can't just type your destination, that would be way too easy. We had to ask them to go talk to a ticket sales person...and I've stood in that queue and it's never taken less than 45 minutes. I was so annoyed that I actually wrote to the railway company to complain. I got a nice reply (that was an actual reply and not just a form letter) where they said they'd forward my notes to the people who design the ticket vending machines.

 

[liha]

Well that is very encouraging to read for tourists
I think I am just going to get a 7 day ticket and hope I stay in the zone for the most part. (I just checked and my airbnb seems to be in the city zone, so I should be safe.)

Also is it true that the ferry to suomenlinna island is covered in the day tickets??

 

[Pamigena]

^ yep
https://www.hsl.fi/en/dayticket

 

[liha]

^ yep
https://www.hsl.fi/en/dayticket

thanks, that's good news

 

[yuki]

Does anyone know if cameras with interchangeable lenses are allowed? I could not find anything about this on the official site.

 

[littlelithium]

Does anyone know if cameras with interchangeable lenses are allowed? I could not find anything about this on the official site.

I emailed them concerning this some time ago and the reply basically said that as long as your lens doesn't obstruct the view for people around you, you can bring it in and use it. No tripods or monopods, though. And flash photography is forbidden, as always. I hope this answers the question.

 

[yuki]

I emailed them concerning this some time ago and the reply basically said that as long as your lens doesn't obstruct the view for people around you, you can bring it in and use it. No tripods or monopods, though. And flash photography is forbidden, as always. I hope this answers the question.

Thank you!