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Port of Helsinki Overview | 9 Best Things To Do In Helsinki, Finland

Welcome to the port of Helsinki!

The happiest city in the world and Europe’s northernmost capital, Helsinki is the largest city in Finland and one of the frequent stops in Scandinavia and Baltic cruise itineraries. Often considered the gate between the West and the East (Saint Petersburg is only 400 km/250 miles away), Helsinki features a blend of Western and Eastern cultural influences reflected in the city’s architecture and lifestyle. In this article, read about:

• Port of Helsinki (Helsinki cruise terminal, getting around, useful info)
• 9 best things to do in Helsinki port and Helsinki shore excursions

Visit also our cruise port guides to Copenhagen , Tallinn , Oslo , Stockholm , Tromso , Bergen , Olden , Alesund

Port of Helsinki

Get your cameras ready for magnificent photo opportunities of the beautiful landscapes as the cruise ship sails through the Finnish archipelago on the way to Helsinki! Port Helsinki is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe and Finland’s largest cargo port. It consists of 4 cruise terminals: South Harbour, West Harbour, Katajanokka, and Hernesaari.

• Hernesaari terminal – The majority of large cruise ships dock at Munkkisaari Quay (3 berths: LHB, LHC, and LHD), located approximately 3.5 km/2.2 miles away from the city center. The terminal consists of several facilities, including a tourist information booth, restrooms, free Wi-Fi, souvenir shops, and a taxi rank. If you decide to walk to the city center, it will take you approximately 30 to 45 minutes, or you can hop on buses #14 or #17 to take you downtown.
• West Harbour – International cruise ships used to dock at Melkki Quay, located at the south end of the West Harbour, about 3 km/2 miles from Helsinki city center. However, West Harbour is nowadays mostly used by ferries, as the brand new ferry terminal has recently been built at the Lansisatama Quay . Here, you can take a 2-hour ferry ride to Tallinn . A new ferry terminal boasts modern facilities and great access to the city center by public transport.
• South Harbour – This port consists of two terminals (three docks): Makasiini Terminal ( Pakkahuone Quay ) and Olympia Terminal ( Olympia Quay ) , located within a 10-minute walking distance from Market Square and Helsinki downtown. Smaller cruise ships usually dock at Pakkahuone Quay, where cruise passengers can find a tourist information desk, souvenir shops, restrooms, luggage lockers, and other terminal facilities.
• Katajanokka – Located in the Katajanokka district, this terminal serves smaller cruise ships and ferry transportation to Tallinn, Estonia. You can find souvenir shops, ATMs, luggage lockers, and restrooms at the quay, as well as parking and a taxi rank. This terminal is located within a short walking distance from the main Helsinki highlights.

NOTE: Your cruise ship will most likely dock at Munkkisaari Quay (Hernesaari terminal) , as that one is mostly used by international cruise ships. Other harbors are mainly used for ferry transportation to Tallinn, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg, and other places.

Getting Around & Local Transportation

• Cruise lines normally offer a shuttle service to the city center for a nominal fee. It’s recommended to purchase tickets in advance onboard to avoid lines.
• The currency in Finland is EURO (€). Finland introduced the Euro as its official currency in 2002, becoming the only Nordic country that uses Euro. Local currency and credit cards are widely accepted.
• As your cruise ship will most probably dock at the Hernesaari terminal , you will take bus #17 in Matalasalmenkuja, and you will get off at the stops by the Market Square and Senate Square in the city center. Bus #14 is another bus you can take, and it goes to the railway station (get off at Kampintori and walk to the train station). If you are heading to the Helsinki airport, you can go to the railway station, and from there take bus 615, 615T,  Finnair City Bus or train I or P.
• The distance between Helsinki port and Helsinki airport is around 20 km/12.5 miles (a 30-minute drive)
• If your ship docks at Katajanokka terminal, you can use trams #4 and #5 to go to the city center if you don’t want to walk (walking distance is 10 minutes).
• When it comes to the tickets, you can buy them at the HSL ticket machines (cheaper) or from the driver. The best and cheapest option is to buy a day ticket. You can check the timetables and fares at the official website https://www.hsl.fi/
• Taxis are normally available in front of the terminal. They are metered and like in other Scandinavian countries, quite expensive.
• Each of the cruise terminals has a Hop on Hop off bus stop (whenever cruise ships are in the terminal). The approximately 90-minute route includes stops at Helsinki’s most famous city attractions, such as Senate Square/Helsinki City Museum, Market Square, Helsinki Art Museum (Amos Rex) and Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), Sibelius Monument, Helsinki Zoo, Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Swedish Theater, and many others. Check out the Helsinki Hop on Hop off bus tours on Viator and Get Your Guide
• Helsinki Card is a convenient and economical sightseeing package available for 1, 2, or 3 days duration and includes free entry to 30+ attractions and museums, a free bus tour around the city, discounts in restaurants and shops, a free ferry to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and Suomenlinna Museum, and much more. Book a Helsinki Card
• Book a private transfer to/from Helsinki cruise port
• Explore Helsinki tours and activities
• Find accommodation in Helsinki

9 Best Things to Do in the Port of Helsinki

Many attractions in the port of Helsinki are located within reasonable walking distance from the city center. However, consider that ships have limited time in port, so it is always recommended to plan your day in advance. If it’s your first time here, consider taking a guided tour  to maximize your day ashore.

1. Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)

This unique church is located in the Töölö neighborhood right in the city center and represents one of the most visited Helsinki attractions. It has an unusual, circular form and was carved out of solid rocks, which is why it is also known as the Rock Church. Covered by an impressive copper dome and boasting excellent acoustics, the church is a popular venue for concerts.

During the peak summer months, it is strongly recommended to book online to avoid the lines and waiting. There is no elevator inside the Church. Wheelchair users are welcome to the Church hall.

