Helsinki (HEL) Stopover Tips

[Captain Halliday]

Me too, as in UK via HEL for all of January.

Makes two of us.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I have had no trouble getting a shower in the AY Schengen Lounge after arriving from HKG. One time straight in, the other a short wait. Takes about 15-20mins to transfer, clear immigration once off the aircraft. So 2 hours is ample for a shower and some lounge time.

Great, thanks. Hopefully this will save me embarassing myself (at the LHR arrivals lounge that is)

 

[Pierre_a]

I enjoyed the Hilton Strand on my last trip there. Make sure you get a renovated room. Excellent lobby bar and a decent reindeer tartare.

Make sure you check out a bowl of classic salmon soup and wash it down with something crisp and white.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I enjoyed the Hilton Strand on my last trip there. Make sure you get a renovated room. Excellent lobby bar and a decent reindeer tartare.

Make sure you check out a bowl of classic salmon soup and wash it down with something crisp and white.

Thanks for the tip. Very timely. I’m at the Hilton Strand in December.

 

[Flashback]

I can highly recommend a day trip from HEL (if you're in transit) to a small town called Porvoo. There's a bus that leaves straight from the airport and when we did it, we had no issues in leaving our carry on bags in the lockers in the AY Premium Lounge (non-Schengen area) for safe keeping whilst we were out and about. It's a very walkable town and the scenery out there is so pretty, especially the coach ride out there.

 

[Flashback]

Great, thanks. Hopefully this will save me embarassing myself (at the LHR arrivals lounge that is)

Also if you have Priority Pass, there are several arrivals lounges at LHR that you can use.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Also if you have Priority Pass, there are several arrivals lounges at LHR that you can use.

Thanks, I literally just received mine in the post TODAY! courtesy of an AMEX card I hold with its two complimentary visits per year, so will keep this option up my sleeve also, thank you for this tip

 

[Flashback]

Thanks, I literally just received mine in the post TODAY! courtesy of an AMEX card I hold with its two complimentary visits per year, so will keep this option up my sleeve also, thank you for this tip

I like T4 for the food and T2 for the shower suites!

 

[SeatBackForward]

I like T4 for the food and T2 for the shower suites!

At that time of morning after coming in from Asia, is the shower I need, and any mediocre black coffee will suffice.

 

[Flashback]

At that time of morning after coming in from Asia, is the shower I need, and any mediocre black coffee will suffice.

Actually the T4 lounge also has decent showers. I assume you're coming into T3 if flying AY? In which case, it's a short walk over to T2 upon arrival.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Actually the T4 lounge also has decent showers. I assume you're coming into T3 if flying AY? In which case, it's a short walk over to T2 upon arrival.

I guess so, will be my first AY flight through HEL so I'm being guided by wiser minds

 

[Flashback]

I guess so, will be my first AY flight through HEL so I'm being guided by wiser minds

They all depart from T3 AFAIK so imagine it'd be the same for arrival

 

[Lynda2475]

Have a night in Helsinki next July and need to pick a hotel. I will flying in from Vilnius arriving early afternoon Wednesday, then flying out late the next day (Thursday) with QR around 11pm.

I will have already spent a few days in Helsinki earlier in the trip as part of a tour (don't have those hotel details yet), but looking for somewhere comfortable in city, as will want to store luggage while i explore for the day before heading to the airport.

Assuming I should get the train to/from HEL should I aim to be near Helsinki Central Station, something an relatively easy walk from there ? Any recommendations?

Looking at possibly using a Hotels.com free night, seems like Holiday Inn Helsinki City Centre or Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Helsinki are relatively ok value.

Finally as will be flying QR in J - what lounge can I use?

 

[get me outta here]

I stayed at the Raddison blue Helsinki. It was very convenient and a great Scandinavian breakfast. I wanted a quiet room so they gave me a large internal room overlooking the courtyard. They also have bicycles that you can borrow.

 

[cwd]

Have a night in Helsinki next July and need to pick a hotel. I will flying in from Vilnius arriving early afternoon Wednesday, then flying out late the next day (Thursday) with QR around 11pm.

I will have already spent a few days in Helsinki earlier in the trip as part of a tour (don't have those hotel details yet), but looking for somewhere comfortable in city, as will want to store luggage while i explore for the day before heading to the airport.

