We’re not sure about you, but there’s no other way we’d rather explore Europe than by train. Though you could make an argument for sustainability, in reality, it goes far beyond that:
Trains are generally more reliable than budget carriers like Ryanair and easyJet, you don’t risk getting charged upwards of $50 because the wheels on your cabin luggage just slightly stick out past the fitter, and let’s face it, it’s just far more scenic and fits the Old World vibe.
Now, if you’re planning a Scanditrip this year, you might want to hold off on booking those flights until you read this.
Passenger trains are relaunching from Finland into Sweden. Both countries share a 345-mile border, yet have not enjoyed rail connections in over since, ahem, 1988.
There’s a reason for that, which we’ll get to briefly, but first, here’s everything you need to know about the exciting new route:
Finland To Sweden By Train
Starting June 2026, you’ll be able to travel from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, via the tundra-covered Lapland, all the way to Stockholm in Sweden, for the first time in over 30 years.
Now, the journey is long, and not exactly an alternative to flying if you’re planning to move quickly between cities, but it’s a major development, nonetheless.
Prior to this announcement, passengers traveling on this route could only get as far as Tornio, a small town in Finland facing Sweden. From there, they would have to either take a taxi, or bus it some 1.2 miles into Haparanda, the neighboring Swedish town, before boarding a Stockholm-bound train.
As Finnish broadcaster Yle News explains, Finnish VR trains will now terminate at a soon-to-be-restored station in Haparanda instead of Tornio. The building dates back to the early 1900s, and it’s currently being refurbished to act as a connecting hub for passengers to cross the border more seamlessly.
If you’re going to Europe in the near future, make sure you double-check the Entry Requirements that apply at your destination in advance.
Why Haven’t Cross-Border Trains Launched Before?
It still won’t be a ‘sit on the train and ride across’ experience, but instead of arriving first to Tornio, then commuting to Haparanda, you’ll simply have to walk through the station building to switch from the Finnish VR to the Swedish Norrtåg train going to Stockholm.
The whole transfer will take only a few minutes.
There is currently a rail line linking the two towns. Regrettably, there’s an operational issue that dates back all the way to the 19th century, when Finland was under the Russian Empire:
The Finnish track gauge is set to the old Russian standard of 1524mm, versus the standardized European 1435mm, which is used in Sweden. This means trains would just derail if they tried to cross the border.
With the reopening of the old station in Haparanda, where the Finnish and Swedish rail networks meet, on-foot transfers across the border will become a lot easier.
What Does The Journey Look Like?
We’re fast-approaching launch month, yet further route details, including stations it will call at, timetables, and ticket prices, have not been released. Based on the current, bumpier existing route, however, we can make an educated guess:
The journey is roughly 458 miles, and even once the gap between border towns are bridged, if your goal is to travel from Helsinki all the way to Stockholm, this is still a multiple-day journey involving multiple stops.
Of course, it’s a lot easier if you’re breaking up the trip in parts, or you’re traveling to and from any other intermediate points along the way.
Let’s split it into four legs, starting with Leg 1.
LEG 1: Helsinki → Oulo
2 Daily Departures: 2:54 PM | 6:24 PM
Arrival Times: 8:36 PM | 00:16 AM (following day)
Est. Journey Time: 5h30
Average Price: $105–$190 (usually cheaper if you book early in advance)
Stops (starting from Helsinki):
- Pasila
- Tikkurila
- Tampere
- Seinäjoki
- Kokkola
- Ylivieska
- Oulu
You will need to stay overnight in Oulo for the next leg.
LEG 2: Oulo → Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden)
2 Daily Departures: 5:08 AM | 7:50 PM
Arrival Times: 6:35 AM | 9:20 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h30
Average Price: $16–$30
This is a direct train to Tornio with no stops.
LEG 3: Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden) → Luleå
3 Daily Departures (From Haparanda): 07:11 AM | 1:47 PM | 6:49 PM
Arrival Times: 09:19 AM | 3:52 PM | 8:46 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h57
Average Price: $30–$35
Stops (starting from Haparanda)
- Kalix
- Boden
- Sunderby Sjukhus
- Luleå Notviken
- Luleå
LEG 4: Luleå → Stockholm (Night Train)
1 Daily Departure: either at 5:00 PM or 9:10 PM (varies by schedule/day)
Arrival Time: either at 6:30 AM or 10:15 AM the following morning
Est. Journey Time: 13h00
Average Price
- Budget seat: $35–$70+
- Sleeper cabin: $130–$200+
Stops (starting from Luleå)
- Boden
- Älvsbyn (sometimes)
- Umeå
- Örnsköldsvik
- Härnösand
- Sundsvall
- Gävle
- Uppsala Arlanda Airport
- Stockholm
Finland is one of the safest destinations in Europe, enjoying a certified-safe Level 1 status according to U.S. authorities. However, not all European destinations are the same, particularly parts of Sweden, where crime has surged in recent years.
Please refer to the Travel Advisories page before flying.
Break Up Your Trip
For those traveling the full extent of the route, in practice, the journey from Helsinki to Stockholm takes between 3 and 4 days depending on your train connections.
Going from Oulo to Haparanda in Sweden as a short cross-border trip? Easy-peasy. Just stay on the trian past Tornio, and you’ll be arriving straightou to Haparanda’s newly-restored station.
Moving between any other intermediate points, or any of the two capital terminuses on this multi-day route? That’s when it starts looking either like a complex, logistical nightmare, or the greatest, most exciting Scandinavian adventure ever.
Wondering how safe Stockholm is to visit at the minute? Travelers on the ground are ranking it at an 85/100 right now on our Traveler Safety Index;
By the way, with the new Finland-Sweden connection, you can now travel from Helsinki, Finland all the way to bloody Lagos, Portugal, using trains alone.
That’s an entire pilgrimage route we’re not sure we’re attempting anytime soon, but… you know… if you wouldn’t mind braving the Finnish-Swedish stretch, then hopping on a train from Stockholm to Copenhagen in Denmark, from there onwards to Germany, Germany into France via Belgium, France into Spain, and finally Spain to Portugal, be our guest.
