In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Take the train from the station under the arrivals hall. It is reached by indoor lifts and escalators. Commuter trains I and P both run into Helsinki Central Station (Helsingin päärautatieasema) in 28 to 32 minutes, every 6 to 10 minutes. A Zone ABC ticket is valid for 110 minutes, including a tram or metro connection to your hotel. At night, HSL bus 600 runs 24 hours and takes about 40 minutes. Taxis wait at the rank. Or book a tour: a private transfer with meet and greetad costs €145 per vehicle for up to 8 passengers, and the driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign.
⚠️ Zone AB tickets do not cover the airport. The airport is located in Vantaa in Zone C. A standard city-centre Zone AB ticket is not valid. You must purchase a Zone ABC ticket before boarding the train or bus. Travelling without a valid ticket risks a penalty fare.
Airport transport options compared
Helsinki Airport has one terminal, and every ground transport option starts at or just outside arrivals.
| Transport Mode | Journey Duration | Adult Fare | Operating Frequency | Departure Location | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter Train (I & P) | 28 – 32 minutes | HSL Zone ABC ticket | Every 6 – 10 minutes | Subterranean station beneath arrivals | Fastest option |
| HSL Bus Line 600 | 40 – 45 minutes | HSL Zone ABC ticket | Every 10 – 30 mins (24/7) | Platform bay outside arrivals | Night arrivals when trains pause |
| Regulated Airport Taxi | 25 – 35 minutes | Metered or fixed tariff shown at the rank | On demand (24/7) | Terminal taxi rank lanes 1–4 | Heavy luggage, families, door-to-door |
| Private Transfer | 25 – 35 minutes | Fixed price when booked | Pre-booked meeting | Arrivals terminal exit | Business travellers, late arrivals |
Arrivals hall, Helsinki Airport. Photo: kallerna, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Ring Rail commuter trains (Lines I and P)
Opened in 2015, the Ring Rail Line (Kehärata) links Helsinki Airport to the national railway network via a loop line:
- Which train to take: Both Train I and Train P terminate at Helsinki Central Station (Helsingin päärautatieasema).
- Train P travels clockwise via Huopalahti, taking 28 minutes.
- Train I travels counter-clockwise via Tikkurila, taking 32 minutes.
- Because the difference in travel time is merely four minutes, simply board whichever train is departing first from the platform.
- Underground access: From the baggage claim exit, follow the railway symbols. Lifts and escalators go down to the platform, 45 metres below ground, and the whole route is indoors.
- Onward connections: Your ticket is valid for 110 minutes. At Central Station you can transfer to an HSL tram (such as lines 2, 4, 7 or 9) or the metro at no extra cost.
Modern low-floor Stadler FLIRT commuter trains operate the Ring Rail Line between the airport and the city centre. Photo: JIP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to buy your HSL train ticket
Buy your ticket before you go down to the platform:
- HSL app: Join the free airport Wi-Fi, open the app and choose a Zone ABC single ticket. The countdown starts automatically and your phone is the ticket.
- Ticket machines: Touch-screen machines on the concourse and platform accept cards. Choose “Single Ticket”, then “Zone ABC”.
- Contactless card reader: Tap a contactless card or phone on the blue HSL reader on the platform and select Zone ABC on the screen. Fares are capped automatically over 24 hours.
HSL bus 600 (the night connection)
The train is faster, but bus 600 runs when it does not:
- Route: From the bus stops outside arrivals to Central Railway Station square (Rautatientori).
- Hours: Day and night, every day of the year. Between 01:15 and 04:30, when trains pause, it runs every 30 minutes.
- Fare: The same Zone ABC single ticket. Buy it in the HSL app or at the machines at the bus stops before boarding.
Airport taxis
A taxi suits small children, elderly companions or heavy luggage:
- The rank: Leave the terminal by the main doors to the covered taxi rank. Finavia contracts four operators, one per lane:
- Lane 1: FixuTaksi / Kovanen
- Lane 2: Taksi Helsinki
- Lane 3: Menevä
- Lane 4: Lähitaksi
- Fares: Screens above each lane show the operator’s fixed price.
- Payment: Taxis accept major cards, Apple Pay and cash.
- App rides: For an Uber or Bolt, meet your driver at the pre-booked pick-up zone on Level 1 of car park P2.
Connecting to long-distance trains (VR)
For Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio or Rovaniemi you do not need to go into central Helsinki:
- Take Train I from the airport platform to Tikkurila station (Dickursby), 8 minutes away.
- VR Pendolino and InterCity trains to those cities stop at Tikkurila.
- Escalators lead from the commuter platform to the long-distance tracks. Timetables and seat reservations are on vr.fi.
Luggage storage and car rental considerations
Luggage lockers at the airport and Central Station
If your flight arrives early in the morning before hotel check-in:
- Airport lockers: Self-service lockers on the ground floor of the arrivals hall, before security. Payment is by card or phone.
- Central Station: Electronic lockers run by VR on the lower ground level, handy for leaving bags before hotel check-in.
Do you need a car?
Not in central Helsinki, where trams and pedestrian zones make a car a nuisance. Hire one at the airport only for a road trip into the Lakeland region, the Saimaa waterways or national parks beyond public transport. Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt have desks in the arrivals hall.
Practical arrival advice
- Luggage: The trains have level, low-floor entry, wide doors and luggage space in every carriage.
- Winter: The underground platform is heated. Put your coat, gloves and hat on before you reach Central Station if your hotel is a 10-minute walk away.
- Helsinki Card Region: It includes the airport train. Collect your card or barcode voucher before boarding. The Helsinki Card City does not cover the airport.
What to explore next
- Where to stay: Where to stay in Helsinki.
- Trams and fare capping: the Helsinki public transport guide.
- First 24 to 48 hours: Helsinki in one or two days.
Common questions
What is the fastest and easiest way to travel from Helsinki Airport to the city centre?
The commuter train. Ring Rail Line trains (I and P) leave every 6 to 10 minutes from the underground station below the terminal and reach Helsinki Central Station in 28 to 32 minutes.
Which HSL transit ticket do you need from Helsinki Airport to central Helsinki?
A Zone ABC ticket. The airport is in Vantaa in Zone C and central Helsinki is in Zone A. A single ABC ticket, sold in the HSL app, is valid for 110 minutes on connecting trains, trams, metro and buses. A Zone AB ticket is not valid.
Can you buy a train ticket on board from the conductor or driver?
No. Buy before boarding in the HSL app, at the ticket machines on the platform or by tapping a contactless card at the platform reader. Travelling without a valid ticket risks a €100 penalty fare.
Does public transport run from Helsinki Airport during the night?
Yes. Trains pause between about 01:15 and 04:30, but bus 600 runs all night, every 30 minutes, from the terminal to Central Railway Station.
Do taxis from Helsinki Airport charge a fixed price?
Yes. Four operators work the terminal rank (FixuTaksi, Taksi Helsinki, Menevä and Lähitaksi), and each lane has a screen showing its fixed price to the centre.
