Finland
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RUNO Hotel, Porvoo, Finland
Hotel Review Whilst visiting the Finnish capital of Helsinki it’s also a perfect opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring Porvoo. Located 50 km east of Helsinki, it’s Finland’s second oldest city and its best preserved. The small city is noted for its old wooden town, charming cobblestone streets and ochre painted riverside warehouses. …
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Travel Guide: Porvoo, Finland
Visiting Porvoo: Whilst staying in Helsinki it’s a perfect opportunity to spend a day or two exploring Porvoo. Located 50 km east of the capital, it’s Finland’s second oldest city and its best preserved. The small city is noted for its old wooden town, charming cobblestone streets and ochre painted riverside warehouses. Porvoo is…
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Helsinki Biennial 2023 – Vallisaari Island
The second biennial arranged by Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) took place between June-September this year with its main venue being on Vallisaari Island. I didn’t have an opportunity to attend the inaugural exhibition so I looked forward to being in Finland when the second one was happening. The Biennial is divided between Vallisaari and Helsinki…
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Tallink MyStar Review: Helsinki – Tallinn
On our recent visit to Helsinki we arranged a trip on the flagship Tallink MyStar. As ferries depart up to seven times a day we opted to take the popular 10.30 a.m. service. MyStar entered operational service in December 2022 and has since been sailing on Tallink’s Gulf of Finland route between its homeport of…
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Day trip from Helsinki: Fiskars Village
Fiskars is a beautiful ironworks village surrounded by lakes and forests and home to many artists and craftspeople. It’s a lovely place to enjoy the Finnish countryside and can be reached from Helsinki in approximately 75 minutes by car or slightly longer by public transport. Visitors without cars can take a train to Karjaa then…
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Scandic Helsinki Hub, Finland
Hotel Review Location: Scandic Helsinki Hub is a recently opened hotel housed in an impressive former 1920’s print works overlooking Old Church Park, Helsinki. The hotel enjoys a city centre location close to metro and tram routes and is just a short walk from the tree lined Esplanade with its designer shops and stylish cafes. …
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Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden, Finland
Location: Hotel Tapiola Garden is a four star hotel located in the garden city of Tapiola and is only 15 minutes by metro or car from the centre of Helsinki. We arrived by public transport from Helsinki International Airport which was very easy as trains run at 10 minute intervals into Helsinki central railway station…
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Espoo, Finland – the perfect winter break
Espoo lies close to Helsinki in southern Finland and despite not being as well known as the capital city, it is a lovely place to spend a few days. The city boundary covers the attractive centres of Tapiola and Matinkylä and the beautiful Nuuksio National Park. Getting there: Arrive into Helsinki Vantaa Airport (flights from…
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Hotel Matts, Matinkylä, Espoo, Finland
Hotel Review Location: Hotel Matts is a luxurious 4 star hotel which has been open in Matinkylä, Espoo since early 2021. The hotel has a metro and bus station just outside the door enabling guests easy access to travel around the scenic Espoo coastal area and into the centre of Helsinki in under 20 minutes.…
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Helsinki – the perfect winter city break
Finland’s capital Helsinki is beautiful all year round and although it attracts more visitors during the summer months, winter breaks to this Nordic city are an absolute delight. Below are my suggestions for making the most of this winter wonderland. Market Square (Kauppatori) Start with a walk around the market square and admire the harbour…
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Tallink-Silja Line Day Cruise Helsinki – Stockholm
Whilst staying in Helsinki recently we planned a two day Roundtrip Cruise to Stockholm. Cruise ferries depart daily at 4.45 p.m. and arrive in Stockholm the next morning enabling visitors to spend a day in the Swedish capital before returning to the ferry for the return voyage. Embarkation Tallink-Silja Line have two identical cruise ferries…
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Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
Hotel Review Location: The Clarion Hotel is the newest of the airside hotels at Helsinki Airport, Finland. It’s located a 20 minute walk from the terminal in the tranquil Aviapolis district, an area largely home to aviation offices and the Finnish Aviation Museum. The hotel is 30 minutes by train from Helsinki city centre (trains I…
