In the past few years, the Finnish capital has emerged from the shadows. Perhaps not really famous for many things – aside from its remarkable livability – Helsinki is increasingly able to surprise visitors with its vibrant food scene, cutting-edge designers and fascinating culture at every corner, not to mention pristine nature all around. Local blogger Kathrin Deter shows us her favourite spots. [Photo courtesy Kathrin Deter]
By Kathrin Deter
8am: Get Your Caffeine Fix – Hyvää huomenta! That’s “good morning” in Finnish, and understandably you’ll need some coffee and a good breakfast before even thinking about braving this language. Try local hotspot Kuuma, or perhaps Levain bakery, tucked away on a little street in the beautiful Punavuori neighbourhood and offering a tasty, elegant breakfast. For a more “living room” vibe, visit Early Bird café in Kallio.
9am: Explore The City – Helsinki is a small city, and luckily that means it’s easy to discover many different sights and neighbourhoods in a day. Start with a stroll through the Design District in the southern part of the city, admiring the Jugendstil and National Romantic architecture before moving towards the historic centre. Drop into local design shops like Lokal for interiors, R/H for fashion and Lumi for accessories with a truly Finnish backstory.
10am: Sample The Market – Jump on a tram and head over to Hakaniemi, on the other side of Helsinki. Hakaniemen Kauppahalli, the biggest market hall in the city, invites you to go on a veritable tour of regional flavours – and to join the locals for another coffee. In the market hall, don’t miss out on sampling the cured Tsar’s salmon, Karelian pies, cold-smoked reindeer and local cheese from Helsingin Meijeriliike. In the summer, indulge in fresh blueberries.
12:30pm: Grab A Soup-er Lunch – Since your little food tour was really more an appetiser, it’s time for lunch! One of the national dishes of Finland is creamy salmon soup; the best in the city is found at Fisken på Disken in Kamppi.
2pm: Take In The Great Outdoors – Regardless of season and weather, Helsinki is a city of nature and the outdoors. Surrounded by two national parks and hundreds of islands, there are countless opportunities to get a glimpse of Finnish nature, even on a short trip. In the wintertime, grab some ice skates or snowshoes and explore the frozen shoreline, or hop on a boat and check out the island fortress of Suomenlinna. In summer, rent a kayak and paddle away. Alternatively, take a boat ride to the islands of Vallisaari or Pihlajasaari and hang out on the beach.
4pm: Treat Yourself – After all that fresh air, you deserve a treat …and that means it’s time for, yes, another coffee (Finns drink the most coffee per capita!) and a sweet bun. Try the local version of the donut, munkki, or a delicious korvapuusti cinnamon bun. Sit by the sea at all-time-local-favourite Café Regatta. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
4:30pm: It’s Culture O’Clock – Big on street art? Check out the urban art district in Pasila, where you can go for a walk and discover the hidden gems of the art scene in this up-and-coming modern heart of Helsinki – you can join one of their public street art tours usually every second Saturday of the month at 11am, by simply showing up at Original Sokos Hotel Tripla before the tour starts. For more of an indoor day, don’t miss out on the Kiasma museum of modern art or the Ateneum, Finland’s National Gallery.
7pm: Cater To Your Taste Buds – Time for dinner! For a great dining experience in a relaxed setting, visit Kolmon3n. It’s hard to take a wrong turn with their with a beautifully curated menu, but I recommend their fish dishes in particular, like the smoked flounder terrine with crayfish broth. [Photos: Kolmon3n via Facebook]
9pm: Sweat It Out – No visit to Finland is complete without a trip to the sauna! Public sauna culture has experienced a revival during the past few years, and Löyly is the latest addition to the scene. Modern wooden architecture and a location right at the edge of the open sea make it absolutely unique – Löyly isn’t repeatedly called the best sauna in the world for nothing. Sweat away with the locals and take a dip in the chilly sea straight after. You won’t regret it! Finish your evening by mellowing out near the fire pit.
11:30pm: Hit The Hay – As the long day comes to an end, head back to your hotel to get a good night’s sleep. Hotel Lilla Roberts is a small, cosy design hotel in what I consider the most beautiful part of the city. The Clarion Helsinki, on the other hand, has the best city views.
Watch Before You Go – Night on Earth is probably the most well-known film that’s set in Helsinki (well, partly at least). It’s not the most charming depiction of Helsinki, but it is a thoughtful illustration of the Finnish stereotype. For something more cheerful (and a proper throwback), watch Bomfunk MC’s “Freestyler” music video, or “Sandstorm” from Darude.
Listen Before You Go – Helsinki remains the Capital of Metal, musically speaking, so if you want to get a taste of that, don’t miss the classic acts like HIM, Nightwish and Children of Bodom. For a more mellow option, give Eva & Manu a listen. [Photo: Nightwish]
Read Before You Go – Get in a Helsinki mindset by reading about the places and stories depicted in The Helsinki Book, a light-hearted look at the city authored by a local lunch restaurant owner. Alternatively, beautiful stories about locals and their favourite ways to spend a day in Helsinki are to be found in People Make The City.
Kathrin Deter is originally from Luxembourg, but fell in love with Helsinki many years ago after an exchange programme – and hasn’t left since. She works in Marketing, PR and Event Management, and through her blog, Luminoucity, she shares her love for the city, as well as life and work in Finland, good food and the enjoyment of nature.
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