One day in Helsinki - My Travel Innings

Helsinki – the name evokes feelings of a far away exotic city for those of us living in India. On a trip to Europe, I decided to fly Finnair via Helsinki and planned 1 night stay in Helsinki. There is actually not too much to see in Helsinki per se. A day or two is good enough. But Finland is blessed with natural beauty and is full of water bodies. I would love to visit Kakslauttanen Artic resort in Autumn/winter, stay in the glass igloos and enjoy sights of Northern Lights lying in bed!

Helsinki has a population of only little over 600k. And if you stick to the sights in the central areas, you can just walk around. But best to combine with tram rides. There are other options though-Metro, public bus, bikes, taxis and Hop on, Hop off bus. So many options for such a small city!

So what do you do if you had a full day in Helsinki?

Tram rides –

Best way to go round the city. If you go in summer, you can also opt for the 20 minutes vintage tram ride. Line 2 and 3 will take you to some of the usual sights. Line 4 can also be tried. If you have time, simply travel end to end on one of the lines. Don’t forget to buy a day pass in advance.

Suomenlinna island –

A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is actually a fortress spread across 7-8 islands. Built in the 18^th century. Ferries from Market Square run frequently to the island and takes about 20 minutes one way.

Overall, this would consume about 3-4 hours atleast.

Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Church with lighthouse, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland

On the way back, I noticed a big flock of seagulls following our boat. Was wondering why when I realized it was because a group of youngsters had left some food for them on the deck. This is the first time I have seen such a big flock of seagulls.

Market Square –

Beautiful place to stroll around, next to Baltic sea. Presidential palace, Town hall and old market hall(built in 1889)are nearby. Plenty of shops/cafes-you can even try the finnish chocolate and coffee here. Catch a ferry to Suomenlinna island from here. The cruise terminals are also located here and I saw a very huge cruise ship. Wonder what the experience is of travelling in such large ships. And yes, there are plenty of seagulls as well.

You can easily spend an hour or two here.

Esplanadi park –

Locals enjoy picnics here, so I too decided to have packed lunch here!

The Cathedral –

Originally built in the mid 19^th century, it is a landmark in Helsinki. You can simply admire the architecture from outside, or go in. There is an entrance fee though.

Senate Square –

Has some beautiful buildings including the Cathedral.

In case you are wondering how I can see so much in one day, remember many of the above places are simply photo opportunities and I did not need to spend too much time.

Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki street, Finland
Helsinki railway station, Finland
Baltic sea, Helsinki, Finland

If you have more time, you can visit various Museums, including Seurasaari open air museum, Sibelius monument, Temppeliaukio church(built into a rock), and Design district.

Also enjoy the famous Finnish sauna. I read somewhere that there are more saunas in Finland than cars! If you are fond of traditional cafes, there is Café Ekberg that is operational since 1852! Now that is a long time to be serving coffee and snacks. It is said that Finnish people drink most coffee per person in the world. Not sure if this is because of the cold weather. No wonder I found plenty of cafes in Helsinki.

I have somehow not taken a liking to black coffee though I like black tea. Probably because it is easier to have black tea without sugar than coffee.

If you are staying for a few days, there are also options to take the ferry in the Gulf of Finland/Baltic sea to nearby islands. Tallin(Estonia) is also not very far(3-4 hours one way and you can probably do a longish day trip). Or visit national parks.

Is Helsinki worth a visit?

Overall, while Helsinki is a beautiful city, I did not see anything that is ‘vow’! I don’t think it is a must visit city. But worth exploring if you are passing through. And yes, the Kakslauttanen Artic resort looks awesome for a 3-4 nights stay.

Where to stay

I stayed at Hilton, which is within walking distance to the airport. Best option for one night or even couple of nights. If you are staying for 2 or more nights, consider city center though it will also be more expensive. Renting an apartment is a good option for longer duration.

Wherever you stay, make sure Metro station or tram stops are within walking distance.

Transfers from Helsinki airport

Helsinki Airport is located at Vantaa, about 20 kms away from city center. Both train and bus services are good and very convenient. Taxis are more expensive(upwards of Euros 35 or so depending on distance) but preferable if travelling in a group or with luggage.

As I was staying near the airport, I chose to travel by bus directly to market square.

Finnair flies direct to Helsinki from Delhi.

Cost

Finland is one of the more prosperous countries and hence Helsinki is not exactly cheap compared to some of the other European cities.

Transfers to city center can cost ~Euros 5 per person one way by bus/train to ~Euros 40 by taxi. Both Hilton and Scandic Hotel, within 5 minutes walk from the airport, cost upwards of ~Euros 150 per night. Some like Holiday Inn are couple of kms away but offer a free shuttle.

Vegetarian food(Sandwiches mainly) in a fast food joint can be had for ~Euros 10 per person while lunch/dinner in a mid level sit down restaurant will require upwards of Euros 20 person, without drinks.

While there is an entrance fee in some of the places of attraction, many, including some museums, are free. While shopping will be expensive, you may still wish to look out for winter clothing and accessories.

When to visit

April to October is a good time though the peak summer months of June to August may be relatively expensive, coinciding with peak tourist season. Note that April and October will be a bit cold. But winter(November to March) too has its charm with temperatures dropping below zero degrees celsius. That way, Helsinki can be considered a year round destination.

Days are very long in summer, almost 19 hours. That’s why if you are a bit energetic, there is so much you can see in one day!

Vegetarian food

Available though finnish food is largely meat/fish based. There are several Indian restaurants, many of them near the railway station. Noticed Italian restaurants as well besides Subway.