Public transport in Finland
Finland has no national transit ticket: HSL, Nysse, Föli and Waltti cities sell their own. An HSL AB single costs EUR 3.30 in the app in 2026.
You buy public transport tickets region by region in Finland: a Helsinki region (HSL) ticket does not work on Tampere's Nysse or Turku's Föli, and long-distance trains need a separate VR ticket. In 2026 an adult single ticket for HSL zones AB costs EUR 3.30 in the HSL app and a 30-day AB season ticket EUR 73.90, according to HSL's fare decision for 2026. In Tampere an adult AB single costs EUR 2.50 with a travel card, and in Turku a single costs EUR 3.15 by app, card or contactless payment.
Which system covers your trip
- Inside the Helsinki region: HSL in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and neighbouring municipalities.
- Inside another city region: Nysse in Tampere, Föli in Turku, and systems on the Waltti ticketing platform in cities such as Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti and Joensuu.
- Between cities by train: VR.
- Between cities by coach: private operators, with tickets sold by Matkahuolto and by some operators directly.
- Lapland and the archipelago: domestic flights and ferries.
Each region buys local services from bus and rail operators and sets its own fares. The glossary explains joukkoliikenne (public transport) and matkakortti (travel card).
HSL in the Helsinki region
HSL (Helsingin seudun liikenne) plans services and sells tickets in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Sipoo, Siuntio and Tuusula. One ticket covers buses, trams, the metro, commuter trains and the Suomenlinna ferry within the zones you paid for.
Zones
The HSL area is divided into zones A, B, C and D. Zone A is central Helsinki, B covers the rest of Helsinki and the neighbouring parts of Espoo and Vantaa, C covers most of Espoo and Vantaa, and D the surrounding municipalities. Helsinki Airport is in zone C, so a trip from the airport to the city centre needs an ABC ticket.
2026 HSL prices
HSL raised fares by an average of 3.1% on 1 January 2026. HSL's 2026 fare decision sets these adult prices:
| Ticket | AB (EUR) | ABC (EUR) | ABCD (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, HSL app or card | 3.30 | 4.50 | 5.00 |
| Single, contactless bank card | 3.50 | 4.80 | 5.30 |
| Single, ticket machine | 3.50 | 4.80 | 5.30 |
| 1-day ticket | 10.60 | 12.80 | 13.80 |
| 30-day season ticket | 73.90 | 110.40 | varies |
| 30-day saver subscription (app) | 61.60 | 92.00 | 103.30 |
A single ticket lets you change vehicles while it is valid. An AB single is valid for 80 minutes and an ABC single for 90 minutes; longer zone combinations get up to 110 minutes. Children aged 7 to 17 pay about half, and children under 7 travel free.
Students with a Finnish student card and people aged 70 and over get season tickets at a discount; the AB 30-day ticket costs them EUR 44.30 in 2026.
Payment methods
- HSL app: the cheapest single tickets, season tickets, and the continuous saver subscription.
- Contactless payment: tap a bank card or phone on the reader when you board. HSL introduced it in 2025, and an AB single costs 20 cents more than in the app.
- HSL card: a physical travel card you load with season tickets or value. It suits children and anyone who does not want to depend on a phone battery in January.
- Ticket machines at metro and train stations.
Inspectors check tickets on trams, the metro and trains. Travelling without a valid ticket costs an inspection fee of EUR 100 in the HSL area, the amount in force since 2024.
Network changes in 2026
HSL states that Helsinki's tram network grows on 7 November 2026 when the Kruunusillat (Crown Bridges) tramway opens: line 11 runs from Pasila to Kruunuvuorenranta and line 12 from the Railway Square to Yliskylä in Laajasalo. The Jokeri light rail (line 15) between Itäkeskus and Keilaniemi in Espoo has run since 2023, and the metro reaches Kivenlahti in western Espoo.
The guide to transportation in Helsinki covers the city in more detail.
Fares outside the Helsinki region
Nysse's fare page and Föli's ticket page set the 2026 adult fares below.
| Ticket | Nysse, Tampere (EUR) | Föli, Turku (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, travel card | 2.50 (AB, 90 min) | 3.15 (2 hours) |
| Single, mobile ticket | 2.80 (AB, 90 min) | 3.15 (2 hours) |
| Single, contactless payment | 2.80 (AB, 90 min) | 3.15 (2 hours) |
On Föli, a single bought in cash on the bus costs EUR 4.50, a 1-day ticket EUR 8.30 and a 30-day season ticket EUR 57.00.
Tampere: Nysse
Tampere's regional transport, Nysse, runs buses and the Tampere tram and uses zones A, B and C. You load season tickets onto the Nysse travel card or buy them in the Nysse app. Nysse states that its prices include 13.5% VAT as of 1 January 2026.
Turku: Föli
Föli covers seven municipalities: Turku, Kaarina, Raisio, Naantali, Lieto, Paimio and Rusko, with one flat price across the area. A single ticket is "valid two hours for buses and water buses". A night surcharge of EUR 1 applies from 23:00 to 04:00. Föli tickets are not valid on bus lines 117, 118, 119 and 413.
