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Helsinki Card is a perfect option for anyone who is visiting Helsinki for the first time, as it is a convenient and cheap way to go through all the main attractions in Helsinki.
Briefly, with Helsinki Card you will get:
- Free entry to +30 attractions in Helsinki
- Panorama Sightseeing City tour
- Hop On Hop Off bus tour or a Canal Route Cruise
- Public transit card within Helsinki region (not in mobile card)
Our recommended itinerary to get the most value
If you are visiting Helsinki for the first time during the winter months (Oct-Apr), we would most definitely start the trip with the Panorama Sightseeing bus tour https://www.helsinkicard.com/helsinki-attractions/panorama-sightseeing-bus-tour.htm that lasts 1 hour 45 minutes (during the summer months, there is a Hop on Hop Off bus available.). This tour takes you to the main attractions in Helsinki, and you will learn how to navigate within the city.
You will see these main attractions:
- Sibelius Monument
- Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
- City Hall
- Parliament Houses
- Helsinki Historic Centre
- Neo-classical and Art Nouveau architecture
- Finlandia Hall
- Opera House
If you are visiting Helsinki during the summer (May-Sept), Helsinki Card gives you a free Canal Route Cruise, which is a charming and easy way to see a bit different side of Helsinki.
Helsinki Card gives you access to +25 attractions in Helsinki (see a full list here), and in our opinion, the best destinations Helsinki Cards gives you for free are:
Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just a short ferry ride away from Helsinki city center. Do this only if you are interested in a guided tour and visiting the museums. You can visit the fortress island also for free.
Amos Rex – The Amos Rex exhibition program comprises the latest, often technically experimental contemporary art, 20th-century modernism and ancient cultures.
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) – Temppeliaukio Church is a unique destination. It is a church that’s built into the rock. It is one of Helsinki’s most popular attractions.
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art – Kiasma is worth a visit already by its architecture. Kiasma focuses mainly on Finnish and Scandinavian contemporary artists.
National Museum of Finland – Learn how Finland used to be in the 13th-19th centuries.
Ateneum Art Museum – See the jewels of Finnish National Gallery’s art collection. Ateneum is the best-known art museum in Finland.
Please note, you can easily walk to all the mentioned museums. They are all right in the Helsinki City Centre (this is one of our reasons why we recommend taking just the Helsinki Card mobile, as the transit is not needed). And remember, the card is valid for either 24, 48 or 72 hours from the first time you use it.
For a rainy day, you can visit SEA LIFE museum. Please note that SEA LIFE is adjacent to Linnanmäki theme park.
Which Helsinki Card should I buy, and how do I get it?
There are different versions of the Helsinki Card, and it can be a bit tricky to decide which one would suit your needs the best. There are 1,2, and 3 day passes with different options City, Region, and Mobile. The difference is just all about whether the card includes the public transit ticket or not. With Helsinki Card City pass, you can travel unlimited within the Helsinki City area. With the Helsinki Card Region, you can also take the airport train for free. Then, there’s the third option of Helsinki Card Mobile that does not include any free travel but is cheaper.
If you have the time, you can order the Helsinki Card to your home address well in advance, so you have everything ready for your trip to Helsinki. If you are a last-minute planner (like we), it is easiest just to buy the mobile card LINKKI.
Our recommendation is to buy a mobile card as it is the most convenient and cheapest way to use and get a Helsinki Card. They do not mention this on their website, but the public transportation is not any cheaper by buying the Helsinki Card, it does not give you a discount.
If mobile is not your way to go and you prefer a physical copy of your card (and would like to have everything ready), then you can easily pick-up the card directly at the airport. The Helsinki Card pick-up location at the airport is:
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Airpro Travel Service
Address: Airpro Travel Service, located in the Terminal T2 ground level (P-floor). Go down the escalator from arrival hall 2A.
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7:00-18:00
Read here our guide on how to get from the airport to the city center with the train and how to buy the regular public transit tickets.
If you plan to buy the physical ticket once you arrive in Helsinki, you can buy it from these premises. Most of the hotels sell it directly.
How much does Helsinki Card cost?
The price of our recommended mobile card is:
One day: 44 €/adult and 22€/child
Two days: 52 €/adult and 26€/child
Three days: 59€/adult and 29€/child
You can see all the pricing options on this page.
