getting around Helsinki - Travel Card

Aurinko89 · Post by **Aurinko89** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:53 pm

Hei!

I'm going to Helsinki for ~1-1,5 month. I'll have to use the public transport daily. Which would be the cheapest option for me?
I wanted to buy a Travel Card but I just read that it's only for local residents.. I don't think that I could register myself as a resident if I'M only staying for 1,5 month, could I?
anyway, what's the difference between: Personal Travel Card, general period - 14 days 36.00 and Personal Travel Card, period - 14 days 22.40?
thank you very much!

**Sponsor:**

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:29 pm

You can buy a monthly non-personal travel card ("haltijakohtainen"). It is more expensive than the one for residents but it is available. There are old threads about it.

kuanbs · Post by **kuanbs** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:09 am

Yes, you can use the travel card but with more expensive price. Here is the link on ytv.fi , I dont know if it works for you:
http://www.ytv.fi/ENG/transport/tickets ... r_2009.htm

I use the travel card calculator on the site. In the Mulniciplaity of resident part, you should choose Other(general period ticket) option.
For an adult, who travels in Helsinki in 30 days and comes from other differrent residents, the price is 68,80 euros.

Cheers

Aurinko89 · Post by **Aurinko89** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:48 am

thank you for your nice and fast reply!! you're great

70 euro is quite OK, i thought it'll be more, as in Finland services are really expensive

I'm planning to stay in Helsinki for a month to go to a summer university, then travel around Finland for two weeks with the Matkahuolto Buss Pass.. I'm so excited, can't wait to get there

Haaveilla · Post by **Haaveilla** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:51 am

Bump! I found this topic through the forum search and I have a similar question so I'll ask it here

I'll also be staying a month in Helsinki and of course I'll use the public transportation a lot.

I know that you need to prove your identity and residence to have the regular travel card, otherwise it is 70€ for the month.

But there http://www.ytv.fi/ENG/transport/guide/t ... choose.htm it says "You can buy a personal Travel Card at any service point. Please be prepared to prove your identity. If you have recently moved to the metropolitan area or if your residence is temporary, you need a certificate of domicile from the local register office."

What do they mean by "temporary residence"? I'll have an address, I won't be staying in an hotel or something, so could I actually work it that way and get the precious certificate? Or I could say that I've moved there and I don't know when I'll leave Finland, would they ask for the rent contract or something? That might be cheating on the system but I wouldn't mind saving 30€...

And to act as a good -always complaining- French citizen, I'll say that the fares for the Helsinki transport system are really expensive. In Paris the prices are roughly the same, but we have 16 metro lines, 10 train lines, 4 tramways and a million buses... Well at least there are no strikes in Finland unlike here or in London

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:29 am

Haaveilla wrote:Please be prepared to prove your identity. If you have recently moved to the metropolitan area or if your residence is temporary, you need a certificate of domicile from the local register office."

If you were outside EU they would want to see a residence permit. From EU I'd guess the registration papers from police. I don't think it is worth the trouble even to try.

(Lot of my personal experience with European public transportation can be described with one trip: Thalys train from Germany to Paris. In Germany, fast. In Belgium they switched a steam engine on it or at least that is what it felt like. In France again, very fast until we were on the outskirts of Paris and the train stopped.
"Sorry to inform you, but there is a strike on Paris Nord station today" (We got there finally somewhat over one hour late))

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:45 am

Haaveilla wrote: I'll say that the fares for the Helsinki transport system are really expensive. In Paris the prices are roughly the same, but we have 16 metro lines, 10 train lines, 4 tramways and a million buses... Well at least there are no strikes in Finland unlike here or in London

it's not just the fare itself but the zone system. travel from nokia house to the centre of helsinki is about 10mins and 4e. travel 20km from the eastern edge of helsinki via a bus and metro to the centre and it's 2.50!
And in the summer they assume that everyone is on holiday from work and will run a pitifully cut back schedule.

the words "personal travel card" and "multi user travel card" are really badly chosen. did they never think of the term "resident's travel card" ??

Haaveilla · Post by **Haaveilla** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:36 pm

Rip wrote:
Haaveilla wrote:Please be prepared to prove your identity. If you have recently moved to the metropolitan area or if your residence is temporary, you need a certificate of domicile from the local register office."
If you were outside EU they would want to see a residence permit. From EU I'd guess the registration papers from police. I don't think it is worth the trouble even to try.

Well damn... thanks for the answer! I guess I'll ask the tourism office or at YTV a sales point and with some luck I'll get the precious card without too much trouble. Else, I'll pay a fourth of the cost of the plane tickets for the daily bus ride...

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