Other cities: Waltti
Many mid-sized cities use the Waltti ticketing system, including Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Joensuu, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Kouvola, Rovaniemi and Vaasa. Each city sets its own prices and routes, while the card and the Waltti Mobile app work the same way everywhere. A card bought in one Waltti city does not carry season tickets for another, so buy local products when you move.
Bus networks in smaller cities are thinner than in the capital region. Expect fewer departures in the evenings and at weekends, and check the timetable before you rely on a bus to reach work.
Trains: VR
VR runs almost all long-distance passenger trains in Finland. Main routes run from Helsinki to Turku, Tampere, Oulu, Joensuu, Kuopio and Lappeenranta, with night trains to Rovaniemi and Kolari in Lapland. The fastest trains between Helsinki and Tampere take about 1.5 hours.
You buy tickets in the VR app or at vr.fi. Prices vary with demand and how early you book, so if you commute between cities, compare a VR season ticket or multi-trip ticket. Children and students with a Finnish student card, among other groups, get discounts.
Inside the HSL area, commuter trains (lähijunat) are part of HSL and you travel on an HSL ticket. That includes the ring rail line to the airport. VR's airport train page states that "Airport trains I and P take you to Helsinki Airport's railway station, Helsinki Central Railway Station, Tikkurila and Pasila", and that "You will need an ABC ticket for travelling from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki Airport or vice versa." The trip from the centre takes about 30 minutes. The glossary entry on juna lists common rail terms.
Long-distance coaches
Coaches reach many places trains do not, especially in eastern and northern Finland. Matkahuolto sells tickets for many operators' scheduled services, runs bus stations in larger towns, and handles parcel pickups at kiosks and shops across the country. Some operators, such as OnniBus, sell mainly through their own apps.
Express coaches (pikavuoro) stop less and are faster. On the same route a coach costs less than the train and takes longer. See linja-auto in the glossary.
Other ways to get around
- City bikes: Helsinki and Espoo run a shared city bike system from spring to autumn, as do several other cities.
- Ferries: HSL runs the Suomenlinna ferry all year, and road ferries (lautta) in the archipelago are free. See lautta.
- Airport links: see lentokenttä.
The transport in Finland guide covers cycling and driving as well.
Tips for newcomers
- Download the local app on day one. The HSL app, Nysse app, Föli app or Waltti Mobile gives you the cheapest single tickets and live departures.
- Check your zones before you choose a flat. In the capital region, living in zone C instead of B adds EUR 36.50 a month to your 30-day ticket (EUR 110.40 against EUR 73.90).
- Ask your employer about commuter benefits. Many employers offer a tax-free commuter ticket benefit (työsuhdematkalippu).
- Activate before you board. Inspectors do not accept app tickets activated after they arrive.
- Use a journey planner. HSL Journey Planner covers the capital region, and national planners combine trains and buses.
- Plan for winter. Services run in snow and cold, but delays increase and bus stops can be icy. Allow extra time from December to March.
- Keep a backup payment. Contactless bank cards work on HSL, Nysse and Föli if your phone dies.
If you are also considering a car, read driving in Finland.
Routes change on 7 November 2026 if you travel between Pasila, Kruunuvuorenranta, the Railway Square and Laajasalo, because tram lines 11 and 12 start running that day; check the Journey Planner after that date.
Frequently asked questions
How much does public transport cost in Helsinki?
HSL's fare decision for 2026 prices an adult AB single at EUR 3.30 in the app and EUR 3.50 by contactless card. A 1-day AB ticket costs EUR 10.60, and the app's saver subscription brings the 30-day AB price down from EUR 73.90 to EUR 61.60.
Can I use one ticket for public transport across Finland?
No. HSL, Nysse, Föli and the Waltti cities each sell their own tickets, as their fare pages show (Nysse, Föli). Long-distance trains need a VR ticket, and coaches a Matkahuolto or operator ticket.
How do I get from Helsinki Airport to the city centre by public transport?
Take the I or P train from the airport station to Helsinki Central Station. VR's airport train page confirms you need an HSL ABC ticket, which costs EUR 4.50 in the HSL app in 2026.
Can I pay with a bank card on Finnish public transport?
Yes, on HSL, Nysse and Föli. Contactless payment costs EUR 2.80 for a Nysse AB single, according to Nysse, and EUR 3.15 on Föli, according to Föli. On HSL a contactless AB single costs EUR 3.50 against EUR 3.30 in the app.
Do Finnish buses and trains run in winter?
Yes. Trains, the metro, trams and buses run through snow and freezing temperatures, but heavy snowfall delays buses and long-distance trains. Check live departures in the HSL Journey Planner or your regional app and leave earlier.
Sources
- HSL, HSL price list 2026: HSL fares in 2026 (hsl.fi blocks automated checks, so this page was not re-fetched)
- Nysse, Fares, checked 1 October 2026
- Föli, Tickets, checked 1 October 2026
- VR, Get to the airport by train, checked 1 October 2026
Last updated: October 2026