Explore Rock Church tours and activities

2. Cathedral of Helsinki

This Lutheran Church, also known as the White Church, is located at Senate Square right in the heart of the city. Built between 1830–1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, this monumental neoclassic cathedral is considered the unofficial symbol of the city. With an iconic green dome and marvelous architecture, this cathedral is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western architectural influences.

Wheelchair users can access the Cathedral of Helsinki using the back entrance. There is an elevator that takes you straight to the sanctuary and there is a ramp that will take you to the viewing platform.

Check out Helsinki Cathedral tours and activities

3. Market Square

No visit to Helsinki is complete unless you spend time at one of the most visited attractions in Helsinki – a bustling harborside open-air Market Square where you can feel the authentic city vibe! Check out the market stands where you find a wide variety of items, including freshly caught fish, fruits and vegetables, coffee, and Finnish handicraft and souvenirs. Do not miss trying Finnish cuisine – Salmon soup with rye bread is the locals’ favorite! Right by Market Square, you can embark on a canal cruise.

• Check out Market Square tours and activities
• Explore Helsinki food-tasting tours

4. Uspenski Cathedral

Designed by the Russian architect Aleksey Gornostayev in the first half of the 19th century, Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Western Europe. The imposing red-brick cathedral is located in the city center, only a 10-minute walk from Market Square and other city landmarks. The magnificent religious edifice sits on a hilltop overlooking the city and the harbor and is no less impressive than buildings on Moscow’s Red Square.

Do not miss the opportunity to visit inside and admire the rich collection of icons and Orthodox decorations.  Even though the Cathedral is closed on Mondays, it is well worth it to take a walk to see the Cathedral’s lavish exterior, a clear symbol of Russian influence in Finnish history.

Check out Uspenski Cathedral tours and activities

5. Suomenlinna Fortress

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated on a group of islands off Helsinki and was built by Sweden in the second half of the 18th century as a maritime fortress. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the museums, bunkers, church and fortress wall, as well as enjoy one of the cafes and breweries or even rent a bike for a pleasant ride around the island. Make sure you bring your camera because this place offers fantastic photo opportunities!

There is no entrance fee to the fortress, however, a ticket is required to visit the museums. Tickets can be bought at Suonmelinna Centre or you can purchase tickets in advance online. Ticket to the Suomenlinna Museum includes access to an auditorium where you can watch a short video about Suonmelinna’s history.

To get to Suomenlinna Fortress, you need to take a ferry that departs from the port of Helsinki Market Square. The ride takes approximately 15-20 minutes each way, and ferries run every 20 minutes. If you purchase the public transport day ticket, the round-trip transfer to the island is free and if you buy the Helsinki Card , a ferry ride and a visit to the museums are included.

Explore Suomenlinna Fortress tours and activities

6. Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Be transported to the rural Helsinki of the old days and learn how Finns used to live before the modern era. The open-air museum consists of many old houses, farmsteads, a manor house, a church from Kiruna dating back to the 16 th century, and other buildings that have been brought from all around Finland.

During the summer months, you will be able to find craft markets and different workshops for the whole family. The museum is located in Meilahti, approximately 7 km/4.3 miles from the Helsinki City Centre and the harbor. To get there, you can take bus #24 , and get off at Seurasaari which is the last stop. Entrance tickets are required and can be purchased directly at the museum or booked online. Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is not wheelchair accessible.

Explore Seurasaari open-air museum tours and activities

7. Sibelius Memorial

This unique monument is situated in Sibelius Park in the district of Töölö, approximately a 10-minute drive from the city center. The monument titled “Passio Musicae” was built by Eila Hiltunen in 1967 as a tribute to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The impressive monument features over 600 steel tubes that capture the wind like a pipe organ.

However, this monument was the subject of criticism among the Finnish people so the second sculpture of Sibelius was added to the memorial. To get to the monument, you can take bus #24 from Market Square (the trip can take up to 30 minutes).

Check out the Sibelius Monument tours and activities 

8. Finnish Countryside

If you have already visited the highlights of Helsinki and would like to experience something different, you should take a trip to visit Savijärvi Gård manor, a 100 years old horse breeding farmhouse located in the municipality of Sipoo 40 minutes away from Helsinki. Here you will be greeted by the owners before enjoying a delicious homemade lunch and a guided tour of the farm grounds to see some of the horses. Savijärvi Gård manor is only reserved for private groups, so make sure to check with your Shore Excursions team onboard to find out your options.

9. Village of Porvoo

This charming medieval town is the second oldest in Finland and a popular destination for tourists. Old Porvoo is known for its well-preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings and a 15th-century Cathedral. Enjoy a stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets and admire the colorful wooden houses, many of them converted into arts and crafts shops, souvenir stores, and cozy cafes. The red-painted riverside warehouses are one of the most photographed national landscapes in Finland.

Porvoo is located 52 km/32 miles away from Helsinki city center, approximately a 45-minute drive. Due to the limited time in port, I strongly suggest you book a shore excursion with your cruise line or an independent tour operator. If you would like to get to Porvoo on your own, you must take a bus from Kamppi bus station in Helsinki.

Check out Porvoo tours and activities

If you are taking a cruise to Helsinki, be sure to plan your day ahead to get the most out of this wonderful port of call!

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Helsinki (Finland)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Baltic - Norwegian Fjords - Russia

Local Time 2024-05-13 04:57

Port Helsinki cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Helsinki, Finland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Helsinki is a Baltic Sea cruise port and Finland's largest cargo port. The city is country's capital (since 1812) and also Europe's northernmost capital city, located on Gulf of Finland's shores. Russia ( St Peterburg ) is approx 300 km (185 mi) to the west. City's population is around 650,000 (metro over 1,45 million), ranking it Nordic countries' 3rd largest metro area - after Stockholm Sweden and Copenhagen Denmark .

