Finland Guide
Helsinki and the south
Getting around
Much of Helsinki is quite easily covered on foot, though the central area and its immediate surrounding are covered by an integrated transport network of buses, trams and a small metro system. A single-journey ticket costs €2.20, while a group ticket, valid for two adults and up to four children is €8; both are valid for unlimited transfers within one hour. A tram ticket entitling you to one single journey without changing costs €2 if bought from the driver, or €1.80 if bought in advance at the tram machines located at many stops. You can also buy a tourist ticket covering the city and surrounding areas such as Espoo and Vantaa for one (€12), three (€24) or five days (€36), which permits travel on buses and trams displaying double arrows (effectively all of them); obviously, this is only a cost-cutter if used frequently. If you don't intend to leave the city proper, you're better off with a Helsinki-only tourist ticket, again available in one- (€6), three- (€12) and five-day (€18) versions. All these tickets can be bought from drivers or conductors, R-kiosk stands, the long-distance bus station at Kamppi or the City Tourist Office.
On buses you enter at the front, where you must either buy or show your ticket. On trams, if you don't have a ticket enter at the front and purchase one from the driver; if you have a ticket you can enter any of the other doors by pressing the round button marked "Avaa". Metro tickets can be bought from the machines in the stations. If you're tempted to fare-dodge in Helsinki, note that there's an €80 on-the-spot fine plus the cost of a single ticket. Taxis can either be hailed in the street (a vehicle is free if the yellow "taxi" sign is illuminated) or pre-booked: call the Taxi Centre on 
0100/0700 for immediate travel, or 0100/0600 for trips more than an hour or so away. There's a basic charge of €5, with a further €1.30 per kilometre, plus an €2.70 surcharge between 8pm and 6am weekdays and from 4pm Saturday to 6am Monday.
Tram #3T follows a figure-of-eight route around the city, and if you're pushed for time will take you past the most obvious attractions. For a more leisurely exploration, join one of the two-hour guided bus tours (€25) run by Helsinki Expert, Lönrotinkatu 7B ( 09/2288 1600, 
www.helsinkiexpert.fi ), which also offers walking tours of the design district (June– Aug Mon & Fri 1.30pm; €12), good if you're interested in shopping or seeing some of the city's design shops. For details, phone the above number or visit them at the City Tourist Office. There are also numerous boat sightseeing tours from the south harbour, Eteläsatama, costing around €35 for three hours, and including a bus tour. These run daily from around 11am to 7pm, and brochures are available at the tourist office, or from touts at the harbour itself.