Which Helsinki Airport Taxi Should I Choose?
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Taxis in Finland
Taking a taxi has always been one the most reliable way to travel in Finland. Finnish taxis are safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, as always, good quality comes with a high tag price. There is no limit for the total number of taxis and getting a taxi license is easy. Furthermore, the prices are not regulated. Shortly said, getting a taxi is easy, but quality and prices vary.
Taxi Prices and Payment Methods
Taxis in Finland are not cheap. Many companies are using dynamic pricing. During the busy hours, taxi fares can be surprisingly expensive but during other hours there may be cheap offers. So you must be careful how much your ride will cost. It would be wise to learn beforehand about the fare not to get surprised after your journey.
If you take a metered taxi, they charge usually both for the ride time and the driven distance. The pricing is fixed and marked to the window of the taxi.
Almost all taxes accept cash payments and also Visa and Mastercards. Better taxis will also accept Diners Club and American Express payment cards. By using certain taxi apps, it is possible to prepay the journey.
Are Taxis in Finland Safe?
Taxis in Finland are safe. Drivers have decent driving habits and you can trust them. They are not overcharging or making any kind of frauds. Also, passengers need not to tip them.
Drivers speak at least basic English but usually they are not talkative.
Airport Taxi to the City Centre
Helsinki Airport has agreed a clear system with taxi companies. This means that getting a taxi and making a cost estimate is easy. The airport has agreed fixed prices from the airport to Helsinki centre with three different taxi companies so you know beforehand how much a journey costs. However, you are free to choose a ride from taxi companies other than these three. If this is the case, you do not know the estimated fare because it depends on their own pricing model.
There are 5 taxi lanes in front of the Terminal 1 and in the underground of the Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport. Three lanes have been reserved to the partner companies of Helsinki Airport and the 4th lane has been reserved to any taxi. It is also possible to order your own taxi, say Uber.
The taxi stations of Helsinki Airport have 5 lanes. Each lane is reserved for different taxi companies.
In the Terminal 1 of Helsinki Airport, the lanes are outside the terminal building in the way that the lane number 1 is closest to the terminal and the lane number 4 the furthest one. The lane 5 is separated a little left from the other lanes.
In the Terminal 2, the taxi station is in the underground in the parking hall. The taxi station is easy to find just by following taxi signs inside the terminal to the parking hall. The lanes are in different order than in the Terminal 1 so when looking for a specific taxi company, you need to follow the signs. Like in the Terminal 1, the lane 5 (prebooked taxis) has been separated a little left from the other lanes.
The taxi station in the Terminal 2 is in the parking hall. It can easily be found just by following TAXI signs.
Check maps on Helsinki Airport's website to find your taxi station and the right lane.
Lane 1: Lähitaksi
The first lane has been reserved for the cars of Lähitaksi. Lähitaksi is a reputable taxi company and it guarantees you a safe journey wherever you will go. Its prices are the following:
- Price to the centre (1 - 4 people): 39 euros
- Price to an airport hotel (less than 5 km, 1 - 4 people): 25 euros
- Full price list
Lane 2: Vantaan Taksi
The second lane has been reserved for Vantaan Taksi (Taxi of Vantaa). However, you can take this taxi to anywhere so the destination does not need to be in Vantaa. Also this company is really reliable. Its prices are the following:
- Price to the Helsinki centre (1 - 4 people): 39 euros
- Price to an airport hotel (less than 5 km, 1 - 4 people): 23 euros
- Full price list
If you do not remember which lane is meant for your taxi, you can refer to this taxi sign.
Lane 3: Taksi Helsinki
The third lane has been reserved for Taksi Helsinki. Like with the previous companies, this lane is a safe choice. Its prices are the following:
- Price to the Helsinki centre (1 - 4 people): 41 euros
- Price to an airport hotel (less than 5 km, 1 - 4 people): 24 euros
- Full price list
Lane 4: Any Taxi
The lane 4 is a surprise lane. Any licensed taxi can arrive to this lane. If you choose this lane, ask about the price from the driver before taking the ride. If you do not like the quality of the car or the price, just skip the taxi and take next one. We believe that all taxis coming to this lane are safe and reliable. You may end up having much cheaper ride, or the other possibility, to end up paying a high fare for a short ride.
For example, we were taking a ride to home that would cost about 40 euros by using Airport's partner companies. We chose a taxi from the lane 4 and asked its price. The price started from 45 euros but we were able to negotiate it to 30 euros easily. When there are more taxis available than customers, choosing the lane 4 is a good option. You may easily negotiate a good deal.
Lane 5: Preordered Taxis
This lane is reserved for preordered taxis. If you are a fan of Uber or another similar company, your taxi will arrive here.
Notice that in the Terminal 1 this lane is separated a little left. In the Terminal 2 prebooked taxis will come to pick you from parking places a little left too.