In Greater Helsinki (metro) are headquartered 83 of Finland's 100 largest companies. City's tap water is supplied via Paijanne Water Tunnel, which by length (120 km / 75 mi) is ranked among the world's longest rock tunnels. City's tap water is of such good quality, that is even sold (bottled) in other countries.

City's best-known tourist attractions are its numerous museums, including Finland's National Museum (haused in a medieval castle), City Museum, Helsinki University Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History, Finnish National Gallery (houses 3 art museums), Design Museum (Finnish and international designs - industrial, fashion, graphics), Military Museum, Tram Museum. Ateneum Palace is among city's main historical buildings.

The city is served by the International Helsinki Airport in Vantaa - approx 17 km (11 mi) to the north. Helsinki-Malmi Airport serves mainly domestic flights and private airplanes. Hernesaari Heliport serves charter flights.

Port Helsinki

Port Helsinki is Europe's 2nd busiest passenger port - after Southampton England UK - handling around 11 million passengers (cruise and ferry) annually. In 2018, the seaport was ranked Europe's busiest in terms of passenger shipping volumes - handling in 2017 over 12,3 million passengers.

Vuosaari Harbour was opened in 2008. It handles only goods-shipping traffic for Greater Helsinki (metro region). This port section has 2 container terminals (West Harbour, Sornainen Harbour). The harbor covers a land area of 1,5 km2 (0,6 mi2) with additional 0,75 lm2 (0,3 mi2) business park adjacent to the harbor. City's "Ring 3" road network was extended and a new railway is now used for cargo transportation to and from Vuosaari Harbour.

West Harbour (Lansisatama, in Jatkasaari district) has 1 passenger and 1 cargo terminal. This port area includes Munkkisaari (cruise ships dedicated) pier. West Terminal (ferry terminal) serves mainly ferries to Estonia ( Tallinn ) and Russia ( Petersburg ). Most of the cruiseferries are operated by the companies ECKERO LINE and TALLINK-SILJA LINE (Estonian route) and St Peter Line (Russian route). Port's developments here included the building a residential complex for around 15,000 inhabitants. The land for this project is a former container traffic area (moved to Vuosaari). Helsinki Shipyard (in Hietalahti district) is adjacent to West Harbour but not considered part of the port.

Port's Olympia Terminal building (next to Port Authority company's headquarters) is listed as heritage site. Jatkasaari (part of Lansisatama and Kampinmalmi) is a new residential and office area developed at the site of port's ex-main container terminal (moved in 2008 to Vuosaari Harbour).

Cruise port's 2014 statistics showed a total of 240 ship calls and 408,900 passengers handled. In 2015 were handled 254 ship calls and 436,500 passengers. The most visited from Helsinki cruise port destinations are St Petersburg Russia , Gdynia-Gdansk Poland , Tallinn Estonia , Travemunde-Lubeck Germany , Stockholm Sweden and Warnemunde-Rostock (Germany) .

In 2016, Port Helsinki handled 11,56 million ferry passengers (3,1% increase over 2015). Of those, 8,74 million (4%) were traveling between Helsinki and Tallinn (almost 76% of all) and 2,34 million (0,7%) traveled on cruiseferries on the Helsinki-Stockholm route. The number of cruise ship tourists visiting the port in 2016 was 408,900 (6.3% decrease over 2015). In 2017, the ferry passenger traffic on the Helsinki-Tallinn route was increased. The ferry traffic to Sweden (Stockholm), Russia (St Petersburg) and Germany (Travemunde) remained stable. The international cruise shipping traffic increased to nearly 0,5 million.

In 2017, the total ship passengers increased by 2,4% (over 2016). The number of liner passenger traffic grew by 1,8%, (up to 11,8 million). Of those, 9 million (+3,2%) crossed on the Helsinki-Tallinn route, and 2,3 million on the Helsinki-Stockholm route. For season 2017, the cruise port had scheduled 270 ship calls (handled 266 total) with over 478,000 passengers (16,8% increase over 2016). A special day was May 31, when here met 5 cruise vessels ( AIDAmar , Le Soleal , MSC Magnifica , Norwegian Getaway , Ocean Dream ) disembarking over 11,000 tourists in total.

Among the seaport's main innovations implemented during its redevelopments in the last few years include:

• Buffer zones at Vuosaari Harbour protect its existing "Natura 2000" natural reserve areas. These are green parks that buffer Vuosaari's housing developments and harbour areas. A new golf course was also created there.
• New lighting scheme was developed and sound barriers were built. The sound wall is also the port's facade to the natural reserve. It reduces sound pollution from the harbor, integrates vegetation and also has a sightseen function.
• An efficient automatic vehicle check-in system was installed (for trucks and cars) with waiting areas constructed outside the urban area (some are in the buffer zones). The new system allows ferry cargo traffic to be handled with less waiting times and areas required.

In 2017, Port Helsinki achieved record-breaking results in international freight traffic, with handled total tonnage/throughput 14,3 million tons (14,3% increase). Of those, 7,3 million were imports (13,2% increase) and 6,9 million exports (14,6% increase). The freight volume shipped in large-sized units was 11,89 million tons (12,5% increase). The container ship traffic volume was 491,000 TEU-containers (8,8% increase). The rubber-wheel traffic was 587,000 units (11,1% increase). In 2017, the cruise port handled 266 ship calls and nearly 478,000 passengers. During calls, cruise tourists spend an average EUR 64 per day visit (totaling ~EUR 32 million in FY2017).

