Ultima Thule

I think its a nice plan, a rather long walk but not at all impossible. All depends of the weather of course and one must keep track of the time.

The way along the sea from the quay past the small boat harbour and the Kaivopuisto park to the market is quite nice with mostly new built sidewalks and nice views. You should have no problem reaching the market in time. Note that the water buses are run by a private company and costs more then the ferry, starts from the west side of the market and will take you to Artillery bay, bypassing he first fortress island.

If you ignore the museums you should be able to do the fortress easily in less than two hours. The roads are going up and downhill a lot so they are a bit tiring. So the major problem might be to get the feet back up to speed again after having rested on the water bus back.

Guess you would return to the Market around noon. Go up to nearby Senate Square and have a look at the Lutheran cathedral. Work your way past downtown, possibly past the railway station to Mannerheim road and

follow it past the Parlament, National Museum, Finlandia house and the Opera. If you walk just a little bit further into the park you'll be able to see the Olympic Stadium at a distance as well.

Regarding the route from Sibelius Monument to the rock church I personally find Mechelin street quite boring so cross over to Runeberg streetm, possibly via the Hesperia park and then take Luther street uphill to the church.

When taking Fredrick street southwards from the church you'll pass the Kamppi shopping mall that would take you on to the Forum shopping mall and Sokos and Stockmann department stores on Mannerheim road.

Or just visit the flee market as you suggested. If you feel it is getting late have the option to walk one block up from the flee market along the Boulevard to Albert street corner where bus 14 would take you back to quay LHC.

Actually, I was wondering whether there is a tourist information branch in the cruise port terminal at Hernesaari. Rick Steves seems to imply that there is one, but i could not find information about it.

The Hernesaari quays as I understand it really don't have much of a terminal. According to http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise there are souvenirs, toilets, internet and phone and guide services on the quay.

And you mentioned that there could be lines for the ferry...that's something I hadn't thought of and hadn't read about! Are these large ferries with a big capacity? Or small boats?

The ferries have quite decent capacity and normally it should be no problem. Its just some beautiful days when everyone decide it's time for a picnic that it might become long queues.

Here is the timetable

http://aikataulut.reittiopas.fi/linjat/en/hLautta_Kauppatori.html

And the ferries:

http://www.suomenlinnanliikenne.fi/en/Equipment

So don't worry too much.

Also, do you know of any good iPhone Helsinki transportation apps? We have found these types of apps to be lifesavers in cities like Paris and London.

I don't use that stuff myself so I cannot say whats good and not and it seems most services are just in Finnish so far, but have a look at this page:

https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes/mobile-apps

 

Take tram #9 from the port (Can you buy a day ticket at the port, and is it coins only?)

If I remember correctly there should be two ticket machines outside the ferry terminal, next to the tram stop. One is for credit cards with chip, the other ones for notes and coins.

Day tickets cost 8 Euro.

While bus drivers should sell one day tickets I cannot guarantee that you can get them from the tram driver but he will sell single tickets for 3 Euro (only coins and notes of 20 Euro or less accepted).

Change to tram #2 at Simonkatu (which is the best stop for Temppeliaukio ?)

The #2 and 9 trams goes in both directions and the interval should be about 10 minutes for both. There are usually digital boards at the stops showing time in minutes to the next tram.

There are three possibilities here.

1) Getting off at Simonkatu. In this case you should go to the opposite platform and take tram 2 from there. (Note that you will travel 270 meters of the route in both directions i.e. twice, this way). It is then two stops to "Kauppakorkeakoulut" where you get off. Then circle the block either by continuing forward and turning right twice or going the opposite direction and turning left. Walking distance is some 300 meter either way.

2) Get off tram 9 one stop earlier at "Kampintori", walk up to the corner. Turn left and then a bit forward to the tram 2 stop on the right side of the street. Walking distance is 150 meters and then you'll be using tram 2 for just one stop.

