Helsinki - Getting Around
Public Transport
The HKL Tourist Ticket allows for unlimited travel on all buses, trams, metro and local trains within Helsinki. One-, three- and five-day tickets are available.
Taxis
Driving in the City
The city is divided into three parking zones, of which Zone I (I-vyöhyke) is the most central and the most costly. With a few exceptions, parking is free after 1800. Parking meters take ordinary coins or parking cards, which can be purchased in advance from R-kioski (newsagents) and service stations. The major car parks are located at the Shopping Centre Forum, Mannerheimintie 20, and Shopping Centre Kluuvi, Aleksanterinkatu 9.
Car Hire
The minimum age for car hire varies from 19 to 25 years, depending on the hire company, with extra charges made for additional drivers. An EU driving licence or an International Driving Permit is required, including one year's driving experience. A credit card is usually needed as a deposit. Fuel is not included in the rates and Collision Damage Waiver is extra.
Bicycle Hire
From June to late August, City Bikes are available from stands around the city upon payment of a small deposit, which is repaid on the bicycle's return. The City of Helsinki Tourist Office offers details of this hire scheme, while information about cycling events is available from the Cycling Union of Finland, Radiokatu 20 (tel: (09) 278 6575; website: www.pyoraily.fi (Finnish only)). Bicycles are available for hire from Greenbike, Bulevardi 32 (tel: (0) 5040 40400; website: www.greenbike.fi).
During the summer, rowing boats and kayaks are a popular way of island hopping and getting around Helsinki's shoreline. These are available for hire from Cat Sport Oy (tel: (041) 530 9240; website: www.multi.fi/~catsport/vuokraamo.html) at the Toolonlahti kiosk on the Finlandia Hall shore and Rastila Camping, Karavaanikatu 4 (tel: (09) 321 6551; website: www.hel2.fi/liv/rastila/rastilaenglish.html), in Vuosaari in Eastern Helsinki.
Tours of Helsinki
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