Helsinki · Market Square → Suomenlinna · Year-round
Ferry to Suomenlinna in 15 minutes
There is no entry fee for the sea fortress: you only need transport. Here you’ll find out when the HSL ferry with a regular ticket is enough and when the summer waterbus, a guide or a museum ticket adds something extra to your day.
Two boats, two piersHSL ferry from the east side of Market Square, summer waterbus from Keisarinluoto pier
No entry feeSuomenlinna is a district of Helsinki, open every day all year round
Free cancellation24 hours in advance, with every booking on this page
Secure bookingBooking on GetYourGuide, ticket on your phone
Tickets and tours
Choose your Suomenlinna ticket
In the centre, a summer waterbus return trip that takes you to the heart of the fortress and back from the King's Gate or Artillery Bay. On the left, a private tour with an official guide through the tunnels and ramparts. On the right, a city tour where the ferry and a walk on the island are part of the day.
One and a half hours with your own group through the ramparts, cannons and tunnels to the dry dock. The guide waits at the main pier, where the HSL ferry brings you, so an AB ticket is all you need.
What is included in the price
Private guided walking tour with an official Suomenlinna UNESCO guide; language English or Russian
Tunnels, cannons and fortifications, dry dock and boats and submarines built on the island, according to the listing
Meeting at the main pier under the blue and white umbrella; ferry not included, HSL AB ticket is sufficient
Not suitable for prams, wheelchairs, mobility issues or those with claustrophobia; good shoes for cobblestones
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Duration1.5 hoursPrivate group, English or RussianBook this →
Summer waterbus from Keisarinluoto pier directly to the heart of the fortress at Artillery Bay. Return from there or the King's Gate, so you don’t need to walk the Blue Route back.
What is included in the price
Return trip by waterbus from Market Square to Suomenlinna; to Lonna island with the same ticket, according to the listing
Departure from Keisarinluoto pier at Market Square, marked by red FRS Finland flags; journey 20 - 25 minutes
Return from Artillery Bay or King's Gate pier at your own pace
Onboard café, WC, sun deck and indoor seating; accessible according to the listing
HSL tickets are not valid on the waterbus; the season runs from early May to late September according to suomenlinna.fi
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Duration20 - 25 min each wayReturn from King's Gate or Artillery BayBook this →
First the city, from the Sibelius Monument to Uspenski, then the ferry to the island and a walk to the barracks and the Great Courtyard. All transport is arranged for you.
What is included in the price
Local guide and driver; pickup from selected hotels
Olympic Stadium, Sibelius Monument, Esplanadi, Old Market Hall and Uspenski Cathedral
Return ferry to Suomenlinna and walking tour: barracks, Great Courtyard and Augustin Ehrensvärd’s tomb
Coffee break and time for shopping; languages English and Spanish
Not suitable for wheelchair users; minimum number of participants; free cancellation 24 hours before
Useful questions include which pier you depart from, where on the island you arrive, whether a guide is included and who the option is not suitable for. Durations, contents and restrictions are specific to each GetYourGuide listing.
Option
Departure
Best
Duration
Note
To Suomenlinna by waterbus: return trip from Market Square
Market Square, Keisarinluoto pier
Direct to the heart of the fortress, return from King's Gate or Artillery Bay, Lonna on the same ticket
Suomenlinna Museum ticket and Suomenlinna Experience film
Suomenlinna Centre, Artillery Bay
The fortress history from the 18th century to today in one museum on the shore of Artillery Bay and a 25-minute widescreen film every half hour in many languages; a good start before the Blue Route
City highlights by minibus and ferry to Suomenlinna
Pick-up from city centre hotels
Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski, Sibelius Monument and Olympic Stadium by minibus, then a return ferry and guided tour of Suomenlinna; Finnish flavours to taste and a finale at Market Square
Suomenlinna seen from the sea, icebreakers and Korkeasaari along the way; audio commentary in English and Finnish, app in 28 languages; accessible according to the listing
Each option can be cancelled free of charge 24 hours in advance on GetYourGuide. The HSL ferry from Market Square does not require a reservation: an AB ticket from the app or machine is sufficient. The waterbus runs from early May to late September.
What you actually get for your money
The island is free, the boat isn’t.