The port's container terminals are managed (under long-term concession) by APM Terminals (30,75%, part of Global Ports Holding - the world's largest cruise port operator) and Delo Group (30,75%, Russia's biggest freight transportation and logistics company). These terminals are a joint venture of Global Ports (75%) and CMA Terminals Holding (25%, part of CMA CMG - the 3rd of the world's largest container shipping companies ).

In September 2020, the old crane at Multi-Link Terminals Helsinki was replaced with a new STS (ship-to-shore gantry crane custom-designed by Konecranes) that measures 40 m (boom length), 31 m (height) and has lifting capacity 70 tonnes. Multi-Link Terminal is also served by a modern RMG (Rail Mounted Gantry crane) which expedites the vessel handling process and reduces operating costs (via reduced personnel and equipment required). The new RMG has capacity to handle boxships with 14 TEU wide decks. In October 2020, the existing Liebherr crane was upgraded to 26,5 m (height) and 32,5 m (boom length).

In October 2018, the seaports Helsinki and Tallinn, together with the ferry companies Tallink , Viking Line and Eckero Line , received EUR 21,4 million as EU funding for passenger terminal and infrastructure developments as part of a TWIN-PORT project with total budget EUR 71,2 million and completed in 2023. By this project, Port Helsinki's West Harbour improved its transportation system to reduce congestion, noise and air pollution. At Port Tallinn's Old City Harbour was installed auto-mooring and shoreside power systems. The ferry port also constructed sewerages (at all passenger ship quays) to expand its wastewater service. The ferry companies retrofitted their Ro-Pax vessels to be able to shut down their auxiliary engines while docked, resulting in quiet operations and zero pollution at berths.

In May 2019, the Finnish company Damen Shipyards Group established its office in Helsinki. The company entered the passenger shipbuilding market (RoPax/ferry and cruise vessels) with the purchase of Damen Shipyards Mangalia (joint venture between Damen and Romania's Government). In Romani are constructed and launched ships' hulls and superstructures then tugged to other European yards (in France, Netherlands, Poland, Finland) for final outfitting. Damen's engineering teams are in Rotterdam Holland and Gdansk Poland . The company "Damen Engineering Helsinki Oy Ltd" has ~30 employees. Damen's new office is intended to showcase the company's products and services to both potential clients and local suppliers.

In June 2019, Elenger (2019-established brand/trademark/subsidiary of Eesti Gaas Group (Tallinn-headquartered Estonian natural gas company) started LNG bunkering in Port Helsinki. The first passenger ship bunkered by Elenger Finland was the cruiseferry Tallink Megastar (serving the route Helsinki-Tallinn). Ferry's truck-to-ship bunkering (by semi-trailers) is once a week (on Tuesdays) and takes approx 1 hour. Elenger delivers LNG (liquefied natural gas) to Helsinki from Novatek's new LNG plant in Vysotsk (Russia). Eesti Gaas runs Estonia's largest gas supply network and also serves the markets in Finland and Lithuania through pipelines. The company also sells electricity.

Helsinki Shipyard

This Finnish shipbuilding company "Arctech Helsinki Shipyard" was founded in 2011 as а subsidiary of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) - a Russian state-owned company specializing in the construction and repairs of icebreakers and other icebreaking vessels, including gas tankers, platform supply- and standby ships.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard is located in Hietalahti (downtown Helsinki). The company was established as joint venture between STX Finland and USC Russia. Operations at Hietalahti Shipyard started in April 2011 In 2014, USC Russia purchased the STX Finland shares (from its parent company STX Europe) and became the shipyard's sole owner.

In October 2018, USC announced that Hietalahti Shipyard would be sold to Algador Holdings Ltd. The sale was authorized by Russia's Government in April 2019. In May 2019, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard was sold to Algador Holdings Ltd - a Russian company owned by Rishat Bagautdinov and Vladimir Kasyanenko (owners of Vodohod River Cruises ). The company also owns Nevsky Shipyard LLC (1913-founded, located on Neva River in Schliesselburg, ~40 km to the north of Sankt Petersburg).

On May 20, 2019, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard was transferred to the newly-established company "Helsinki Shipyard Oy" that took over Hietalahti Shipyard's assets and operations. Arctech remained a subsidiary of USC Russia and continued its operations in Russia (at Nevsky Shipyard). The deal included EUR 35 million plus the ownership of Nevsky Shipyard LLC.

The list of ships built by Helsinki Shipyard (Hietalahti) includes:

• icebreakers - Baltika (2014), Murmansk (2015), Polaris (2016)
• oil-gas platform supply vessels - Vitus Bering (2012), Aleksey Chirikov (2013), Gennadiy Nevelskoy (2017)
• standby vessels - Stepan Makarov (2017), Fedor Ushakov (2017), Yevgeny Primakov (2018)
• cruise ships - Vodohod TBN1 (2021 August), Vodohod TBN2 (2022 January)

Helsinki Shipyard has a covered dock with capacity to build Panamax-sized ships (able to pass through Panama Canal ).

Finland's other two major shipbuilding yards are in Turku and Rauma .

In March 2023, Davie Shipbuilding (1825-founded, headquartered in Lauzon, Quebec Canada; a subsidiary of Chantier Davie Canada Inc) exercised an exclusive purchase option for the shipyard's assets. In April, the Canadian company signed a purchase agreement. for the Helsinki Shipyard and also a 50-year land lease deal with the city.

On November 3, 2023, Davie Shipbuilding announced the official acquisition of the Helsinki Shipyard Oy's assets from Algador Holdings. The deal was signed by James Davies (Davie Shipbuilding's CEO and President) and Kim Salmi (Helsinki Shipyard's Managing Director). The acquisition was supported by Québec's government with EUR 77 million (USD 110M), of which EUR 30M/US$43M equity investment and EUR 47M/US$67M loan.

