Helsinki

All public transportation within Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen is coordinated by HSL (http://www.hsl.fi/EN/Page...). The following basic ticket types are available:

Tram ticket

raitiovaunulippu €2,00 from ticket machines, travel card button "0" €1.38, not available from the driver — valid for one hour on trams only

Single ticket

kertalippu €2,20 by mobile phone or in ticket machines, €2.70 from the driver, travel card button "1" €1.84 — valid on all HKL services within city limits for one hour.

Regional ticket

seutulippu €4.50, travel card button "2" €3.47 — valid for 80 mins within and between Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen

Full region ticket

€7.00, travel card button "3" €5.60 — the above plus Kerava, Sipoo and Kirkkonummi

The Single ticket allows you to travel by almost any local public transportation method buses, trains, trams, metro, Suomenlinna ferry within the boundaries of Helsinki. The Regional ticket covers almost any public transportation method within the boundaries of Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen. However, if you purchase a Tram ticket, you are allowed to travel only by tram. All tickets allow unlimited transfers within their validity periods and regions. Children under 7 travel free, while tickets for children under 16 are half price.

Fares can be paid by cash when boarding except on trams, by sending a text message to 16355 valid on trams, metro and some buses; requires a Finnish SIM card or by Travel Card matkakortti, a reloadable smartcard sold at the R-kiosks and HSL offices, very similar to London's Oyster card. The Travel Card costs €9 nonrefundable and gives a 25% discount on fares. Using it is slightly cumbersome, as you must hold your card against the reader and simultaneously press the numbered button corresponding to the desired ticket type. Hold the card without pressing anything to see the remaining value or to register a transfer. One unadvertised but handy feature of the card is that it can be used by multiple people at once — just hold and press the button repeatedly, and the reader will beep and show "2x", "3x", etc. For any subsequent transfers, holding it against the reader once is sufficient.

Alternatively, you can opt for the Helsinki Card 1 day €36 (children 15 to 3 days €56 children 21) (http://www.helsinkicard.fi/) or HSL Day Ticket matkailijalippu 1 day €7.00, both of which offer unlimited travel within the city. Day Tickets are sold at HSL offices, R-Kiosks located in the city center, ticket vending machines or by the driver. The Helsinki Card also offers free admission to a number of museums and attractions.

The very useful HSL Journey Planner (http://www.reittiopas.fi/en/) will get you from a street address, place or sight to another by suggesting possible public transport connections, covering the entire metropolitan Helsinki region. Try eg. "Airport" or "Railway station" for place names. It is also available in several third party mobile apps for most smart phones, which can use GPS to find your current location.

Getting around at night can be a bit tricky or expensive, as most trains and trams stop before midnight and the buses before 2AM. A limited night bus network, all leaving from either Elielinaukio or Rautatientori next to the railway station, runs on weekends and public holidays after 2AM, charging approximately twice the price of a daytime ticket.

There are no ticket checks when getting on the metro, trains, trams or the Suomenlinna ferry, but ticket inspectors in blue uniforms do random checks on board. If you choose to ride without a ticket, watch out for the inspectors, as getting caught without a ticket results in an €80 fine.

By bike

Alas, Helsinki's free Citybike system was suspended in 2010, although there are plans to bring it back. If you bring your own bike or rent one, you'll find an extensive network of bike routes within the city. Bikers are required by law to drive on the street next to cars unless a bike lane or integrated pedestrian/cyclists sidewalk runs next to it, and the police ticket cyclists breaking this rule. Bike lanes are clearly marked by street markings and blue traffic signs. Biking is also allowed on pedestrian streets.

Downtown bike lanes are typically on the sidewalks instead of next to car lanes on the street so be aware of pedestrians. Don't be afraid to ring your bell! Review your bike map carefully, as some bike routes will stop and require you to walk your bike or drive next to cars. (http://esteeton.teho.net/...). There is also a journey planner for cycling (http://kevytliikenne.ytv....). Once you get out of the city centre, cycling is less complicated.

Public libraries often have free stocks of biking maps in Helsinki Metropolitan Area, so when they are not visible on tables it would be better to ask the map from the library staff.

If an ordinary bike isn't enough for you, you can also rent a cyclerickshaw riksa large enough for three from Riksavuokraus (http://www.riksavuokraus.fi/) tel. +358-50-5582525 in Eiranranta near Kaivopuisto. Prices start at €9/30 min, driver not included but available on request.

By ship

The HKL ferry to Suomenlinna from the Market Square Kauppatori is a cheap and popular summer getaway. Another HKL operated ferry, mostly used only by the island's residents, leaves from the eastern end of Katajanokka. In addition, private operators provide ferries to Suomenlinna and various other islands during the summer; however, schedules can be sparse. HSL's Day Ticket and mobile-phone ticket are both valid also on the Suomenlinna ferry.

By Tram

For tourists the most convenient and scenic means of travel is the extensive tram network, especially lines 3B and 3T that together do a figure-eight circuit around the city. Both run the length of the loop, the tram just changes signs halfway through. Trams and HKL offices usually stock an informative leaflet listing attractions along the way.

From Wednesday to Friday, try to spot the silver-coloured Culture Tram (http://www.hsl.fi/EN/pass...) featuring live performances, art exhibitions and video installations on the route of tram 7B.

By car

Car rental is not a particularly good way of getting around Helsinki, since parking is limited and expensive. Most street-side parking in the city center is in "Zone 1" and costs €3/hour during working hours, although Saturdays mostly and Sundays always are free. There are also several large underground parking garages at Kamppi and Forum.