arriving
Arriving at the Opera House
The Finnish National Opera and Ballet is located beside Töölönlahti Bay in central Helsinki. On this page you’ll find clear directions for getting to the Opera House by different means of transport.
Opera House on the map
Address:
Helsinginkatu 58
00260 Helsinki
Address for the Töölönlahti Bay entrance:
Oopperankuja 2
Entrances
Main Stage
Two entrances serve performances and events on the Main Stage and in the Main Foyer:
- Helsinginkatu 58 (Mannerheimintie side, main entrance)
- Oopperankuja 2 (Töölönlahti Bay side)
The main entrance on the Mannerheimintie side usually opens an hour and a half before a Main Stage performance starts.
We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the performance starts. Latecomers will not be admitted until the interval.
Almi Hall and Balcony Foyer
The entrance on the Töölönlahti Bay side at Oopperankuja 2 is used for performances in Almi Hall, guided tours and children’s performances in the Balcony Foyer. In principle, the Oopperankuja entrance has the same opening hours as our customer service point.
Customer service point and Opera Shop
The customer service point and the Opera Shop with fan merchandise are located to the right from the Oopperankuja entrance. On performance days, the Opera Shop is open until the end of the 1st interval. If there is no interval, the shop closes when the performance starts.
Check the opening hours of the customer service point and the Opera Shop.
Accessible entrance
The accessible entrance to the Opera House is located on the Töölönlahti Bay side, at Oopperankuja 2. The Opera House car park, which is reserved for visitors with limited mobility, can be found next to the entrance. Our accessible entrance is available to all visitors attending performances and events at the Opera House.
Read more about accessibility at the Opera House.
Arriving by public transport or bike
Changes to tram routes
The Opera House (Ooppera) tram stops on Helsinginkatu will be under renovation from 27 July to 16 September 2026. The stops will remain in use, but they can only be reached from the Oopperankuja side, not from Mannerheimintie.
From 31 August 2026 until 31 December 2027, trams 1, 2 and 8 will be diverted in Töölö because of construction work on the West Helsinki Light Rail project. Tram services on Runeberginkatu will be replaced by buses for the duration. For further details and up to date route information, please visit the HSL website.
Public transport
We recommend using public transport or cycling to get to the Opera House. Tram and bus stops are located in the immediate vicinity of the building. You can find the latest route and schedule information on the HSL website. In the evenings, information screens in our lobbies display the next bus and tram departures from nearby stops.
Travelling to the Finnish National Opera and Ballet by train and bus is easy from outside the Greater Helsinki Area, too. The walk from Helsinki Central railway station to the Opera House takes approximately 20 minutes via the scenic route by the Töölönlahti bay. For bus connections, please visit the Matkahuolto website.
Arriving by bicycle
Arriving at the Opera House by bicycle is a breeze. Bike racks are provided next to both entrances.
Find the nearest HSL city bike stations on the HSL website.
Parking and arriving by taxi
Parking
The nearest public car park is located on Mäntymäki field at just 100 metres from the Opera House (Mäntymäentie 1). The parking area is subject to a fee every day until 9 p.m.; after 9 p.m., parking is free of charge. Please allow enough time to find a parking space, as besides the Opera House, local parking serves the customers of the Kisahalli sports hall, the Olympic Stadium and the Bolt Arena, as well as the residents of the Töölö district. See the up‑to‑date parking prices in the City of Helsinki’s online service.
Paid parking can also be found in the P-Töölö (go to the website) multi-storey car park under the Scandic Park and Crowne Plaza hotels. Please see this map for more car parks.
The small car park of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet on Oopperankuja on the Töölönlahti bay side is only for visitors with limited mobility or for short-term parking (15 min). After performances, the car park is reserved for taxis.
Taxis
The Opera and Ballet orders taxis from reliable operators to the entrance on the Töölönlahti side after every performance. If you want to order your taxi yourself, please order your ride, for example, to Mäntymäki field (Mäntymäentie 1).
Explore our facilities
You can explore the public spaces of the Opera House by viewing the layout maps. Free cloakrooms and toilet facilities can be found near the entrances on Mannerheimintie and Oopperankuja (on the Töölönlahti bay side). Accessible toilets also serve as unisex facilities. The service counters of the Opera Restaurant are located at each end of the Main Foyer, in the Almi Hall Foyer, and in the Aino Lobby. Read more about the services and opening times of the Opera Restaurant.
If you want to check the location of your seat in the auditorium beforehand, please see the seat maps on our Stages page. You will find the row numbers at the end of each row and the seat numbers on each seat at both the Main Stage and Almi Hall auditoriums.