Helsinki cruise terminal

Helsinki cruise port, as part of the seaport, is owned and operated by the Port Authority "Port of Helsinki Ltd" (state-owned company). There are all 4 docks serving cruise liners – West Harbour, Hernesaari, Katajanokka Quay, and South Harbour.

Hernesaari Terminal

Larger cruise ships dock at Munkkisaari Quay. The Helsinki cruise port terminal there is located at Hernematalankatu 6. The facilities/amenities include Wi-Fi Internet, tourist guides, phones, souvenir shop. The distance to Helsinki airport is 24 km (15 mi).

Cruise ships used Melkki Quay (in West Harbour) until 2019, as the area was planned to become maritime residential complex. Melkki Quay was replaced by a new cruise ship quay at Hernesaari. The new quay serves mainly larger liners (max LOA length 360 m / 1180 ft). Also, the passenger traffic to downtown is now handled more efficiently via a new tramline.

Port's cruise ship traffic was moved from South Harbour to West Harbour due to the vessels' growing size. Currently, Hernesaari and Lansisatama terminals handle around 90% of all international cruise passengers to Helsinki.

The new quay's construction started in 2017 and was completed in 2019. The LHD pier at Hernesaari Dock was officially inaugurated on April 30, 2019. New berth's first liner was  MSC Meraviglia . The ceremony was attended by Ms Pia Pakarinen (city's Deputy Mayor), Michele Francioni (MSC's Senior VP) and Ville Haapasaari (Port Helsinki's CEO).

Hernesaari Dock can handle cruise vessels with LOA length up to 360 m (1181 ft). All vessels 215 m (705 ft) or longer (serving over 90% of all passengers) berth at Helsinki's Hernesaari quarter.

West Harbour

There are 2 docks for cruise ships - Valtameri Quay and Melkki Quay. Both are at the south end of the port's West Dock. The distance to downtown is approx 3 km (2 mi). Shuttle bus services are provided. Passengers can also catch taxis or ferryboats to Market Square (Kauppatori).

Until 2019, cruise liners used Melkki Quay, as the area was planned to become a maritime residential complex, also offering boating and yachting services.

Katajanokka

Smaller-sized cruise ships dock at Katajanokka district’s end - at Katajanokanlaituri 2 Terminal. Its quays also serve ferries to Tallinn Estonia .

South Harbour

There are 2 docks (port's largest) in South Harbour - Pakkahuone Quay and Olympia Quay, both located in downtown and all attractions are at easy walking distance.

Helsinki Ferry Terminals

Helsinki Port has all 4 ferry terminals. Three are near the city's center (Katajanokka, South Harbour, West Harbour) and the 4th is Vuosaari. These ferry terminals handle ~11 million passengers plus ~1/4 of the port's freight traffic. RoRo traffic alone often brings daily up to 4000 vehicles to the city.

Helsinki's newest ferry terminal is Lansisatama (West Harbour).

West Terminal offers smooth shipping traffic operations and features a new automated vessel docking system (at quay LJ7) that uses vacuum technology to hold berthed vessels in place. There is also a new dual ramp that allows vehicles to be driven onto the ferry (RoRo ship) n 2 levels at a time.

The new ferry terminal project was started in January 2015. Its quays were completed in June 2015. West Terminal 2's construction works started in September 2015. Terminal's check-in car area was opened in May 2016. The new gate at West Harbour has automated identification and check-in. The gate is shared with the ferry companies.

The dual ram was built in December 2016. The Pihlajasaari bypass route was completed in December 2016. Passenger corridors was completed in December 2016 (LJ6) and March 2017 (LJ7 and LJ8).

Disembarkation bridges were installed in January 2017 (LJ7) and May 2017 (LJ8). The tram line to West Terminal 2 was opened for traffic in February 2017. West Terminal 2 complex (all infrastructure works) were completed in March 2017.

Among Port Helsinki's main contractors were the companies YIT Rakennus Oy, Alekon Holding AS, Adelte Ports & Maritime, Konepaja Survonen OyAro Systems Oy, NCC Roads Oy. Next YouTube video release by the port authority is also about Lansisatama (West Terminal 2).

Following the project's completion, were accomplished the following goals:

• Car traffic was reduced via good public transportation links.
• Waste water from the ships can be discharged free of charge at all its quays.
• Ship-shore power is provided at all quays, thus reducing bad emissions.
• Automated gate operations reduced port's congestion and vessel idling.
• MoorMaster units (automated ship mooring) allows ships to be moored / unmoored more quickly, which reduces fuel consumption and bad emissions.
• The new quays are located coherently to the ferry route, which leads to smoother shipping traffic and less bad emissions.
• Terminal's power is generated by solar panels.
• LNG refuelling is facilitated.

In order to handle more efficiently the ferry traffic, the port was also considering the option of building underground tunnels (going under dowtown Helsinki). However, this option implied huge investments and complex construction works, and was eventually discarded.

As the Helsinki port's ferry traffic is constantly increasing, a redistribution of the ferry terminals is also considered. Some ferry lines could be relocated to Vousaari. However, such decision would require the existing subway to be extended to the harbour area. However, this also is a huge investment, and difficult to justify for ferry passengers only.

Ferries are regularly scheduled as the city is visited not only by tourists (on short trips), but also by commuters living in Estonia and working in Finland.

Regularly scheduled ferries connect the city with Tallinn , Mariehamn Aland and Stockholm . Finnlines ferry ships (passenger and cargo) connects it to Gdynia, Travemünde and Rostock. The St Peter Line offers daily ferry service to St Petersburg.

