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Are you heading to Helsinki, Finland soon? Here is a quick city guide to get you around the Nordic capital of Finland. This is your one stop shop for all things Helsinki, if you plan on spending a few days, weeks or months visiting.
Accommodations:
Finding a place to stay can present some unique opportunities. There are some lovely modern hotels such as Sokos Hotels Presidentti, where you can lay your head and get lovely meals for breakfast. But, there are also a wealth of smaller accommodations such as those on the sea fortress known as Suomenlinna, that will get you out in nature and deep into history at the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entertainment:
A great introduction to any city has to be a walking tour. Whether it’s with a guide or virtual, it helps you to connect to the place and the people living there. There’s so much to do in Helsinki whether solo or traveling with a group. From visiting museums such as the Helsinki City Museum to the original Sky Sauna located at Helsinki harbor, there’s something for everyone.
Transportation:
There are so many options for getting around Helsinki. Whether by train, bus, tram, city bikes, or walking getting around Helsinki can be considerably easy if you familiarize yourself with the city and where the connections are. Public transportation is a great affordable way to get around, but be sure to purchase your ticket before getting onboard. Even from the airport, it’s possible to get into the city center by taking the I or P trains from Terminal 1 or 2. If you’re not a fan of public transportation or walking, it’s also possible to get around with Uber. Interested in getting to Suomenlinna? Get on the ferry at the Market Square, which runs several times in an hour.
Money:
The Euro is the currency used in Helsinki. I recommend getting cash from an ATM if you really need it. Otherwise, credit cards are accepted at most places. It is also not mandatory to tip in Helsinki.
Language:
When it comes to language use in Helsinki many people speak English along with their mother tongue Finnish or even Swedish. Many street signs can also be seen in both languages around the city. One interesting thing I noticed at a department store several years ago when I visited was the employees had flags above their name tags indicating the language they could communicate in if patrons had a question. As a customer, intimidated about visiting a foreign country, I found this to be very considerate.
Food:
There is no such thing as visiting Helsinki and not eating well around this city. There are so many options for traditional Finnish food as well as international options that include Thai and Nepali foods. Heading to the Market Square you can find stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s also a great place to try some traditional salmon soup or pan fried sardines. On the risky side? Try some reindeer meat. Want some more information? Check out some of the best places to eat in Helsinki right here.
Safety:
Helsinki is one of the safest places to visit in Europe. As you explore the city you will notice children running around or riding bikes unaccompanied by adults and this is the norm. As with every place you visit, it is important to be vigilant wherever you go.
City Parks:
There are over 20 parks in and around Helsinki. Some of these include Tove Jansson Park and Kaisaniemi Park and Botanical Garden. One well known park is Sibelius Park where the Sibelius Monument is located. The monument represents the famous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. The famous composer is noted for helping to shape Finnish culture and identity.
Shopping:
There’s no leaving Helsinki without doing a little shopping. Whether it’s at the City Center Mall or the Market Square, you will leave with something unique, bold and high quality. Looking for a mall atmosphere with a variety of restaurants and local brands along with well known stores like Skechers, the Kluuvi Shopping Center is a great place to start. The Stockmann department store also has a wide variety of items including books and clothing. Interested in home-grown Finnish fashion and design, Marimekko is the place for you. The unique colors and patterns of these designs will make you the talk of the town when you get back home.
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