Suomenlinna is a Helsinki district at sea, home to around 800 residents and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. It is open every day of the year with no entry fee. The walls, cannons, Great Courtyard and King's Gate are outdoors and free to explore; museums and the church in summer are paid.
So the question is not entry but the boat. The HSL ferry departs from the east side of Market Square year-round and arrives in about 15 minutes with a regular AB ticket. In summer, from the same square but a different pier, FRS’s waterbus departs with its own tickets: it stops at Artillery Bay in the centre of the fortress and at the King's Gate at the southern tip. The HSL ticket is not valid for it. Bookable products offer the waterbus, a guide, a museum or a full day; this page keeps them separate from the ferry.
15
Minutes by ferry from Market Square to Suomenlinna main pier. The ferry runs daily from about 6:00 - 2:20, even in winter at least once an hour.
Six fortified islands, ramparts and walls: a 15-minute ferry ride from Market Square.
01
Ferry all year round
HSL ferry from the east side of Market Square to the main pier in about 15 minutes, with an AB ticket. The last ferry leaves the islands at around 2:00 am.
02
Waterbus in summer
From early May to late September from Keisarinluoto pier, about 25 minutes, with its own tickets. Stops at Artillery Bay and King's Gate.
03
No tunnel, no castle
The underwater service tunnel is for maintenance and authorities only. And Suomenlinna is a sea fortress: there is no actual castle there.
04
Who doesn’t need to book?
For those arriving by ferry, walking the Blue Route and eating at the island café. Booking only adds value if you want the waterbus, a guide or a museum.
On the island
A Suomenlinna day in four stages
The crossing from Market Square takes a quarter of an hour, and the Blue Route from the main pier to the King's Gate takes 30 - 45 minutes. Allow at least one and a half hours for the visit, half a day if including museums.
01
Departure from Market Square
HSL ferry from the east side of Market Square by the Presidential Palace, or in summer the waterbus from Keisarinluoto pier near the red flags. Buy your ticket before boarding.
About 15 - 25 minutes at sea
02
Through the gate from the main pier
The ferry arrives at the main pier on Iso Mustasaari. The Blue Route starts here and first leads to the church, whose dome is also a lighthouse.
The first ten minutes
03
Great Courtyard and dry dock
Great Courtyard and Augustin Ehrensvärd’s tomb, then the dry dock and the Suomenlinna Museum on the shore of Artillery Bay. In summer, the submarine Vesikko.
Middle section of the route
04
Kustaanmiekka and return
Fortifications, cannons and tunnels at the southern tip, King's Gate by the sea. Return on foot to the main pier for the ferry or, in summer, by waterbus directly from the gate.
Tickets and piers, who they suit, a sample day and what to bring
HSL ferry: AB ticket or any ticket covering zone A; single ticket valid for 90 minutes. Buy before boarding via the HSL app, contactless card reader, ticket machine or HSL sales point.
Return ticket from the island: only via contactless card reader, HSL app or the ticket machine at the main pier.
Waterbus: FRS’s own tickets; HSL tickets not accepted. Return trips can be booked in advance, and according to the listing, returns can be made from Artillery Bay or King's Gate.
Helsinki Card: valid on the HSL ferry and Suomenlinna museums, according to the Governing Body of Suomenlinna; according to the listing, a printed card is required for public transport.
Families: the Blue Route is short and in summer there is a beach between Kustaanmiekka and Susisaari. Private guided tours are not suitable for prams, according to the listing.
Mobility impaired: the waterbus, museum ticket and archipelago cruise are accessible according to their listings; guided tours and city tours are not suitable for wheelchairs. The island has cobbled streets and hills.
History lovers: official guide to the tunnels and ramparts, Suomenlinna Museum and film, and in summer, Vesikko.
Cruise passengers and short on time: city tour picks up from the hotel and arranges the ferry; the archipelago cruise shows the fortress from the sea in one to one and a half hours without disembarking.
Morning: ferry from Market Square, Blue Route from the main pier via the church and Great Courtyard.
Midday: Suomenlinna Museum and film on the shore of Artillery Bay, lunch at one of the island’s restaurants.
