Flying from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL): what you need to know
Helsinki is ten hours ahead of San Francisco and follows the UTC+2 timezone.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your SFO to HEL flight.
During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're travelling during a peak period in general.
We make it simple to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Worthwhile stopovers between SFO and HEL include:
London Heathrow Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Frankfurt am Main Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL)
At the moment, 271 € is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is 568 €. Remember that fares can change due to demand when booking.
It's a good idea to book early if you want to get cheap tickets from SFO to HEL. That's because airlines change prices based on demand, which tends to increase closer to departure.
Finding cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport is easy if you're flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices across the month and land a great deal.
You don't need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a change in price on cheap flights from SFO to HEL.
Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Of all flights leaving San Francisco International Airport, 78% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
San Francisco International Airport is about 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 25 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
You can expect a trip time of around 35 minutes on public transport.
Get your break off to a relaxed start by staying near SFO. Whether you have an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport or just don't like being rushed, these stays are the answer:
Arriving at Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL)
The last thing you want is a long trip to your hotel if you're landing late on a San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near HEL instead:
Grab a Helsinki Vantaa Airport rental car and discover Helsinki and beyond with your own set of wheels. Green Motion, Alamo and addCar are well-known companies to choose from here.
Lock in the best deal by booking your vehicle from Helsinki Vantaa Airport about two weeks in advance of your trip.
When to fly to Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL)
It's time to work out your trip dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport. September is the busiest month to visit Helsinki. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in March.
When booking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Helsinki Vantaa Airport, think about the type of weather you like. July is the warmest month in Helsinki, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 26ºC (79ºF).
January has average temperatures of between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF). Search for cheap tickets from SFO to HEL sometime then if you like cooler conditions.
Explore more of Finland
Helsinki has its own special appeal, but there are so many other corners of Finland you should also see. About 16 kilometres west of Helsinki, a visit to Espoo will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading sights like Nuuksio Park, Nuuksio National Park and EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art.
Around 161 kilometres north-west of Helsinki, Tampere is another favourite stop in Finland. Start your sightseeing at Pyynikki Observation Tower, The Natural History Museum and Pyynikki Nature Reserve.