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Day trip from Helsinki: Nuuksio National Park
Within easy reach of the Finnish capital lies Nuuksio National Park, an area of crystal clear lakes, forests and rugged crags. Getting there by public transport from Helsinki city centre takes just over an hour with a car journey taking around 40 minutes. We bought Helsinki Day Cards €12 (£10.45) allowing unlimited travel in zones…
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Day trip from Helsinki: Tapiola, Espoo
There are so many lovely places to visit in Helsinki and the surrounding area and one of my favourites is to spend a day in neighbouring Tapiola. With the opening of the western extension of the metro it’s now possible to reach Tapiola from the city centre in only 15 minutes. A one day ticket…
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Tallink Megastar: Helsinki – Tallinn
Spending time in the Finnish capital of Helsinki is absolutely lovely and one of my favourite places to visit. As well as enjoying the city and surrounding area taking a ferry across to Tallinn in Estonia for a day is a very popular excursion as the journey time is only two hours. On our recent…
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Lapland Hotels Saaga, Ylläs, Lapland, Finland
Hotel Review Location: Lapland Hotels, Saaga is a year round resort hotel situated 175 km north of the arctic circle in Ylläs, Lapland. The Ylläs area comprises the two villages of Äkaslompolo on the northern side of Ylläs fell and Ylläsjarvi to the south which are connected by a scenic road. Although it sounds remote,…
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Hotel Levi Panorama, Levi, Lapland, Finland
Hotel Review Location: Hotel Levi Panorama is a luxurious resort hotel located on the slopes of Levi Fell, 110 miles north of the arctic circle in Lapland, Finland. Getting to Levi is quite easy as there are daily connecting flights from Helsinki international airport to Kittilä with Finnair (journey time 1 hour 20 minutes). Levi…
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Summer in Yllas, Finnish Lapland
I was recently invited to visit two of Finnish Lapland’s top summer destinations, both of which are high above the arctic circle. I’ve just published an article on Levi and now I am turning my attention to the equally beautiful village of Ylläs located one hour away by car. Getting there: I flew with Finnair…
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Summer in Levi, Finnish Lapland
Lapland is well known as a winter destination and famed for its ski tracks, viewing the Northern Lights and of course for the magical experience of visiting Father Christmas in his snowy cabin. However, did you know that Levi is an absolutely beautiful place to visit during the summertime when the sun never sets and…
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Helsinki – Free things to see and do
In addition to a large selection of world renowned museums, galleries and attractions for which an entrance ticket is required, there are many inexpensive ways to enjoy a short break in Helsinki. Listed below are my suggestions for some really lovely free things to see and do. Helsinki City Museum – located on the corner of…
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A Guide to Helsinki’s Best Seaside Cafes
Finn’s love their coffee, consuming the most per capita in the world. As you might expect, there’s a vibrant coffee culture and to experience the best that Finland has to offer you really need to try an authentic cinnamon bun (korvapuusti). Versions of these buns have been around since the 18th century and it has…
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Making the most of the Helsinki Card
A three day Helsinki Card might at first glance seem expensive as it costs €74 but as it covers a wide range of attractions and scenic boat trips that can cost at least €20 each then it’s possible to make substantial savings whilst using the card. It is also valid on public transport including trams,…
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Helsinki – A guide to the perfect weekend break
Visiting Helsinki, Finland’s beautiful capital city is a delight at any time of year. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the Helsinki archipelago consists of over 300 picturesque islands and wherever you are in the city, it is never far from the sea. Getting there: Helsinki International Airport is located in the…
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Lapland Hotels Tampere, Finland
Hotel Review Location Tampere is located in southern Finland, 160 km (100 miles) north of the capital Helsinki. Lapland Hotels Tampere is just a few minutes walk from the railway station and the city centre attractions. I flew from Helsinki and arrived into Tampere Pirkkala airport which is 17km (10.6 miles) from the city centre…
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