Helsinki tourist ticket

I was thinking about getting the Helsinki card but I noticed that there is tourist ticket for use on the public transportation. It also includes the ferry. Since most of the sights seem to be free, I am thinking this may be the best way to go. Has anybody purchased this tourist ticket?

I plan to purchase the tourist ticket from the bus driver at the pier when we are there in 3 weeks! That way we can use the 3T all day, plus, if the weather is good, we can use it on the ferry. It seemed like most sites we wanted to see were free, so I chose not to buy the city card here.

We bought tourist tickets from the bus driver. It was 6 euros per person. We paid with the euros we had from previous euro ports.

We used the tickets on buses and ferries. It's very convenient.

I you are taking iPods (or other mp3 players) with you, you might consider an audio guide that goes along with the 3T tram route. I found a tour that can be downloaded to iTunes for € 2.99. We plan to use it this summer, but if it's too much trouble or we don't like it, we're out less than $5. I've listened to part of the tour and it's very easy to understand.

http://www.dewhurstdesigns.co.uk/helsinki/

Those who plan to use tram 3T/3B in Helsinki this summer (2008) should note that there is a change in the route due to extensive road work at Porthaninkatu. The trams will use Helsinginkatu-Hämeentie instead. See this map:

http://www.hel.fi/wps/wcm/resources/file/eb950102caf5a17/3T_english_2007_net.pdf

I means that on the map 3T from stop #19 will go straight to the edge of the map and then back to rejoin the normal route at stop #23 (and tram 3B the other way from #23 to#19.). There aren't much to see for tourists in that part of town anyway (with the possible exception of Kallio Church) you'll not miss much, but it is perhaps good to know it in advance to avoid confusion when the tram starts to go in "wrong way".

Those who plan to use tram 3T/3B in Helsinki this summer (2008) should note that there is a change in the route due to extensive road work at Porthaninkatu. The trams will use Helsinginkatu-Hämeentie instead. See this map:

 

http://www.hel.fi/wps/wcm/resources/file/eb950102caf5a17/3T_english_2007_net.pdf

 

I means that on the map 3T from stop #19 will go straight to the edge of the map and then back to rejoin the normal route at stop #23 (and tram 3B the other way from #23 to#19.). There aren't much to see for tourists in that part of town anyway (with the possible exception of Kallio Church) you'll not miss much, but it is perhaps good to know it in advance to avoid confusion when the tram starts to go in "wrong way".

Ultima Thule, I really appreciate the heads-up about the construction and revised route of 3T. Now we won't be concerned when "Bear Park" doesn't come into view. Thank you.

To Ultima Thule-

Thanks so much for the warning. I would have been totally lost trying to follow the audio tour!

Thanks Ultima Thule! Glad you let me know. I was planning to download audio so I appreciate it.

Do you know what stop we need for the Sylibus Monument? It isn't listed on the 3T guide.

Never mind my question in the previous post. I found the stop. Can you walk the Olympic Stadium from the monument?

The Sibelius Monument should be closest to stop #12 on the tram map. However #3T/3B is not optimal for visiting the monument as its a 2000 feet walk from the tram stop.

Closest would be bus 24 with some 600 feet from bus stops "Kivelän sairaala/Stengårds sjukhus" or "Rajasaaren tie/Råholmsvägen". Bus "24 starts near the Swedish theatre (#28 on the map) and there is a bus stop next to the tramstop (#6) at the Natural History Museum as well. Problem is that its a 20-25min interval between the buses.

Another alternative is bus 18 or Bus 14 /14B that all stops at Töölön kirjasto/Tölö Bibliotek" (Töölö library) with some 1000 feet walk to the Sibelius Moument. All three stop at Runeberginkatu around the corner from tram stop #7 on the map. (Bus 18 also stops at southeast corner of railway station while 14B is the one that starts from the cruise quay at the western harbour.)

Anyway. "Can you walk the Olympic Stadium from the monument?" you ask. Well it depends on you of course. Its about 1 km (3000 feet) from the monument to the base of the stadium tower.

From monument to the "Mechelininkatu" street and follow it northwards through the park (its slightly uphill but not too bad). Over the street and turn to the right at the yellow house into "Humalistonkatu" street. You should now be able to see the top of the stadium tower in front of you. Go "Humalistonkatu" street downhill. You'll have Töölö library in the park on your right side (a modern building that is windowless on that side). Now instead of following the direction of the stadium tower you should take the "Eino Leinon Katu" street leading a bit to the right instead (this will earn you 300 feet as you otherwise will have to circle a football field later) . You'll pass the yellow tram terminal buildings. Then over Mannerheim road and along "Toivonkatu" to the park, passing the old exhibition hall.

Here are some pictures of the area.

The first one is from east. Looking at the boat harbour in the top/middle then the Sibelius monument is in the little grey treeless area right under it. The library is the low light gray slightly bent shaped building at right/bottom corner of the park. You can see three tram terminal buildings at the right of the picture and the old exhibition hall atthe bottom of the picture.

The second picture is from the north so you will walk from right to the left.

