Is Helsinki Expensive to Visit? Helsinki Trip Cost Guide 2024
Is Helsinki expensive to visit? Though it has so much to offer visitors, Helsinki also has a reputation for being quite a pricey destination.
So, how much will a Helsinki trip cost? While Helsinki is a relatively expensive destination, it is possible to visit on a budget.
A higher budget is necessary if you plan on dining out frequently and enjoying wine and cocktails. Read more to find out why.
Key Takeaways
Cost Comparison
Helsinki ranks seventh most expensive in Europe, with high alcohol and food prices.
Transportation Costs
Efficient public transport with day passes at 9 euros; taxis from the airport to the city center at a fixed rate of 35-39 euros.
Accommodation Options
The city offers a range of prices, with hostels starting at 30 euros, Airbnb starting at 55 euros, and hotels starting at 100 euros.
Dining Expenses
Lunch deals are around 11-14 euros, and dinner at mid-range restaurants is between 18-30 euros. High alcohol taxes influence prices.
Helsinki Trip Cost Guide
This guide will break down prices across accommodation, transport, food, and activities with examples.
It helps you understand how expensive Helsinki and Finland are and where you can save on your budget.
1. How Expensive is Finland Really? Cost Comparison to Other European Countries
According to an international price comparison, alcohol is particularly expensive in Finland:
- Finland ranks as the seventh most expensive country in Europe.
- Alcohol prices are among the highest in Europe, second only to Iceland and Norway.
- Finland has the eighth highest food prices in Europe.
Like the other Nordic countries, Finland belongs to the expensive countries of Europe. But compared to other Nordic capitals like Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen, Helsinki is less expensive.
Helsinki is more costly than Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Inflation in Estonia has led to rising prices, narrowing the cost difference between the two cities.
- Different taxation leads to significant price differences between countries for alcohol and tobacco.
- Due to differences in labor costs, the price levels of restaurant services also differ significantly between countries.
After all, we are more affordable in some matters. Namely, data communication costs (such as mobile data) and energy prices in Finland are below the European average.
2. Accommodation Prices in Helsinki
Hotels in Helsinki are generally more affordable than in other Nordic capitals, and in many other large European capitals.
- Accommodation prices fluctuate considerably, especially during the summer, Helsinki’s peak tourist season.
- Prices can surge during major events, such as when Coldplay performs a four-concert series in Helsinki at the end of July 2024, often doubling the usual rates.
For those considering hostel dorms, prices start at about 30 euros per night. A private room in a hostel, offering basic amenities, will typically cost around 60 euros.
During the off-season, you might find these prices to be lower.
Regarding Airbnb options, Helsinki predominantly features entire apartments rather than private rooms.
- A private room near Central Helsinki on Airbnb generally begins at 55 euros per night, varying with location.
- For a one-bedroom apartment, prices start from 75 euros per night.
- More elegant apartments available from 115 euros per night and upwards.
Another excellent resource for apartment hunting in Helsinki is Booking.com.
For hotels, Helsinki caters to all budgets.
- Basic hotels can be found for around 100 euros per night.
- A mid-range hotel, including breakfast for two, starts at approximately 125 euros per night.
- For a more elegant stay in the city center, prices range from 200 to 300 euros per night.
- More luxurious hotels exceed 300 euros.
Typically, hotel prices include breakfast, though some offer a reduced rate without it, so it’s wise to confirm this when booking.
- Hotel breakfasts in Helsinki are often extensive, featuring a wide variety of fresh foods.
- It’s common for Finns to indulge in these breakfast buffets when traveling in Finland.
- In fact, we have never booked a hotel in Finland without including breakfast!
3. Transportation Prices in Helsinki
Airport to Central Helsinki – Transportation Prices
The airport train reaches central Helsinki in about 30 minutes, with a single ticket priced at 4.10 euros.
A taxi ride from Helsinki Airport to the city center costs a fixed rate of 35-39 euros, depending on the taxi company.
- This fixed rate is available from lanes 1-3 at the airport taxi station.
- Lane 4 is reserved for other taxi services; avoid these if you don’t want to start negotiating the price.
Remember, the fixed price applies only to trips from the airport to the city center.
For destinations beyond, taxis charge according to the meter.
Conversely, taxi rides from the city to the airport are metered, with estimated costs ranging from 45-60 euros.
