To get to Vallisaari, take the JT-Line ferry — a small summer waterbus — from Helsinki’s Market Square (Kauppatori), from the Kolera basin (Kolera-allas), pier 10. The crossing takes about 20 minutes, an adult return ticket is €9.80, and the 2026 season runs 20 May – 12 September. There is no ferry and no public access to the island in winter.
That’s the short answer. Three things trip up nearly every first-time visitor, so read these before you go:
- Your HSL ticket does NOT work on the Vallisaari boat. This is a private JT-Line waterbus, not the HSL network — unlike the Suomenlinna ferry, which is HSL.
- The last return boat is absolute. Miss it and your only way back is a water taxi costing roughly €50–150. Write the time down.
- Vallisaari is open in summer only. Outside the season there’s no scheduled service and the island is effectively closed — don’t plan a winter trip.
Below is the only single-page answer you need: the exact pier, the full 2026 schedule, every ticket price, accessibility, and what’s waiting at each end of the crossing.
The quick answer
| Operator | JT-Line (waterbus / vesibussi) |
| Departs from | Helsinki Market Square (Kauppatori), Kolera basin, pier 10 |
| Arrives at | Luotsipiha on Vallisaari (some runs also call at Torpedolahti) |
| Crossing time | about 20 minutes |
| Adult return | €9.80 |
| Child 7–17 return | €6.80 |
| Under 7 | free with an accompanying adult |
| 2026 season | 20 May – 12 September |
| HSL ticket valid? | No — private waterbus, buy separately |
| Payment | cash, Finnish bank cards, Visa, Mastercard |
| Tickets | JT-Line online shop in advance, or on board |
Vallisaari itself is free to enter — there’s no gate and no admission fee — so the ferry ticket is your only fixed cost for the trip.
Which pier — and don’t confuse it with the Suomenlinna ferry
This is the single most common mistake at the Market Square, so it’s worth getting right.
The JT-Line Vallisaari waterbus leaves from the Kolera basin (Kolera-allas), pier 10. The Kolera basin is the small boat harbour at the eastern end of the Market Square — the same corner several archipelago routes use. Look for the JT-Line signage that reads Vallisaari.
The Suomenlinna ferry is a completely different boat at a different berth. It is run by HSL, Helsinki’s public transport authority, which means any valid HSL ticket works on it (an AB ticket covers Market Square to Suomenlinna). The Vallisaari boat is not HSL: an HSL card, day ticket or app ticket buys you nothing on it, and you’ll need a separate JT-Line ticket.
So at the Market Square you have two boats heading to two neighbouring islands:
- Suomenlinna → HSL ferry, ~15 min, your HSL ticket works.
- Vallisaari → JT-Line waterbus from the Kolera basin (pier 10), ~20 min, a separate JT-Line ticket.
Getting there on foot is easy. The Market Square sits at the bottom of the Esplanadi and is a short walk from the trams that stop along it. Walk down to the waterfront, keep the kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) on your right, and the Kolera basin is at the eastern corner of the square.
2026 schedule
The JT-Line ferry runs only in summer: 20 May – 12 September 2026, daily through the high season and Wednesday–Saturday in September. The same boat shuttles back and forth roughly once an hour in each direction, with Market Square departures mostly on the hour.
| Period | Days | First departure | Last departure (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May – 18 Jun | daily | ~10:00 | ~20:00 |
| 19 Jun – 2 Aug | daily (evening sailings extended Wed–Sat) | ~10:00 | ~22:00 |
| 3 Aug – 31 Aug | daily | ~10:00 | ~22:00 |
| 2 Sep – 12 Sep | Wed–Sat only | ~10:00 | ~18:00 |
Always confirm the exact last return on the day you go. The precise departure minutes shift from year to year and by date, so the only reliable source is the live timetable — check JT-Line’s Vallisaari timetable before you leave. On some event nights there are later crossings; the Vallisaari events calendar lists those.
Two seasonal notes worth knowing:
- Midsummer (Juhannus), Friday 19 June 2026: there are extra evening sailings, with late returns from Vallisaari at 22:30 and 23:30 — the one night the island stays open well after dark.
- Early-season Torpedolahti: the scheduled-service pier at Torpedolahti is under renovation until midsummer 2026, which can affect drop-off and the accessible landing on that side until then. Until the work is done, plan around Luotsipiha for the early-season weeks.
