Europe > Finland > Helsinki
Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Helsinki car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Helsinki is in car rental price band: 6/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Helsinki ?
Sometimes. Car rental is slightly more expensive than global averages.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Helsinki between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 6/10
Non car score:8/10
Balance: 3
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Helsinki using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Helsinki ?
Why not? Visiting Helsinki without a car
Why don't you need a car in Helsinki ?
Around Helsinki without a car
Beyond Helsinki
International
Ratings: How does Helsinki compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Helsinki ? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Helsinki , and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Helsinki ? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Helsinki (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Helsinki ? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Helsinki airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Helsinki car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 3
2019 - 4
2021 - 3
Average score - 3
Notes:
Conclusion — if your main priority is to drive around the Finnish landscapes, then picking up a hire car at Helsinki airport is probably the best option, although we firmly believe that Helsinki is massively underrated as a city in its own right. Once you start allowing time to enjoy Helsinki and its surrounding area, then the car becomes a lot less useful, especially as the standard of scenic railways in Finland is very high.
Do you need a car in Helsinki? No! For all the reasons above, we advise at least looking at other options before automatically getting a hire car.
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Helsinki ?