Useful to know in Helsinki (from A to Z)

All you might need to know when spending a few days in town.

Accommodation

Helsinki Expert serves visitors with room reservations covering all price categories at the following Sales Points:

Main Railway Station, Kaivokatu, tel +358 9 2288 1400, e-mail: hotel@helsinkiexpert.fi.

Pohjoisesplanadi 19, Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau.

Opening hours of the sales points:

September–May Mon–Fri 9–16.30, Sat 10–16

June–August Mon–Fri 9–18, Sat–Sun 9–17

Helsinki Expert's online hotel booking service at www.hotelbooking.fi covers accommodation in the Helsinki Region.

Alkohol policy in Finland

The Alko shops sell wines, spirits and other alcoholic beverages. Beer and cider are sold also in grocery stores.

Banks & cash withdrawals

Banks are normally open Mon–Fri 10–16.30.
“OTTO” cash withdrawal automats accept all major bank and credit cards.

Currency & currency exchange

The Finnish currency is euro (€). EUR 1 is circa USD 1.3.

Currency exchange offices are:

Forex: Railway Station, Kaivokatu 1 , Stockmann’s, Aleksanterinkatu 52 (8th floor) and shopping centers Itis & Jumbo.

The Change Group Helsinki Oy: Pohjoisesplanadi 21, Mannerheimintie 8, Kamppi Shopping Center, at the airport and Olympia & Katajanokka terminals.
Tavex: Fabianinkatu 12.
Fexco Service Centre: Keskuskatu 6 and Stockmann's (8th floor) provide money transferin partnership with Western Union, tel 0800 141 414.

Embassies & other entities in Helsinki

Argentina, Bulevardi 5 A 11, tel +358 9 4242 8700
Austria, Unioninkatu 22, tel +358 9 681 8600
Belgium, Kalliolinnantie 5. tel +358 9 170 412
Brazil, Itäinen Puistotie 4 B 1, tel +358 9 684 1500
Bulgaria, Kuusisaarentie 2 B, tel +358 9 458 4035
Canada, Pohjoisesplanadi 25 B, tel +358 9 228 530
Chile, Erottajankatu 11 A 17, tel +358 9 612 6780
China, Vanha Kelkkamäki 9–11, tel +358 9 2289 0110
Croatia, Kruunuvuorenkatu 5, 4th floor, tel +358 9 622 2232, +358 9 685 0170
Cuba, Fredrikinkatu 61, 3rd floor, tel +358 9 680 2022
Cyprus, Bulevardi 5 A 19, tel +358 9 696 2820
Czech Republic, Armfeltintie 14, tel +358 9 6120 8811
Denmark, Mannerheimintie 8, 6th floor, tel +358 9 684 1050
Egypt, Itäinen Puistotie 2, tel +358 9 477 7470
Estonia, Kalliolinnantie 18, tel +358 9 622 0288
France, Itäinen Puistotie 13, tel +358 9 618 780
Germany, Krogiuksentie 4 B, tel +358 9 458 580
Greece, Maneesikatu 2 A 4, tel +358 9 622 9790
Hungary, Kuusisaarenkuja 6, tel +358 9 484 144
Iceland, Pohjoisesplanadi 27 C, tel +358 9 612 2460
India, Satamakatu 2 A 8, tel +358 9 228 9910
Indonesia, Kuusisaarentie 3, tel +358 9 477 0370
Iran, Kulosaarentie 9, tel +358 9 686 9240
Iraq, Lars Sonckin tie 2, tel +358 9 681 8870
Ireland, Erottajankatu 7 A, tel +358 9 646 006
Israel, Yrjönkatu 36 A, tel +358 9 681 2020
Italy, Itäinen Puistotie 4, tel +358 9 681 1280
Japan, Unioninkatu 20–22, 5th floor, tel +358 9 686 0200
Latvia, Armfeltintie 10, tel +358 9 4764 7277
Lithuania, Rauhankatu 13 A, tel +358 9 684 4880
Malaysia, WTC, Aleksanterinkatu 17, tel +358 9 6969 7142
Mexico, Simonkatu 12 A, 6th floor, tel +358 9 5860 4323
Morocco, Unioninkatu 15 A, tel +358 9 612 2480
Netherlands, Erottajankatu 19 B, tel +358 9 228 920
Norway, Rehbinderintie 17, tel +358 9 686 0180
Peru, Ludviginkatu 3–5 A 21, tel +358 9 7599 4013
Philippines, Keskuskatu 1 B, tel +358 50 353 3371
Poland, Armas Lindgrenintie 21, tel +358 9 618 280
Portugal, Unioninkatu 22, 2nd floor 11 B, tel +358 9 6824 3718
Republic of Korea, Erottajankatu 7 A, tel +358 9 251 5000
Romania, Stenbäckinkatu 24, tel +358 9 241 4414
Russian Federation, Tehtaankatu 1 B, tel +358 9 661 876 & 661 877
Saudi Arabia, Stenbäckinkatu 26, tel +358 9 477 8870
Serbia, Kulosaarentie 36, tel +358 9 684 8522
Slovakia, Annankatu 25, tel +358 9 6811 7810
Slovenia, Eteläesplanadi 24 A, tel +358 9 228 9940
South Africa, Rahapajankatu 1 A 5, tel +358 9 6860 3100
Spain, Kalliolinnantie 6, tel +358 9 687 7080
Sweden, Pohjoisesplanadi 7 B, tel +358 9 687 7660
Switzerland, Uudenmaankatu 16 A, tel +358 9 622 9500
Thailand, Eteläesplanadi 22 C, tel +358 9 612 2640
Tunisia, Liisankatu 14 B 31, tel +358 9 6803 9614
Turkey, Puistokatu 1 b A 3, tel +358 9 6811 0314
Ukraine, Vähäniityntie 9, tel +358 9 228 9000
United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Itäinen Puistotie 17, tel +358 9 2286 5100
United States of America, Itäinen Puistotie 14 A, tel +358 9 616 250
Venezuela, Bulevardi 1 A 62, tel +358 9 686 0440
Vietnam, Aleksanterinkatu 15 A, 5th floor, tel +358 9 622 9900.

