HELSINKI
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Helsinki is the cool capital of Finland, the kind of city where there’s something happening throughout the year. During the summer time Helsinki and the locals are at their best. But wintertime has its advantages too; the locals intentionally organize all sorts of happenings and small indoor festivals to keep the city alive. |
HELSINKI PHOTO ALBUM ON
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Sightseeing
The must-sees in Helsinki are usually considered to be
Helsinki Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral, the largest orthodox church in Western Europe
Temppeliaukio Church
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is on UNESCO World Heritage List and there you also find Hostel Suomenlinna!
Useful information can be found on Visit Helsinki website
Sauna
Ok, you might consider sauna as a must-see, but it’s more of an experience; you can’t just see it, you have to feel it. Sauna has a big part in the Finnish culture, and some people even build saunas in their small city flats.
Sauna is also a social place; the Finns often take a sauna with their family or they might invite friends to have a night in at their place, to take a sauna, eat well and have a few beers.
There are some public saunas in Helsinki that are good places to experience this part of local culture:
Kotiharjun Sauna, Harjuntorinkatu 1
Sauna-Arla, Kaarlenkatu 15
If you feel like trying something extreme you should take a sauna and a dip in the sea during the winter: yep, by ice swimming! In case you don’t know what it is, here’s a short lesson: make a hole in the ice, go in and swim. Or just visit for example Rastila Camping site (15 minute ride on the metro from the city centre), where they have prepared the facilities for you.
What’s on in Helsinki during 2010?
29-30 May World Village festival. The whole world fits into the centre of Helsinki during this weekend.
25 June Midsummer Bonfires in Seurasaari. You can experience the traditional Midsummer celebrations not only in the countryside but near central Helsinki too. Seurasaari is an island with an Open-Air Museum with traditional Finnish houses from the 18th to the 19th centuries.
28 June to 4 July Helsinki Pride. GLBT Festival with a carnival, workshops and other events.
2-4 July Tuska Open Air Metal Festival. Helsinki dresses in black. Popular metal music festival in the centre of Helsinki. This is THE festival for every true metal music fan.
20 August to 5 September Helsinki Festival is a huge urban festival with all sorts of art and cultural happenings 
on the menu. Lots of activities for kids too.
27 August Night of the Arts is a part of Helsinki Festival. This is the night when central Helsinki is literally packed with people rushing into cultural events via bars and pubs and vice versa. A night full of entertainment.
16 to 26 September ‘Love and Anarchy’ Helsinki International Film Festival. Annual festival with a wide selection of films around the world. Anything from documentaries to anime.
3 to 9 October Herring Market. Delicacies made of Baltic Herring sold by fishermen in the Market Square. Believe us, herring does taste good!
Follow the locals
EAT & DRINK
SIS. Deli & Café. Trendy take-away cafes that serve food mostly made of organic ingredients and produced by local producers. Both cafes provide small seating areas too. Kalevankatu 4 and Korkeavuorenkatu 6.
Ravintola Ukkomunkki. Local neighbourhood pub, upstairs you’ll find a restaurant which serves big portions of good, unpretentious food. Tram 4. Laajalahdentie 19.
Vegetarian’s heaven: Vegemesta. Small fastfood place serving the tastiest vegetarian burgers in town. Also located in lively street dotted with bars (from shabby to cosy). Metro: Sörnäinen. Vaasankatu 6.
Restaurants that serve Finnish food and won’t blow your budget:
Restaurant Martta, Lapinlahdenkatu 3
Sea Horse, Kapteeninkatu 11
Kahvila Suomi, Pursimiehenkatu 12. Café that serves lunch too.
Soul Kitchen, Fleminginkatu 26-28. 'Soul food' and Finnish cuisine.
Kaarna, Mannerheimintie 20
SHOP
Design District is a collection of shops selling Finnish design in addition to galleries and other services representing the creative industry.
Fredrikinkatu street is full of interesting little boutiques and shops.
Hietalahti outdoor flea market in the summertime. In good weather the atmosphere is lively and you can easily find some real second-hand treasures in addition to the usual bric-a-brac. Tram 6. Hietalahti Square. In winter Valtteri indoor flea market is packed during weekends. Tram 9. Aleksis Kiven katu 17.
Hakaniemi market hall has a fabulous food market downstairs. Upstairs you can find ideas for souveniers. Also a café. Trams 1, 3B, 6, 7B, 9; Metro: Hakaniemi.
RELAX
Sinebrychoff Park. Perfect for a picnic in the summer and sledding in the winter. Next to the Hietalahti outdoor flea market. Tram 6.
Tavastia Club is a legendary rock club. The dream of every fledgling Finnish band is to play on this stage. Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6.
Best nightlife you’ll find in 'Iso Roba' i.e. street called Iso Roobertinkatu. Great for bar hopping. Something for everyone.
Hostels in Helsinki
Näytä HI Hostels in Helsinki suuremmalla kartalla
Transport
Public transport in Helsinki is efficient (no matter what the locals may sometimes say…). The easiest way to explore the city and get from one place to another in central Helsinki is by tram. Metro is very easy to use: there is only one line. Though in East Helsinki the line forks at Itäkeskus station. In case you are going to Summer Hostel Karavaani in Rastila, you should take the Vuosaari branch.
More information on the different ticket types see Helsinki City Transport website. You can purchase a daily travel card in certain hostel receptions in Helsinki.