Afternoon: dry dock, Kustaanmiekka fortifications and King's Gate; in summer, waterbus from the gate back, otherwise walk to the ferry.
Evening: evening archipelago cruise from Market Square, or a late ferry from the island; the last one leaves at around 2:00 am.
Good shoes: paths are sand, grass and cobblestones, and the ramparts have steep slopes
Torch, if you plan to go in the tunnels: the Rantavarustus tunnel at Kustaanmiekka is over 200 metres long and completely dark
Packed food is fine, barbecues are not: open fires and grilling are banned on the entire island all year round
Travel light: there is no luggage storage or cash machine on the island; K-Market offers cashback with purchases
1748Foundation stoneOn Susisaari on 12 September; construction work lasted about sixty years
1991World Heritage siteListed by UNESCO as a unique monument of military architecture.
24 hFree cancellationWith every GetYourGuide booking on this page, 24 hours before.
ABHSL ticketSuomenlinna is in zone A; an AB ticket is required from Market Square.
30 - 45 minBlue RouteFrom the main pier to the King's Gate via the main attractions.
5MuseumsSuomenlinna Museum, Ehrensvärd Museum, Military Museum, Vesikko and Customs Museum.
Piers
Market Square, ferry pier
HSL ferry, east side of Market Square
Market Square, Helsinki, by the Presidential Palace
The Suomenlinna ferry departs from the east side of the square by the Presidential Palace and arrives at the main pier on Iso Mustasaari on the island’s north shore. Ticket machines are at the pier in Market Square and in Suomenlinna. In summer, the waterbus departs from the same square at Keisarinluoto pier, where the red FRS Finland flags fly.
Main pier, Iso Mustasaari: HSL ferry arrival point and start of the Blue Route
Artillery Bay: waterbus stop in the middle of the fortress, next to the Suomenlinna Centre and museum
King's Gate, Kustaanmiekka: waterbus second stop at the southern tip of the island
Tip of Katajanokka: weekday supply ferry with only a small passenger cabin
Best times to visit, practical tips, what’s on the island and the rules.
May to September: several ferries run each hour, the waterbus is in service and all restaurants and cafés are open.
June to August: the church is open, there is a beach in the Kustaanmiekka cove and the submarine Vesikko is open during the summer season.
October to April: the ferry runs every 40 - 60 minutes, there is no waterbus, and many services are only open during the summer season. The island is quiet and the fortifications are yours to explore.
Evening: the ferry runs until late, so you can watch the sunset on the Kustaanmiekka cliffs without rushing.
Buy your ticket back in advance in the app: on the island, tickets are only available by contactless payment, via the app or from the machine.
Follow the Blue Route: the Governing Body of Suomenlinna recommends it as it respects the peace of residents and the sensitive fortress environment.
On the waterbus, it’s best to alight at Artillery Bay and return from the King's Gate, so the route is walked in one direction only.
Bicycles cannot be rented on the island, and bringing a bike on the ferry costs extra; cycling on the ramparts is prohibited.
The guided tour meets at the main pier: arrive on the ferry a little early and look for the blue-and-white umbrella.
Museums: Suomenlinna Museum, Ehrensvärd Museum, Military Museum, submarine Vesikko and Customs Museum; the Museum Card and Helsinki Card are valid for all.
Church: built in 1854 as an Orthodox garrison church, Lutheran since 1918, and since 1929 its dome has also served as a lighthouse.
Eating: several restaurants, cafés and bars; all are open during the summer season, many year-round. Public toilets are available year-round.
Accommodation: Hostel Suomenlinna and Villa Silo year-round, a beach cottage with sauna from spring to autumn.
Lonna: a restaurant island, where the waterbus return ticket is valid according to the listing.
Every booking on this page can be cancelled free of charge 24 hours before on GetYourGuide.
Open fires, barbecuing and camping stoves are prohibited throughout Suomenlinna all year round; packed lunches may be eaten.
Camping and pitching tents is prohibited. Dogs must be leashed, and are not allowed on beaches or playgrounds.
The maintenance tunnel is for emergency, official and service use only; visitors arrive by boat.
Ferry · waterbus · guide · museum
Choose a boat, then choose a day.
Bookable tickets and tours with free cancellation 24 hours before.
