Practical information
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GENERAL INFORMATION
In this section you will find things good to know about Finland and Helsinki.
Weather
Hanken Partner Day and the EAIE conference take place in-between seasons. Weather-wise, this means that the outdoors temperature can be somewhere between 6°C and 18°C (43° - 64°F). Helsinki is located near the sea – which means that it is often very windy and it feels like it is colder than it shows on the thermometer. Compared to other parts of the world, it is not as humid in Finland although it rains a lot during autumn. It is recommended to bring a both wind- and waterproof jacket and a sweater. The mornings and evenings can be very chilly in September. You can check the weather forecast here: https://www.foreca.com/Finland/Helsinki?lang=en
Power plugs, sockets and adapters
In Finland the standard voltage is 230 V, the standard frequency is 50 Hz, and the power sockets that are used are of type F. Read more here: http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/finland/
Currency and ATMs
The currency in Finland is euros (€). You can exchange money at the airport in the arrivals hall 2A and at e.g. Forex bank offices. There is a Forex in the Central Railway Station for example. Finnish banks limitedly offers or do not offer this cash changing service.
The ATMs available in Finland are called OTTO and Nosto and can be found in department stores like Stockmann and Sokos, outside bank offices, in shopping centres like Kamppi and Kämp Galleria. You can pay with credit or debit cards at most places (even small amounts).
Time
The local time in Helsinki during the summer is Eastern European Summer Time – EEST.
Telephone instructions
The country code for Finland is +358. The emergency phone number is 112.
Internet access
Roaming within Europe is generally free, but check with your internet provider to be sure. Most hotels and cafés provide free Wi-Fi for their customers.
You will receive a Hanken login for the partner day on Sunday. Eduroam is also available.
Tap water – can I drink it?
The answer to that question is yes –you can drink cold tap water everywhere. Drinking tap water is an everyday privilege we enjoy. Tap water is even said to be better than bottled water. However, you should not drink warm or hot tap water nor make instant coffee or tea with it.
Shops' opening hours
Shops in Helsinki are usually open 9-21 during weekdays, 10-16 or 18 on Saturdays and 12-18 on Sundays.
Kamppi shopping centre opening hours
9-21 on weekdays, 9-19 on Saturdays and 12-18 on Sundays
Kämp Galleria opening hours
8-20 on weekdays, 10-18 on Saturdays and 12-18 on Sundays
Forum shopping centre opening hours
10-21 on weekdays, 10-19 on Saturdays and 12-18 on Sundays
Department stores Stockmann (Alexanterinkatu) and Sokos (Mannerheimintie) opening hours
9-21 on weekdays, 9-19 on Saturdays and 11-18 on Sundays.
Some of the grocery shops are open 24h, e.g S-Market Sokos (on Mannerheimintie).
Price level of dining
Eating out in Finland is rather expensive. However, service and VAT are always included in the prices, so tipping is not required. If you think that you have received extra good service in e.g. a restaurant you can tip, but there is no rule how much you should tip. The VAT is also included in the price for groceries, clothes, gifts etc.
Some examples:
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Cappuccino/Latte 4-4,50€
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Three-course menu 40-80€/person (drinks not included)
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Hamburger at McDonalds: 1 - 5,45€
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Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle): 1.30 – 3.00€
In restaurants, it is perfectly fine to ask the waiter to split the bill and for everyone at the table to pay for their own food and drinks.
Bilingualism
Finland has two main official languages. The majority of the population (87,9%) speak Finnish as their mother tongue and Swedish is spoken by 5,2% of the population (Statistics Finland, 2019). You notice the bilingualism in everyday life: all official documentation, road signs, street names, local transportation stops etc. are written in both Finnish and Swedish.
At Hanken we speak Swedish and English with colleagues, faculty and students.
The Sauna culture
Finland is known for having invented the sauna. It is very common for Finnish families to have a sauna of their own and you always find saunas at public indoor swimming halls and at the gym. In Helsinki, there is even a sauna for rent in one of the internationally famous hamburger restaurants.
Our sources for information and facts about the happiest country in the world
Visit Finland Opens in new window
This is Finland Opens in new window
This is Finland – Statistics Opens in new window
My Helsinki Opens in new window
The ministry for foreign affair’s toolbox Opens in new window (for facts about Finland)
TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation in Helsinki
Helsinki Region Transportation (HSL) manages the local transportation. At their web site https://www.hsl.fi/en Opens in new window you can search for and plan your route around Helsinki region by tram, metro, bus, regional train, city bikes and the ferry to Suomenlinna.
The EAIE conference has arranged free regional public transportation tickets (HSL travel cards) for registered participants between 23rd and 27th of September. With the HSL travel card you can use the public transportation in Helsinki and the surrounding towns Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa. The airport is situated in Vantaa. The HSL ticket does not include the Finnair city bus.
Helsinki region uses zone tickets (AB, BC, ABC, ABCD) and the price vary depending on how many zones you cross. Depending on when you arrive, you may perhaps want to buy a single ABC ticket to get to the city centre on Saturday and additionally buy 1-2 single tickets within the AB (Helsinki) zone for Sunday. A single ticket in the AB zone costs 2,80€ and is valid for 80 minutes and a day ticket in this zone costs 8€ and is valid for 24h. You may purchase the tickets with credit card.
