Airlines
British Airways, Aleksanterinkatu 21a (tel 09/650677) opposite the Stockman Department Store; Finnair, Töölönkatu 21 (tel 09/818800); SAS, Keskuskatu 7a (tel 09/228021).
Books
Academic Bookstore, Keskuskatu 1, has a good stock of English paperbacks.
Car rental
Avis, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu (tel 09/441155); Budget, Malminkatu 24 (tel 09/6866500); Europcar/InterRent, Mannerheimintie 50 (tel 09/47802220).
Embassies
Canada, Pohjoisesplanadi 25b (tel 09/171141); Ireland, Erottajankatu 7A (tel 09/646006); UK, Itäinen Puistotie 17 (tel 09/22865100); USA, Itäinen Puistotie 14a (tel 09/171931). Australian citizens should contact their embassy in Stockholm.
Exchange
Best done at banks, otherwise try the airport (6.30am-11pm); Katajanokka harbour, where Viking and Finnjet dock (daily 9-11.30am & 3.45-6pm); or Forex at the train station (daily 8am-9pm).
Ferries
Reservations and information: Silja Line tel 9800/74 552,
www.silja.fi
; Tallink tel 09/2282 1277,
www.tallink.fi
; Viking Line tel 09/123 577,
www.vikingline.fi
.
Gay Helsinki
See
Z
magazine, widely available in larger newsagents or drop into Lost and Found, Annankatu 6, a relaxed café/bar-cum-restaurant-and-disco whose staff are friendly, helpful and speak excellent English. SETA, Heitalahdenkatu 2b 16, is the state-supported gay organization (tel 09/6123233,
www.seta.fi
).
Hospital
Töölö Hospital, Topeliuksenkatu 5 has a first-aid unit; Meilahti Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, has an emergency department. Both tel 09/4711.
Laundry
Runeberginkatu 47 (Mon-Thur 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm).
Left luggage
Long-distance bus station (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm); lockers at train station (daily 6.30am-10pm).
Pharmacies
Yliopiston Apteekki, Mannerheimintie 96 (24hr); Mannerheimintie 5 (daily 7am-midnight).
Police
Pieni Roobertinkatu 1-3 (tel 1891).
Post office
The main office, with poste restante services, is at Mannerheimaukio 1a (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
Saunas & Swimming Pools
Yrjo/nkatu 21b. Stunning recently renovated Art Deco pool and sauna complex in city centre (daily 6.30am-9pm though some sessions are women/men only; ¬4-10).
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