Central Helsinki
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Why Helsinki Is the Ultimate 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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Top Free Things to See and Do in Helsinki
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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Where to Find the Best Seaside Cafes in Helsinki
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: Attractions, Transport & Savings
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 Weekend Break: The Ultimate Guide to Explore the City
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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Tervesaari Island, Helsinki – A Perfect Spot for a Scenic Walk
With Finland celebrating its centenary this year and the country being a firm favourite of ours, it seemed only natural that we should make a return visit this summer. On arriving into Helsinki airport late the previous evening, we spent our first day enjoying a walk around the market square which is always a beautiful…
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Helsinki Travel Guide: National Library of Finland and Bank of Finland Museum
Dominating Senate Square is Helsinki Cathedral, built in the neo-classical style this landmark building was completed in 1852 and its tall green dome can be seen from many parts of the city. Senate Square was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in 1852 and the cathedral was his masterpiece, majestically dominating the surrounding buildings. The large…
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A Walk Through Helsinki’s Arabia District: Where Art Meets Innovation
Just north of the centre of Helsinki and at the terminus of the No. 6 and 8 trams lies the Arabia district where we found much of interest to occupy us for several hours. Starting off by the tram terminus is the Iittala and Arabia design centre and outlet store where we were able to…
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Exploring Kamppi and Herttoniemi, Helsinki
A MasterChef type outdoor cooking competition was taking place in Narinkkatori square just outside Helsinki’s Kamppi shopping centre so we decided to join lots of other inquisitive people and take a look at what was happening. The event was hosted by Lidl and was the national finals of their Grillimaisteri barbecue competition. It was interesting…
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Visiting the Museum of Journalism, Helsinki
Our plan today was to explore Helsinki’s Boulevard which starts from Erottaja in central Helsinki. Strolling along this elegant avenue we admired the beautiful buildings, many of which are now high class shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries. We passed The Old Church and its garden which always seems a popular venue for young people to…
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My Journey to Helsinki
The start of our summer holidays and whilst most Britsh families head south to the Mediterranean we always head north to Finland. You may find this somewhat strange but actually southern Finland generally enjoys warm sunny weather during the summer months, warm enough for trips to the beach and for swimming in the crystal clear…
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Walking the Oulunkylä to Arabianranta Nature Trail in Helsinki: A Scenic Urban Escape
After taking the bus into Helsinki this morning we walked across to the Central Railway Station and travelled the short distance to Oulunkylä from where we started our nature trail (local trains are included in the regional travel pass). The gravel path passes the ornate pink Oulunkylä Seurahuone (a cafe, but currently closed for renovation)…
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Exploring Helsinki
A brighter start to the day so after breakfast we took a bus into Kamppi and our first stop this morning was to the Laituri museum just across the square from the bus station. This museum houses Helsinki City Planning Department’s exhibitions and on display at the moment is an exhibition on cycling in the city…
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How to spend a day on Lauttasaari Island, Helsinki
Back to sunshine this morning so we decided to take a walk around Lauttaasaari Island which lies between Espoo and Helsinki. Lauttasaari means ‘ferry island’ but nowadays the island is connected to the mainland by a series of bridges and causeways. On National Poet’s Day, and whenever it’s a National Day in Finland, Finnish flags…
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Guide to Helsinki University Botanical Garden
A sunny day in the capital so our first stop this morning was to the Helsinki University Botanical Garden in Kaisaniemi not far from the city’s Central Railway Station. Since our last visit two years ago the gardens have been undergoing a large rebuilding programme which is yet to be completed. I was surprised how…
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Helsinki Travel Guide: Exploring Keilaniemi and Kamppi Chapel
A short walk from our holiday apartment lies Keilaniemi. Located here overlooking the bay are the headquarters of some large companies including Kone and Neste Oil. There is a pleasant promenade to walk or cycle along and towards the far end you will find a lunch restaurant with an outside terrace called Keilalahden Ranta where we sometimes like…
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Travel Guide: Walking from Helsinki Market Square to Katajanokka
The day began with a farewell to my older son who was leaving on a Finnair flight to Rome this morning to meet up with his friends and embark on a sailing holiday along the Italian coast. This meant I had most of the day to myself before my husband was due to arrive later.…
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Guide to the Helsinki Tram Museum and Pub Tram
Being a lover of transport museums around the world, I couldn’t resist a visit to the Helsinki Tram Museum which is located in the Töölö district of the city in a former tram depot. Admission to the museum is free and it is open each day between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm. Starting our tour around the…
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Beach life at Munkkiniemi, Helsinki
Another warm, sunny day so a day at the beach was planned. We took a No.4 tram to its terminus at Munkkiniemi. It’s a very pleasant suburb of Helsinki with an attractive bay, a peaceful spot with a long seafront walkway alongside tall reed beds and wild roses. Nearby you will find a ‘Mattolaituri’ meaning…
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A guide to Linnanmäki Theme Park, Helsinki
Located on a hill not far from the centre of Helsinki you will find a theme park called Linnanmäki, translated into English this means ‘castle on the hill’. Unlike some theme parks where you have to buy a ticket to enter, at Linnanmäki visitors can either purchase a wristband, a multi ride ticket or pay individually…
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The Church in the Rock and National Museum of Finland, Helsinki
The rain was heavy when we woke but not to worry, there are always interesting places to visit in the city even if the sun isn’t shining. Our first stop was at the Temppeliaukio Church also known as the ‘Church in the Rock’ located in the Töölö district in the city centre. The church opened…
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Töölö Lake and the Winter Garden, Helsinki
After taking the bus into Helsinki we decided to walk towards the Finlandia Hall and take a stroll around the Töölö lakeside. On a sunny day there’s no better place to be, walking through this urban park in the city centre. There’s a double width path to accommodate both cyclists and walkers/ joggers without getting…
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A walk from Hakaniemi to Helsinki’s Market Square
Part One: We planned a walk from Hakaniemi to the Helsinki’s Kauppatori (market square). Getting there was easy as we took the metro from Kamppi but you could also hop on one of the trams. Located in the square is the Market Hall (feature photo above) which opened in 1914. On the ground floor you…
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Helsinki sightseeing: Seurasaari Island
Seurasaari is a small island a short distance from Helsinki which is approached by an ornate wooden footbridge. Getting there by public transport is quite easy, bus No.24 leaves from Eira and we boarded the bus from outside the Sokos Department Store on Mannerheimintie near Kamppi. The bus takes around 30 minutes but it’s also…
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