Lauttamatka Helsingissä can feel like a mini holiday as passenger numbers rise

Helsingin seudun liikenteen (HSL) data shows a 6.5% increase in ferry passengers on the Suomenlinna route during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

The Suomenlinna ferry carried 998,000 passengers from January to June, an increase of 62,000. The Kruunuvuorenranta route saw nearly 15,000 more passengers than the same period in 2025, reaching just over 117,000.

HSL’s Henrik Kiiskinen attributes the growth on the Suomenlinna route to tourism levels and favorable weather, noting that passenger numbers rise noticeably during good conditions. The Kruunuvuorenranta route also experienced growth despite the opening of a new bridge in April.

FRS Finland’s Roni Huttunen reports increased demand on routes featuring new sauna destinations and multiple stops. The Eastern and Western archipelago routes now include stops at Malkasaari and Kotiluoto, both with new saunas, as well as Lonna sauna. The Western route, which runs from Nokkala through Suomenlinna and Kauppatori to Kalasatama, now also serves Lauttasaari and Meritullintori.

Huttunen says route popularity grows over time as more people discover them, with Kaunissaari in Sipoo remaining a hidden gem he hopes more will visit.