🚌 Tourist guide to Christmas & New Year in Finland: HSL/VR holiday schedules and Alko/supermarket hours (24–26 Dec, 31 Dec–1 Jan)
If you want to know how to enjoy the holidays without the hustle and bustle, start with two things: transport schedules and shop opening hours. In December, one extra wait at the bus stop is enough to freeze. So below is a clear plan for 24–26 December and 31 December–1 January: what and when HSL runs in the capital region, what VR publishes for winter, how Alko and large chains operate. Plus, a map of warm spots, tables, reminder stickers, and a live feed for the last days of the year.
Reader's voice
"Last December, we checked the HSL holiday page and took the metro two hours later than usual — straight from the city centre, without a taxi, without rushing. The main thing is to choose a 'warm break' nearby in advance."
— Irina K., Helsinki
Cheat sheet: dates & logic
â—Ź 24 December (Christmas Eve). In the capital region, Sunday schedules apply, with some U-buses running Saturday schedules until noon/afternoon, with reduced service later; after ~16:00, trams and some suburban routes run less frequently, with additional services to cemeteries.
● 25 December. Services start at around 11:00, followed by Sunday timetables (metro, tram, suburban railway; ferry to Suomenlinna – all day on Sunday).
â—Ź 26 December. Sunday timetables all day.
â—Ź 31 December. In the capital region, Friday timetable + night service, metro and Ring Rail Line trains run approximately 2 hours longer than usual.
â—Ź 1 January. Sunday timetables all day.
For long-distance travel (VR), winter tickets are published as a single package for the season from mid-December to the end of March; these weeks include peak dates, so it makes sense to buy tickets in advance.
HSL: changes on 24–26 Dec & 31 Dec–1 Jan
24 December (Jouluaatto).
— Basic logic: Sunday schedule, some U lines run as on Saturdays, but less frequently in the afternoon. After 16:00, trams and some suburban trains (Riihimäki / Lahti directions) run at longer intervals. Additional services are usually provided to Hietaniemi and other cemeteries — these are short, quiet trips "in memory".
25 December (Joulupäivä).
— Starting around 11:00 a.m.: metro, tram, buses — as on Sundays, but quieter than usual in the early morning. Suburban trains run on a reduced schedule until 11:00 a.m., then according to the Sunday schedule. Ferry to Suomenlinna — all day on Sundays.
26 December (Boxing Day).
— All day — Sunday schedules.
31 December (New Year's Eve).
— Core service — Friday timetable + night service; the metro and the circular suburban line operate approximately 2 hours longer. Local buses (lähibussi) usually run according to the actual day of the week.
1 January.
— Sunday timetables.
Where to check for live changes.
— HSL Reittiopas and the Bank holidays & changes page provide online versions of timetables, while the Liikennetilanne nyt section provides information on disruptions and diversions. Bookmark these three addresses (and an offline map, just in case).
VR: winter sales, peak days & tips
Sales window. VR publishes the winter season (including Christmas weeks and New Year's Eve) as a single package — from 14 December to the end of March. For the 2025/26 season, tickets went on sale on 30 June; night trains are available even earlier/later, so coupes and car spaces for Christmas and New Year's Eve dates are the first to sell out.
What this means in practice.
— The "peaks" are almost always on 22–23, 26 December and 30–31 December / 1–2 January. If you are travelling to Lapland by night train, the rules from our article about VR to Lapland apply: compartments → book early, food → book/bring your own, luggage/skis → check the rules (VR has clear rules with no surprises). VR's information pages on Christmas and the Santa Claus Express are a handy reference guide for services en route.
Alko & supermarkets: holiday opening hours
Alko.
— 24 December usually open from 9am to 12pm; 25–26 December — closed; 31 December — until 18:00; 1 January — closed. Alko publishes these opening hours in a single list for the year; check your nearest store the day before — there may be variations in smaller towns.
Supermarkets.
