globevisions

5 Things to Do in Helsinki, Finland

 

In European terms, Helsinki is a relatively new city at only 450 years old. Situated on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf Of Finland, Helsinki has long benefited from its location on the Baltic Sea and has seen an upsurge in interest in tourism since the liberation of its Baltic neighbours from Soviet Rule. Nowadays the entire Baltic Region is something of a hotspot with Tallinn earning a rather dubious reputation as the stag capital of Europe.

It’s relatively easy to find flights to Helsinki – sites such as Travelzoo or Lastminute.com regularly feature deals on holidays or cheap hotels in the Finnish capital, or visit a cheap flights expert such as Affordableflights.co.uk who offer flights from both London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

So, once you’re in Helsinki what do you do?

1. Saunas.

The Finns invented the concept of the sauna and no visit to Helsinki is complete without a visit to one of the city’s traditional saunas. The Kotiharjun Sauna is Helsinki’s last public wood-fired sauna offering the full Finnish sauna experience – sweating in the nude followed by a scrub down from one of the matronly attendants – or visit the

2. Design.

Finnish design is world-renowned and Helsinki is unsurprisingly its best showcase, not just in the architecture of the city (particularly the astonishing art deco train station and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art) but also in the shops around Aleksanterinkatu and Esplanadi. Don’t have a heart attack when you see the prices though – this is world-class design at prices to match. Those who come over all faint in Habitat should perhaps consider getting their souvenirs from the Moomin shop.

3. Coffee.

As a nation, the Finns are among the world’s biggest consumers of coffee – that combined with their design sensibilities and Scandinavian cosmopolitanism has ensured that there are some truly wonderful cafes here, particularly on the Esplanadi – try Kappeli for its wildly popular terrace.

4. Tuomiokirkko.

Located on the waterfront – and therefore one of the most visible buildings in this maritime city – the dazzlingly white Tuomiokirkko or Lutheran Cathedral is one of the city’s main attractions. Built in 1830 - 1852 as a tribute to Grand Duke Nicholas I, the Russian Tsar and designed as the centre piece of the Senate Square by Carl Engel.

5. Tallinn.

If you’re in Helsinki for a few days, it’s worth taking the 2-hour ferry ride across the Gulf Of Finland to the medieval Estonian capital, Tallinn. This extraordinary city has a wonderfully atmospheric old town that retains the magic of its medieval origins. It’s also a welcome relief on the pocket after Helsinki.