Great ferry ride, very timely and comfortable.. stops right next to the museum/walking tour.
★★★★★
Our guide was fantastic. You could tell he loved his job.
★★★★★
We appreciated being able to return from the island whenever we wanted, without having to pay attention to the time.
★★★★★
A really good well explained sight seeing cruise around some spectacular scenery
★★★★★
A very exciting island with many fortifications, bunkers, cannons, and a submarine.
★★★★★
The card is highly recommended if you want to see a lot of the city.
★★★★★
Excellent introduction to Helsinki. Sergio did a fabulous job.
★★★★★
The marina is easy to locate. The service is friendly. There were no complications.
★★★★★
Great way to see the islands. The commentary was engaging
To end the evening
Archipelago in the evening light
Suomenlinna is one island in the Helsinki archipelago. After exploring the fortress, an evening cruise from Market Square shows the rest: two and a half hours through the skerries and straits in the evening light.
Two and a half hours through the archipelago in the evening light from Market Square. You can also book a table and meal; the boat has a toilet and a sun deck, and the commentary is available via an app in 28 languages. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Evening light in the archipelagoDining as an add-onFree cancellation
Duration2.5 hoursaccording to the listingBook this →
Guide
Suomenlinna ferry, explained
Search for the Suomenlinna ferry, and the results mix up two different boats, two different piers and two different tickets. Both take you to the same sea fortress, which has no entry fee. Here’s how to read the options and what you get extra by booking.
A district on the sea
The foundation stone of Suomenlinna was laid on Susisaari on 12 September 1748, and construction took about sixty years. The fortress was led by artillery officer Augustin Ehrensvärd, and its names were Sveaborg and Viapori in Finnish; the current name was adopted in 1918. The fortress’s task was to protect the sea routes leading to Helsinki. It has been under three different powers, and since 1973 it has been managed by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. Today, six fortified islands are home to around 800 residents and form a district of Helsinki, open every day of the year.
The HSL ferry departs from the east side of Market Square, near the Presidential Palace, all year round.
HSL ferry: public transport, not a tour
The Suomenlinna ferry is part of Helsinki’s public transport system, just like the tram. It departs from the east side of Market Square, reaches the main pier on Iso Mustasaari in about 15 minutes and runs daily from roughly 6:00 - 2:20. In summer, there are several departures per hour, in winter every 40 - 60 minutes. Suomenlinna is in HSL zone A, so you need an AB ticket from Market Square, and a single ticket is valid for 90 minutes. Return tickets are only available on the island via contactless payment, the HSL app or the pier’s ticket machine, so buy one before your phone battery dies. The Helsinki Card is accepted on the ferry. The ferry cannot be reserved, and it is not sold on GetYourGuide.
Honest small print: There is no entry fee to Suomenlinna, so none of the bookings on this page grant admission. If you have an HSL ticket or Helsinki Card, you can travel to the island and back without a reservation. A reservation is useful if you want the summer waterbus with two return piers, a guided tour of the tunnels, a museum ticket or a day where the city and island are arranged for you.
Waterbus: the second summer route
From early May to late September, a FRS Finland waterbus departs from Keisarinluoto pier at Market Square. The journey takes about 25 minutes, and the waterbus stops at two locations: Artillery Bay in the centre of the fortress, next to the Suomenlinna Centre, and King's Gate at the southern tip of the island. HSL tickets are not valid for this service. The return ticket sold on GetYourGuide is for this waterbus: according to the listing, you can return from either pier, Lonna island is included with the same ticket, and the boat has a café, toilet and sun deck. Its real advantage is the route: you arrive at Artillery Bay and return from King's Gate, meaning the Blue Route is walked in one direction only.
King's Gate from 1753 - 1754: the waterbus’s southern stop and the endpoint of the Blue Route.
What to see on the island and when a guide is worth it
The Blue Route runs from the main pier via the church, Great Courtyard, dry dock and Kustaanmiekka to the King's Gate in 30 - 45 minutes. The church was built in 1854 as an Orthodox garrison church, and its dome has served as a lighthouse since 1929. The Great Courtyard has Ehrensvärd’s tomb, and at the tip of Kustaanmiekka, the Rantavarustus tunnel runs just over 200 metres in complete darkness. There is no castle on the island, as this is a sea fortress, and no caves, but tunnels built inside the ramparts. A guide brings these to life: a private tour with an official Suomenlinna guide lasts one and a half hours through tunnels, cannons and ramparts to the dry dock, and a city tour combines the island with Helsinki’s sights with hotel pick-up.
