Matkakortti

Matkakortti is a Finnish public transport smart card used to pay fares on buses, trams, the metro and the commuter rail network in the Helsinki region. It is issued and managed by HSL (Helsingin seudun liikenne), in collaboration with the regional transport operators.

The card functions as a stored-value and ticketing medium. It can hold stored credit (arvo) that is deducted per trip, or period-based tickets (kausilippu) that are valid for a set time, such as monthly passes. The system supports different user groups, including adults, students, and seniors, which may receive discounted fares when using the card. The card is accepted across all HSL-operated services within the urban region.

A matkakortti can be personal or anonymous. Personalised cards allow the fare system to recognize the holder’s status and enable card replacement if it is lost or stolen, subject to the applicable rules and fees. Anonymous cards do not provide entitlement to personalized replacements but still function for fare payment.

Getting and using a matkakortti typically involves obtaining the card from HSL service points, vending machines, or partner retailers, and then loading it with value or a season ticket. To ride, users tap the card on a reader when boarding or entering a fare gate; the system deducts the appropriate amount or activates the period ticket. Balance and ticket validity can be checked at machines or through the issuing channels.

The matkakortti system mainly serves the Helsinki metropolitan area and is not universally valid in all other Finnish transport networks. It represents Finland’s broader use of contactless smart cards for public transit fare collection.