Arriving to Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna is a district of Helsinki, located just a short sea trip away from the heart of the capital.
The sea journey to the fortress is an experience in itself. You can admire the silhouette of Helsinki’s city center from the sea and sense the seasons of the archipelago.
The HSL passenger ferry operates every day of the year
The HSL ferry, part of Helsinki’s public transportation network, runs from the Market Square to the main pier of Suomenlinna year-round, from early morning until the late hours of the night. In summer, there are several departures per hour, and even in winter, at least one departure per hour. The sea journey takes about fifteen minutes.
There is no entrance fee to Suomenlinna, but you need a valid ticket for the ferry or water bus. You can travel on HSL ferries without a ticket if you are accompanying a child aged 0-6 in a stroller, pram, or wheelchair, or if you use a wheelchair or electric scooter as a mobility aid.
Please note that the ferry has multiple schedule periods. If you are planning a trip to Suomenlinna for a later date and want more detailed information about the schedules:
Service Ferry
The HSL service ferry departing from Katajanokka serves both cargo and passenger traffic on weekdays year-round. The service ferry runs approximately every hour during office hours. Please note that the service ferry has only a small passenger cabin for personal travel.
The journey on the service ferry also takes about fifteen minutes.
The water bus operates from early summer to late autumn
From early May to late September, you can also reach Suomenlinna by water bus. The route operates from eight in the morning until past midnight (on Sundays until eleven in the evening). The journey takes about half an hour.
We recommend arriving at the Market Square by public transportation, on foot, or by bicycle, as there is very limited parking available in the Market Square area. There is bicycle parking right next to the ferry and water bus pier.
Public transportation to the Market Square
- Tram lines 2 (Kauppatori stop), 4 and 5 (Ritarihuone stop), and 7 (Senaatintori stop) pass near the Kauppatori Market Square.
- Tram lines 4 (Merisotilaantori stop) and 5 (Katajanokan terminaali) go to Katajanokka.
- The nearest metro station is Helsingin yliopisto, about a fifteen-minute walk away.
- From Helsinki Central Railway Station, it is about one kilometer to the Market Square, which is approximately a 20-minute walk.
By private boat to the guest harbor
The Suomenlinna guest harbor is the only docking place for private boats in Suomenlinna. Other piers in the fortress are reserved for authorities, the defense forces, ferry and water bus traffic, or residents, and docking at them is not allowed.
Please note that maritime traffic in the waters near Suomenlinna is busy. Especially the cruise traffic passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait causes waves that can create dangerous situations.
Ferry and service ferry departure points and piers in Suomenlinna
The HSL passenger ferry departs from the eastern side of the Market Square, near the Presidential Palace. In summer, the departure piers for the ferry and water bus are close to each other. Follow the signs in the pier area to find the correct pier. In Suomenlinna, the ferry departure and arrival point is at the main pier on the northern shore of Iso Mustasaari.
The service ferry operates on weekdays from the tip of Katajanokka (address: Katajanokanranta 10) to the service pier on the eastern shore of Iso Mustasaari in Suomenlinna.
Ferry tickets
Both ferries are part of Helsinki’s public transportation network, and all valid HSL tickets are accepted on the ferries. Suomenlinna is located in HSL ticket zone A. Tickets must be purchased before boarding the ferry, as tickets are not sold on the ferries.
Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines located at the Market Square, Katajanokka, and Suomenlinna piers. You can also buy tickets through the HSL app. Please note that the validity period of the ticket starts from the time of purchase.
With the Helsinki Card, the journey is free.
Departure points and piers in Suomenlinna
The water bus to Suomenlinna departs from the eastern side of the Market Square, near the Presidential Palace. In summer, the departure piers for the ferry and water bus are close to each other. Follow the signs in the pier area to find the correct pier. In Suomenlinna, the water bus piers are at Tykistölahden on Iso Mustasaari and at Kuninkaanportti on Kustaanmiekka.
Some of the routes stop at Lonna Island on the way from the Market Square to Suomenlinna.
Open the Lonna website in a new tab
Tickets for the water bus
The water bus accepts the operator’s own tickets, which can be purchased from the FRS Finland Oy online store, directly on the water bus, or at the service point located at the pier during its opening hours.
Open the ticket online store in a new tab.
Please note that the HSL public transportation tickets are not valid on the water bus.
Located on Susisaari, next to the historic, still operational dry dock, the Suomenlinna Guest Harbor is a popular stopover and overnight place. The guest harbor is open from late spring to the end of September. Café Bar Valimo, located in a renovated old ammunition warehouse, provides all harbor services from the same building.
Open the guest harbor website in a new tab
The guest harbor is accessed via the channel between Länsi-Mustasaari and Susisaari islands. The guest harbor has 40 berths with side mooring. All mooring is chargeable and is done on a first-come, first-served basis. The guest harbor does not accept advance reservations. There is no fuel sold in Suomenlinna.
The Suomenlinna Guest Harbor is very popular. To ensure that as many boaters as possible can access the berth and the harbor services safely, the mooring instructions have been updated. Please note that the maximum allowed weight for vessels mooring at the Suomenlinna Guest Harbor is 20 tons due to the combination of strong currents and side mooring. There are only a few berths for larger vessels.
When you dock at the guest harbor, please note that the nearby dry dock is a work area with restricted access for safety reasons. Following the route along the shore, you can explore the World Heritage site’s attractions and other services.
Transporting cars, bicycles, and other larger items on the ferry are subject to a fee. Please note that Suomenlinna does not have dedicated pedestrian paths, bike lanes, or routes. Cycling is only allowed on roads, and cycling on the ramparts is prohibited, even on marked routes. There are a limited number of bicycle racks near the main pier.
Please note that the sea fortress is being developed as a car-free area, where only service vehicles are allowed. Cars can be transported to Suomenlinna for events or goods transportation on weekdays using the HSL service ferry or the HSL ferry.
For more information, open Suomenlinnan Liikenne Oy webpage on a new tab
HSL tickets for groups
At the ferry departure points at the Kauppatori Market Square and Katajanokka, there are ticket machines where you can purchase multiple tickets at once. HSL tickets can also be purchased in advance for a group.
Open the HSL customer service information in a new tab
Group tickets for the water bus
Water bus tickets can easily be purchased in larger quantities from the water bus operator’s online store.