Helsinki Travel Forum

Hi there,
in three weeks I`m for business in Helsinki and will stay for the weekend for my own to discover the city. I love Sweden and Norway so much, that I think that I will also like Helsinki.
During the week, I have a rental car but I`m not shure if I will rent it also for the weekend (my own cost) to discover Helsinki and the hinterland.
What do you think about is it easyer with a car or is it easyer without??
Cheers
Clemens

You really don't need a car in Helsinki, city transport is very good. Suburban trains and metro are fast, frequent and hardly ever overcrowded. Extensive tram network is good for getting around in central Helsinki, buses are also fast and take you any place without rail connection. You can check my Helsinki city transport tips for further information.

Hi!

As long as you will stay in the city most of the time a rental car is not necessary. Helsinki has a great public transport system so you can get everywhere by tram or metro. There are also quite a lot of islands off the coast to explore for which you don't need a car.

In case you really want to see places around Helsinki (I can for example recommend Hvitträsk, the house of three famous Finnish architects in a beautiful location at a lake - it's really hard to find it with a car but it's next to impossible to get there by public transport) a car might be a good option. It really depends on where you are planning to go. A day trip to Porvoo, for example, can be easily done by bus or even by boat.

Also Helsinki Tourist Board offers coach trips to the surrounding attractions. I have never used their services so I don't know if they are worth the extra money though.

To cut a long story short: I would decide against the rental car. There's enough to see in and around Helsinki that can be easily reached by bus, train, tram or by boat.

Hope this helps.
Sabine

Keti, the trip to Hvitträsk takes approximately half an hour from the city centre, it's located near Ring III. So it's not 1-2 hours away.

I see. It took us much longer to visit. That's why I thought you meant the way there.

I agree that it's very special place to visit for a first timer to Helsinki. But I can still recommend it to anybody who is interested in architecture and interieur design. It was one example for a place you really need a rental car for...

Oh great, thanks for all that helpful tips.
Now the question with the rental car is done, because I have it for free the whole week, so easygoing.

To all your questions :)
- Interested in Architecutre..yes I am - but not really much in churches
- Interested also in nature, so a trip to an island will be obligatory for me, I also hope to find the location Hvitträsk (possible to find with car gps?)
- How to find gallen-kallela I`m also interested in

But the most important for me is to experience the finnish livestyle, so some cool adresses for going out at the weekend would be great, to do some party or something.

I`m also looking for an Hostel from Friday to Sunday, e.g. to meet some relaxed people and also save my own money :)

Oh I fergot...going out during the week is also possible, will work till about 4 or 5 pm during the week...workplace is in Espoo, does anybody know how far this is to the city center by car (booked a hotel in city-center).