3) As in the second case go 150 meters to the tram stop but you'll be able to see the church at the end of the street so rather than messing with trams just continue walking for another 500 meter. The last 200 meter will be uphill walking regardless if you use tram or not.

Take tram #2 from Temppeliaukio to Kauppatori

Be sure to take tram 2 in the opposite direction from the one that took you to the chuch. It's then seven stops (some 2.3 km) to the Market. Exit at stop "Kauppatori". The ferry to the fortress starts at the other end of the Market, 200 meter from the tram stop.

Can anyone tell me how to get from the port of Frihamnen to the Royal Palace/Gamla Stan by public transport? Bus/ferry/tram? Any guess which would be the easiest? Am planning to have a Stockholm card so I think they are all included!

Bus 76, I guess.

http://sl.se/resources/maps/geographics/2015/7510.Innerstan.2015.html

http://sl.se/ficktid/sommar/s76.pdf

We are arriving in Helsinki on June 17 on the Disney Magic, docking at Hernesaari, I believe. I don't know if they will have a shuttle or not. We are only in port from noon until 1745. Do you think that's enough time to get to Suomenlinna and back using public transportation? Between reading the old info in the Rick Steves' book and the new info on here, my head is spinning. I think we need to get to market square to catch the ferry to the island and it doesn't seem like anything goes directly there from the port.

Yes, West Harbour (Hernesaari) quay LHC and there is no public transport that goes straight to the market anymore.

If you want to take public transport its best to take bus 14, getting off at "Tehtaanpuisto" and changing there to tram 3 to the market, exiting at tram stop "Kauppatori". Tram will change number to #2 during the way - good to know if you want to take the same route back. But beware that there might be queues to the ferry in June-July it the weather is good.

Is there still a TI branch at the port itself like Rick says?

Not sure if I understand the question correctly but if it is about the huge computer etc. store in West Harbour then it not on the Hernesaari side but on the other side of the bay.

I apologize if this question has already been answered...is the tram/bus ticket valid for a period of time (ie 1 or 2 hours from the purchase time), or just valid for the specific trip? For example, can I buy a tram ticket and travel, get off and sight see, then get back on using the same ticket within a specific time period?

Thanks!

Tickets purchased from ticket machines and on board are valid from the moment of purchase. The expiry time is printed on the ticket.

You can transfer from one vehicle to another within the validity of your ticket. You must get on a bus, tram or train before the expiry time of your ticket, but you can complete your journey even after your ticket has expired.

Helsinki internal single tickets are valid for 60 minutes. On some bus routes such as eastern Metro feeder services and northeastern feeder services, single tickets purchased from drivers are valid for 20 minutes longer.

https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/single-ticket

You seem to have done a lot of research. The routes should work.

 

1. West Harbour to Open Air Museum:

From West Harbour walk towards to Saukonpaasi and take Tram 8 towards Arabia, then get off at Perhonkatu. Take Bus 24 at Valnamoisenkatu towards Seurasaari -> then a 10 mins walk to the open air museum.

Note that the section from the quay to Saukonpaasi is very much under developement. So be prepared its just a tarmac road across an open field.

2. Open Air Museum to Market Square

About 20 mins walk from Seurasaari to Meilahdentie, take tram 4 towards Katajanokka, get off at Ritarihuone -> then a 5 mins walk to Market Square

Should be ok even if I don't think I have ever walked that particular route myself. Another option would be to take bus 24 back towards downtown, get off at Kajanuksenkatu and then walk a few blocks to the tram 4 stop on Mannerheim road but perhaps that will not fit with your timetable as it is 20 minutes between the buses?

3. Market Square to West Harbour

Take bus 20 from Erottaja towards Lauttasaari, get off from Lansisatamankatu and walk about 10 mins to West Harbour

Personally I should walk to the railway station instead and take tram 9 to the harbour, thus avoiding the route I mention in point 1.