Helsinki’s Public Transportation Costs
Helsinki boasts an efficient public transport system.
- A day pass, offering unlimited travel on any public transport within the city, costs 9 euros.
- For shorter journeys, a single ticket is priced at 2.95 euros, valid for 80 minutes across all transport modes.
A day ticket is more economical if you plan on making more than three daily trips.
Please refer to our other article for detailed information on public transportation in Helsinki.
Taxi Services in Helsinki – Unregulated Fares
Taxi fares in Finland are not regulated, leading to varying costs across different companies.
There are countless small taxi companies in Helsinki, with only one or two cars. With these companies, the prices can be outrageously high.
Locals seldom rely on these taxis unless no other options are available (and preferably not even then). Prices can, of course, be negotiated, but we Finns are not used to that.
Our personal approach to using taxis in Helsinki includes the following:
- Primarily using Uber or Bolt taxi apps.
- In rare cases where these aren’t available, we opt for reliable companies like Taksi Helsinki or FixuTaxi.
- We avoid hailing unknown taxis to steer clear of price negotiations.
Be aware that during major events, taxi fares may significantly increase.
4. Food Pricing
During weekdays, many cafes and restaurants in Finland offer a special lunch deal, typically featuring a pre-set menu or buffet, priced between 11 to 14 euros.
This lunch is usually available from 11 am to 2 pm or until 2:30 pm.
For budget-conscious travelers in Finland, an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet (known as ‘lounasbuffet’ in Finnish) is an excellent option. After a hearty buffet lunch, you might only need a light meal for dinner.
Pizzas are generally priced between 10 to 18 euros.
For dinner, a main course in a mid-range restaurant will likely cost between 18 and 30 euros, while starters may range from 8 to 15 euros.
A typical Sunday brunch is 25 euros or more.
- When it comes to restaurant prices, the most significant difference you’ll find in Finland compared to the rest of Europe is the cost of alcohol.
- Restaurant wine prices are particularly high due to hefty taxes and overall high expenses in Finland.
Indeed, Finland ranks as the fifth most expensive country in the European Union in terms of consumer prices.
However, when it comes to alcohol, Finland is the most expensive in the EU.
Other examples:
- Cafe prices: Cappuccino and croissant are approximately 7 euros
- Bar Alcohol Prices: A 0.5-liter beer typically costs between 7 and 9 euros in bars but can cost up to 12 euros in fancier places. Drinks can cost around 15 euros.
5. Activity Pricing in Helsinki
Unlike many larger European capitals, Helsinki has no big, expensive tourist attractions. Its museums are relatively compact; you won’t need an entire day to explore even the largest, such as the Ateneum.
As a highly walkable city, many of Helsinki’s main attractions can be reached on foot.
Examples of attraction prices:
- Museum entry fees range from 15 to 22 euros.
- The Skywheel Helsinki offers rides for 14 euros.
- The Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the Rock Church, is a popular tourist destination and active Lutheran church, with an admission fee of 8 euros.
Löyly, a seaside sauna in Helsinki, charges 24 euros for a two-hour sauna session on weekdays and 25 euros on weekends. This fee includes a towel, seat liner, shampoo, and shower gel. We recommend booking in advance due to its popularity.
If you plan to visit multiple paid attractions or museums, the Helsinki Card can offer savings on admission fees.
- Prices for the Helsinki Card start at around 48 euros for 24 hours without public transit, and 58 euros with public transit included.
A fantastic and affordable way to sightsee in Helsinki is through a free walking tour. Various tour operators offer such tours, and while the tours are free, tipping the guide is customary, usually around 10 euros, depending on the tour’s quality and length.
There are also reasonably priced paid walking tours available, typically costing around 20 euros, depending on the tour operator.
Prices for hop-on-hop-off bus tours begin at around 35 euros.
6. Shopping
While Finland may share the reputation of other Nordic countries for being among the pricier destinations in Europe, this doesn’t hold across the board.
Specifically, when it comes to consumer electronics, shoppers can find prices quite competitive with the European average (read more about top electronic stores in Helsinki). Mobile data costs in Finland are lower than the European average.
Second-hand boutiques in Helsinki offer affordable fashion options; you can find plenty of them on shopping streets and malls around the center.