There are also very good biking opportunities within Helsinki, and walking is very common. Renting a city bike costs 5€ for a day, 10 € for a week and 30€ for the whole season. You can ride an unlimited number of 30-minute rides by bike without extra cost.
Use “Reittiopas Opens in new window ” route planning service for public transportation within the Helsinki region by typing in the address from where you are leaving and to where you are going. It will provide you different options of how to get from A to B (e.g. “Helsinki-Vantaa airport” and “Hanken School of Economics”). More information on public transportation and route planning, please visit HSL’s website at: https://www.hsl.fi/en Opens in new window
Travel from the airport to Helsinki city centre
Trains
The local trains I and P depart from the basement of the terminal. The trains take you to the central railway station (centre of Helsinki). You need to buy an ABC zone ticket (single ticket 4,60€, valid for 110min or day ticket 12€, valid for 24h) from the automat at the terminal, BEFORE entering the train. You can purchase the ticket with credit card. No tickets are sold on the train. You can use the same ticket to public transportation, in case you will continue with tram/bus/metro from the central railway station. The train ride to the city center takes approx. 30 min.
Finnair city bus
The Finnair City Bus departs from right outside of the terminal every 20-30 min and takes you to the city center. The ride takes about 30-35 min and costs 6,90€. The Finnair city bus accepts credit cards and you can buy tickets on the bus or online. The end stop is the central railway station in the centre of Helsinki, from where you can walk, take a taxi or tram to your hotel.
Taxi
Travelling by taxi is expensive in Finland. Look for the official taxi lines outside the arrival terminal. Taxis offer fixed rates to the city centre, it should be around 40€. The line closest to the terminal usually has the best price. All taxis accept credit cards.
Other options are Uber Opens in new window or Yango Opens in new window for lower faires. You need to register in order to order an Uber or Yango.
Ticket purchasing
You can purchase single or day tickets at HSL’s salespoints, which include for example R-kioski and ticket machines. You can pay by credit card. R-kioski is a chain of convenience stores similar to 7Eleven. You find R-kioskis at several locations in Helsinki, for example on the ground floor of the Central Railway Station or in Kamppi shopping centre.
ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS
We have prepared a list of hotels in the centre of Helsinki that we suggest. We recommend you to stay in the city centre. The hotels are marked on the map below along with tram and train lines that you can use to reach the EAIE Conference and Exhibition at Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre. After each hotel below, we have marked how many minutes you have to walk to the nearest tram stop as well as an approximation of price per night for a standard or superior hotel room. Some of the suggested hotels are also found on the EAIE conference hotel list.
- Hotel Haven Opens in new window (5-13 min*), 197€ - 263**
- Hotel F6 Opens in new window (5-11 min*), 292€ – 343 €**
- Hotel Lilla Roberts Opens in new window , (9-14 min*), 265 - 354€ - €**
- Hotel Fabian, (9-15 min*), 213€ - 285€**
- Klaus K, (7-9 min*), 225 € - 240 €**
- Solo Sokos Hotel Torni, (3 min*), EAIE Conference hotel.
- Scandic Simonkenttä Opens in new window , (3 min*), EAIE Conference hotel.
- Scandic Marski Opens in new window (6-7 min*), EAIE Conference hotel.
- Scandic Grand Marina Opens in new window , (3 min to tram + 5 min to train), 181€ - 242€**
- Hotel Helka Opens in new window , (6 min*), 276€ - 297€**
* = minutes to closest tram stop
** = approx. price/night for 1 person (21-27 September)
Hanken School of Economics
Central Railway Station
Tram 7
Tram 9
Tram 4
Click here to zoom map
Four stars hotels (or higher) in Finland generally include free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Three stars hotels in generally also keep a high standard and often include breakfast as well as free Wi-Fi. In order to attend the Hanken Partner Day – make sure to book an extra hotel night from Saturday 21st to Sunday 22nd September as we will start already on Sunday morning.
Please note! Finland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union this year, which means accommodation will be in high demand in the autumn. So, please book your room already now.
Please note! Solo Sokos Hotel Torni (6), Scandic Simonkenttä (7) and Scandic Marski (8) are also on the EAIE conference’s hotel list. If you intend to book one of these hotels please contact Confedent International (the official accommodation partner of the EAIE Helsinki 2019) in order to book, also the extra night between Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of September (the EAIE hotel booking starts from Sunday 22 September).The EAIE conference organizer kindly asks you not to contact the hotel directly:
”You can book accommodation from Sunday September 22 through Saturday September 28, 2019. Additional nights are subject to the hotel's availability and should be separately requested. Should you need to change a booking already made, or if you need additional nights before or after the actual congress days, kindly contact us at confedent.eaie19@confedent.fi. Please do not contact the hotel directly”. (EAIE Conference, 2019)
Contact us
Do you have questions? Please contact us through: international@hanken.fi