Finland by Train
Trains - Tickets - RoutesA Travel Guide For Train Travel In Finland.
Here you will find information for Finland about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.
Useful Information
Population: 5.5 million
Currency: Euro
Language: Finnish
Capital: Helsinki
Country Code: +358
Time Zone: Eastern European Standard Time
Train Companies
Most of the country’s trains are operated by VR, the state owned train company.
Copyright: RAILWAYHERO
Train Tickets
Buy your train tickets for Finland online on the VR official homepage.
Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.
Rail Passes
Interrail / Eurail Pass
Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.
TrAIN tYPES
Express Train covers the rail network in southern Finland.
- Trains are equipped with power outlets and air conditioning. Most trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks otherwise a food trolley.
- No reservations required
InterCity (IC) connects Helsinki with all and popular areas of Finland.
- Trains are equipped with power outlets, Wifi, and air conditioning. Most trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of snacks, hot foods, and drinks otherwise there is a food trolley. There is also space for ski equipment and family compartments are available.
- 1st Class “Extra”: Rows of four seats (2+2), offering more legroom than Eco Class, newspaper, coffee, tea, and water are free of charge.
- 2nd Class “Eco”: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- No reservations required but are recommended.
- Reservations for bicycles are required in advance and require an extra ticket.
Pendolino links Helsinki to other large Finnish cities.
- Trains are equipped with power outlets, Wifi, and air conditioning. Most trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of snacks, hot food, and drinks
- 1st Class “Extra”: Rows of three seats (2+1), newspaper, coffee, tea, and water are free of charge.
- 2nd Class “Eco”: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- No reservations required but are recommended.
Alstom operates one route from Helsinki to St. Petersburg in only 3.5 hours.
- Trains are equipped with power outlets, Wifi, and are climate controlled. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of snacks, hot foods, and drinks.
- Customs procedure while border crossing and is taken care of on the train without making an extra stop
- 1st Class “Business Class”: Rows of three seats (2+1), newspapers, coffee, tea, and water are free of charge. In addition, one hot meal is included in the ticket price.
- 2nd Class “Economy Class”: Rows of four seats (2+2), drinking water is available free of charge, other food and drinks can be found in the dining car.
Regional night trains:
Santa Claus Express
- Route:
Helsinki – Tampere – Oulu – Rovaniemi – Kemijärvi- Reservations are included in the ticket price
- VIP 1st Class:
- Includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, individual air-conditioning unit, TV, and power outlets.
- Hygiene kits and meals are included in the ticket price
- Price is the whole compartment, the compartment has two lower berths
- 1st Class Regular:
- Includes your own bed, individual air-conditioning unit, and power outlets.
- Two toilets and one shower are available in every carriage
- Hygiene kits and meals are included in the ticket price
- Price is single berth, the compartment has two lower berths
- 2nd Class:
- Price is single berth, the compartment has two lower berths and two upper berths
- Two toilets and one shower are available in every carriage
- Dining carriage available to all passengers
International night trains
Lev Telstoy
- Routes:
Helsinki – St. Petersburg – Moscow - Reservations are included in the ticket price
- VIP 1st Class:
- Includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, individual air-conditioning unit, TV, and power outlets.
- Hygiene kits and meals are included in the ticket price
- Price is the whole compartment, the compartment has two lower berths
- 1st Class Regular:
- Includes your own bed, individual air-conditioning unit, and power outlets.
- Two toilets and one shower are available in every carriage
- Hygiene kits and meals are included in the ticket price
- Price is single berth, the compartment has two lower berths
- 2nd Class:
- Price is single berth, the compartment has two lower berths and two upper berths
- Two toilets and one shower are available in every carriage
- Dining carriage available to all passengers
Santa Claus Express
Routes
Frequently Travelled Routes In Finland
National
| From > To |
Duration | Changes | Transport |
| Helsinki to Tampere | 1:34 – 2:13 | Direct | Commuter train, Pendolino, InterCity |
| Helsinki toTurku | 1:58 | Direct | Pendolino, InterCity |
| Helsinki to Rovaniemi | 7:59 – 12:14 | 0 -1 | InterCity, Night Train |
| Helsinki to Oulu | 5:24 – 9:51 | 0 -1 | Pendolno, InterCity, Express Train, Night Train |
| Tampere to Turku | 1:45 – 3:34 | 0 – 1 | Pendolino, InterCity |
International
| From > To |
Duration | Changes | Transport |
| Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Russia | 4:27 | Direct | Train |
| Helsinki to Stockholm, Sweden | 16:50 | Direct | Ferry |
| Helsinki to Lübeck, Germany | 29:00 | Direct | Ferry |
| Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia | 2:00 | Direct | Ferry |
Finland travel routes
Trip To Nordic Metropolises
Main Train Stations
- Helsinki Central (Helsingin paarautatieasema)
- Turku (Turun päärautatieasema)
- Tampere Central Station (Tampereen Rautatieasema)
Good to know
Best Time To Travel To Finland
We recommend traveling to Finland at almost any time of the year. In other countries, it’s best to avoid the high season and the increase in tourists but has something for everyone all year round. Between May and September, you will have longer and sunnier days, as well as have warm temperatures. Visiting in September and October offers stunning autumn colors everywhere across the country, and the winter offers plenty of activities: snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice diving, and of course sweating in a sauna.
- High Season: June – August (Finns often travel and holiday in August), December in Santa Claus’ village
- Low Season: September – May (reduced hours for attractions)
Accommodation In Finland
Booking
The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE
Hostelworld
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE
Guidebooks for Finland
Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.