Assuming I should get the train to/from HEL should I aim to be near Helsinki Central Station, something an relatively easy walk from there ? Any recommendations?

Have you considered staying at the Hilton at the airport? It's a relatively short walk once you leave the terminal. I've stayed at F6, but that's a little bit of a walk from the station, so can't comment on those you've mentioned.

Finally as will be flying QR in J - what lounge can I use?

You'll have access to the standard non-schengen Finnair lounge. Unless you have Oneworld Emerald status, in which case you can use the new Platinum Wing. Was there on the weekend, and slightly underwhelmed by the Platinum Wing, but it's definitely an upgrade over the extremely crowded standard lounge. It should be better now or at least by July, as the lounges have been being renovated. Actually, at 11pm it might be quiet anyway.

 

[Lynda2475]

Have you considered staying at the Hilton at the airport

No because id have an afternoon/night plus pretty much a whole day to spend in Helsinki so thought there would more to do in the city, and walking about would help me be tired enough to sleep on the flight the next night.

You'll have access to the standard non-schengen Finnair lounge

Yeah only QFF Gold (One world Sapphire).

 

[cwd]

Was just in Helsinki this last weekend, so thought I'd share a few bits and pieces.

Arriving into HEL in the afternoon, there was a fairly lengthy queue at immigration, which I haven't experienced before. I must have waited at least 20 minutes. As usual, the questioning is far more rigorous than is normal for entry into the Schengen area, so be prepared. I noticed plenty of people being asked to show itineraries etc. I still don't know why Finland are so strict. It's quite a contrast with Germany, where they've never even said a word to me.

I was transferring to a flight to TLL, which left from gate 9. Be warned, it's a LONG walk. From the schengen lounge, it was well over 5 minutes, and I walk extremely quickly. Someone who walks at a slower pace (which seemed to be everyone there...and it was really busy), could easily take over 10 minutes. The walk from my arrival gate, through immigration, to gate 9, must have been close to 15 minutes.

Likewise on the way back, arriving back at gate 9, it was a significant walk to get to my gate in the non-schengen zone. At least immigration is quick with an Australian passport, as the only human contact is someone who stamps your passport.

I got to try out the new Platinum Wing lounge. It's definitely an improvement over the old Premium lounge. The showers are nice, though I think there are only 3. Had a very friendly bartender, who proactively offered me 2 glasses of Champagne when I ordered 1. And told me how to make a Finnish G+T. There's an a la carte dining area, but no one ever came to take my order. I did see them talking to some people later on, but everyone seemed to just be using the buffet anyway.

Oh, and the Finnair crew were fantastic on the flight (to HKG). In J, I had 3 glasses of Champagne before departure, and was offered a bit more and had to decline. It's also great not having a shortage of toilets like on QF.

As for the city itself, the new Helsinki Central Library Oodi is worth checking out. It has a floor with video games, 3D printers, sewing machines, meeting rooms and more, for people to book and use. The area with books is also nice:



I was there during the Helsinki Festival, but there was surprisingly little to see or do as part of that, at least that was of any interest.

 

[EestiTiger]

Was just in Helsinki this last weekend, so thought I'd share a few bits and pieces.

Arriving into HEL in the afternoon, there was a fairly lengthy queue at immigration, which I haven't experienced before. I must have waited at least 20 minutes. As usual, the questioning is far more rigorous than is normal for entry into the Schengen area, so be prepared. I noticed plenty of people being asked to show itineraries etc. I still don't know why Finland are so strict. It's quite a contrast with Germany, where they've never even said a word to me.

I thought it was just me! I now always have my itinerary ready for them in Helsinki with my departure from EU highlighted

 

[OZDUCK]

Another one who was surprised at how strict Finnish immigration were. We also had to pull out our itinerary to show them our plans.

Lynda2475 we have stayed at the Holiday Inn at Central. It is just a few steps away from the station and was perfectly fine. Very pleasant staff and they let us book in at 0830. Decor was sort of 1960's Scandinavian. Very convenient for trams, buses and of course the airport train.

 

[Lynda2475]

As both time I will be entering Finland will be from another Schengen Zone country (Sweden by ferry then Lithuania by Air) Im hoping for not too many dramas. Will have a tour itinerary and tickets home either way.

Thanks Get Me Outta Here and OzDuck - will recheck the rates and use my hotels.com credit, keen to make saving wherever i can given its a 5 week trip through som mighty expensive cities.