Helsinki (Vantaa) to Seattle (HEL–SEA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Finland is part of the US Visa Waiver Program. Finnish passport holders can enter the United States for up to 90 days for tourism or business by obtaining an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before departure. The ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Apply at least 72 hours before departure.

You must hold an e-passport (biometric chip). Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay. Travelers who have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, or Cuba after March 2011 may be ineligible and need a B1/B2 visa instead.

Link Light Rail from the airport station (inside the terminal) to downtown Seattle takes 38 minutes ($3.50). No transfers needed; trains run 5am to 1am daily.Taxis and ride-shares to downtown cost $35–55. For Bellevue and Eastside destinations (across Lake Washington), ride-share is faster than Link. Car rentals are in the consolidated rental facility; take the free shuttle from baggage claim. Sound Transit buses serve Tacoma, Renton, and Federal Way.

Marine west coast climate. Winters are mild but persistently grey and rainy (3–9°C). Snow is rare at sea level but can occur December through February, causing significant disruptions when it does. The airport sits between Seattle and Tacoma in an area that receives more fog and low cloud than downtown Seattle.

Summers are famously pleasant (18–25°C) with low humidity and mostly clear skies, one of the best flying climates in the US from June through September. The wettest months are November through January.