Ferry to the fortress will depart from the market at 7.40, 8.20 etc. on Sundays.

http://aikataulut.reittiopas.fi/linjat/en/hLautta_Kauppatori.html

Aren't the museums and guided tours for Suomenlinna still closed on a Sunday morning?

Times depend of the date. Check it out at:

http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/opening-hours/

And yes, the Market will be open Sunday, from 10 a.m. onwards I think.

 

We'll be docking at the West Harbour (LMA). There will be 8 of us, so we're hoping to take a cab to the Market Square. Will there be van cabs available to take all 8 of us? Or would we need to take 2 taxis? If there are van cabs, will it cost more than 12 to 15 Euro to get to Market Square?

The taxi fleet have 8 passenger minivans so that would be ideal for you. Due to the number of passengers the extra cost to the market would be some 2.50 Euro or about 15 or 17 Euro in total so that would be much cheaper than having to take two taxis.

http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/en/taxi-fleet-0

The problem of course is there is no guarantee that you'll be able to get hold of a minivan in the harbor. In this case it might be an idea to order one, but that would of course cost a bit.

Will it be easy to find a taxi when we get off the ship, also on the way back from town? Or do I need to book it in advance?

Of course the taxi drivers know where to find potential customers. For example, each morning lots of taxis are lining up when the ferries from Sweden or Estonia arrive. So there will surely be taxis at the cruise ships as well but of course I cannot say how many. regarding LMA there is also a taxi stand in front of nearby ferry terminal.

I don't think there should be any problem finding a taxi for the return trip. Good places to look are for example at the Senate Square, on the Northern Esplanade and at the Railway Station.

Here is a full list of taxi stands here with map links in alphabetical order

http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/en/taxi-stands.

Picking from the list, those in downtown that might be of interest for a tourist would be:

Annankatu, Asema-aukio, Coach Station, Eliel Square, Erottaja, Hietalahti market place, Kämp Hotel, Kamppi Metro Station, Kapteenikatu, Klaus K Hotel, Marki Hotel, Presidentti Hotel, Radizon Blue Plaza, Senate Square, Simonkenttä Hotel, Viiskulma, West Harbor.

- is there a local shuttle service from the docks to the Market Square?

- can I have the contacts for a taxi service into town, how much would this cost?

I cannot give any guarantees but in my experience there always seems to be shuttle buses taking passengers into town and back when cruise ships are in West Harbour. Especially from quay LMA it should be foolish not to have some kind of service. Buses always show a sign with name of ship or line and a consecutive number (like Celebrity #1, Celebrity #2 etc). I think some local company might be providing the service for the cruise lines but I don't know any details.

Regarding taxi the trip to the market should be something like 4 km so it would be somewhere between 12 and 15 Euro, depending on time and number of persons.

http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/en

Of course, the ships have a lower standard then a modern cruise ship.

And a lower standard than the Stockholm-Helsinki ferries as well.

There is of course the train option as well.

https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/russian_timetables

We arrive in Helsinki on July 19 on Celebrity Eclipse and I can see we dock at Western Harbour, but can't find out at which number dock1-4, can you help please?? If so can you tell us the buses/ trams that are most convenient to get to Market Square so we can visit Suomenlinna.

Its quay LMA i.e #4 on this map:

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

No public transport buses from there I'm afraid. Tram #9 starts a bit away (about 0.4 miles) and will take you to the railway station. Either walk from there (2/3 of a mile) or change to tram #2, going in the same direction, to the Market Square.

Or then take a shuttle bus to the city center. Don't know exactly where the bus will stop this year but it should be about half a mile walk along the Esplanade park to the Market from the bus stop,

Thanks for this wonderful information!

 

Within the area from the Russian Orthodox Church to the Esplanade, can you recommend a place for lunch?

A salmon soup at the Market Square perhaps??

