City Overview:

On the south coast of Finland, Helsinki has charm and variety of a city built on headlands and islands, where almost every road ends in a view of the sea. Helsinki is one of Europe’s most modern and culturally progressive cities, yet remains in touch with an intriguing history stretching back over 450 years. It is a city of bustling, colourful market squares and halls, of outdoor summer concerts and sports events, of seaside parks, of excellent cafes and restaurants for every taste and budget, top-notch hotels and cutting-edge art in fine museums. It is also a pleasantly compact city, with many of the attractions in the central districts, within easy reach of one another. Attractions range from the fabulous island fortress of Suomenlinna in the entrance to the South Harbour and the Open Air Museum of traditional buildings on the island of Seurasaari, to the startling Kiasma housing the Museum of Contemporary Art and the unique ‘Church in the Rock’. History abounds in the magnificent Senate Square, with its neo-Classical Lutheran Cathedral, in the nearby Uspensky Orthodox Cathedral, and in the art nouveau details of the Railway Museum and National Museum. Excursions from Helsinki might include a coastal steamer trip to the Old Town of Porvoo, a leisurely cruise around the local archipelago, a trek through the National Park at nearby Nuuksio, or a day-trip to the Estonian capital, Tallinn, just 90 minutes by hydrofoil across the Gulf of Finland. Helsinki is also a good starting point for Baltic cruises to St Petersburg to the east and Stockholm to the west.

Departures: Every Tue and Sat.

Hotel Information:

Holiday Inn City West 4* BB

Near Centre
20 kms to the nearest airport (helsinki)

The lobby is very impressive with funky modern decor.

This hotel is located close to the centre of Helsinki in a suburb called Ruoholahti. The centre of town is an easy 10 minute drive.
This is a modern, purpose-built hotel with a mostly glass facade.

A Costumer's Review:

The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and called and made reservations and went out of their way to research locations for us.
The room was very nice and clean- one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in. The sauna was also very nice and there is even a poster on the wall explaining how the Finns use the sauna.
The hotel is only a block away from the subway station and downtown is only one or two stops away. There is also a supermarket and some stores across the street.

Arthur Hotel 3* BB - Central - Additional €19 ppn

Central / Station
18 kms to the nearest airport (helsinki)
2 minute walk to the nearest metro station (kaisaniemi)
Close to the station (helsinki)
1 minute walk to the nearest bus stop
3 km to the nearest fair site (helsinki fair centre)

The lobby and lounge area is small but comfortably furnished, with leather upholstery.
The hotel is in a central location, close to the main shopping street. It overlooks a residential area and is only a short walk from the harbour.
This hotel's main selling points are its excellent location and friendly staff. Recommended!
This is a fairly characterless modern building. The restaurant is surprisingly large for the size of the hotel. The decor is neutral but cosy.

How to get to the city centre from the airport?

Bus stops are situated in in front of the International terminal and the Domestic Terminal.
From Helsinki City buses 415, 451, 615 and bus 519 from Itäkeskus You can also take the Finnair City Bus from downtown Helsinki to the airport. For timetables visit Finnairs web site.

By Taxi:
The taxi journey from the airport to the centre of Helsinki takes nearly half an hour and costs about €30

There are taxi stations right outside the Arrivals Halls of the Domestic and International terminals. Service desks for the taxi operators can be found at Arrivals halls 1 and 2.

Top Attractions:

1. Suomenlinna Fortress
2. Helsinki's Historic City Center
3. Töölönlahti Bay
4. Hietaniemi Beach
5. Museum Island Seurasaari
6. Linnanmäki Amusement Park
7. Helsinki's Old Town
8. Helsinki Central Railway Station

Optional excursions:

1. 1 Day Helsinki Card €38 pp
2. The Audio Sightseeing Tour €30 pp
3. 2 Day Helsinki Card €48 pp
4. 3 Day Helsinki Card €58 pp
5. Finnish Lakes and Forest €54
6. Helsinki Sightseeing Tour €30 pp
7. Old Wooden Town of Porvo €54 pp