Almost 24 hour over night layover in Helsinki
I am traveling from Beijng to New York and an airline which I am choosing has a layover of 23.5 hours at Helsinki airport.
I'm a Chinese and don't have Finland visa. If I don't want to sleep on the chair in the airport, do I have other options? Like can I get the airport hotel without Finland visa? Or can I get some form a visitor visa in the airport to leave the airport to find hotel outside to sleep?
If I have to stay at the airport and sleep in the airport, 23.5 hours will be a long time for me.
Best Answer
As a Chinese national, you can stay within Helsinki airport up to 24 hours whilst in transit without a visa - however you will need to remain in the international "air-side" area.
There are two hotels in the airport (GLO and Hilton), however both are outside of security so you will not be able to access them without a visa. There are also a number of other (cheaper!) hotels in the vicinity that can be accessed via a free shuttle bus.
Your only alternative to staying inside the airport is to obtain a visa, which will let you leave the airport during your stay. If you do this, I would suggest not spending your time around the airport, but instead heading into the city - Helsinki is a brilliant city even if you only have a day to spend, and the city is very easy to access using the 615/620 bus (around 4 euro each way), or in a few months time via the new rail link to the airport.
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Can you leave the airport during a layover in Helsinki?
If you are travelling within the Schengen area, you are allowed to exit the airport during a layover. Travelers from outside the Schengen area can also leave the airport if they don't need a visa to visit the Shengen area, or they already have a visa that allows a visit to Finland.Can you sleep overnight in Helsinki Airport?
Sleeping in Helsinki Airport There is an airside quiet room\u2014Kainuu Lounge\u2014with carpeting and two long recliners near Gate 31, and some \u201cwork and rest\u201d spots throughout the airport. Sleeping pods are available in Terminal 1 for a fee and there are hotels at the airport for an even more restful slumber.Can you stay in the airport for an overnight layover?
Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.What happens if you have an overnight layover?
If you do have an overnight layover and will be spending the night at the airport, remember your options. You can stay in an airport hotel both within transit or on the public side, you could sleep or rest in the airport terminal itself.8 HOUR LAYOVER IN HELSINKI, FINLAND VLOG
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Answer 2
So I've got bad news and good more bad news.
The bad news is that, as Doc explains, you need to get a visa or you'll be stuck in the international section of the airport, which is quite small: (~8 gates, duty-free shop, cafe and that's pretty much it -- but at least the wifi is free. Also, since Finland is a member of the Schengen area, there's no concept of a shore pass/short-term visa, you need to get the full 90-day Schengen visa and that's quite a hassle.
(courtesy Skift)
The good worse news is that, last October, Helsinki airport opened a "relaxation area" that is on the international side of the terminal, has actual beds, and is absolutely free -- but, as Doc correctly points out, is just barely on the wrong side of passport control. Sigh.
Note that this is still considered an "experiment" and may disappear without notice if they decide not to continue it, although as of Jan 2014 it's still open.
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Images: Luciann Photography, alexandre saraiva carniato, Erik Mclean, Francesco Ungaro