© Veikko Venemies・Unsplash License

Finland

Helsinki

A Baltic capital of design and sea air. Green trams loop the city, and no station has a ticket gate.

Helsinki Metro (metro)

The readers at the top of the escalators mark the payment area - hold a ticket before stepping past. Contactless buys adult singles only, slightly dearer than the app. AB covers all but the five westernmost stations.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Get your ticket before the payment area
    The card readers at the top of the escalators down to the platform mark the payment area. Buy before you pass them.
  2. 2
    Pick your zones on the reader, then tap
    Select your zones on the reader's screen, then tap your card or phone. It prints no ticket and no receipt.
  3. 3
    Keep your card handy
    There are normally no gates to pass through. If an inspector asks, show the card you paid with or the ticket in the app.
  4. 4
    Check the destination on the front of the train
    East of Itakeskus the line splits in two. Check the terminus shown on the front of the train and on the platform display.
  5. 5
    Keep using the same card to transfer
    Transfer to any HSL service while the ticket is valid. On buses tap the same card as you board; elsewhere show it only if asked.
  6. 6
    Just walk out
    There is nothing to tap on the way out - walk straight from the platform to the exit.

Fares

Single fares4

Single ticket AB (app or HSL card)
Covers every metro station except the last five in western Espoo. Valid 80 minutes.
3.3 EUR ≈ $4
Single ticket AB (contactless or ticket machine)
The price at the reader or a ticket machine. Contactless sells adult single tickets only.
3.5 EUR ≈ $4
Single ticket ABC (app or HSL card)
What you need for Finnoo through Kivenlahti in western Espoo. Valid 90 minutes.
4.5 EUR ≈ $5
Single ticket ABC (contactless or ticket machine)
The same trip costs 30 cents more when bought at the reader.
4.8 EUR ≈ $5

Passes & multi-ride3

Day ticket AB (adult, 1 day)
For 2-13 days it is app-only, at 5.30 euros per extra day. Not available on the HSL card.
10.6 EUR ≈ $12
Day ticket ABC (adult, 1 day)
The one to buy on a day that includes the airport or western Espoo. Extra days cost 6.40 euros.
12.8 EUR ≈ $14
10-journey ticket AB (app)
HSL app only. That works out at 2.97 euros a ride, a little under the single fare.
29.7 EUR ≈ $33

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Ruoholahti station entrance, August 2026: the withdrawn large ticket machines are wrapped in HSL's own "How to buy a ticket" cover — the app, the online store, contactless at card readers, and sales points. Taken Aug 2026 © Wurstimakkara・CC BY-SA 4.0

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardDiners
Buy right at the reader - adult single tickets only
IC card
Pay at the reader with value loaded on an HSL card
App tickets
The HSL app sells every ticket type, at the lowest single fare
Paper tickets
Paper tickets from shops carry a QR code you show to a reader
Cash
Only at some ticket machines - never at the card readers

Quick facts

Hours
5:20-24:00 approx.
Frequency
Every 2-8 min
Fares from
3.3 EUR+

Heads-up

  • You must show the same card you paid with, or be fined

    When you pay contactless, the card or phone you paid with is the ticket itself - whether you transfer or an inspector asks, it has to be that same card you show. If you paid by phone and the battery dies so you cannot show the ticket, you can be issued a penalty fare.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:20-24:00 approx.
Typical duration About 21 minutes from the centre to the eastern termini, 30 to Kivenlahti in the west
Check the official site for the latest times and service status

Route map

2 lines ·30 stations
© OpenStreetMapOpenMapTilesData (ODbL)
Editor Naotaka