Helsinki Region
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Exploring Järvenpää and Lake Tuusula – A Perfect Day in Finnish Countryside
A day I had been looking forward to, meeting up with my Finnish blogging friend Suvi, author of the lovely blog Destination Everywhere whom I first met on my visit to Finland last year. This time we planned a day out together exploring Lake Tuusula in Järvenpää, about a 30 minute drive from Helsinki. Suvi…
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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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Travel Guide to Tapiola, Espoo: Finland’s Garden City
A leisurely start to the day after arriving here late last night. Waking to warm sunshine after so many cold days at home was just what was needed. Our holiday home overlooks a sheltered bay where the air is fresh and all around it’s so peaceful and green. I call it my ‘summer paradise’ as…
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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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Why You Should Take the Metro in Helsinki to Vuosaari: Scenic Views, Beaches and Cafes
Another sunny day so we planned a trip to Helsinki’s eastern suburb of Vuosaari. To get there we caught a bus into Kamppi from where we connected to the metro for our journey, Vuosaari being the final stop on the line taking just 20 minutes. Leaving the metro station we glanced in the Columbus shopping…
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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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The WeeGee Exhibition Centre, Tapiola, Espoo
A stroll by the sea into Tapiola and a visit to the WeeGee Exhibition Centre which includes four museums, a cafe and museum shop. Entrance is €12 but is free each Friday between 5.00 pm and 7.00 p.m. The WeeGee building was constructed in the 1960’s for the Finnish printing company Weilin and Göös as their…
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Lovely Luukki, Espoo, Finland
A favourite beauty spot of ours in the Helsinki/ Espoo region is Luukki. Getting there without a car is relatively easy by taking bus no. 345 from outside the Central Railway Station, journey time being 45 minutes with buses running every hour. Shortly after passing a Shell petrol station you will see a blue sign…
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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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Guide to taking a ferry to Suomenlinna Island, Helsinki
From Helsinki’s bustling marketplace (Kauppatori) boats depart to Suomenlinna Island taking around 15 minutes. The HSL ferry is operated by Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) and all HSL tickets and travel cards are accepted. If you need a ticket, be sure to buy one before boarding the ferry as they are not sold on board. Ferries…
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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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An evening in Haukilahti, Espoo
Part Two: Haukilahti is a small coastal town located in Espoo, west of Helsinki. It has an attractive marina, yacht club and some inviting cafe/bars. It’s not very far from where I’m staying and I came here this evening with Suvi from Destination: Everywhere, a Finnish blogger who I’ve been in contact with through my posts…
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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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Helsinki walk: Löyly along the waterfront to Eira
We started the day in Hernesaari, an up and coming district of south west Helsinki, formerly docklands and now home to a cruise harbour and some high end apartments. We were here to visit Löyly a new, upscale public sauna, bar and restaurant (see feature photo above). It’s designed to give the appearance of a…
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Helsinki walk: Sibelius Park to Hietaniemi Beach
Another of our favourite Helsinki seaside walks is from the Sibelius Monument. Getting there by public transport is easy, we took the No.24 bus from outside the Sokos department store near Kamppi and rang the bell to alight as soon as we saw the Sibelius Monument on the left. Sibelius Park is in the Töölö…
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Senate Square, Helsinki
I’d heard that a military parade was taking place in Senate Square so we decided to go along and see what was happening. Arriving at the cathedral, people were already starting to gather on its steps. Over the years we’ve attended various different types of events here, and the stone steps provide an excellent viewing…
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