Travel and Transportation

VISA REQUIREMENTS / CUSTOMS AND ENTRY

Helsinki Airport is located just 35 minutes from Helsinki City.  It has been chosen as one of the world’s best airports. The airport offers over 120 non-stop flights around the world and 300 flights a day.

Traveling by train to Helsinki is another option.  Take the VR directly in to Helsinki Central Station located in the city center.

Airport Transfers
A taxi from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the center of Helsinki costs 30€ to 35€ ($39-$46), and the ride generally takes 30 to 40 minutes.
An airport taxi shuttle service is available for individual travelers to any point in the greater Helsinki area, costing anywhere from 48€ to 58€ ($77-$93). The van is shared by a maximum of eight passengers.
Several bus options from the airport to the city center are available: 

• The Finnair Bus is takes approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the city center or vice versa and costs approximately 6,20€ one way.  On the way to the airport, The Finnar Bus only stops at the Hesperia Park stop. 
• Helsinki Regional Transport also provides a bus from the airport to the city center.  Ride time varies between 45 min – 1 hour.  Individual tickets can be purchased for 4,00€ one way.

Getting Around

Helsinki is a very walk-able city. However, there are also many public transportation options to get you from point A to point B.

By Metro/Bus/Train -- The transportation system operates daily from 5:30 am to 1:30 am. A single ticket, valid for rides on any city bus or tram, costs 2.20€ ($3.50). Transfers are allowable within 1 hour of your initial boarding, and the penalty for persons caught riding without a valid ticket is around 70€ ($112).

You can find taxis at taxi stands or hail them on the street. All taxis have an illuminated yellow sign: TAKSI/TAXI. The basic fare costs 6€ ($9.60) and rises on a per-kilometer basis, as indicated on the meter. Surcharges are imposed in the evening (6-10pm) and on Saturday after 2pm. There's also a surcharge at night from 10pm to 6am and on Sunday.

Visitors can purchase the Helsinki Card, which offers unlimited travel on the city’s public buses, trams, metro and ferries; a free guided bus tour of the city; free admission to approximately 50 museums; and free ferryboat access and entrance to the Suomenlinna Fortress. It also includes discounts on access to the airport via the Finnair airport bus transfer and discounts at selected restaurants and shops.  Helsinki Cards can be purchased for 1-, 2- and 3-day periods and cost 30€ ($48) for 1 day, 40€ ($64) for 2 days, and 50€ ($80) for 3 days.

You can also buy a Tourist Ticket for travel within Helsinki over a one, three or five-day period. This ticket lets you travel as much as you like within the city limits on all forms of public transportation except regional buses to far-flung outlying townships that include Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa. A 1-day ticket costs 6€ ($9.60); a 3-day ticket costs 12€ ($19), and a 5-day ticket costs 18€ ($29). Tickets can be purchased at many places throughout Helsinki, including the Helsinki City Tourist Office and transportation service depots, such as the Railway Square Metro Station, open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 6pm and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DISCOUNTS

PER/IADR has partnered with both American and United Airlines to provide our attendees  a 5% discount off of ANY fare for the PER/IADR Annual Meeting in Helsinki. The valid travel dates for this discount are September 11-15, 2012. 

For American, contact the AA Meetings Service Desk at +1.800.433.1790 to apply this discount and book your flight. Please refer to the Promotion Code: A6392BF when booking your flight.

For United, meeting attendees can book travel through United’s toll-free reservation line (+1.800.521.4041), online at www.united.com, or through your preferred travel professional. Refer to or enter meeting code: 588AI.

PER/IADR Annual Meeting American Airlines Discout Promotion Code: A6392BF 
PER/IADR Annual Meeting United Airlines Discount Promotion Code: 588AI

VISA REQUIREMENTS / CUSTOMS AND ENTRY
It is never too early to start working on getting your visa. It can take many weeks to get a visa to enter Finland. Each embassy/consulate has different visa application procedures, so you must contact the office that has jurisdiction over your country of permanent residence to find out which procedures apply.

Individuals residing in the Schengen member countries are not required to obtain a visa to travel to Finland. These countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

Additionally, individuals in European Union (EU) countries, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, and Japan do not require visas to enter Finland. Visitors (except those from EU or Schengen countries) must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months AFTER their planned departure date.

For more information on visa requirements to enter Finland for your country, please visit http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=15720&contentlan=2&culture=en-US.

Should you require a visa to gain entry into Finland and do not receive it in time of the meeting or are denied, you will be granted a refund only if you submit a copy of your visa rejection letter and proof that you applied for a visa no later than two weeks after abstract notification letters are sent (approximately May 29, 2012). Non-presenters are encouraged to apply for a visa as soon as possible, but also no later than two weeks after abstract notification letters are sent. If you meet these conditions, a refund will be issued less the cancellation fee above. Valid requests for refunds due to visa problems must be received in writing no later than 15 days after the end of the meeting.

The process to receive a visa can take several weeks, so apply as early as possible to ensure you receive your visa in time of the meeting dates.