Helsinki Vacations, Helsinki Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Helsinki Vacation Guide

Surrounded by freezing waters spattered with picturesque islands and islets, Finnish capital Helsinki is an ever more fashionable European destination. Wonder the sparkling streets and you’ll find plenty of vibrant modernism in the form of art noveau architecture and spacious cafes alongside tiny corners of carefully preserved Finnish heritage that can’t have changed in centuries.

Especially during the icy winters, Helsinki can be glacially cold, but during the summer its lively and welcoming, and begs you to explore exciting spots like the tightly packed islands of Suomelinna, where you can picnic amongst the soaring ferns, and the happy-go-lucky natives still gather every evening to wave as the ferries glide through the narrow straight between the islands. Another essential offshore experience is eating at the unforgettably romantic island restaurants, towering amongst the rocks and serving magnificent locally caught seafood.

If you prefer something a bit more lively, head for the city’s impressive beer terraces, more sophisticated than their German equivalent, and overwhelmingly dreamy amongst the outdoor heaters when the snows falling all around you. Follow it up – if you can – with an atmospheric concert at Temppeliaukio, an underground church cut from the rock, and now a highly atmospheric auditorium.

Board the old steam train from Helsinki to the old trading town of Porvoo for a taste of the Finland of old (and, in fact, Finland in general, which is largely very different to its capital), and you’ll find cobbled streets, wooden houses, roman influences and one of the country’s most spectacular village settings.

Back in the capital, you can tour the pubs by tram, check out the zoo or the sea life centre, or entertain the kids in the hectic water park. Come at winter, and Helsinki will have you drifting around a seemingly deserted city of frosted streets, with plenty of hidden corners of warmth to track down amongst it all. Come in summer, though, and you’re in for a treat: Helsinki’s warm, modern, and home to plenty of exciting outdoor draws and an intriguing downtown. And, of course, sporadic saunas, vodka and plenty of seafood, too.