Helsinki and traveling

Arriving in Helsinki

By plane: Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Connections to the city center (railway station) from the airport:

  • Taxi (40-50 €)
  • NEW! Train "Ring trail line" from the Airport to Helsinki City Center (c. 5 €), timetable
  • Finnair City Bus (6-7 €), timetable
  • Public Transport Bus (c. 5 €), timetable

Helsinki is also easily reached by high-class ferries from Stockholm (overnight trips) and from Tallinn (several ferries, duration 1.5 to 3.5 hours). There is also a direct train connection to St. Petersburg (4 hours). See below the section on pre- and post-conference excursions for further information.

Tourist information at CLMPS 2015

The City of Helsinki sponsors CLMPS 2015 with a free tourist information point that will serve congress participants during lunch hours Monday-Saturday. The tourist information point will be located next to the CLMPS 2015 registration desk. Please ask the guides all the things that you have always wanted to know about Helsinki and Finland!

Transportation in Helsinki

You can find information about timetables and routes of public transport at the Helsinki Journey Planner.
Ticket fares can be found here.

There are numerous taxi stands around the city centre. 
To order a taxi, you can call +358 100 0700 at any time (more information at www.taksihelsinki.fi). Taxis can also be hailed.

Restaurants & cafés

In the city centre you can find plenty of restaurants and cafés. For restaurant tips check out eat.fi and Visit Helsinki.

Cafés

  • Karl Fazer Café, Kluuvikatu 3
  • Café Engel, Aleksanterinkatu 26
  • Espresso Edge, Liisankatu 29
  • Ciao Café, Aleksanterinkatu 28
  • Torrefazione Fratello, Yliopistonkatu 6
  • Café Neuhaus, Unioninkatu 32
  • Gran Delicato Galleria Esplanad, Kämp Gallery, Pohjoisesplanadi 29

Weather

The average day temperature is around 17 °C in Helsinki in early August. There might be occasional rain showers, and in the night the temperature might drop down to 10 °C, so remember to take some warm clothes and an umbrella with you.

See Helsinki local weather on the web site of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Tourist information & traveller's basic info

Tourist information of the city of Helsinki: Visit Helsinki
Take a virtual tour around the city: Virtual Helsinki

Information on events, shopping, museums etc.: Helsinki This Week
Check out the main attractions: Main Attractions
Shopping and Finnish design: Helsinki Design District
The Helsinki Card and sightseeing tours: Helsinki Expert
Sauna & swimming: Visit Helsinki sauna & swimming
Boat tours: Excursions at sea

Download here a city guide to Helsinki.
Download here a map of the Helsinki central area.

Finland's official tourist information site: Visit Finland
Traveller's info (e.g. currency, visas etc.): Info for Travellers

Pre- and post-congress excursions

Helsinki offers an unique opportunity to visit Tallinn, Stockholm or St. Petersburg before or after the congress. Visiting the old town of Porvoo, 50 km from Helsinki, is an excellent way to explore southern Finland. If you want to see northern Finland and reindeers, visit Lapland.


If you have

  • One day max. → Tallinn (a day cruise) or Porvoo (a boat or bus trip)
  • One night max. → St. Petersburg (by Allegro Train, 1 night in St. Petersburg)
  • Two nights → St. Petersburg or Stockholm (a two night cruise, 1 day in St. Petersburg or Stockholm) or Lapland.


Package tours to Tallinn, Stockholm and St. Petersburg:

Ferries and cruises to Tallinn

Ferries and Cruises to Stockholm

Ferries and hotel packages to St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg by train

Boat and bus trips to Porvoo

Lapland by plane (Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Kemi, Enontekiö and Kittilä airports)

Lapland by train (to Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi)

Car rental services