Conference Venue

Holiday Inn Helsinki - Vantaa Airport

Ralssitie 2, Vantaa 01510 Finland800 450 076
Email: airport@holidayinnhelsinki.fi
Hotel Front desk: +358-300-308485

Aviapolis business district hotel with a free shuttle to Helsinki airport.

Holiday Inn® Helsinki - Vantaa Airport offers comfy rooms and a free, 10-minute shuttle service to and from Helsinki - Vantaa Airport (HEL).

The hotel's location within the Aviapolis business district puts you a stone's throw from local businesses and 15 minutes' drive from trade fairs at the Messukeskus convention centre. With space for up to 30, the hotel's eight naturally lit meeting rooms are the ideal setting for your seminar or training event. The sprawling Jumbo shopping mall and huge Flamingo entertainment and dining complex are both an easy walk from the hotel. It's a 20-minute drive to Helsinki city centre, where you can see beautiful Art Nouveau buildings and interesting museums. During summer, borrow a bike from the hotel and explore the city at your own pac

Welcome to Helsinki: The Daughter of the Baltic

Helsinki is a compact, sustainable, and friendly city located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, often referred to as the "Daughter of the Baltic." It's the capital of the happiest country in the world, which is reflected in its easy-going, safe, and efficient environment. The city is celebrated for its world-class design, functional architecture, and deep commitment to sustainability and nature.

Top Must-See Experiences

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major historical landmark, this 18th-century sea fortress is spread across several islands. It's easily accessible by a short, municipal ferry ride from the Market Square.
Senate Square (Senaatintori): The heart of Helsinki, surrounded by beautiful Neoclassical buildings, dominated by the majestic white Helsinki Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko) with its green domes.
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church): An architectural marvel carved directly into solid bedrock, with a spectacular copper-domed ceiling and incredible acoustics.
Finnish Sauna Culture: An essential experience. Visit a public sauna like Löyly (a modern, seaside design sauna) or Allas Sea Pool (for a dip in the sea/heated pools) to partake in this deep-rooted Finnish tradition.
Market Square (Kauppatori) & Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli): Explore the bustling waterfront market for local food, crafts, and souvenirs, and then step inside the historic Old Market Hall for gourmet Finnish delicacies.
Design District: Wander through this area filled with shops, galleries, and museums showcasing iconic and contemporary Finnish design, fashion, and art.

Important Information

Getting There and Around

Airport: Helsinki Airport (HEL) is about 30 minutes from the city center, easily reached by train (P or I lines) or bus.
Transportation: Helsinki has an excellent, modern public transportation system (trams, buses, metro, and ferry). The city center is very walkable.
- Tickets: You can buy single or day tickets for all zones using the HSL mobile app or from HSL ticket machines. The municipal ferry to Suomenlinna is included in a valid ticket.
- Helsinki Card: If you plan on visiting several museums and taking sightseeing tours, consider the Helsinki Card for free entry to attractions, museums, and unlimited public transport.
Ferries: Helsinki is a popular ferry hub, with frequent connections to Tallinn, Estonia, and other Baltic Sea destinations.

Money and Budget

Currency: The currency is the Euro (€).
Tipping: Tipping is not mandatory in Finland, but rounding up a bill or leaving a small tip for excellent service in restaurants or taxis is appreciated.
Cost: Helsinki is generally considered an expensive city, on par with other Nordic capitals. Look for lunch specials (often called lounas) for good value.

Language and Safety

Languages: Finnish and Swedish are the official languages. English is widely and excellently spoken by virtually everyone, so communication is rarely an issue for tourists.
Safety: Helsinki is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the world. You can generally feel secure walking around, even late at night.

Finland Visa Information

1. Short-Stay Visits (Up to 90 days)

Schengen Visa (Type C): This is the most common visa for tourism, business, visiting family/friends, or short-term studies (less than 90 days). It allows you to travel freely within Finland and the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Visa-Exempt Travelers: Citizens of EU/EEA/Nordic countries, as well as several other countries (including the US, UK, and Canada), do not need a visa for short stays up to 90 days. You only need a valid passport.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System): For visa-exempt nationals, the EU is implementing ETIAS, which is a pre-screening authorization (not a visa) that will become mandatory. You should check the latest implementation dates if you are a visa-exempt traveler.

2. Long-Stay Visits (Over 90 days)

Residence Permit: If you intend to stay in Finland for more than 90 days for work, study, family reunification, or other long-term purposes, you must apply for a Residence Permit (not a Schengen visa).
- Permit Types: Residence permits are categorized (e.g., for work, studies, family) and can be fixed-term (A-permit for continuous, B-permit for temporary) or permanent (P-permit).
D Visa: In some cases, once a positive decision for a residence permit has been made, you may also be granted a D Visa (a national long-stay visa) to facilitate your entry into Finland and start your stay before your residence permit card is issued.

For more information please see the link of Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: https://um.fi/visa-to-visit-finland

About Accommodation

You have many great options for booking hotels in Helsinki, ranging from major international sites to local and Nordic-focused providers.

Here are some of the most popular websites you can use:

Major International Booking Sites

These sites typically offer a wide range of options and are good for comparing prices:

Booking.com
Hotels.com (part of Expedia Group)
Agoda.com
Hotwire (often for last-minute deals)
Opodo

Comparison Sites (Metasearch Engines)

These sites don't sell the rooms directly but search across hundreds of other booking sites (including the ones above) and the hotels' own websites to find the best price:

KAYAK
HotelsCombined
Trivago (often included in the search results of comparison sites)

Hotel Chain and Regional Sites

You might also find good deals or specific properties on the direct websites of hotel chains, especially those strong in the Nordic region:

Scandic Hotels (a major chain in the Nordics with several hotels in Helsinki)
Strawberry (formerly Nordic Choice Hotels, another significant Nordic hotel group)
Sokos Hotels (a prominent Finnish hotel chain)
Hotel Arthur (an example of an independent hotel with its own booking engine)

Local/Specialized Sites

You can also look at travel agencies or information portals focused on Finland or the Nordic region:

Viking Line (often offers hotel packages combined with ferry travel)
MyHelsinki (the official city tourist information site, which lists accommodation options)

Here are some hotels around the conference venue hotel:

(4-Star) Hotels

These hotels are generally considered to offer a higher level of service, amenities, and comfort.

Hilton Helsinki Airport (Closest, walkable distance from the terminal)
Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport
Clarion Hotel Aviapolis
Scandic Helsinki Airport
Skyline Airport Hotel
Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo (Near Flamingo Entertainment Centre)

(3-Star & 3.5-Star) Hotels

These hotels offer a good standard of accommodation, often including a restaurant, bar, and sometimes a sauna/fitness centre.

Holiday Inn Helsinki - Vantaa Airport by IHG (The hotel you mentioned)
Scandic Helsinki Aviacongress
Scandic Helsinki Aviapolis
Comfort Hotel Helsinki Airport (Sometimes listed as 3.5-star)
Comfort Hotel Xpress Helsinki Airport Terminal (Usually 3.5-star, located inside the terminal)
Pilot Airport Hotel