St. Petersburg to Helsinki Trains
Take a train journey from Russia to Finland
St. Petersburg to Helsinki Train Route
St. Petersburg to Helsinki trains make only 5 stops on their route through Russia and Finland - in Vyborg, Vainikkala, Kouvola, Lahti, and Tikkurila. The trip takes from 3.5 hours by high-speed Allegro trains to 6.5 hours by the slower Lev Tolstoy train which originates in Moscow.
Depending on the season, there are at least four Allegro trains running every day on the St. Petersburg to Helsinki route. These are comfortable, high-speed trains that help you reach your destination in only 3.5 hours. There is also the slower Lev Tolstoy train that travels from Moscow and makes a stop in St. Petersburg. The same trains run on the Helsinki to St. Petersburg route.
Distance
407 km
5 trains
per day
5 stops
on way
Fastest train
3 h 30 min
Slowest train
6 h 30 min
Price from
49 USD
St. Petersburg to Helsinki Trains
based on 371 customer reviews
Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers
The train trip from St. Petersburg to Helsinki takes 3.5 hours.
In St Petersburg, the Allegro arrives and departs from Finlyandsky Train Station, Ploshad Lenina, 6, Metro Ploshad Lenina. In Helsinki, the Allegro arrives and departs from Helsinki Central Station, Kaivokatu 1.
No, the unified e-visa is not valid to exit Russia by train.
Border and customs control are held on board the train. During the border check, you are required to show your passport and visa.
The Allegro makes one stop in Russia (Vyborg) and 5 stops in Finland (Vainikkala, Kouvola, Lahti, Tikkurila, Pasila).
Tickets for the Allegro are available 90 days prior to departure.
There are four to five daily Allegro trains from morning until late evening.
Testimonials
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Smooth way to go to Moscow
Helsinki - Moscow on first class. I can highly recommend to approach Moscow by train from Helsinki. Excellent boarding and on-board service. Enjoy the view and share food and drinks while you ride towards this great metropolis.Next time I will do exactly the same !
“
Great service and efficient delivery
I very much appreciated the personal touch given by Russia Rail. All the arrangements were made very clear and the ticket on-line was great. No problems were encountered at all.
“
Excellent service
We visited St Petersburg in July and traveled by train from St Petersburg to Helsinki, returning 10 days later to St Petersburg. I made all arrangements through RussianRail.com, from South Africa, using the Russian Rail website. Everything worked quickly, easily and efficiently and our Russian Rail experience was very positive, from beginning to end.
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St.Pete to Helsinki
Russian Rail was easy to buy tickets online. Prices were very reasonable. We bought table seats to sit with friends. There were places to charge electronics, large window, comfortable seats. The dining card had variety of food, snacks, beer, wine,assorted other drinks. The ride was very smooth. Would DEFINITELY use Russian Rail again.
“
Excellent experience - MUCH better than flying!
We took a train from Helsinki & St. Petersburg - Moscow round trip. Easy to book online (we did it from Portland, Oregon USA. The service was great, on time and organized. We had print-outs of our tickets from home, but didn't use them as everything was done with our passport.
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Personal service
I went to Russian Rail to book our journey from St Petersburg to Helsinki, having found the Finnish Rail website too confusing. I initially booked online, but the Russian Rail travel agent emailed me personally to check that I had the right date - it turned out that I had booked for the wrong month!! Thanks to the agent, my error was not costly and we had a great trip.
History of Train Travel Between St. Petersburg and Helsinki
For ages, train travel has been the most exemplary method to get between St Petersburg and Helsinki. With multiple trains leaving St. Petersburg daily, and an on-board restaurant and bar, it is the ultimate way to get from Russia to Finland.
The railway between the two northern empires was initially opened in 1870 on the initiative of Tsar Alexander II, who is well-known for his efforts to expand Russia's railway network. In 1917, Finland was liberated from Russia. Still, trains between the two nations continued on the Helsinki - Leningrad line until 1955 and later on the Helsinki - Moscow line, established in 1954. International rail travel between Russia and Finland rose dramatically during the 1960s.
Today, the St Petersburg to Helsinki train is a popular means of transportation for Russians, Finns, and tourists. Instead of dealing with the hassle of getting to and from the airport or the frustrating traffic on a cross-border bus trip, you'll be dropped in town and enjoy a pleasant journey.
Trains from St.Petersburg to Helsinki
The Allegro and the Lev Tolstoy are the two trains that connect St Petersburg to Helsinki.
Allegro
The Allegro train is the high-speed Russia – Finland service. It was built in 2010 to replace the two Helsinki - St Petersburg sleeper services, the Ilya Repin and Jan Sibelius. With several departures, each day that can fit any schedule, a trip time of just 3 1/2 hours, en-route border crossings, and contemporary features like power outlets at every seat, traveling between Helsinki and St Petersburg on Allegro couldn't be easier. The St Petersburg Finlyandsky Station serves as the departure station for the Allegro train.
Lev Tolstoy
Alternatively, you might take the overnight Lev Tolstoy train. Since 1970, this well-known branded service has connected Moscow and Helsinki, stopping in St Petersburg along the way. The final leg of the trip is a little longer, taking passengers 6 1/2 hours to Allegro's 3 1/2 hours, but they may experience all of the night train's unique ambiance - complete with 19th-century décor and luxury compartments. The Lev Tolstoy terminates at St Petersburg Ladozhsky Station.
Once you have your tickets, look forward to a wonderful, smooth
and enjoyable journey through the Russian countryside.
Buy your ticket safely and securely and then sit back
and enjoy the ride!
Recommended by
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