Summary
- Take a 6-hour stopover in Helsinki with FinnAir’s suggested itinerary to visit the Design Museum and enjoy local eats.
- Explore Helsinki for 12 hours with visits to art museums, saunas, and dining options around the city.
- Opt for a 24-hour layover in Helsinki to experience the city’s nightlife, free walking tours, and hotel stays.
Travelers on Finnair can take advantage of Finnair’s free stopover itinerary and explore the Finnish capital of Helsinki for 6, 12, or 24 hours for no additional cost. Those not leaving the airport can take advantage of Finnair’s newly opened expanded lounge at the Helsinki Airport.
FinnAir doesn’t actually provide any tours of the capital. Instead, it offers some ideas for a self-guided tour and suggestions on how layover passengers can best utilize their time. The Helsinki Airport is located only 20 kilometers or 12 miles from the city center and takes around 30 to 40 minutes to reach. Options to get to and from the city include trains, taxis, and buses.
Helsinki in six hours
Those transiting the Helsinki Airport with Finnair but with limited time can select Finnair’s six-hour guide. Take transport to the city center (that’s about half an hour) and then walk to the Helsinki Design Museum – Helsiki’s top attractions (it’s another 15-minute stroll). Here, visitors will find themselves in the heart of the hip Helsinki Design District. Another option is to take Tram Line 10 to the museum instead of walking.
Photo: On The Run Photo | Shutterstock
Expect to spend around 90 minutes at the Design Museum (it also costs 20 euros for adults). For those feeling peckish, FinnAir recommends Restaurant Savoy, which is located 6 minutes from the museum.
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Flights via Helsinki Airport: |
Est min connecting time: |
|---|---|
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Domestic Finnish flights: |
35 minutes |
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Flights in Schengen area: |
35 minutes |
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Flights within the non-Schengen area: |
40 minutes |
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Flights from non-Schengen to Schengen: |
40 minutes |
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Flights from Schengen to non-Schengen: |
35 minutes |
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Charter flights to any other flight: |
75 minutes |
After dining, take the time to wander around the Design District. Top neighborhoods worth exploring include Punavuori, Kaartinkaupunki, Kruunuhaka, Kamppi, and Ullanlinna. For a detailed self-guided walking tour itinerary, FinnAir recommends referring to My Helsinki’s self-guided walking tour. While the route is only a mile (and it takes only 15 minutes to complete), allow for at least an hour.
Those with unchecked larger luggage can store it at the Helsinki Airport’s baggage storage at Excess Baggage Company.
Take the time to stop by and explore attractions and novelty shops as one has time. By the end of the route, it is time to return to the train station, where passengers can take the I or P service back to Helsinki Airport (taxis are another option).
Related
Finnair Reveals New Schengen Business Lounge At Helsinki Airport
The lounge will also have an exclusive area for Finnair Plus Platinum members.
Helsinki in 12 hours
Those with more time can see more of Helsinki’s top attractions on top of those in the 6-hour itinerary. Visitors should take the time to visit the Helsinki Art Museum (which costs 18 euros and is closed on Mondays) and the Ateneum Art Museum (the Finnish National Gallery).
Photo:Maria Bulkka/Shutterstock
Transfer tips at Helsinki Airport:
- Transfer Service desks are located near gates 29 to 52
- Transfer Service can issue boarding passes for connecting flights
- Those with baggage not checked for the whole journey need to collect baggage and then re-check the baggage
- Those coming from non-Schengen countries need to go through passport control
No one should pass up a Finnish sauna. Saunas are a way of life in Finland (and perhaps the only Finnish word to cross into everyday English usage). FinnAir recommends visiting the Allas Sea Pool (tickets cost 18 euros on weekdays and 22 euros on weekends). At the sauna, visitors can dine at the Cafe and Terrace or the Seagrill restaurant (located on the second floor).
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
From the Allas Sea Pool, it’s a 20-minute walk (or a tram ride) back to Helsinki Central Station. Taxis can also be booked, and passengers can be picked up at the Sauna.
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Avios can now be transferred from Finnair Plus to Executive Club, and then on to other programs.
Helsinki in 24 hours
Those with a full-day layover can do all the above and then go out on the town for a night out. Finland is famous for its heavy metal scene. FinnAir recommends checking out the listings for Tavastia (one of Europe’s oldest rock clubs). If they run out of time, people can also leave the club by taxi to the airport.
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Finnair profile |
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|---|---|
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Founded: |
1923 |
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Fleet size: |
80 (including Nordic Regional Airlines) |
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Fleet: |
Airbus A319-100, A320-200, A321-200, A330-300, A350-900; ATR 72-500; Embraer E190 |
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Destinations: |
over 80 destinations |
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Countries: |
over 35 countries (in Europe, Asia, and North America) |
Helsinki has plenty of hotels to select from and FinnAir singles Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel and Holiday Inn’s Helsinki Center as good options. A great place for breakfast is Cafe Ekberg (a traditional spot dating from 1852) which offers some of the best pastries and patisserie Helsinki has on offer.
Photo: Finnair
After that, there are free walking tours of Helsinki starting at 11:00 from the Havis Amanda statue located at the eastern end of Esplanadi Park. These tours are free and daily and take around two tours. The tour explores some of Helsinki’s top highlights like the House of Estates, the Evangelical Helsinki Cathedral, the Eastern Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral, the Old Harbor, and Senate Square (the guides speak excellent English).
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Finnair
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- AY/FIN
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Helsinki Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1923
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- CEO:
- Topi Manner
- Country:
- Finland
