Helsinki

I have been living in Helsinki for 4 years and I think its a very interesting place to go and visit for a short period. It is very compact, you can pretty much walk from any destination within city boundaries. All the major shops, clubs, pubs and entertainment are located within 15-20 minutes walk all around as well so you wont miss much really. Helsinki to my opinion is a capital of alternative people, you would be amazed how many very interesting looking people on the streets you might meet. Of course it is not a novelty anywhere in the world nowadays, but trust me - Helsinki will still surprise you with goths, emos, punks etc. You will meet even newborn babies ...  Read the complete review

I'm slightly reluctant to write this review if I'm honest, as I quite like the idea of keeping the wonders of Helsinki a secret. What's so special about it? Everything. Well almost- I'm not quite into Finnish cuisine but then I'm a vegetarian so it's no wonder. Even then, most restaurants do a damn good pasta dish. To me, its the perfect place because its by no means too big and crowded like most European capitals but at the same time it has so much life buzzing in it, it's impossible to be bored. If you don't run by Finnish logic then it can be rather hard to navigate through the first few times but that's no big issue. I love how the history is a huge part of ...  Read the complete review

I've visited Helsinki three times now and whilst the main purpose of each visit has been for a music event, I've also now had several extra days not filled by music to do the traditional tourist activities. One of the first things mentioned to me as a must visit is the island fortress Suomenlinna. It's best to try and pick a nice day to visit it as not only is it likely to take the best part of the day, but also because you have to get a boat to get there! It costs about 5 Euros to get there and on the island there are a range of museums and exhibits, some free, some with additional entrance fees. Another island attraction is Korkeasaari zoo; once ...  Read the complete review

I visited Helsinki for the first time in early 2009, and was impressed at the city and its accessibility. Prices were generally very reasonable, despite the poor exchange rate against the Euro that we currently have. Historically the city is relatively new, experiencing its more rapid growth in the nineteenth century. Its history has led to a very unique mix of Russian, Swedish and home-grown styles in terms of architecture, character and general way of life. It's inevitably hard to give a guide to an entire city in a review such as this, but I've featured some of the more important areas and subjects which might be of interest to other ...  Read the complete review

Helsinki was not my choice. My partner had for a long time wanted to visit Finland’s capital (he collects capital cities) and so I treated him for his 40th birthday. I wasn’t against the idea, I just didn’t really know anything about the place. We did buy a Lonely Planet well in advance of the trip but since we were also planning to visit Estonia my mind was focused more on my beloved Eastern Europe than on Finland. All I set out with was my pre-conceived idea of a very modern and forward-thinking city in the Scandinavian model; I did not expect much in the way of history, certainly not in the capital though I knew that Helsinki is a city with a strong maritime ...  Read the complete review