Finnair to Rome: 2026 Helsinki Transit & Booking Tips

Italy Flight Booking: Finnair

My Experience Entering Rome via Helsinki, Finland

Text/Photos ©Haibubu

From ancient ruins to breathtaking natural landscapes and unique cities,

Italy offers a diverse range of travel themes,

making it one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

Below, I'll share how you can snag discounted flights to Italy

and my personal experience entering Rome via a Finnair layover!

Booking Flights to Italy (ft. discount code)

First off, the price of flights to Italy can really vary a lot

depending on the season.

During off-peak seasons without long holidays, connecting flights

can drop below ~$753, but in the beautiful spring and autumn high seasons or during holiday periods,

connecting flights usually start from at least ~$1,130, and direct flights can go above ~$1,883.

(Fuel surcharges can also be quite high!)

❗️But guess what? There's a way to book these pricey flights

with at least some discount!

Simply access the link below and

apply the discount code '3HAFLT3'!

(The code is only active via the link below.)

>> Italy Flight Discount Booking Link <<

As shown in the image above, when you enter the discount code,

you get ~$4 off for bookings over ~$158,

and ~$16 off for bookings over ~$392.

This code is exclusively applicable through the link above,

so if you're planning to book, make sure to use it!

My Finnair Experience: Incheon to Helsinki

Direct flights to Rome were just too expensive, so I opted for

the most affordable option at the time: a Finnair flight to Rome

with a layover in Helsinki.

I'll walk you through my journey from Incheon

all the way to Rome, step by step.

There was quite a queue for Finnair check-in.

Most of the passengers seemed to be middle-aged or older travelers on package tours,

with about 70-80% being Korean.

Finnair offers mobile check-in, and if you do it in advance,

you can skip the long check-in line and just drop off your luggage.

Even with a mobile e-ticket from online check-in,

they still printed a separate paper boarding pass for me.

Also, remember that your checked luggage will go directly to your

final destination, Rome, not Helsinki.

My boarding gate was Gate 50, located at the far end of Incheon Airport Terminal 1,

so there was no need to take the shuttle train.

The aircraft itself was a large one with a 3x3x3 seat configuration,

and I was pleasantly surprised to find two Korean flight attendants on board!

The seat pitch was quite generous, offering plenty of room even for an adult male around 180cm (5'11").

Thoughtful amenities like water, earphones, and a blanket were provided at every single seat.

Each seat was equipped with its own monitor,

and a handy USB port meant charging my phone was a breeze.

I was pleasantly surprised by the wide selection of movies (even some with Korean subtitles!) and fun games like Angry Birds,

making the flight fly by without a single dull moment.

And here's a little secret: on board, drinks and juices were always complimentary!

Finnair's signature blueberry juice has a subtly addictive flavor, so make sure you give it a try – you won't regret it.

For dinner, the in-flight meal included a fresh salad, kimchi, a warm dinner roll, a delightful cake, and chicken rice.

The taste was generally quite decent, and with the inclusion of kimchi, everyone seemed to enjoy it without any strong preferences, which was great to see.

Now, here's a pro-tip: you can enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages only with your very first drink serving during the first meal.

They offer options like beer and wine, and since it's only free for that initial serving, I highly recommend grabbing one, whether you plan to drink it right away or save it for later!

After the meal, the cabin lights were softly dimmed.

They say the enchanting lighting is designed to evoke the aurora borealis, and it certainly felt wonderfully romantic, imbued with that distinct Nordic charm.

Finland Airport Transit and Immigration

After approximately 13 hours of flying, we finally arrived at Helsinki Airport in Finland.

This is where you'll go through your transit and EU immigration process.

Once you disembark, just keep following the signs for 'Transfer Flights' to make your way through the airport.

If you have less than an hour for your connection, you're in luck! You can use the separate 'Short Connection' lane, as you can see in the picture, to speed things up.

As you continue to follow the signs, you'll reach the security check lanes.

Here, you'll need to go through security before your connecting flight. Remember that liquids over 100ml aren't allowed in carry-ons, so it's a good idea to empty your water bottles and other containers beforehand.

After clearing security, it's time for EU immigration control.

Just keep following the signs that clearly say 'Border Control'!

If you followed the signs without getting sidetracked,

you'll arrive at the immigration hall.

The immigration process can take longer than you might expect.

I arrived during the early morning hours and managed to get through immigration

in about 20 minutes.

However, if the queue is long, it can take an incredibly long time,

so I highly recommend prioritizing the immigration process first.

Once you've cleared immigration, you can relax and wait for your next flight

in the departure lounge.

My Helsinki-Rome Flight Experience

I had about a two-hour layover before boarding my next flight to Rome.

Surprisingly, there were hardly any Korean passengers;

over 95% of the travelers were Westerners.

The plane's seating arrangement changed to a 3x3 configuration,

and this flight was also almost completely full.

There were quite a few Europeans traveling with infants and young children,

which made for a bit of noise.

The flight from Helsinki to Rome takes a little over three hours.

Since it's a short-haul flight, there were no monitors,

and I found myself getting quite bored with nothing to do.

I definitely recommend bringing some entertainment with you,

like Netflix or YouTube downloads, to pass the time.

Finnair is a Great Choice for Your Trip to Italy!

Today, I've shared how to book discounted flights to Italy

and my experience flying Finnair for arrival.

Finnair's long-haul flights offer spacious cabins and incredibly friendly flight attendants,

which left me with a really positive impression of the airline.

Plus, even with a layover, my luggage arrived safely in Rome

without any issues, making my journey very smooth!

❗️For those planning to book flights to Italy,

you can apply a discount code by clicking the link below,

so make sure to use it when you book!

​

>> Discounted Italy Flight Booking Link <<