Practical information
Conference: Song Genres in Social and Cultural Contexts
29 May – 2 June, 2023, Helsinki, Finland
51st International Ballad Conference of the Kommission für Volksdichtung
Organisers
The conference is organised at the Finnish Literature Society (SKS), in the centre of Helsinki (Hallituskatu 1), in collaboration with the University of Helsinki (folklore studies and history) and Sibelius-Academy (folk music).
Conference main page: www.finlit.fi/balladconference
Kommission für Volksdichtung (International Ballad Commission) home page: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/kfv/
Accommodation
The conference fee is 60 €. Participants take care of their own travel and accommodation. The nearby hostels and hotels usually give best prices for individual recervations made well in advance. We list below some reliable options near the conference venue. Hotel Arthur gave an allotment for the conference participants. There are also other hotels, hostels and Airbnb options available.
Eurohostel
Regular prices usually start from 30 € / night in a shared dormitory, 50 € / night in one person room, 58 € twin room, 74 € triple room. Breakfast with separate fee.
1 km from the conference venue.
https://eurohostel.eu/
Address: Linnankatu 9, 00160 Helsinki, Finland
Hostel Diana Park
Prices starting from 70 € / night. Breakfast with separate fee.
1,2 km from the conference venue.
https://www.dianapark.fi/
Address: Uudenmaankatu 9, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
info(at)dianapark.fi
(phone) +358 (0)9 642 169
Omenahotel
Standar room usually 110 € /night for 1–2 persons, 120 € for 3 persons, 130 € for 4 persons. Breakfast with separate fee.
1,3 km from the conference venue.
https://www.omenahotels.com/en/hotels/helsinki-yrjonkatu-en/
Address: Yrjönkatu 30, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Hotel Arthur
Allotment of 30 rooms for conference participants:
110 € / night / person, 125 € / night / two persons (115 € / night / single person in twin room)
Please mention the allotment code Ballads when making the reservation.
Breakfast included.
850 m from the conference venue (very close to the train station for smooth travel to and from the airport)
http://www.hotelarthur.fi
Address: Vuorikatu 19, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
reception@hotelarthur.fi or sales@hotelarthur.fi
tel. +358-9-173 441.
Travel
Helsinki is easily accessible by plane from all over the world, or by ferries from Stockholm or Tallinn. People who wish to avoid flying often take a route by train via Copenhagen to Stockholm and then ferry to Helsinki or Turku.
There is a local train from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to the centre of Helsinki: https://www.vr.fi/en/railway-stations-and-routes/get-to-the-airport-by-train, (27 min, 4,10 € with a single ABC zone ticket).
The distance from the Helsinki Central railway station to the conference venue is 1 km, and the suggested accommodations are also located within 1 km radius from the venue.
Public transport in Helsinki works well and consists of tram, buses, metro, local trains and ferries to Suomenlinna. The tickets can be bought on the HSL app, with the HSL card and at ticket machines. (NOTE! Tickets must be purchased before entering the transport – tickets are NOT sold inside!)
A single ABC zone ticket needed to get from the airport to the centre of Helsinki and some parts of nearby cities Espoo and Vantaa costs 4,10 € and is valid for 80 min in all the local trains, buses, metro, trams and ferries to Suomenlinna. A single ticket in AB zones that cover the whole Helsinki costs 2,80 €. You can also buy tickets of 1–13 days (ABC one day: 11 €, 5 days 33 €).
More info about public transport: https://www.hsl.fi/en/travelling/visitors
Weather
The weather in late May is usually quite sunny, but temperatures can vary between 5 to 25 degrees Celsius; the average temperature being 10,4 degrees. An occasional snow shower is possible although not common. Daily weather forecast: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/
Other sources of information
There is lots of sights and other places worth visiting in Helsinki. It is possible to ask for some tips or guidance from organisers.
Practical information for visitors in Helsinki: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/info
Nice introduction to Helsinki and Finland by the SIEF 2021 conference: https://www.siefhome.org/congresses/sief2021/helsinki