Key Notes
- Helsinki’s tram lines 11 and 12 began carrying passengers over the Crown Bridges route on November 7.
- The sea crossing includes the roughly 1.2-kilometer Kruunuvuorensilta, Finland’s longest bridge.
- The operator recorded 75,825 journeys on the two new lines over their opening weekend.
Helsinki has added a new way to see its island-studded coastline: a tram ride across the sea on Finland’s longest bridge. The Crown Bridges route, known locally as Kruunusillat, opened to passengers on November 7, connecting Laajasalo with the city’s wider tram network.
The first weekend drew 75,825 journeys across the new lines 11 and 12, according to a November 11 operator update. That early enthusiasm gives visitors a new public-transport option that doubles as a scenic ride, with open-water views along the crossing.
The Bridge Is Part of the Attraction
The route crosses three bridges, including the roughly 1.2-kilometer Kruunuvuorensilta, the longest in Finland. HSL, the regional transport authority, says views from the crossing take in the open sea, Suomenlinna, Herttoniemenranta and Kulosaari.
Pedestrians and cyclists have been able to use the bridge since April. Tram services now add a way to make the crossing without walking or cycling it. Ordinary car traffic is excluded, with access reserved for emergency vehicles.
HSL promoted the launch as the world’s most beautiful tram route. That description is the authority’s invitation to explore the new line, rather than the result of an independent global ranking. The appeal is easy to understand: a regular city journey now runs through a stretch of Helsinki’s maritime scenery.
Which Tram Should Visitors Take?
The two new lines serve different journeys. HSL’s route guide sets out their connections:
- Tram 11: Kruunuvuorenranta–Kalasatama–Pasila, connecting the waterfront district and Korkeasaari with major transport hubs
- Tram 12: Yliskylä–Hakaniemi–Railway Square, providing the direct link between Laajasalo and the central city
For visitors starting near the central railway station, line 12 is the straightforward option. The city’s launch guidance puts its terminus on Mikonkatu beside Railway Square. HSL’s launch announcement gives an approximate journey time of 20 minutes between Railway Square and Yliskylä.
Line 12 normally runs every 7.5 minutes, while line 11 runs every 15 minutes. Services are less frequent in the early morning and late evening. Check the journey planner for the departure and direction that fit your visit.
A Scenic Ride on the Regular Network
These are HSL public-transport services, so travelers use the regional ticket system. The authority’s passenger guidance lists the HSL app, contactless payment, service points and travel-card options. Contactless tickets can be bought at the reader onboard the tram; tickets are not sold at the stops.
A daylight crossing makes the most of the sea views. For a longer outing, the pedestrian and cycling access offers another way to experience the bridge, with the tram providing the transport connection at either end. Choose the ticket zones and validity that cover the full journey you intend to make.
More Changes Follow in January
The new tram service is one stage of a wider transport change in Laajasalo. Local bus routes will change on January 7, 2027, to provide connections with the tram stops as well as Herttoniemi Metro Station.
Line 12’s central terminus will also move to Hakaniemi when later street works prevent trams from reaching Railway Square. For now, the new direct connection gives visitors a simple addition to a Helsinki city break: a tram trip where the sea crossing is as much a reason to travel as the destination.
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