Shared Taxi
There is also a company called Airport Taxi Yellow Line, that offers fixed priced shared rides to Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo. The prices start from 35 euros depending on the number of passengers and your destination. This is a shared taxi service so the ride may take longer.
Airport Taxi has not its own lane but you will find their office in the arrival areas of the terminals. This service is good for solo travellers who are not in a hurry. The ride will last quite long because there are many stops.
Helsinki Taxi Apps
There are many taxi ordering apps in Finland. They can be used to order a cheaper taxi to the airport fast.
Uber
The number one the list is the famous taxi app Uber. If you order Uber to pick you up from the airport, you will be picked up from the taxi lane 5.
Uber rides are legal in Finland and Uber drivers need a license so you can expect a professional and safe driver with an insured car.
Uber is often a little more affordable from Helsinki Airport than the airports' partner companies.
Install Uber app from here.
Yango
Yango is also a taxi ordering app from Yandex company. They have a reputation being a cheap company and installing their app is recommended. The company comes from Russia and there has been discussion about the privacy level of their app. In the beginning, the company didn't have enough cars in Helsinki area but now there are more of them.
Yango taxis will also pick you up from the lane 5.
Install Yango app from here.
Fixutaxi
Fixutaxi is a Finnish taxi company. They have a nice app and you should check their price too. Fixutaxi cars will also pick you from the lane 5 at the airport.
Install Fixutaxi app from here.
Menevä
Menevä is a company that is offering taxi services in Helsinki and also in many other Finnish cities. They have an app that is called the same as their company, Menevä. The app is well-working and reliable to be used.
Install Menevä App app from here.
Other Taxi Apps
There are also apps called Taksini (from Lähitaksi) and Valopilkku (from Taksi Helsinki). Because these companies have their own lanes and fixed prices at the airport, using their apps does not give any additional benefit. If you travel elsewhere in Helsinki by a taxi, you can install these apps too.
Other Transport Methods
From Helsinki Airport to City Centre without a Taxi
If you are heading to Helsinki centre and you are not in a hurry, there is no need to take a taxi but use other public transport instead. You save some of your pennies by transporting with a bus or a train. It may also be even faster to take trains than taxi.
Helsinki Airport Train
The airport train to the centre leaves from the Airport's railway station located underground between the terminals, just about 5 minutes walk from both terminals of the airport. There are 2 different train lines, P and I leaving to the centre every 10 minutes during daytime. The trains take different routes but both of them arrive finally to Helsinki Central Railway Station. So it does not matter which train you take, if you are heading to the city centre.
The ticket price is about 5 euros and there is not any airport supplement fee unlike in other many European airports. The journey is 30 minutes. Trains are calling at every station and stops are also displayed on the information screens for your guide. Tickets can be bought from automated machines at the station and R-kiosks. Finnoy Travel recommends buying cheaper tickets by HSL app. You need to install the mobile app HSL and you just need to link a payment card, after which you can easily purchase a single, day-, week- or 30-day tickets. There is no ticket sales inside the train! You therefore need a valid ticket before getting any public transport to avoid a ticket inspection fee of 80€!
Airport Buses
Taking a bus is the best option if you are not heading to the centre. There are many public transport buses leaving to centre and also Finnair's own bus. Use route planner to check which bus is the most suitable for you.
The bus ticket has the same price as the train ticket. You can connect free of charge between different types of public transportation while your ticket is still valid.
From Helsinki Airport to the city centre you need a ticket including the zones ABC.
Finnair has its own bus to the city centre but it is more expensive. Actually we do not find any good reason why to use it.
Which Helsinki Airport Taxi Should I Choose?
There is no single best taxi solution from Helsinki Airport to the city centre. If you are travelling on budget, taking a train instead of a taxi is a good choice. At night, using Uber or Yango probably the most inexpensive method to reach any destination in Helsinki area.
Business travellers who wish to reach their hotel or meeting place as fast as possible may take any of the next available ride from any taxi company. This sounds the simplest solution for this group.
If you still wanted to take a taxi ride for comfort reasons, then you should do at least basic comparison of prices. A few minutes spent for price comparison on the spot or by apps may easily save you 10 euros.
Cheapest Taxi from the Airport
If there is less demand than taxis available at the airport, negotiating a good price directly with drivers will lead to the cheapest price. Expect to get about 10 to 15 euros discount. In other circumstances, using a taxi app is the most affordable way to book a taxi.
Bottom Line
Getting from Helsinki Airport to city is fast. Taxi is the most comfortable way while travelling with heavy luggage though it requires you to pay more. Uber at Helsinki Airport is a great choice too.
If you are not heading to the city centre by public transport, use Google Maps or route planner to find the best route and the ticket price for you. The information provided by the both sources are accurate.
Have you rode a taxi in Finland? Comment below!
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