Popular Airport | Helsinki - Helsinki Vantaa Airport |
|---|---|
Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 2 hour 10 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 1775 Km |
Transportation to Airport from Zurich City Center
Zurich Airport
Zurich has a very well developed public transportation system within the city. This system also serves the airport, which is located 13 km from downtown Zurich. Using the tram or bus lines from anywhere in the city you can get to the main railway station, Zurich Hauptbahnhof. From this station you can easily take a train or tram to the airport. Zurich Airport is accessible by train, bus, tram, and taxi.
Train
Taking the train to the airport from the city center is very practical. Trains depart from the main railway station and get to the airport in about 12 minutes. Trains also run every 12 minutes.
Trains depart on time and are very reliable, unless there is a special circumstance that is causing a delay. The train provides transportation directly to the Airport Station, which is located on Level -2, next to the airport shopping center. Zurich’s main station experiences a lot of passenger traffic because trains operate not only within the city but to neighboring cities and countries like France and Germany as well.
Other areas that regional trains travel to include the Glattbrugg Railway Station, Regensdorf Railway Station, Schlieren Railway Station, Waldburg, Wollishofen and Uetliberg. If you have time before your flight we recommend visiting the ShopVille mall, which is located beneath the main railway station.
Bus
The city is famous for its public transportation network and the bus network throughout the city is especially advanced and comprehensive. Taking a bus to the airport is another convenient transportation alternative. You can take a bus from the main railway station, which is easily accessible from every part of the city. Buses provide direct transportation to the Airport Centre. Buses are on time and reliable under normal circumstances; in case of snow there can be delays.
Tram
The city’s tram network is also very advanced. The tram network extends to most parts of the city but the lines surround the city center. If there is a part of the city that is not accessible by tram you can transfer to a bus or train to get to your destination. Tram Line 10 provides transportation to the Airport Centre from the main railway station.
The following tram lines operate throughout Zurich: Line 2, which operates between Farbhof and Tiefenbrunnen Railway Station, 3, which operates between Albisrieden and Kluspla, Line 4, which operates between Werdhölzli and Tiefenbrunnen Railway Station, Line 5, which operates between Enge Railway Station and the zoo, Line 7, which operates between Wollishofen and Stettbach Railway Station, Line 9, which operates between Triemli and Hirzenbach, Line 10 which operates between Seebach and the Main Railway Station, Line 11, which operates between Oerlikon Railway Station and Rehalp, Line 13, which operates between Albisgütli and Frankental, and Line 14, which operates between Tremli and Seebach.
Taxi
Taxis are another convenient transportation alternative to get to the airport from the city center. However, taxis are more expensive when compared to public transportation options. Public transportation in Zurich is very comfortable and reliable, so you can enjoy the same comfort-level using public transportation for a fraction of the price.
Rental Car
If you don’t want to take public transportation consider renting a car, which can be more affordable than taking a taxi. You can rent a car from various rental car companies located throughout the city or book a vehicle in advance online. Renting a car to get to the airport is both fast and convenient.
Airport Information
Zurich Airport is located 13 km from the city center and is the primary international airport serving the city. It is also the largest airport in the entire country. In addition to offering convenient transportation alternatives to and from the airport, Zurich Airport also features services to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs. Zurich Airport contains many shops, located both before security and after. The general area before security check features stores such as Migros, Herren Globus, and Inter Discount and places you can get a bite to eat or something to drink like Starbucks and McDonald’s.
Once passengers go through security they have access to a variety of services and venues. Passengers can go shopping for quality products at stores like Schweizer Heimatwerk, Porsche Design, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Greider, Omega, Swatch, Swarovski, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victorinox. The Duty Free shops offer passengers luxury products at reasonable prices. The airport also contains bookstores and gift shops where passengers can buy small items and knickknacks.
There are a variety of restaurants located in the passenger zone, including Burger King, Center Bar, Chalet Suisse, Montreux Jazz Café, and Walter. Zurich Airport also offers passengers various services such as free internet for 2 hours, lounges, currency exchange services, emergency services, transit hotels and dayrooms, and even showers.
Transportation to Helsinki City Center from Airport
Helsinki - Helsinki Vantaa Airport
Helsinki, which is located in the Uusimaa region in the southern part of Finland, is the capital and most populous city of Finland. Situated on the shores of the Gulf of Finland within the Baltic Sea, Helsinki is among the leading European cities in terms of culture, finance, and science.
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which is located in the neighboring city Vantaa that is the border of the north and east of the city, welcomes the passengers traveling to Helsinki, Finnish and Swedish are spoken. The indented peninsula, which is in the southern part of the city, is also known as the city center. The central stations of all means of public transportation are located in the city center. Senata Square on the west coast of the city center constitutes the historical part of the city. There is a tourist information office near the Market Square which is in the south of Senata Square. You can ask every kind of question about transportation as well as you can buy tickets for various tours and museums at this office.
Metro, tramway, train, and bus are the most preferred means of public transportation. In addition, minibuses and ferryboats are also available for transportation between the coastal regions. The large overpass called Baana connects the Western Harbour area with Kamppi and Töölö Bay areas. This overpass facilitates transportation for pedestrians and bike riders. Public transportation in Helsinki is organized by the company named HSL (Helsinki Regional Transport), just like in the cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. You can buy tickets from ticket booths, from the drivers or by mobile phone to take advantage of public transportation. If you buy the ticket from the driver, the ticket costs a little more. You need to buy a different ticket to take a tramway; the price of the tramway tickets is more affordable than the tickets of other transportation option. These tickets are valid for one hour. If you are going to travel to the cities Espoo, Vantaa or Kauniainen, you need to buy an interregional ticket. These tickets are valid for eighty minutes.
