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Getting Around
Public Transport
| Helsingin Kaupungin Liikennelaitos – HKL (tel: (09) 010 0111; website: www.hel.fi/hkl) operates the metro, local trams, buses and the ferry to Suomenlinna. Buses and trams run 0545-2400, while the metro operates 0600-2400. A ticket for a single journey on the metro, buses and ferries costs €2 if purchased on board or €1.40 if purchased in advance. A carnet of ten tickets costs €15.50. Tickets for trams are cheaper at €1.50 (on board) or €1.20 (pre-purchased). Transfers are allowed for single and multi-trip tickets within one hour of the time stamped on the ticket upon initial boarding. Tickets are available for purchase from newsagents (R-kioskis), metro stations, the City of Helsinki Tourist Office (see Sightseeing) and the post office.
The HKL Tourist Ticket allows for unlimited travel on all buses, trams, metro and local trains within Helsinki. A one-day ticket costs €4.80, a three-day ticket costs €9.60 and a five-day ticket costs €14.40.
Taxis
Most taxis are Mercedes and can be hailed on the street or booked by telephone. Vehicles in the city are operated by Helsinki Taxi Centre (tel: (09) 700 700 or (0100) 0700). A taxi is available for hire if the yellow ‘TAXI’ dome is lit. As a general rule, tipping is not expected. A journey around town will cost about €25.
Limousines
Companies providing a service include Limousine Service Helsinki, Kääpätie 4A (tel: (09) 279 7800; fax: (09) 2797 8027; e-mail limo@netti.fi; website: www.limousineservice.fi). Rates start at approximately €45.50 per hour. Kovanen Companies Ltd, Varastokatu 2 (tel: (0200) 6060 or 6161; website: www.kovanen.com), hires out limousines and luxury minibuses for a similar price.
Driving in the City
As the public transport system is excellent and most of central Helsinki is accessible on foot, it is not necessary for one to take a car into Helsinki city centre. Visitors that do drive should be aware that Helsinki rush hours are from about 0730-0900 and 1700-1800.
The city is divided into three parking zones, of which Zone I (I-vyöhyke) is the most central and accordingly the most costly. Parking is reasonably expensive – meters cost from €0.50 to €2 per hour and parking spaces cost as much as €3 per hour and upwards. With a few exceptions, parking is free after 1800. Parking meters take ordinary coins or parking cards, which can be purchased in advance from R-kioski (newsagents) and service stations. The major car parks are located at the Shopping Centre Forum, Mannerheimintie 20, and Shopping Centre Kluuvi, Aleksanterinkatu 9.
Car Hire
Car hire is available at the airport, railway station, major hotels and tourist offices. Operators include Avis, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 17 (tel: (09) 441 155; website: www.avis.com), Budget, Malminkatu 24 (tel: (09) 686 6500 or (0800) 124 424; fax: (09) 685 3350; website: www.budget.fi), Europcar (tel: (09) 4780 2220 or 7515 5444 or (0800) 12154; fax: (09) 478 02222; website: www.europcar.fi), Bevari, Helsinki Airport (tel: (09) 8516 4460; website: www.carrentalbevari.fi), and Hertz, Mannerheimintie 44 (tel: (020) 555 2300; website: www.hertz.fi).
The minimum age for car hire varies from 19 to 25 years, depending on the hire company, with extra charges made for additional drivers. A pink-format EU driving licence or an International Driving Permit is required including one year’s driving experience. A credit card is usually needed as a deposit. Car hire costs from approximately €28.50 per day and €0.30 per kilometre. Fuel charges are not included in the rates and Collision Damage Waiver costs approximately €5-17 per day.
Bicycle Hire
Owing to Helsinki’s flat topography, bicycles are a popular way of getting around and the lanes run concurrently with footpaths. It should be noted that all bicycle traffic lights must be observed to avoid a fine.
Bicycles are available for hire from Cat Sport Oy, Toolonlahti kiosk on the Finlandia Hall shore (tel: (0400) 404 012), where rates are €5 per hour or €10 per day, with a €17 deposit, or from Rastila Camping, Karavaanikatu 4 (tel: (09) 3211 66551). Citybike (tel: (09) 168 3515) hires out bikes from stands around the city. Cyclists pay a deposit of €2 and return the bike to any one of the 26 stands, which only operate during the summer. The City of Helsinki Tourist Office can also provide information on this hire scheme, while information about cycling events is available from the Cycling Union of Finland, Radiokatu 20 (tel: (09) 278 6575; fax: (09) 278 6585).
Boat Hire
During the summer, rowing boats and kayaks are a popular way of island hopping and getting around Helsinki’s shoreline. These are available for hire from Cat Sport Oy and Rastila Camping (see Bicycle Hire above). Hire prices are approximately €960-1420 per week.
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