Guide for visitors

You are most cordially welcome to the University of Helsinki! By having chosen to spend some time here, you are contributing to our quest for increased internationalisation. With the help of this site we wish to make sure that you can make the best use of your time during this visit and to access the services we have available for you.
Wireless network

There are two separate wireless networks at the University of Helsinki: Eduroam and HelsinkiUni Guest.

Eduroam is an international academic public network. If you already have an eduroam user account at your home university you can use the same account in the eduroam network at UH.

HelsinkiUni Guest visitor network offers incidental visitors an easy way to use online resources. More information about the HelsinkiUni Guest

If you need access to the UH intranet (Flamma), Moodle, wiki or other electronic services, your host unit’s IT contact person can provide you with a limited user account.

More information on IT related matters is available on the website of the University's IT Helpdesk.

Food, library and souvenirs
Transport

The Helsinki region has an integrated public transport ticket system. HSL tickets are valid on public transport services in Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kerava, Kirkkonummi and Sipoo. The same tickets can be used for traveling on buses, trams, the Metro, commuter trains and the ferry to Suomenlinna. You can also transfer from one vehicle to another with the same ticket.

A day ticket is your key to getting around in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The tickets available on single-charge cards allow you to travel easily and at low-cost for 1-7 days.

A great help when you need to figure out how to get from point A to point B in the Helsinki Metropolitan area, is the Journey Planner website. You just type in the address of your starting point and the address of your destination and the website will give you the itinerary, including public transportation schedules and walking directions.

Purchasing tickets

Helsinki internal and regional day tickets are available from the HSL office, located at Central Railway Station and also from ticket machines: the pink single ticket machines sell one day tickets for adults, the blue full-range ticket machines sell 1-7 day tickets for adults and children. You can also buy HSL tickets from convenience stores marked R-Kioski.

The HSL app allows you to easily find tickets and routes. Buy single, day or season tickets wherever and whenever you want and conveniently pay with your debit/credit card. The HSL app is available on apps store for free. Download from AppStoreGooglePlay or AppGallery.

Coming from the airport

Local trains I and P operate between Helsinki Airport and the city centre on the Ring Rail Line every 10–20 minutes. The journey takes 30 minutes. A regional ABC ticket is required. 

Buses operate throughout the region. Bus 615 runs between the airport and the Central Railway Station and takes around 45 minutes. A regional ABC ticket can be purchased from a ticket machine or via HSL mobile app. Bus 415N operates at night.

Timetable for airport trains and busses (Finavia website)

In case you need to get a taxi during your visit in Helsinki, you can either order the taxi by calling 0100 0700 or going directly to a taxi-stand. In general all taxis with a yellow taxi sign are licensed and safe.

Taxi Helsinki website >>

Read more about the airport taxi

Services

ATMs are available throughout the city and they are called the “OTTO” or "Nosto" in Finnish. ATM’s enable you to withdraw cash also with internationally recognized credit cards.

 

In case you need to visit the pharmacy during your visit in Helsinki, the place to go is called “apteekki” in Finnish. Central Helsinki has several pharmacies and the best way to recognize them is the green cross – sign.

Yliopiston Apteekki (University Pharmacy) at Mannerheimintie 96 is open 24/7.

Ac­com­mod­a­tion

The Töölö Towers offer both high quality fully furnished apartments as well as rooms to suit all travelling needs, at very competitive and reasonable rates. Co-owned by the University of Helsinki and Aalto University, the Töölö Towers are located centrally with excellent transport links to all campuses.

For more accommodation options you should visit the My Helsinki website, but to help you start off your search please have a look at the suggestions below. They are all just a short walk away from the University of Helsinki's City Centre Campus and many of the conference venues there:

Radisson Blu Plaza
Scandic Kaisaniemi
Hotel Arthur
Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki
Eurohostel
Scandic Meilahti (Meilahti campus)

Other practical information
See the sights