Where is a quite nice video that might give you a feeling for the area:

We're doing to be docking on the east side of Katajanokka Quay (EKL).

Thats an ideal position! You will be able to see the Market Square from the ship.

Looking at the map in the link below, it appears that the Russian Orthodox Church is at/close to the end of the Quay. The Lutheran Cathedral is only a short distance away on the north side of Senate Square. Can you give me an estimate of the walking distances involved

Yes, the Orthodox Church would be very close, some 400m (a quarter of a mile) away with the Lutheran Cathedral a further 600m (0.4 miles) away ( a bit longer if you go through the Market Square).

The Orthodox Church is on the top of the hill and the fastest way down is along a winding path with a lot of steps but for those who don't like that there as a longer alternative route through the park.

How far away is the train station from the Lutheran Cathedral?

600m (0.4 miles)

Again, using the map I've linked there are some numbers along the parallel road, the Pohjoisesplanadi. Do those numbers refer to stores? something else? If they're store numbers, which one is the Marimekko store? Any other stores featuring Finnish design?

I think they refer to stores and Marimekko might be #3 on that map. Anyway, the address is Pohjoisesplanadi 33. And yes, there are several design store on the Pohjoisesplanadi (Northen Esplanade) including Iittala glass on Pohjoisesplanadi 25 (might be #9 on your map).

Finally, how far away is the Rock Church? How could we go there if there's time?

Depends on from where you start. 2.4 km (1.5 miles) from the ship, 1.4 km (0,9 miles) from Marimekko or 1 km (0.6 miles) from the railway station. You can either take tram 2 (exit at stop "Kauppakorkeakoulut") or walk through the town center. (Esplanade-Mannerheim Road-Arcadia Street-Fredrik Street). Or perhaps walk and then take the tram back to the Market.

We also have a very similar plan for Helsinki, we get there on May 30 and want to take Celebrity's shuttle into town, though now am wondering if the #14 bus mightn't be cheaper and serve the same purpose:D Will the 6 euros one day ticket be good for both bus and tram, if so that should be ideal.

 

We also want to see the Sibellius monument, will the #2 tram take us there also? If the weather is good we may take the Suomenlinna ferry, will see how it goes.

 

BTW suec, understand its quite a long walk from the docks to Market Square, so the bus or shuttle would be best.

You will dock at quay LMA on the other side of the bay so bus 14 is not an option in this case. It is 2 miles to the market so I think a shuttle bus would be best here. Tram 9 is an option but that one is often filled to capacity from the nearby ferries.

The Sibelius monument is reachable from tram 2, 0.4 miles walk from stop "Töölön Halli". Bus 24 from town center will pass near the monument but its quite a long interval between the buses.

So we will arrive on Sunday May 10 to LHC / Hernesaari. We mainly want to get into town, visit the Rock Church (since it is Sunday, will that affect being able to enter?), Then go over to the Market for nibbles (again, Sunday - will stalls be open?)

 

From port to town bus 14? buy ticket on bus? switch to bus / tram? Is there still the bus #2 / #3 looping around to take us to the market? and then we need to get back to the port - where do we find bus #14 again?

First, May 10th is Mothers Day so be prepared that the departments stores and other major stores will be closed.

Rock church is open according to activities. (listen to the bulletin tel. +358 (0)9 2340 5940.)

Market will be open. (The Sunday stalls will be a bit different from those on working days).

Generally speaking bus 14 will go from the harbour into town and then north through the west side of the city, that's three blocks (0.3 miles) from what could be considered the city center and 0.6 miles from the market. The bus however will pass quite close to the rock church. The way from the quay to the rock church is about 2 miles. The name of the bus stop near the Rock Church is "Kauppakorkeakoulut". From the bus stop walk half a block back and then a long block uphill to reach the Rock Church.

http://linjakartta.reittiopas.fi/en/#?x=2554247&y=6674106.5&mapview=map&zoom=3&line=1014++1,1014++2

From the Rock Church you could either walk through the town center to the market (1,1 miles) or take the #2 tram.

http://linjakartta.reittiopas.fi/en/#?mapview=map&line=1002%20%201,1002%20%202

Getting back to the #14 bus, there are several options . Note that the bus takes a slightly different route back towards the harbour (light blue on the map). You could either take the #2 tram back to the Rock Church or continue in the other direction. The tram will change its number to #3.