Tickets & prices
All JT-Line fares are sold as round trips. There is no separately published one-way fare.
| Ticket | Price (round trip) |
|---|---|
| Adult | €9.80 |
| Child 7–17 | €6.80 |
| Discount (pensioner / student / unemployed) | €6.80 |
| Under 7 | free with an accompanying adult |
| Season pass, adult (whole 2026) | €80 |
| Season pass, child / discount | €50 |
A worked family example: two adults and two children aged 7–17 pay €33.20 return. If the youngest is under 7, the total drops to €26.40. The season pass pays for itself if you plan to visit the island four or more times over the summer.
Where to buy: in advance from the JT-Line online shop, or directly on board. You can pay with cash, Finnish bank cards, or Visa/Mastercard.
Buy ahead on sunny weekends. On warm weekends the most popular departures fill up, and the queue at the Market Square ticket point builds. An online ticket lets you skip that queue — though note that a ticket bought in advance doesn’t reserve you a seat on one specific departure, so on a busy day still aim for an earlier boat than your ideal.
The crossing & what’s at each end
Arrive at the pier about 10 minutes before departure, then head up to the deck: 20 minutes of open-sea views, Helsinki shrinking behind you and Vallisaari growing ahead. There’s a WC and a small café on board, so the crossing is comfortable even with children.
At the Helsinki end you’re in the middle of the city: the Old Market Hall, the Esplanadi and the trams are all a few minutes’ walk away, so it’s easy to grab lunch before an afternoon boat.
At the Vallisaari end most sailings land at Luotsipiha. From the pier it’s about 100 metres up the path to Cafe IISI’s terrace (an accessible route) — coffee, wine and the island’s events — and roughly a ten-minute walk across to Torpedolahti, where IISI Bistro serves the archipelago’s best-known lohikeitto (salmon soup). Beyond that it’s all nature reserve: forest paths, old fortifications and Baltic views in every direction.
Because the return boat originates from Torpedolahti, a natural rhythm for the day is to arrive at Luotsipiha, walk the island, and make your way over to Torpedolahti in time for the boat home.
Accessibility, dogs, bikes & what to bring
JT-Line runs an accessible vessel — better provided for than most archipelago routes:
- Wheelchairs: the boat is barrier-free, with gangway boarding for both manual and electric wheelchairs. Wheelchair users are advised to disembark at Torpedolahti, where the landing is step-free. (During the early-season Torpedolahti renovation, check the current arrangement with JT-Line first.)
- Strollers: allowed on board.
- Bicycles: not carried — and you wouldn’t need one anyway, as Vallisaari is a car-free walking island.
- Dogs: welcome both on the boat and on the island, on a leash.
On the island there’s a water supply point, toilets and picnic tables. There’s no admission fee. The terrain is real forest path, so wear proper shoes — comfortable trainers are plenty. Vallisaari sits in open water, so even in July it can be windier than the mainland; bring a jacket. Payment on the island is by card.
Other ways to get there
Water taxi. If you miss the last ferry — or simply want to come and go on your own schedule — a private water taxi runs roughly €50–150. Helsinki operators such as Helsingin Venetaksi, Uusi Taksivene Helsinki and watertaxi.fi serve the archipelago. It’s the most expensive way to cross, so treat it as a backup, not a plan.
Private boat. You can arrive under your own power and tie up at the Torpedolahti guest harbour on the island’s eastern side — around 50 berths with electricity, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Bistro. The day-visit pier fee is €10 (per vallisaari.fi’s harbour shop), with overnight stays priced separately. Berths fill up on busy summer weekends. The advantage: a boater isn’t tied to the ferry timetable and can stay for golden hour on the terrace long after the last waterbus has gone.
Suomenlinna the same day. Vallisaari and Suomenlinna are neighbours, roughly a kilometre apart, and ferries to both leave from the Market Square — so a two-island day (Suomenlinna’s fortress in the morning, Vallisaari’s wild nature and wine in the afternoon) is very doable. Whether a direct island-to-island leg runs on your specific date varies, so check the operators’ route pages rather than assuming a direct hop; the simple, reliable plan is to return to the Market Square between islands. Our Helsinki island day trip guide lays out the timing.