• The Botanical Garden: Botaniska trädgården will offer you amazing time in its gardens.
• The House of Parliament: or Eduskuntatalo.
• The new opera house: or Finnish National Opera’s Oopperatalo dates from 1993. It is located in Töölö.
• Heureka: the science center is located in Vantaa and features different exhibitions and IMAX.
• Sandudd (Hietaniemi): one of the top-rated beaches in Helsinki. It is near the downtown city.
• Helsinki Olympic Stadium: located at the junction of Mannerheimintie with Helsinginkatu, beyond the the old Trade Fair Hall. You can visit also the Finnish Sport Museum. The statue in front of the entrance is Paavo Nurmi’s, famous runner.
• Linnanmäki Amusement Park: located at Tivolikuja 1, east of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The park offers giant wheel, water tower and more. It dates from 1950 but it was continually upgraded and improved.
• House of Culture: located at Sturenkatu 4. Its designer is Alvar Aalto. There is a small Lenin park behind.
• Alvar Aalto Museum Gallery
• Temppeliaukio Church (Lutheran church in the city's Toolo neighborhood)
• Sibelius Monument - dedicated to the composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)
• The National Museum of Finland
• Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Helsinki tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Helsinki - user reviews and comments

Helsinki, Finland

Finland's capital city charms with its architecture, design district and abundant dining and entertainment options. In the 19th century, German-born architect Carl Ludwig Engel designed several neoclassical structures such as the state council building and Helsinki Cathedral, completed in 1852. Other must-sees include the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, created for the 1952 games, and a stunning granite railway station built by Eliel Saarinen. The city hosts a smattering of art museums as well as theaters, symphony orchestras and an opera and ballet company. Active visitors can kayak to nearby islands, cruise the canals or stroll along beaches and through expansive gardens and parks. In the Toolo neighborhood, the Sibelius Monument honors the famed Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) stands out for being carved out of solid stone. Nearby Nuuksio Reindeer Park is the country's southernmost place to see the creatures. Other shore excursions traverse the countryside on bike; tour the historic merchant town Porvoo; or scout the seaside fortress Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sprawled across six islands.

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Excursion recommendations - Best of Scandinavia cruise on Celebrity

By dreamboat43 , January 28 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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dreamboat43

I am looking for excursion recommendations for Celebrity's Best of Scandinavia cruise in June.  The ports are Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallian, Stockholm, Visby, amd Skagen.   Are any of those ports easy to do on your own?  Is there anything to do or see within walking distance of the ports?   In which ports would you recommend doing excursions?   Can you recommend any specific excursions?  This is our first time to Scandinavia.  All input appreciated!

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If you search for each of your ports in turn on this forum, you will find lots of information on doing them on your own and on excursions (if not necessarily Celebrity's excursions).

And note that it is Tallinn (without the second "a" and with 2 "n"s).

All good DIY - look for HoHo opportunities in  Copenhagen and Stockholm - both has many sights  - Talinn is small and  walkable. 

Visby, and Skagen are very small towns.

Search for options for for each city in this forum.

edinburgher

On 1/28/2024 at 6:56 PM, dreamboat43 said: I am looking for excursion recommendations for Celebrity's Best of Scandinavia cruise in June.  The ports are Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallian, Stockholm, Visby, amd Skagen. 

Even if you don't want to book any, look at the shorex on offer as they give an idea of some of the highlights and what could be achievable in the time you have in each.  Also look at the official Tourist

Information websites for each port, and choose from others in the results which appear when you google eg "sightseeing in ?".  And Tripadvisor, YouTube, guide books (can you borrow from a local library?  And if you have not already done so, look at past threads for each of your ports for info and ideas.  If you do not know how to do this, go to this forum, N Europe and Baltic, but stay on the main page, don't go to an individual thread . Under your username you will find an empty search box.  This is where you would input the name of each port in turn before hitting the little magnifying glass.  This should bring results of all threads containing that word and from these you can choose which to read.

gnome12 is correct as spelling is important when searching a name. If wrong you will get no results.

With so many ports, you might want to consider doing what we do.  IE start a document for each, and initially copy and paste all info you want to keep for each.  Some will get very long, but when finished each, you can delete everything you don't want and only keep what you do want.  And with so many ports and to not get confused, research one at a time, and only move onto the next once you are finished with one of them.

• 2 months later...

love2crews.

On 1/28/2024 at 10:56 AM, dreamboat43 said: I am looking for excursion recommendations for Celebrity's Best of Scandinavia cruise in June.  The ports are Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallian, Stockholm, Visby, amd Skagen.   Are any of those ports easy to do on your own?  Is there anything to do or see within walking distance of the ports?   In which ports would you recommend doing excursions?   Can you recommend any specific excursions?  This is our first time to Scandinavia.  All input appreciated!

We did the Best of Scandinavia last May on the Apex.  It looks like your ports differ a little from the ones we visited, though.  I did a (very) detailed live and included everything you'd want to know.  Happy to answer any questions you may have.  Enjoy your sailing. 🙂

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Helsinki Cruise Ship Port Map

Helsinki is a very popular cruise destination and a vibrant spacious seaside city with many open parks, gardens, and greens spaces. Surrounded by water on three sides, the port of Helsinki has a natural seaport harbor. Cruise ships make an entrance to the port between the stunning Ice Age formations of small rocky islands, providing great photo opportunities from the open decks.

Where do cruise ships dock in Helsinki, Finland?

Helsinki has several quays where cruise ships can dock. Depending of the size of the vessel, and port authorities schedule cruise ships berth at one of the 6 piers: Hernesaari, West Harbour South Harbour (EKL, EPL, & EO1) or Katajanokka (ERA & ERB) and Olympia Cruise Quay.

Most of the large cruise ships dock at the Port Helsinki southwest piers named Hernesaari (LHC & LHB) and West Harbor (LV7 & LMA). The area around this dock is industrial and the city center is not close by therefore there is a regular shuttle bus service that will take you right in the city center (the shuttle bus drop off point is marked on the cruise port map). If a shuttle bus service is available, the drop off point is at the western end of the Esplanade near the main street named Mannerheimintie.

