How to buy a ticket?

On this page, you will find instructions for buying a ticket and answers to frequently asked questions.

Tips for buying tickets

You can easily buy a ticket using the HSL app or contactless payment. You can top up your HSL card online at the HSL Ticket Store or at sales and service points. Additionally, you can buy single or day tickets at sales and service points or from a ticket machine. Click here to find the most suitable place to buy your ticket.
The HSL area is divided into four zones, identified by letters A, B, C and D, spreading out from the center of Helsinki. Use the Journey Planner to see which zones your journey covers, which ticket you will need and how much it will cost. Read more about the HSL area and zones.
When you buy a ticket using the HSL app, it must be on your phone before you board a vehicle or pass card readers to enter the Metro platform area or the Suomenlinna ferry pier.
The validity times of single tickets vary by zone. You can change between services during the ticket's validity. AB, BC and D tickets are valid for 80 minutes, ABC and CD tickets for 90 minutes, BCD tickets for 100 minutes and ABCD tickets for 110 minutes. Paper single tickets purchased from ticket machines are valid for 10 minutes longer than other single tickets.
You can find ticket prices for different customer groups (children, adults, students, senior citizens) and detailed information about ticket options on the Tickets and fares page. See HSL ticket prices here.

Buying a ticket using the HSL app

The HSL app makes travel easy. Buy tickets, check your route, and stay informed about service disruptions using your phone.

Instructions for buying tickets using the HSL app are available here.

Topping up your HSL card

You can top up your HSL card with season tickets and value easily online at the HSL Ticket Store or at sales and service points.

You can find instructions on how to buy, top up, and use the HSL card here.

Buying and using a ticket

Where can I buy tickets?

Can I buy a ticket from the driver?

How do I show a QR code ticket to a card reader?

Buying a ticket for another person

How do I buy a ticket on behalf of another person?

If you are buying a ticket on behalf of another person, e.g. for your child, you can use the HSL app on their smartphone. Please note that when buying a season ticket, the buyer must authenticate strongly on the app. The child needs online banking credentials for this. This is because season tickets are personal and the entitlement to the reduced price must be verified. You can also buy a ticket for your child by buy topping up their HSL card online or at a sales point.

How do I buy a ticket for a child?

How do I buy a season ticket on someone else’s behalf?

You can pay for someone else’s season ticket in the HSL app by, for instance, adding your own payment card as a payment method. However, the person using the ticket must strongly authenticate in the HSL app with their own online banking credentials. The user of the season ticket must strongly authenticate because the ticket is personal, and we need to verify the information affecting the price of the ticket – such as the person’s home municipality and age – through strong authentication.

You can buy a season ticket on someone else’s HSL card at a sales or service point.

Discounts and student tickets

How do I get a discount?

Students, pensioners receiving a pension from Kela, people over 70, and people with reduced mobility who live permanently in the HSL area can buy HSL tickets at a discounted rate. In addition, children aged 7 to 17 years can also buy their tickets at a discount.

Age-based discounts (for children and passengers aged 70 and over) are applied automatically—you don’t need to contact customer service to receive them.