Other entities

European Commission Representation in Finland, Malminkatu 16, tel +358 9 622 6544
European Parliament Information Office in Finland, Malminkatu 16, tel +358 9 622 0450
European Chemicals Agency, Annankatu 18, tel +358 9 686 180
Helsinki Commission, Katajanokanlaituri 6 B, tel +358 207 412 649
International Organization for Migration (IOM), Unioninkatu 13, 6th floor, tel +358 9 684 1150
Palestine General Delegation, Fredrikinkatu 25 A 10, tel +358 9 278 9771
Taipei Representative Office in Finland, WTC, Aleksanterinkatu 17, tel +358 9 6969 2420

Emergencies & police

Dial 112 for ambulance, rescue services, fire department and police.

The downtown police precinct is located at Pieni Roobertinkatu 1–3, tel +358 71 877 0111 (telephone exchange).

Internet

The City of Helsinki has a free wireless local area network (WLAN) available in several public premises and places maintained by the City of Helsinki.

Access to the Internet is provided free of charge e.g. at the following points:

Virka info, Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13/Sofiankatu 1, tel +358 9 3101 1111, www.virka.fi.

Virka has six public-access computors available for visitors. Guest credentials can be obtained from the info desk.

Library “Kirjasto 10”, Main post office, Elielinaukio 2 G, tel +358 9 3108 5000.

Lasipalatsi meeting point, Mannerheimintie 22–24, tel +358 9 3108 5900, free WLAN connection for customers having a laptop of their own.

Open Espa – free WLAN connection (Internet, e-mail facilities and Internet calls) operating in the vicinity of the Esplanade Park and Market Square, http://ptp.hel.fi/wlan/

Sanomatalo building, Töölönlahdenkatu 2, offers also free WLAN connection.

Many cafés, restaurants, fast food outlets, shopping centres and hotels offer WLAN connections for use by customers either free of charge or for a small fee.

The Internet portal helsinki.fi serves in Finnish, Swedish and English including useful information on Helsinki Region, its sights, events and tourism.

Lost property offices

The police’s lost property office at Punanotkonkatu 2, tel +358 71 877 3180. Open Mon–Fri 8.00–16.15.

Suomen löytötavarapalvelu at Mäkelänkatu 56. Enquiries tel +358 600 41006 (€1.97/min+local call charge), Mon–Fri 10–18, Sat 10–14.

Medical & health care

Emergencies tel 112. 24-hour medical advice hot line tel +358 9 10 023.