The last one is from south.

http://www.pjoy.fi/galleria/keskusta/0509250986.htm

http://www.pjoy.fi/galleria/keskusta/0504243983.htm

http://www.pjoy.fi/galleria/keskusta/0509251003.htm

Thanks for all the good information Ultima Thule. My wife and I are in Helsinki April 29, 30 and May 1st. We are at the Scandic Continental Hotel Mannerheimintie 46. Are there any good inexpensive places to eat nearby? We don't want to spend all our money on food! I'm assuming that the weather will be cold. I can take cold O.K. but hope for not much RAIN. Thanks, Don

Thanks for the info and the pictures. It gives me a better idea where everything is located.

is the helsinki card worth it for us?

we're there one day on a cruise, probably going to the do the 3T tour and the fortress.

So depending on the cost of the ferry, the tram and the museums that would help.

what's the different between that and the tourist ticket?

thanks

sheree

I plan to purchase the tourist ticket from the bus driver at the pier when we are there in 3 weeks! That way we can use the 3T all day, plus, if the weather is good, we can use it on the ferry. It seemed like most sites we wanted to see were free, so I chose not to buy the city card here.

Will you please tell me what we should visit on our stop. The day ticket looks me a great way to go.:) :) Thank you

My wife and I are in Helsinki April 29, 30 and May 1st. We are at the Scandic Continental Hotel Mannerheimintie 46. Are there any good inexpensive places to eat nearby? We don't want to spend all our money on food! I'm assuming that the weather will be cold. I can take cold O.K. but hope for not much RAIN. Thanks, Don

There is a residential area behind the hotel so yes, it shouldn't be impossible to find anything to your taste even if you shouldn't expect a restaurant in each street corner in Helsinki. Anyway, the hotel is just some 10 minutes walk from town center with good selection of food places.

Here is a full(?) list:

http://www.finnguide.fi/finlandrestaurants/place.asp?offset=0

It is indeed still cold here with temperatures going down to some 40 F during nights. However if it is sunny temperatures will climb fast to 50-60F. Right now as I'm writing this it is 10 a.m., sunny and 54 F.

is the helsinki card worth it for us?

we're there one day on a cruise, probably going to the do the 3T tour and the fortress.

So depending on the cost of the ferry, the tram and the museums that would help.

what's the different between that and the tourist ticket?

thanks

 

sheree

Helsinki card costs 33 € while a 1 day Tourist Ticket costs 6 €

Both entitles you to free travel on trams, buses and subway inside the city borders.

Helsinki card entitles you to free travel on the ferry and water buses to the sea fortress as well as free access to all the museums.

The Tourist Ticket entitles you to free travel only on the ferry.

The ferry will take you the Main Quay while the water buses will take you to Visitor Center Quay in Artillery Bay. See the map:

http://www.suomenlinna.fi/tiedostot/matkailu/SLmap.pdf

Prices to the museums can be found here:

http://www.suomenlinna.fi/index.php?menuid=11&lang=eng

Will you please tell me what we should visit on our stop. The day ticket looks me a great way to go.:) :) Thank you

We plan to visit the Temppeliaukio Church (also know as Rock Church), Uspenski Cathedral, Sibelius Monument, Senate Square, Esplanade Park, the Market and probably the Olympic site. All of these are stops on the 3T tram.

Here is a good website on all the attractions.

http://www.hel2.fi/tourism/en/ohjelmaa_kohteet.asp?kieli=en&ASPKATEGORIA=1&a=0&page=1&aspword=Ntop

Thanks everyone for all the good information. We will be there in less than a week!!! Don:cool:

Wish I will be there in a week! Have a great time, Quacker. I am anxious to hear about your trip.

Ultima, do the ferries run as often as the waterbuses? In looking at the map, it looks like we can easily walk everywhere from the ferry drop off.

Ultima, do the ferries run as often as the waterbuses? In looking at the map, it looks like we can easily walk everywhere from the ferry drop off.

They run quite often during tourist season i.e May to August.

Here is the new summer time table for the ferries:

http://www.hel2.fi/HKL/aikataulut/kauppatori.pdf

Ma-Fe = Mon-Fri

La = Saturday

Su = Sunday

S = new ferry, other departures with old ferry or m/s Tor

And here is the summer time table for the water buses:

http://www.jt-line.fi/eng/suomenlinna_aikataulut.htm

Thank you. I don't know if I am reading it right, but it appears that they run every 20 minutes. Is that correct? If so, I don't see an advantage in buying the Helsinki Card over the Tourist ticket.

Ultima Thule you wouldn't by any chance be willing to be a tour guide when we are there in July by any chance would you?

llund,

Yes that should be correct. Every 20 min from 10.40 am to 6.40 pm on weeksdays with a few exceptions and so on.

Sanger Cruiser,

Thanks for asking :D , but I have to say no.

Thank you. I have been in contact with my daughter's friend from Helsinki (who now married an Austrailian and living in Perth). She told me to definitely take the ferry over to Suomenlinna. She also mentioned to try the chocolate while in Helsinki: Fazer brand and Geisha.

:) Good evening,

And many thanks for your most courteous and informative posts on Helsinki.

As we'll be calling there on CENTURY 27th June, your various guidances are appreciated VERY much.

THANK you

Cheers

;)