Smaller cruise ship dock at one of the four piers, all within a walking distance from the city center. The names of these piers are South Harbor, Katajanokka relatively close to Market Square and Olympia Cruise Quay.

Helsinki Sightseeing Map for cruise ship visitors

The map of Helsinki presented bellow shows cruise ships docking locations together with the most popular tourist attractions for people visiting this magnificent city by cruise ship.

What to visit in Helsinki when arriving by a cruise ship?

Helsinki Senate Square and the Cathedral

The Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral are arguably Finland's most famous and photographed landmarks. Considered a masterpiece of Finland design and neo-classical architecture the square is dominated by four monumental buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel: The Government Palace, Cathedral, University buildings and National Library of Finland Library surround the Square, while there are also boutiques and restaurants located nearby. In the middle of the square stands A statue of Alexander II (Tsar of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland).

Overlooking Senate Square and Helsinki harbor, sits the blindingly-white Helsinki Cathedral, making this landmark a perfect place for photo-op. Built in 1852, the Lutheran church’s domes draw inspiration from Russian architecture, while statues of the twelve apostles adorn the magnificent green rooftop which soars more than 80 meters or 262 foot high. All visitors are welcome to explore the interior free of charge. There are steps leading to the top of the cupola however they are too narrow and difficult to allow for tours. Instead, there is a virtual reality tour of the top of the Cathedral.

Winter World

Most of the major cities in Scandinavia have Ice Bars where you can feel the winter splendor with a drink in ice carved glass, well Helsinki has an entire Ice World. If you are visiting Helsinki by cruise ship Winter World is a must see. Usually, this tour is offered by most of the cruise lines and is worth every penny. 

The idea behind this big indoors ice hall was to resemble Lapland beauty that everyone visiting Helsinki for one day can see and experience it. Because the temperature is always -3 C (25 F), special winter jumpsuits are provided before you enter the hall to keep you warm. Inside you will find igloos, Ice Hotel with many rooms carved in different styles and a fantastic ice bar where you can taste some of Finland’s favorite spirits.

In Winter World you can slide down the hill on a plastic sled, try to make couple of steps on fun skis, push a friend sitting on a kick sledge, take a picture for a Christmas postcard in the Santa’s studio, and get lost and found in an ice labyrinth. You can also take a ride on a 20 well trained and excited Alaskan huskies and professional musher from Rovaniemi city on Arctic Circle.

Kauppatori Market Square

Located at the harbor end of the Esplanade Kauppatori  Market  Square is one of the main gathering points for locals and tourists. This is a very lively and colorful spot with everything from fruit, flowers, vegetables and local handicrafts. If you’re after some Finnish souvenirs you this is the place where you will find them. You can taste some of the Finish cuisine here by trying a great salmon soup or other traditional fish dishes.

From here you can also catch the ferry to Suomenlinna. If you take the public ferry - it’s cheaper than the private tour boats.

Sea Fortress “Suomenlinna”

Located 3 kilometers from Helsinki harbor lies the famous Sea Fortress Suomenlinna. You can board a ferry from the market square and in a few minutes you’ll be in one of the most amazing man-made fortress in Scandinavia added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1991. Built by the Swedish Kingdom in the mid-1800s, Suomenlinna is a giant maritime fortress spread across seven islands. 

During the World War II, this was a military base where the forces stationed on the islands included anti-aircraft and artillery units. The fortress was also used as a base for the Finnish submarine fleet. Today the fortress is governed by the civilian administration and is a home to approximately 800 residents and a workplace for about 400 people.

Old Market Hall

A short walk from Market Square is Helsinki’s Old Market Hall– Vanhakauppahalli. If you wish to try the local cuisine and want to taste some of Finland’s local delicacies, then this is the place to be. The Old Market Hall is not only a treat for the eyes because of its gorgeous architectural design but also for its wide range of exceptional local dishes and ingredients. During the summertime, there are tons of happening around the Old Market Hall and you’ll find outdoor stalls selling traditional Finnish seasonal foods.

Rock Church - Temppeliaukion Church

Carved out of solid rock, this unique structure is one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist attractions, as well as being a working Lutheran church. The dome of this thrilling work of modern architecture spans 70 feet and is covered on the interior by 15 miles of copper wire. Temppeliaukio was designed in 1968 by two architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen.  Since the Rock Church is located further from the city center this tour is organized by the cruise lines. You can check at the shore excursions desk for more info.

Language: Finnish and Swedish are official languages. National currency: Euro is the official currency.

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WHATSINPORT.COM: YOUR CRUISE GUIDE TO 1200 PORTS OF CALL

Interactive world cruise map, home | cruise ships | port expenses | hints and tips, helsinki finland port of call.

Cruise ships make a scenic approach through Helsinki's island archipelago so have your cameras ready.

International cruise ships dock (Map) in South Harbour or West Harbour.

South Harbour, with four quays, is within easy walking distance of the Market Square in the center of town. 15 min waik

West Terminal consists of two quays which are not within easy reach of each other and of the town. 30 min walk. Tram 7 or 9.

Cruise calendar for Helsinki and which quay will be used.

(Hernesaari = West harbour)

Public transport info on each quay. .

The Tourist office also provides shuttles costing €6 one way or €10 for all day.

A day ticket is 8 Euro for all public transit, including the ferry to Suomenlinna and the scenic 2 and 3 trams. All trams run about every 10 minutes. Day tickets can be bought from the driver, cash only.

Printable map .

Watch a destination video .