If you are going to use public transport very often during the day, daily tickets will be more practical for you. The children under the age of seven can travel free of charge, while those who are under the age of sixteen can travel by paying half price of the tickets. Transportation options are very limited after midnight in Helsinki. Bus services are available until 2 am, while other public transportation vehicles generally depart for the last time before midnight. On weekends and official holidays, the buses departing from Elielinaukio and Rautatientori area near the railway station are available after 2 am; however, ticket prices cost twice as high as the standard price. Although ticket controls are very rare on public transport in Helsinki, ticket controllers get on the vehicles at certain intervals and ask for tickets. If you haven't got a ticket during ticket control, you have to pay a high amount of penalty.
There are various transportation options to reach the city from the airport. You can benefit from public transportation options such as train, private shuttle services or bus to reach the city center, where you can transfer and travel to different parts of the city, or you can get to anywhere you want in a shorter time by taking the advantage of taxi or car rental options.
Kutsuplus (Minibus Shuttles)
The minibuses shuttles called Kutsuplus are private-public transportation minibuses, which have recently been in service. These on-demand shuttles are the minibuses that depart by bringing together the passengers going to the same destination. The minibus shuttles that run on online reservation pick up its passengers at certain stops and drop them off at the places where they exactly would like to arrive. The cost of this journey depends on your destination and you have the opportunity to pay the price during booking by credit card. Kutsuplus option is much more affordable compared to taking a taxi.
Taxi
Although taking a taxi is more costly compared to public transportation options, it is a quite practical transportation option. You can get a taxi from the taxi stands at the airport, as well as you can book a taxi in advance by making an online reservation. VIP taxi service is also available if you prefer a more luxurious travel. Taxi minibuses called yellow lines can take up to 8 passengers. The minibus taxis don’t follow a specific route. All the passengers taken from the airport are dropped off in turn. The price of this service may vary depending on the number of passengers. If you want to take the advantage of this service, you can contact the yellow stands at the incoming passenger side of the airport.
Train
A new railway line connecting the airport to the central railway station has been in service as of 2015. Journey by train takes about half an hour and the trains usually depart every 10 minutes. You need to buy a ticket by means of the ticket booths on the platform at the airport. The train is not very close to the airport for now. For this reason, you will have to get on the shuttle services running between the airport and the railway station to board the train until the construction of the last (airport) station is completed. You can arrive at the station in a few minutes thanks to the shuttle services.
Helsinki Central Railway Station is the central station of all trains and it is very close to the city center. The train lines Y, S, U, L, E, A, M, I, K, N, T, H, and R are the lines for urban transportation and these lines move in three different directions to the north of the central station. If you are going to travel to the neighboring cities like Espoo, Vantaa or Kaunianinen, it would be useful to remember that you need to buy an interregional ticket.
Bus
The intercity bus 615 departs every 30 minutes and takes you from the airport to the Helsinki Central Railway Station in about 30-40 minutes. You need to buy an interregional ticket to take the advantage of this bus line because the airport is within the borders of Vantaa. Once you arrive at the central railway station, you can benefit from transfer option by bus, tramway or metro lines that go to many parts of the city. Your ticket will still be valid for transfer since journey time doesn’t exceed one hour.
In addition, the Finnair City Bus is another alternative to reach the city center from the airport. This bus line departs every 15 minutes and goes to the central railway station from the airport in about half an hour. The bus ticket for this bus costs a bit more compared to the bus number 615 and doesn’t include transfer option. However, this bus line provides you with a more comfortable journey as well as it offers free Wi-Fi service during your journey.
If you are planning to go to the resorts in Espoo, the U-line bus, which provides inter-regional transportation service, depart from the airport to Leppävaara, Nihtisilta and Espoonkeskus regions. Transportation is mainly provided by tramway lines in the city center, while buses are much more preferred for transportation in other urban areas.
The buses departing from the bus terminal on Eliel Square near the central railway station move to the north side of the city and the buses departing from the terminal on Railway Square go to the east, while the buses going to the west depart from the underground bus terminal at the Kamppi Center, which is connected to the Kamppi subway station.
Tramway
Taking a tramway is a convenient option for touristic transportation. The tramway lines mostly provide transportation in the southern peninsula, which is the central part of the city, yet the extension of tramway network still continues. There are nine tram lines that provide transportation service throughout the southern peninsula in Helsinki. Taking a tram from the airport is not possible for now; however, if you get to the central railway station from the airport, you can go on your journey throughout the peninsula by tramway transfer.
Metro
Subway network of Helsinki provides transportation service on a much shorter route compared to other major European cities. Metro provides eastbound transportation from the city center in the south. The journey from Ruoholahti station to Mellunmäki or Vusaari stations takes a little more than twenty minutes. The westward extension of the metro network towards Espoo is currently under construction.
Rent a car
You can rent a car from the car rental offices in the terminal building once your plane lands at the airport. However, traveling in Helsinki by car is not a very practical option. Parking fees are quite high and it is very difficult to find a convenient parking space in the city; parking lots are charged at hourly intervals. However, if you are going to travel on weekends, you can prefer to rent a car since parking is free of charge at the weekend. You can also rent a limousine as a more luxurious option.