Haartman Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, +358 9 3106 3231, dejour 24h.

Private medical care: Mehiläinen (24h), Runeberginkatu 47 A, tel +358 10 414 0444.

Medicines are sold at pharmacies. Look for the sign "Apteekki".
Yliopiston Apteekki at Mannerheimintie 96 is open 24 hours.

Parking

Helsinki City parking customer service tel +358 9 310 39000.

Street parking in the evenings and on Sundays is usually free of charge. Beware of the traffic wardens though. Illegal parking in central Helsinki carries a parking fine of €50.

There are several underground parking houses in the centre, such as:
Eliel (drive in from Asema-aukio 1 or Töölönlahdenkatu 1),
Erottaja (drive in from Yrjönkatu),
Forum (drive in from Simonkatu),
Kluuvi (drive in from Kaisaniemenkatu/Fabianinkatu 29),

Q-Park Erottaja (drive in from Yrjönkatu 8–10) and Q-Park Kasarmitori (drive in from Fabianinkatu 17); discount for Helsinki Card holders (HC)
Q-Park Stockmann (drive in from the corner of Mannerheimintie and Kalevankatu).

Post services

Information tel +358 200 71000.
Post office Helsinki 10, Elielinaukio 2 F, is open Mon–Fri 7–21, Sat–Sun 10–18.

Mail rates in Finland: €0.75 for priority (1st class) postcards and letters (max 50 grams); €0.60 for economy (2nd class) postcards and letters (max 50 grams).

International mail rates: €0.75 for priority postcards and letters (max 20 grams); €0.60 for economy postcards and letters (max 20 grams).

Religious services

Lutheran services are generally held on Sundays at 10 or 11 am.

German Church (Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinde), Unioninkatu 1, tel +358 9 6869 8510. Service Sun at 11am, www.deutschegemeinde.fi

St Henry’s Cathedral (Catholic), Pyhän Henrikin aukio 1, tel +358 9 637 853, henrik.catholic.fi
Sunday masses: at 9.45am Latin with English, French, or Spanish readings and homily (in English on the 1st and 3rd Sun every month), High Mass at 11am and Evening Mass 6pm. On weekdays: Morning Mass Tue and Thu at 7.30am, Evening Mass Mon, Wed & Fri at 6pm.

St Mary’s Church (Catholic), Mäntytie 2 (D9), tel +358 9 241 1633. Mass in English Sun at 6pm, maria.catholic.fi

Uspenski Cathedral (Orthodox), Kanavakatu 1, tel +358 20 722 0683. Vigil Sat at 6pm, liturgy Sun at 10am (Finnish).

Church of Holy Trinity (Orthodox), Unioninkatu 31, tel +358 20 722 0649. Vigil Sat at 6pm (Slavic), liturgy Sun at 10am (Slavic).
In Finnish: Wed at 8am and evening service Mon–Thu at 5pm.

Anglican Church (Episcopal), Agricola Church, Tehtaankatu 23, tel +358 9 680 1515. Morning Prayer Sun at 9am; Sung Eucharist Sun at 10am, www.anglican.fi

Mosque, Lönnrotinkatu 22 (E3), tel +358 9 278 2551. The Islamic Society of Finland, www.rabita.fi

Synagogue, Malminkatu 26 (E4), tel +358 9 586 0310. Services in Hebrew Sat at 9am.

Chinese Evangelical Congregation in Finland, tel. +358 9 5868 7710: Sun worship (at 10am) in Chinese at the International Christian Center, Ruoholahdenkatu 16. www.chinesechurch.fi

International Evangelical Church: office at Ruoholahdenkatu 16, tel. +358 9 586 8770 (Mon–Fri), www.church.fi. Services at the Christ Church, Apollonkatu 5, Sun at 2pm.

Telephone calls

When calling abroad from Finland the international prefixes are 990, 999, 994, 996 or 00.
After that dial the country code + area code + receiver’s phone number.

If you call from abroad to Finland, first dial the prefix of your choice (marked with +), then the country code 358, after that the area code without zero, e.g. (0)9 in Helsinki, and finally the receiver’s number. Nearly all Finns carry a cellular phone with codes like 050, 040, 0400 or 045. Dial also these numbers without the first zero, e.g. +358 50 1111111.

Enquiries of phone numbers on 02 02 02 or 118.