All public transport within Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen is coordinated by HSL. There is quite a variety of tickets and fares but the following basic ticket types are the most common ones:

• Tram ticket (raitiovaunulippu) — valid for one hour on trams only
• Single ticket (kertalippu) — valid on all HSL services within city limits for one hour.
• Regional ticket (seutulippu) — valid for 80min within and between Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen
• Full region ticket — the above plus Kerava, Sipoo and Kirkkonummi, valid 100 minutes (1 hour 40 minutes)

The single ticket allows you to travel by almost any local public transportation method (buses, trains, trams, metro, Suomenlinna ferry) within the boundaries of Helsinki. The Regional ticket covers almost any public transportation method within the boundaries of Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, and Kauniainen. However, if you purchase a Tram ticket, you are allowed to travel only by tram. All tickets allow unlimited transfers within their validity periods and regions. Unlike public transportation tickets in many other cities, the ticket is not invalidated if you exit the vehicle before the time has expired. Children under the age of seven travel free, while tickets for children under the age of 16 are half price.

Fares can be paid by cash when boarding (except the cheap tram ticket, you get a single ticket instead), by sending a text message to 16355 (valid on trams, metro and some buses; requires a Finnish SIM card) or by Travel Card (matkakortti), a smartcard sold at the R-kioskis and HSL offices, very similar to London's Oyster card. Using the Travel Card is slightly cumbersome, as you must hold your card against the reader and simultaneously press the numbered button corresponding to the desired ticket type. Hold the card without pressing anything to see the remaining value or to register a transfer. One unadvertised but handy feature of the card is that it can be used by multiple people at once — just hold and press the button repeatedly, and the reader will beep and show "2x", "3x", etc. (For any subsequent transfers, holding it against the reader once is sufficient.) A travel card for non-residents can be bought at most R-kioski stores and can be cost-effective if you are using many single tickets (including multiple people sharing the card).

Alternatively, you can opt for the Helsinki Card or HSL Day Ticket, both of which offer unlimited travel within the city.

• Helsinki Card. The Helsinki Card also offers free admission to a number of museums and other attractions.
• HSL Day Ticket (matkailijalippu). Tickets are sold at HSL offices, R-Kioskis located in the city center, ticket vending machines or by the driver.

The very useful HSL Journey Planner will get you from a street address, place or sight to another by suggesting possible public transport connections, covering the entire metropolitan Helsinki region. Try e.g. "Airport" or "Railway station" for place names. It is also available in several third-party mobile apps for most smartphones, which can use GPS to find your current location.

There are no ticket checks when getting on the metro, trains, trams or the Suomenlinna ferry, but ticket inspectors in blue uniforms or without uniforms do random checks on board.

By tram

For tourists, the most convenient and scenic means of travel is the extensive tram network, especially lines 2 and 3 that together do a figure-eight circuit around the city (both run the length of the loop, the tram just changes signs halfway through), as well as the circular lines 7A (clockwise) and 7B (counterclockwise). Trams and HSL offices usually stock informative leaflets listing the attractions along the routes. For an up-to-date route map and additional information check out HKL's website.

There is also a free Helsinki Sightseeing 3T Tram Audio Guide available for downloading here (the route has changed a bit since the audio guide was made and so has the number of the tram).

From Wednesday to Friday, try to spot the silver-colored Culture Tram featuring live performances, art exhibitions and video installations on the route of tram 7B.

NOTE: The circular lines 3T and 3B were renamed 2 and 3 in 2013. The routes are still the same. Chances are that you will run into paper maps and secondary sources where the old numbers are used.

By bus

While the trams operate in the city center, buses cover the rest of the city. The main stations for northbound and eastbound buses are on the two squares adjacent to the Central Railway Station: Eliel Square (Elielinaukio) and Railway Square (Rautatientori). Westbound buses operate from the underground bus station in the Kamppi Center which is adjacent to the Kamppi metro station.

Buses are always entered through the front door and exited through the middle and backdoors. When getting on the bus with a ticket you have bought earlier, you need to show it to the driver. If you don't have a ticket, you can buy one from the driver in cash. If you are using a travel card, follow the instructions given above.

By metro

Helsinki's metro holds the minor distinction of being the northernmost subway system in the world with Mellunmäki being the northernmost station. There's a single line which runs from the center to eastern suburbs, but apart from the Itäkeskus shopping center, Rastila camping site, and Aurinkolahti Beach, few places along the line are of interest to tourists. After Itäkeskus, the line splits in two, with one line going to Mellunmäki and the other to Vuosaari. Traveling between Ruoholahti and Mellunmäki or Vuosaari takes 21–22 minutes.

