Useful to know in Helsinki (from A to Z)
All you need to know when spending a few days in town.
Alko
Find a shop called Alko in case you wish to buy some wine. In Finland you can buy beer and cider in grocery stores but not wines or other stronger alcohol drinks.
Banks & cash withdrawals
Banks are normally open Mon–Fri 10–16.30.Nordea and Sampo Bank serve also at the Helsinki airport, Terminal 2: Mon-Fri 10–16.30.
“OTTO” cash withdrawal automats accept all major bank and credit cards.
Currency
The Finnish currency is euro (€). 1 EUR is circa USD 1.4.Currency exchange offices
Forex, Railway Station, Pohjoisesplanadi 27, Stockmann’s, Aleksanterinkatu 52 (8th floor) and shopping centers Itäkeskus & Jumbo.
The Change Group Helsinki Oy, Pohjoisesplanadi 21 and 37, Mannerheimintie 8, Kamppi Center and Olympia & Katajanokka terminals.Tavex, Fabianinkatu 12.
Fexco Service Centre, Keskuskatu 6 and Stockmann's (8th floor) provide money transferin partnership with Western Union, tel. 0800 141 414.
Internet
Access to the Internet is provided free of charge e.g. at the following points:
Virka info, Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13, tel. +358 9 3101 1111, www.virka.fi
Library “Kirjasto 10”, Main post office, Elielinaukio 2 G, tel. +358 9 3108 5000.
Sanomatalo building, Töölönlahdenkatu 2, free WLAN connection.
Lasipalatsi meeting point, Mannerheimintie 22–24, tel. +358 9 3108 5900, free WLAN connection for customers having a laptop of their own.
Open Espa – free WLAN connection (Internet, e-mail facilities and Internet calls) operating in the vicinity of the Esplanade Park and Market Square, http://ptp.hel.fi/wlan/
Lost property offices
The police’s lost property office at Punanotkonkatu 2, tel. +358 71 877 3180.Open Mon–Fri 8,00–16.15.
Suomen löytötavarapalvelu Mäkelänkatu 56.
Enquiries tel. +358 600 41006 (€1.67/min+local call charge), Mon–Fri 9–18.
Parking
Helsinki City parking customer service tel. +358 9 310 39000.Street parking in the evenings and on Sundays is usually free of charge. Beware of the traffic wardens though. Illegal parking in central Helsinki carries a parking fine of €50.
There are several underground parking houses in the centre, such as: Eliel (drive in from Asema-aukio 1 or Töölönlahdenkatu 1), Erottaja (drive in from Yrjönkatu), Forum (drive in from Simonkatu), Kluuvi (drive in from Kaisaniemenkatu/Fabianinkatu 29) and Stockmann Q-Park (drive in from the corner of Mannerheimintie and Kalevankatu).
Post services
Information tel. +358 200 71000.Post office Helsinki 10, Elielinaukio 2 F, is open Mon–Fri 7–21, Sat–Sun 10–18.
Mail rates: letters (max 50 grams) and postcards €0.80 in Finland; to abroad letters (max 20 grams) and postcards €0.80.
Religious services
Lutheran services are generally held on Sundays at 10 or 11 am.German Church (Deutsche Ev. Luth. Gemeinde), Unioninkatu 1, tel. +358 9 6869 8510.
Service (German) Sun at 11am.
St Henry’s Cathedral (Catholic), Pyhän Henrikin aukio 1, tel. +358 9 637 853.
On Sundays Masses at 9.45am (Latin with English, French, or Spanish readings and homily), High Mass at 11am and Evening Mass 6pm. On weekdays: morning Mass Tue and Thu at 7.30am, Evening Mass Mon, Wed & Fri at 6pm.
St Mary’s Church (Catholic), Mäntytie 2, tel. +358 9 241 1633. On Sundays: Mass at 10am (Finnish), at 11.30am in other languages, Evening Mass at 6pm (Finnish). On weekdays: Morning Mass Wed at 7.30am, Mon at 1.30pm, Evening Mass at 6pm Tue,Thu, Fri & Sat (Finnish).
Uspenski Cathedral (Orthodox), Kanavakatu 1, tel. +358 20 722 0683.
Vigil Sat at 6pm, liturgy Sun at 10am (Finnish).
Church of Holy Trinity (Orthodox), Unioninkatu 31, tel. +358 20 722 0649.
Vigil Sat at 6pm (Slavic), liturgy Sun at 10am (Slavic).
In Finnish: Wed at 8am and evening service Mon–Thu at 5pm.
Anglican Church (Episcopal), ) +358 9 680 1515,
services every Sun at 10am in Agricola Church, Tehtaankatu 23.
Espoo International Christian Fellowship (Evangelical Protestant), Luomanportti 8, Espoo
tel. +358 50 524 9630, www.eicf.com. Services in English Sun at 4pm.
Chinese Evangelical Congregation in Finland, tel. +358 9 5868 7710: Sun worship (at 10am)
in Chinese at the International Christian Center, Ruoholahdenkatu 16. www.chinesechurch.fi
International Evangelical Church: office, tel. +358 9 586 8770 (Mon–Fri), www.church.fi. Services at Temppeliaukio Church Sun at 2pm.
Mosque, Lönnrotinkatu 22, tel. +358 9 278 2551. The Islamic Society of Finland, www.rabita.fi
Synagogue, Malminkatu 26, tel. +358 9 5860 3121 & 5860 3122 or 5860 3123.
Services in Hebrew Sat at 9am.
Telephone calls
When calling abroad from Finland the international prefixes are 990, 999, 994, 996 or 00.After that dial the country code + area code + receiver’s phone number.
If you call from abroad to Finland, first dial the prefix of your choice (marked with +), then the country code 358, after that the area code without zero, e.g. (0)9 in Helsinki, and finally the receiver’s number. Nearly all Finns carry a cellular phone with codes like 050, 040, 0400 or 045. Dial also these numbers without the first zero, e.g. +358 50 1111111.
Enquiries of phone numbers on 02 02 02 or 118.