— Hours — from a specific store (K-group and S-group provide hours on their locator pages). In practice: in the capital region, some hypermarkets and 24/7 formats (Prisma, Alepa, some K-Citymarket stores) are open around the clock or open early, but on 24 December most close earlier than usual, on 25 December some shopping centres are closed, and on 26 December they operate on Sunday hours. For reference, see Iso Omena (in 2025: 24 December: 8am–4pm, 25 December: closed, 26 December: 9am–9pm, 31 December: 8am–9pm, 1 January: 12:00–21:00) and the approximate opening hours of Lidl in shopping centres (24 December until 16:00; 25 December: closed; 31 December: reduced hours). Always double-check your address using the network locator.
Tables: dates Ă— opening hours
| Date | HSL (core logic) | VR (overview) | Alko | Supermarkets (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.12 | Sunday timetables; U lines from Saturday → reduced service during the day; trams/suburban trains less frequent after 16:00; additional services to cemeteries | Long-distance services less frequent in the evening; night trains according to the seasonal timetable | Open ~9–12 | Early closure (approximately until 16–18), 24/7 formats may be reduced |
| 25.12 | Start ~11:00; then Sunday schedules | Shortened in the morning, then on Sunday | Closed | Part of the shopping centre is closed; locally — reduced hours |
| 26.12 | Sunday schedule all day | As on Sundays | Closed | Sunday hours |
| 31.12 | Friday schedule + night service; metro/ring line ~2 hours longer | Peak flights/compartments are dismantled in advance | Until 18:00 | Shortened hours at some shops/shopping centres |
| 1.1 | Sunday schedules | Sunday mode | Closed | Partially open (at shopping centres — often from midday) |
🗺️ Interactive map: hubs & warm breaks
Live feed: 23–26 Dec & NYE updates
đź”´ Live feed: add updates on the day of the event
Сommon mistakes
❌ "24.12 everything runs as usual"
No. During the day, there will be reductions, and after 16:00, there will be infrequent tram/suburban train service. Please arrive early.
⚠️ "31 December: the metro is operating as usual"
In the capital region, it will be longer than usual (by ~2 hours), but not everywhere will be the same. Check Reittiopas.
âś… "The locator is your best friend"
Alko and supermarkets operate on a fixed schedule. Save "your" location in advance.
Checklist: essentials & quick saves
🧠Before leaving
If you found this material useful, share it with your friends, save it for the holiday week, and write in the comments which addresses and timings worked perfectly for you. I will add your tips to the map and feed so that the next reader can have an even calmer and warmer experience.
âť“ FAQ
On 24 December, the capital region will operate on a Sunday schedule, with some U-lines following the Saturday schedule and reducing service in the afternoon. After 4 p.m., trams and a number of suburban routes will run less frequently, and additional services will be organised to cemeteries.
On New Year's Eve, HSL will operate on a Friday schedule with additional night services, and the metro and Ring Rail Line will run approximately two hours longer than usual.
The guideline is around 11:00, followed by Sunday schedules; the ferry to Suomenlinna runs all day on Sundays.
VR is opening the winter season with a single package (including Christmas weeks and New Year's Eve). Sales for the period 14 December 2025–28 March 2026 opened on 30 June — popular dates are selling out fast.
Typically: 24 December – 9:00–12:00, 25–26 December – closed, 31 December – until 18:00, 1 January – closed. Always check the exact opening hours with your local store.
Yes, there are 24/7 formats (Prisma, Alepa and some K-hypermarkets), but on 24 December many reduce their hours, and on 25 December some shopping centres are closed. Check the chain locators — they are more accurate than the general rules.
For reference, you can keep the Iso Omena hours handy (24 December: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 25 December: closed, 26 December: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 31 December: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 1.1 — 12–21) — but this is an example, not a rule for the whole country.
In the Liikennetilanne nyt section and via Reittiopas — they show detours and cancellations in real time.
There is a chance, but it is small: demand is highest during this period. Look for alternatives: seats + morning trains on 31 December or a night train later on 1 January. General advice on choosing cabins can be found in our article on VR to Lapland and on the VR Christmas pages.
Divide your route into short sections with "warm breaks" (library/shopping centre/lobby), keep a thermos and non-slip shoes handy. For the full set, see our checklist above.
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