You could then get of the tram at stop "Eiraan sairaala" and the bus stop will be across the corner near the church. https://maps.google.fi/maps?hl=sv&ll=60.157992,24.940204&spn=0.002533,0.008256&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=60.158004,24.940467&panoid=K5RfK5VnwhppOhi5E0jtIQ&cbp=12,299.18,,0,-6.61

Tram 3 route:

http://linjakartta.reittiopas.fi/en/#?x=2552299.2145499&y=6672194.3581995&mapview=map&zoom=6&line=1003++1,1003++2

Or then you like to walk a bit you could take a trip from the market along the Esplanade and Boulevard to the corner Boulevard/Albert Street where you'll find a bus stop (0.75 miles).

Single tickets now costs 3 Euro from the driver. A one day ticket costs 8 Euro.

Hope that helped a bit.

Hi,

 

We also will board in West Harbour, is it possible to just walk to the center? How long will it take?

There are no technical difficulties walking all the way. Depending in quay and walking speed, it should take something between 35 (quay LHB) and 45 minutes.

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

Hello! DH, DD's (8,10) and I are excited for our first European cruise! We will be spending a day (@8 hours) in the port of Stockholm. We would love to see Vasa and Skansen. Our cruise ship does not offer Skansen in an excursion, so we are going to attempt a DIY to Djurgarden. Ease of transportation is our first priority as we have very little experience with public transportation and speak only English. Budget would be our second priority. Right now we are debating between the hop on hop off boats and the Stockholm card. We are berthing at S167. Any advice on the matter would be appreciated. Many thanks!

A few comments.

The Stockholm card will cost 525 kr for adults and 235 kr for children.

Vasa will cost 115 kr adults and is free for children.

I think Skansen will cost 170 kr/ 60 kr during summer.

Note that the Skansen aquarium mentioned by kitkat343 is run by an independent company so its another 120 Kr/ 60 kr for that one (unless you have the Stockholm card of course).

A one day ticket for public tranportation is 115 kr/70 kr

But note! There are special rules for childeren during weekends: See "Traveling with children" at http://sl.se/en/fares--tickets/

While visiting Stockholm a few days ago I noticed that the tram end stop and tracks at Sergels Torg have been removed. Searching on the web I notice that the tram will turn at Kungsträdgården instead until 2018(?). I mention it here as I think the Sergels Torg stop has been referred to earlier in another thread.

Finns are the biggest consumers of coffee in the world, drinking three times as much per capita as the Americans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_consumption_per_capita

http://www.kysy.fi/en/kysymys/finland-biggest-consumer-coffee-world-could-you-tell-me-more

Even if there are expresso style cafes here as well, there should be no problem finding a place that serves a decent cup of coffee.

And nowadays there is a Starbucks in Helsinki, on Northern Esplanade across the street to the Swedish theatre.

Teoretically July should have the best weather of the year and the odds are that the sea will be calm. However, there are no guarantees. I once had the bad luck to be at sea during a rather nasty storm in late July.

I am sailing on the BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS on the July 17, 2015 sailing. How/where can I find this information for exactly where the ship will dock?

25 July 08:00-17:00

http://www.portsofstockholm.com/vessel-calls/

Does anyone know where Oceania's smaller "R" class Oceania ships dock?

The only one I found was Nautica:

12 July - V523 Värtahamnen

20 Aug - V523 Värtahamnen

2 Sep - F650 Frihamnen

That would be bus 76 to Vasa.