By train

VR's suburban trains operate north from the Central Railway Station, branching out in three directions. HSL city tickets are valid within city limits, regional tickets on suburban trains to Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen.

All carriages on local trains have the electronic readers which allow you to buy a fare with a travel card. If you want to buy a ticket in cash, you must go to a ticket sales carriage (lipunmyyntivaunu) and buy a ticket from the train conductor. The ticket sales carriages are indicated with signs by the doors and on the windows (the middle section of the rearmost set of cars for multi-unit trains). There is also a large sign on the station platform showing where the ticket sales carriages should stop. Note that you will have to stop the conductor and ask for a ticket yourself, otherwise she or he will simply walk past you.

By ferry

Suomenlinna

Market Square

By taxi

Taxis in Helsinki are expensive. Taxi fares are regulated by the government and are reviewed annually. The rate increases if there are more than two passengers. Generally, baggage that is considered large enough to warrant an extra charge is baggage that won't fit in the trunk easily, for example, without folding down the back seat. This charge is also applied if you are traveling with a large pet - although service dogs travel free.

During some popular events or holidays, it can be difficult to find a free taxi. Walk to the nearest taxi stand or try to book one by phone from Taxi Helsinki 0100-0700 or Lähitaksi 0100-7300. To pre-order a taxi for a given time, call 0100-0600. A pre-order can be placed for a taxi maximum two weeks prior to the time the taxi is needed, and a minimum of a half an hour before. A pre-order fee will be added to the taxi fare.

Drivers are not required to pick up a person hailing them on the street. If their light is on, and they pass a person hailing them, it is usually because there is a taxi stand very near by with available taxis waiting for customers. If you are not near a taxi stand, you will very likely be able to hail a passing taxi with the light on.

Helsinki Limo will provide private car services as transfers and longer trips. Their vehicles are always new and black with leather interior. Worth of asking offers either from info@helsinkilimo.com or simply calling +358 20-787-0360. Drivers speak English and can even, by order, give short sightseeings. Quality company.

Yellow Line is a good and cost-effective option. Minivans carry up to seven or eight passengers and drop passengers off at their individual destinations. 

By bike

If you rent a bicycle, you'll find an extensive network of bike routes within the city. Bikers are required by law to ride on the street next to cars unless a bike lane or integrated pedestrian/cyclists sidewalk runs next to it, and the police ticket cyclists breaking this rule. Bike lanes are clearly marked by street markings and blue traffic signs. Biking is also allowed on pedestrian streets.

Downtown bike lanes are typically on the sidewalks (instead of next to car lanes on the street) so be aware of pedestrians. Don't be afraid to ring your bell! Review your bike map carefully, as some bike routes will stop and require you to walk your bike or drive next to cars. There is also a journey planner for cycling. Once you get out of the city centre, cycling is less complicated and there are great, well-labeled paths.

Public libraries often have free biking maps for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. If they are not visibly displayed on tables, ask for one from the staff.

If an ordinary bike isn't enough for you, you can also rent a cyclerickshaw (riksa) large enough for three from Riksavuokraus (tel. +358 50-5582525) in Eiranranta near Kaivopuisto.

Baana

Baana - Helsinki's new "Low Line" (as opposed to NYC's High Line) opened on June 12, 2012, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a 1.3 km long connector between the Western Harbour area to Kamppi and Töölö Bay. At the Harbour end, you can see all the international cruise ships that stop in Helsinki and visit a free sightseeing terrace with MiG-21BIS fighter jet on display - located at the Verkkokauppa.com electronics store. On the Kamppi end, there's a bicycle hire centre and cultural activities and sights.

By walking

Don't forget walking! The central part of Helsinki is compact and easily walkable. There is no need for public transportation in the main Kamppi-Central railway station area where many attractions are, and even anywhere on the main peninsula (south of the train station) is within 30 minutes at a nice leisurely pace.

By car

Car rental is not a particularly good way of getting around Helsinki, since parking is limited and expensive. Most street-side parking in the city centre is in "Zone 1." There are also several large underground car parks at the Kamppi and Forum shopping centres. Nevertheless, central Helsinki is relatively difficult to get around by car due to restrictions, and is congested in the morning 06.30-08.30 towards the city and in the afternoon 15:00-17:00 towards the suburbs - the ring roads are congested both directions at both times. For instance, if driving from Porvoo to central Helsinki at around 16:00, one can expect to spend half an hour driving 47 km to the end of the expressway and another half an hour to drive 7 km to the Kamppi centre.