Off-season: there’s no winter ferry
It’s worth being blunt about this, because it catches people out: outside the summer season there is no scheduled ferry to Vallisaari, and the island is effectively closed to the public. The 2026 service runs 20 May – 12 September only. If you’re in Helsinki in, say, December, Vallisaari is not a trip you can make by public means — save it for summer.
FAQ
How do I get to Vallisaari from Helsinki?
Take the JT-Line waterbus from Helsinki’s Market Square (Kauppatori), from the Kolera basin, pier 10. The crossing takes about 20 minutes, an adult return is €9.80, and the 2026 season runs 20 May – 12 September. Buy your ticket from the JT-Line online shop in advance or on board.
Where exactly does the Vallisaari ferry leave from?
From the Kolera basin (Kolera-allas), pier 10, at the eastern corner of the Market Square. Look for the JT-Line signage reading Vallisaari. It is not the same berth as the Suomenlinna ferry.
How much does the Vallisaari ferry cost?
Round trips: adults €9.80, children 7–17 €6.80, the discount fare (pensioner/student/unemployed) €6.80, and under-7s travel free with an adult. A whole-season pass is €80 for adults and €50 at the child/discount rate.
Does my HSL ticket or day pass work on the Vallisaari ferry?
No. The Vallisaari boat is a private JT-Line waterbus, not part of the HSL network, so HSL tickets and cards are not valid on it. You buy a separate JT-Line ticket online or on board.
What’s the difference between the Vallisaari ferry and the Suomenlinna ferry?
They’re two different boats from the Market Square to two neighbouring islands. The Suomenlinna ferry is run by HSL, so your HSL ticket works and the crossing is about 15 minutes. The Vallisaari ferry is the JT-Line waterbus from the Kolera basin (pier 10), takes about 20 minutes, and needs its own JT-Line ticket.
How long does the Vallisaari ferry take?
About 20 minutes each way from the Market Square to Luotsipiha on Vallisaari.
How often does the ferry run, and what are the first and last departures?
Roughly once an hour in each direction, with Market Square departures mostly on the hour. The first sailing is around 10:00 in every period. The last outbound boat is around 20:00 in late May–June, around 22:00 in July–August, and around 18:00 in September. Exact minutes change by date, so confirm the day’s last return on the live JT-Line timetable.
Does the Vallisaari ferry run in winter?
No. The 2026 season is 20 May – 12 September. Outside that there is no scheduled service, and the island is closed to the public — there is no way to visit Vallisaari by public transport in winter.
What happens if I miss the last ferry back?
Your only way off the island is a private water taxi, which costs roughly €50–150. The best strategy is not to miss it: check the day’s last return before you leave the pier and set an alarm.
Can I take a stroller, wheelchair, bike, or dog?
Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome on the boat and the island. The vessel is barrier-free, with gangway boarding for manual and electric wheelchairs — wheelchair users are advised to disembark at Torpedolahti, where the landing is step-free. Bicycles are not carried, and Vallisaari is a car-free walking island anyway.
Do I need to book in advance, or can I buy on board?
You can do either. On a quiet day, buying on board is fine. On sunny weekends the popular departures fill up and a queue forms at the ticket point, so an advance ticket from the JT-Line online shop saves time — though it doesn’t reserve a seat on one specific sailing, so still aim for an earlier boat on a busy day.
Can I get to Vallisaari by private boat?
Yes. Tie up at the Torpedolahti guest harbour on the island’s eastern side — about 50 berths with electricity. The day-visit pier fee is €10, with overnight stays priced separately. Berths fill up on busy summer weekends.
Can I visit Suomenlinna and Vallisaari on the same day?
Yes. The two islands are about a kilometre apart and ferries to both leave from the Market Square. A direct island-to-island leg only runs on certain dates, so the reliable plan is to return to the Market Square between islands. Check the operators’ route pages for any direct connection on your date.
Is there food, water, and toilets on the island?
Yes. There are cafés and restaurants — including Cafe IISI about 100 metres up from the Luotsipiha pier and IISI Bistro at Torpedolahti — plus a water supply point, toilets and picnic tables. Payment on the island is by card.
Oliver Laiho · IISI Vallisaari · Updated for summer 2026 with AI assistance.