Helsinki
I arrived in Helsinki in Finland from Stockholm in Sweden, by plane for £24, It took 1 hour flight time.
Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central artery, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present, imposing Parliament House and Kiasma contemporary art museum. On busy Senate Square, the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral stands in contrast with Uspenski Cathedral and its cupolas.
Helsinki Airport
Helsinki’s Airport is approximately 20 km from the city centre.
Finnair bus will take you from Helsinki airport to the city centre for 6.50 euros (£5) from the driver and takes 38 minutes.
A taxi will take you from Helsinki airport to the city centre for around 40 euros (£31) and will take 20 minutes.
A train can take you from Helsinki airport to city centre for 15 euros(£12) and takes 32 minutes.
The train transfer is free with the Helsinki Card.
Travelling Around Helsinki
For travel within the city of Helsinki, the Helsinki Travel Card gives unlimited free travel, on the underground, trams and buses.
A weekly travel pass costs 32 euros (£25)
A 48 hour travel pass costs 16 euros (£12.50)
A 48 hour travel pass costs 12 euros (£9.50)
A 24-
A single ticket costs 3.2 euros (£2.50)
Do not forget to activate your travel card on the first journey or face a big fine.
Click the Logo for the great company I used for my Helsinki card.
Finland’s, Helsinki Card
Helsinki Card is a city card with a number of benefits that will help you to discover and experience Helsinki, plus save money, time and energy during your visit.
Included is:
Free sightseeing tours by bus and boat, free unlimited travel on public transport and ferry to/from Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, free entry to major museums and sights, free Helsinki Card guide book including maps and complete tourist information and several discounts in restaurants, shops, tours, sauna and concerts.
24 hours: 44 euros (£38)
48 hours: 54 euros (£43)
72 hours: 64 euros (£50)
If you’re in Helsinki for a few days I really would recommend getting the Helsinki.
My perfect hotel in Helsinki Finland.
Click, image for link.
Recommended for a perfect location.
Accommodation, Eating and Drinking in Helsinki, Finland
Hotels and hostels budget for every price range with:
Hostel’s in the centre of Helsinki can be found for around 19 euros (£24) per person.
3- star hotels with 2 sharing a double room with breakfast can be found from around 75 euros (£60).
4- star hotels with 2 sharing a double room with breakfast and spa facilities can be found for around 164 euros (£130).
Or
If you’d rather, you could find a 5- star hotel for 500 euros (£395).
Restaurants are all over Helsinki with plenty of choices.
If you were looking for a 3- course meal in a mid- range restaurant you could expect to pay 35 euros (£27) and a beer for 6 euros (£5.50).
If you were looking for a single course meal in an inexpensive restaurant you could expect to pay 12 euros (£9).
For nightlife in Helsinki
Helsinki is certainly a lively place and will make for a great night out, however, I went to a bar next door to the hostel and because this had great atmosphere I stayed there for the duration of my night. So I can’t really comment any further on the night life or any available pub crawls.
Museums worth a visit In Helsinki, Finland
The National Museum of Finland presents Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present day, through objects and cultural history.
The Natural History Museum is one of the museums under the directorship of the Finnish Museum of Natural History, part of the University of Helsinki, in Helsinki, Finland.
The Museum of Finnish Architecture is an architectural museum in Helsinki, Finland. Established in 1956, it is the second oldest museum of its kind devoted specifically to architecture.
The Military Museum of Finland is the central museum of the Finnish Defence Forces and the national special museum of military history.
There are lots of museums in Helsinki, however, these are the only ones I visited, so they are the only ones I can recommend.
Things to do and must see’s whilst in Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna or Sveaborg, until 1918 Viapori, is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki.
Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighbourhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki.
Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Seurasaari is an island and a district in Helsinki, Finland, known mostly as the location of the Seurasaari Open- Air Museum, which consists of old, mainly wooden buildings transplanted from elsewhere in Finland.
A walking tour is great to take in a lot of information about Helsinki.
Boat and bus sightseeing tours are great.
Free things to do Whilst in Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighbourhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki.
Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Sibelius Park & Monument.
Also plenty of churches and cathedrals to pop in, however, a few have an admission fee.
After just 1 and a half days in Helsinki, Finland I then headed for Tallinn, Estonia.