Car Rental in Helsinki

Why rent a car in Helsinki?

Helsinki is a great place for renting a car. Diverse and quickly-developing, it is one of the most interesting tech, culture, and architectural hubs of Northern Europe. Your own ride will give you the freedom to travel around the city’s many neighborhoods, visit neighboring Espoo and Vaasa, and then make your own adventure across the rest of the country.

Top ways to enter Helsinki

• Helsinki Airport: With nearly 21 million passengers every year, Finland’s busiest airport is among the 30 largest in Europe. Also known as Helsinki-Vantaa after the suburb in which it is located, the airport hosts flights to and from all of the continents of the world. The airport is about 17km (11 miles) north of the city center.
• Turku Airport: Served by six different airlines, Turku Airport has flights to and from countries like Sweden, Poland, Latvia, and Spain. The airport is especially active during the summer season. Turku Airport is about 165km (102 miles) west of Helsinki.
• Tampere Airport: Also known as Tampere–Pirkkala, this small and cozy airport serves about 230,000 passengers every year. The airport is about 186km (115 miles) north of Helsinki.
• Vaasa Airport: Serving the city of the same name and the larger Ostrobothnia region, Vaasa Airport hosts a number of domestic flights as well as flights to and from Sweden, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands. Located 415km (258 miles) northwest of Helsinki, the distance between the two cities can be done in less than five hours.
• By rail: If you arrive in Helsinki by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Helsinki’s Central Railway Station (Rautatieasema).

City facts

Helsinki has a humid continental climate influenced by the Baltic Sea on the coast of which the city is located. The average temperature is 17.8 °C (64°F) in July, which is by far the warmest month, and -4.7°C (23.5°F) in February, the coldest month. Precipitation is spread out fairly evenly throughout the year, with April being the driest month and August the rainiest. Located on the southern edge of the country, Finland is one of the warmest cities in Finland.

Helsinki is made up of 8 city districts that are further divided into sub-districts. The sub-districts of the Central Major District, the central part of the city, are Kallio, Alppiharju, Vallila, Pasila, and Vanhakaupunki.

Like the rest of Finland, Helsinki is officially bilingual, with both Finnish and Swedish being the official languages. Things such as street names, bus stop signs, etc. are written in both languages. Most of the city’s inhabitants are native speakers of Finnish, but around 6% are native Swedish speakers. Many other languages, such as Russian, Hindi, Estonian, Arabic, and Somali, are also spoken by the city’s sizeble immigrant community. Knowledge of English in Helsinki is generally very high.

Top sights and activities

• Observatory Hill. Located next to Helsinki’s South Harbor, the Observatory Hill offers really nice views of the city skyline in the distance. The hill gets its name from an actual astronomical observatory that is open to visitors (although it’s a good idea to check the working hours in advance as they change depending on the season).
• The National Library of Finland. Its Finnish name, Kansalliskirjasto, might be something of a tongue twister for foreigners, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. One of the most beautiful in Europe, the National Library is even more impressive from the inside than it is from the outside thanks to its spacious halls, wooden staircases, and immense columns.
• Seurasaari Island. This island northwest of Helsinki is home to an open-air museum showcasing what life has been like in Finland for the past 400 years. Open only in the summer, it’s a great place to take forest walks, see authentic old buildings relocated from various parts of Finland, and learn more about Finland’s history from the museum workers costumed in period pieces.
• National Museum of Finland. The place to learn about all things Finnish, Kansallismuseo covers the land and country’s past from the Stone Age to the present day. The museum is located in a classical purpose-built complex recognizable for its bear statue. Visit its interactive English-language homepage to learn more about expositions and opening hours.
• Kiasma. Located in a fascinating building that’s equally unique from outside and inside, the Kiasma is Finland’s prime contemporary art museum. The museum’s collections include works by both notable Finnish and foreign artists, and it also frequently hosts various cultural events – learn more on its website. Kiasma is a part of the triad that makes up the Finnish National Gallery which also includes the Ateneum and Sinebrychoff Art Museum. As the aforementioned National Museum, Kiasma is on Mannerheimintie, the central thoroughfare of Helsinki.
• This is just a sample of what to see — if you still seek to find more, read further about things to do in Helsinki.