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers of Hernesaari and Port Location on Google Maps

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers of West Harbour and Port Location on Google Maps

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers of South Harbour and Katajanokka and Port Location on Google Maps

Monthly Climate Averages for Helsinki

Hotels near the Cruise Terminal

Sightseeing:

Helsinki is a marvelous city to see and very easy to get around in. Most of the sights are around Market Square, so that has to be your starting point. From there you can walk to Senate square, take a ferry to the fortress, wander about the many, many booths, shopping, having something to eat etc.

Helsinki is the gate between East and West. While it embodies much of the Finnish spirit and its progressive hi-tech push, it is unlike any other Finnish city, due in part to the fascinating combination of Swedish and Russian influences The city's urban lifestyle is flavored by the sea and surrounding nature. The summer heat and the midnight sun inspire the inhabitants to occupy the many parks and terraces. The city center is built around the main harbor where the famous Kauppatori (market square) - also known as the fish market – is located. The main streets include the twin shopping avenues of Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplenadi. Helsinki offers a diverse cultural life, outstanding architectural gems and a full range of quality shopping opportunities. Examples of the world famous Finnish design is to be found anywhere in the city. The Finns are friendly people who speak good English, and Helsinki's relaxed atmosphere makes it easy for visitors to feel welcome.

Helsinki - Attractions

Tours Excursions Transportation:

A day ticket is 8 euro on all public transit , including the ferry to Suomenlinna. The trams 2 and 3 almost function as hop on/off buses, passing by most tourist attractions making a figure eight loop through Helsinki.

The Suomenlinna ferry runs from the Market Place (Kauppatori). They leave every 20 minutes and it also takes 20 minutes to reach the island. The ticket costs 5 euros per person (So buy the day ticket instead!) and it is valid for 12 hours so you'll only need to buy it once. Once you get to the island, you are free to go anywhere. There are museums which charge a small fee.

Hop on/off tours . They all stop at the cruise terminals. The approximately 90-minute route includes stops at Helsinki's most famous city attractions, such as Senate Square/Helsinki City Museum, Market Square, Helsinki Art Museum (Amos Rex) and Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), Sibelius Monument , Helsinki Zoo, Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Swedish Theater.

The Helsinki Card is a handy, economical way of making the most of your visit in Helsinki. The Helsinki Card includes unlimited free travel on public transport in Helsinki, free entrance to the most important sights and ca 50 museums, free entrance and boat transport to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and Helsinki Zoo, great value discounts e.g. on sightseeing tours, and free Helsinki guide book with maps. Free Audio City tour daily (worth 25 EUR) for adult card holders. For a short cruise stop, this card is not really worth it.. Taxis can be obtained by telephone or from taxi ranks. Payment can be made using major international credit cards as well as cash. The usual basic fare is 4.50 euros. The fare rises gradually on a kilometer basis, as indicated by the meter, and depending on the number of passengers.

Finnish Railways operates the fairly extensive railroad network.

Car rental is possible in Finland but generally expensive, with rates generally upwards of € 80/day.

It pays to compare your cruise line tours here .

Nearby Places:

Suomenlinna.

The 250-year-old fortress, which has been preserved intact because of its military use, is today part of the world heritage. In 1991 it was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Suomenlinna is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions. At the same time it is a suburb of Helsinki, with 900 people living in the renovated ramparts and barracks.

Shopping and Food

In Helsinki the stores are also open on Sunday: 12 noon - 6:00 p.m. (in summer)

Stockmann department store Stockmann is the biggest department store in the Nordic region and is surrounded by the main shopping streets, Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie and Northern and Southern Esplanade.

The Finnish currency unit is the euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. Finland does not use the 1 and 2 cent coins; instead all sums are rounded to the nearest 5 cents.

Currency Converter

Communication:

Finland has two official languages, Finnish ( 93%) and Swedish (7%), but also English is widely spoken in Finland.

Every sign is in Finnish and Swedish, which makes at times complicated.

112 is the national phone number for all emergency services, including police.

City of Helsinki offers a free wireless connection in city center. It even works on some buses. Also shopping centers like Kamppi offer a free wi-fi.

Opening Hours and Holidays:

Opening Hours: Weekdays: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday: noon to 6:00 pm

Click here for holidays.

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Helsinki, Finland Shore Excursions

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Biking, Ice Bars, and More on Helsinki Shore Excursions

Helsinki is part of a picturesque archipelago in Finland and is steeped in maritime history. Located on the southern end of Finland, Helsinki boasts a flourishing city center with a cosmopolitan flair. Though big city life can be found on Helsinki shore excursions, the Finnish countryside is also just a short drive away for those looking for a quieter way to spend the day in port on a Scandinavian cruise .

If you want to stay focused on the city center of Helsinki, choose a shore excursion that offers more than just a walking tour, such as a tour of Helsinki’s highlights plus a visit to a fun and frigid ice bar for a drink experience that is cool in more ways than one.

A quintessential way to navigate your time in Finland is by biking through its park trails and streets. Helsinki shore excursions that include this active pastime often do so by providing you with a Jopo bike, a local brand that is extremely popular in Finland. You’ll feel like a local as you glide past Helsinki’s top sights and landmarks.

For more action on your day in Helsinki, head out on the water via speed boat or kayak. It’s an exciting way to spend the day and see the archipelago on your cruise to Helsinki .

Outside the city center, more alluring shore excursions await you. A popular day trip from Helsinki is to the town of Porvoo, a coastal town that is as historic as it is charming. Porvoo dates back to 1346 and is Finland’s second oldest town.Helsinki cruise excursions to Porvoo also typically include a road trip through the countryside and a drive past the top landmarks of Helsinki’s city center. 

From city center landmarks to country roads and cobblestoned towns, Helsinki shore excursions will show you the best parts of this beautiful region of Finland.

Learn More About Shore Excursions

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