Attraction guide provides a ready-made route.
Kustaanmiekka fortifications and cannons: the southern tip of the fortress, where the archipelago opens up.
Direct answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Suomenlinna ferry and the island.
How much does it cost to enter Suomenlinna?
There is no entry fee for Suomenlinna. It is a district of Helsinki, open every day of the year, and the main sights are outdoors. You only need a ticket for the ferry or waterbus; museums have their own admission fees. Ferry or waterbus explains what you actually get for your money.
Where does the Suomenlinna ferry depart from?
The HSL ferry departs from the east side of Market Square, near the Presidential Palace, and arrives at the main pier on Iso Mustasaari. The summer waterbus also departs from the same square but from a different pier, Keisarinluoto pier, and stops at Artillery Bay and King's Gate. Ferry guide shows the piers.
How long does the journey to Suomenlinna take?
About 15 minutes by HSL ferry. The waterbus takes about 25 minutes; the GetYourGuide listing for the waterbus states 20 - 25 minutes. On the island, the Blue Route from the main pier to King's Gate takes about 30 - 45 minutes.
What ticket is needed for the ferry to Suomenlinna?
Suomenlinna is in HSL zone A, and an AB ticket is required from Market Square; any ticket covering zone A is valid. A single ticket is valid for 90 minutes. Buy the ticket before boarding via the HSL app, contactless payment at the reader, or from a ticket machine. Return tickets from the island are only available via contactless payment, the app, or the pier’s ticket machine. The Helsinki Card is valid on the ferry.
When does the last ferry leave Suomenlinna?
According to the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, the last ferry leaves Suomenlinna at around 2:00 am. Ferries run year-round approximately from 6:00 - 2:20; in winter, departures are every 40 - 60 minutes, and more frequently in summer. For exact daily departures, check the HSL Journey Planner.
Is an HSL ticket valid on the waterbus?
No. According to the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, HSL tickets are not valid on the waterbus, which has its own tickets. You can book a return ticket for the waterbus in advance; comparison explains when it’s worth it.
How long should you spend in Suomenlinna?
The Governing Body of Suomenlinna estimates that a visit takes at least 1 - 1.5 hours if you walk the Blue Route. With a museum, church, tunnels and a café, half a day passes easily. Attractions guide provides a ready-made route.
Is the Suomenlinna Museum free, and is the Museum Card accepted?
Museums normally charge an entry fee, but the Museum Card and Helsinki Card are valid for all five museums in Suomenlinna. The museums were free to enter on Suomenlinna Museum Day on 6.6.2026 from 11:00 - 20:00. Museum guide tells you more.
Can you reach Suomenlinna via a tunnel?
No. There is a maintenance tunnel of about 1.3 km under the sea from Kaivopuisto to Suomenlinna, but it is only for emergency, official and maintenance use. Visitors arrive by ferry, waterbus or their own boat to the guest harbour on Susisaari.
Can you stay overnight or camp in Suomenlinna?
You can stay overnight year-round at Hostel Suomenlinna and Villa Silo, and from spring to autumn in a sauna-equipped beach cottage. Camping and pitching tents is prohibited, as is making open fires and barbecuing at any time of year. Life on the island explains living and staying overnight.
Is there a beach in Suomenlinna?
Yes. Helsinki’s official beach is between Kustaanmiekka and Susisaari. Dogs must be kept on a lead on the island and are not allowed on the beach or playgrounds.
What should you book in advance for Suomenlinna?
You don’t need to book the island itself. It’s worth booking in advance anything that adds value: a summer waterbus return trip with two return piers, a guided tour of the tunnels and ramparts, a museum ticket or a Helsinki Card. Every GetYourGuide booking on this page can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Ready to book
Find a ticket that fits your day.
Free cancellation 24 hours before with each option below.
Official Suomenlinna guide
1.5 hoursPrivate group, English or RussianFree cancellation