Traffic and parking

• Finland drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• The general speed limit on motorways is 120 km/h (74 mph), although it may be lowered in winter time or near urban areas by the municipal authority, so be sure to follow the signs. The same applies for provincial roads where the general speed limit is 80 km/h (49 mph) or 100 km/h (62 mph) and for rural roads where the general speed limit is 80 km/h (49 mph). Unless indicated otherwise, the speed limit inside urban and other built-up areas is 50 km/h (31 mph).
• There are many one-way streets in Helsinki, especially in the city center. Getting a rental car with a good GPS system might, therefore, be a good idea.
• There are paid parking areas in Helsinki, divided into zones. The city center, where most of the landmarks are located, is Zone 1 and at €4/hour is the most expensive place to park. You can pay via a parking ticket machine or a mobile app. A good alternative can be to use one of the large underground parking garages near the city center where the hourly rate is considerably lower. Parking rates are lower for low-emission passenger cars. Find out more about parking in Helsinki on the city’s official homepage.
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. This is strictly enforced and the fines are high.
• Children smaller than 135 cm (4’5 ft) have to use a child safety seat. Ask your car rental provider in advance to provide one if you’re traveling with a young child.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to high fines, an EU-wide license ban, and even imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in it whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112. 

Toll roads

As of April 2023, there are neither any toll roads nor toll bridges in Finland.

Ideas for day trips

• Nuuksio National Park. With its pine forests, green hills, and countless small blue lakes tucked between them, Nuuksio National Park is a perfect place for a day outdoors. Its many hiking trails take you through the woods, meadows, and even wetlands. It’s close, too - Nuuksio is just around 40km (25 miles) northwest of Helsinki, a distance that can be traveled by car in 40 minutes.
• Porvoo. Escape the big city to the quaint town of Porvoo, Finland’s second-oldest town. Wander through the cobblestone streets of the famous “Old Wooden Town,” see the red-painting warehouses along the water’s edge, and pop into the many amazing boutiques and art galleries. Porvoo is also a hotspot for foodies, boasting many delicious restaurants where you can try anything from international cuisine to traditional Finnish dishes or Finnish-fusion creations.
• Tampere. For much of its history, Tampere was the industrial center of the country, even getting nicknamed “the Manchester of Finland.” With the decline of heavy industry, it seemed to be out of luck. But over the last decade, Finland’s second city has spectacularly reinvented itself to become a center for high-tech and innovation. Add to that the many museums (including truly oddball ones like the Spy Museum and the Lenin Museum), public green spaces, and plenty of festivals and events, and it quickly becomes clear it’s a fun, quirky place like no other in the country. Tampere is 180km (112 miles) north of Helsinki and can be reached in about two hours.
• Turku. Finland’s oldest city is an important center for both Finnish and Swedish culture, both of which can be explored there. The city is home to different types of architecture, the Turku Art Museum, and the Sibelius Music Museum. In Turku, you’ll also find beautiful nature areas like Ruissalo Island and the river promenade. Many pristine forests and national parks are also just a short ride away from the city. Turku is 168km (104 miles) west of Helsinki and can be reached by car in just under two hours.

Most popular cars

The car that the travelers to Helsinki pick the most is the Toyota Auris, followed by the Volkswagen Up and the Opel Karl. The most popular rental car types are compact, mini, and economy.

Further destinations

• Finnish Lakeland. A unique landscape region in Southeast Finland, Finnish Lakeland is a network of countless lakes, canals, wetlands, and other bodies of water. Created when the last Ice Age receded, it is nowadays mainly made up of the historic provinces of Savonia and Karelia. The Lakeland is truly a perfect place for swimming, enjoying a proper Finnish sauna, and spending relaxing days in unspoiled nature. Päijänne National Park, a part of the area and home to an impressive lake with both inhabited and uninhabited islands, is only 180km (112 miles) north of Helsinki and can be reached in about two hours.
• Tallinn. The capital of Estonia, one of the up-and-coming tourism destinations of Europe, is just a short ferry ride away on the other side of the Gulf of Finland. Visit its Old Town (one of the best-preserved in Europe), marvel at the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral and have fun at the artistic Kalamaja district that’s right on the coast. From here, you can also easily explore the rest of Estonia and the other Baltic States, Latvia, and Lithuania. While it might be possible to bring a rental car on a ferry and later drop it off in Tallinn, be sure to ask your car rental provider about it in advance.
• Oulu. Home to just over 200,000 people, Oulu is not just the most populous city in the north of the country, but one of the largest northernmost settlements in the world. However, the city is known not just for its rather extreme location, but also culture and innovation – it is known for its science and technology prowess. Needless to say, Oulu also provides access to the wonderfully austere landscapes of Northern Finland. The drive from Helsinki takes about seven hours.

Car rental prices in Helsinki

• Small cars - from $26 per day
• Medium cars - from $30 per day
• Station wagons - from $42 per day
• SUVs - from $31 per day
• Vans - from $78 per day
• Premium cars - from $78 per day
• Large cars - from $51 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some of the things you can do to land a great car rental deal in the capital of Finland:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Helsinki is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 55% cheaper than the yearly average and about 74% cheaper than renting a vehicle in July. Come visit Helsinki in autumn!