How to get to Finland and travel around easily

You can fly, cruise, drive or take the train to Finland.

Arriving by plane: Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL) airport near the capital city is the country’s biggest airport and offers many connections to and from other parts of the country and abroad. Besides Helsinki, there are a handful of national airports, such as Rovaniemi (RVN) and Kittilä (KTT) in Lapland, that offer direct international flights. Check the options for your point of departure.

Arriving by boat: Helsinki has boat connections with Germany, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia. You can also arrive by boat via Vaasa (from Umeå, Sweden), Turku (from Stockholm, Sweden) and Hanko (from Nynäshamn, Sweden and Gdynia, Poland). There are many companies that offer Baltic Sea cruises – some of them also stop at ports in Finland for day trips.

Arriving by car: On the northeastern border of Finland, you can drive in via Sweden and Norway. You can also drive your own car to a boat and then cross the Baltic to Finland.

Arriving by train: Finland's rail network now stretches to Sweden, with regular train connections from Oulu to Haaparanda that link up with Helsinki-bound services. From there, Norrtåg trains carry you onward through Sweden and beyond, making an all-rail route across the Nordics a genuine option.

Most visitors to Finland travel to or via Helsinki, the capital. Helsinki Airport (HEL) is not only Finland’s main international gateway but also consistently ranked among the best airports in the world for its smooth passenger experience, cleanliness, and Nordic design. Helsinki Airport is a popular transfer hub for flights between Europe and Asia, thanks to its compact layout and short walking distances. Most connections can be made in as little as 45 minutes.

Helsinki Airport is located just 18 km (about 11 miles) north of the city centre, and travel into town takes about 30 minutes or less.

By taxi or ride-hailing: Taxis are available 24/7 and the ride to the city centre takes around 25 minutes. If you're taking a taxi, check the fare information displayed on the back right side of the car, visible from the outside. The fare list must show a comparison price — based on a 10 km, 15-minute journey — as well as any minimum fare. At Helsinki Airport, the taxi station has four queues for different taxi companies. Queues 1–3 are reserved for Finavia’s official partner taxi operators. Finavia is the Finnish airport company responsible for managing Helsinki Airport.

By bus: Several local and regional buses operate between the airport and Helsinki, offering budget-friendly options.

By train: The commuter train lines I and P connect the airport directly to Helsinki Central Station in about 30 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes during the day. 

Below you'll find a quick video explaining how the train works.

Finland is a large and sparsely populated country, but getting from point A to B is no hassle – everything runs like clockwork. Air, rail, road and water transport networks are comprehensive and reliable. The Perille service will help you make sense of your options based on travel time, cost and carbon footprint.