Helsinki

Helsinki Travel Guide

• About Helsinki

Stylish without being self-conscious and home to an eclectic mix of Scandinavian, Russian and Sami culture, loveable Helsinki is an accurate reflection of Finland itself. Looking across the Gulf of Finland towards Estonia, the Finnish capital has always been a sea town and its harbour remains at its heart. Helsinki has a character that perfectly reflects its geographical location – on the historical fault-line between the Swedish and Russian empires. Although the city is unmistakably Scandinavian, the architecture and the locals’ penchant for vodka show the clear influence of mother Russia. Outweighing both, however, is the influence of the sea and the maritime history that comes with it. Unusually for a city of its size, Helsinki boasts 315 islands and close to 100km (60 miles) of coastline. Many of the city’s main attractions are found by the water, from the UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna sea fortress to the gorgeous beaches of Pihlajasaari and Uunisaari islands. Helsinki’s seafood restaurants that are second to none too – try perch, whitefish, pike-perch or salmon served with new potatoes in summertime, while the legendary crayfish season starts in August. The changing seasons, in particular the long dark days of winter, have also influenced the character of the city, not least in the cosy bars and restaurants that come into their own when it snows. By contrast, the long sunny days of the summer months let you appreciate the unironically named Winter Garden, wander along Ruoholahti canal or dive into the Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool. Whatever the season, don’t miss a trip to the Kotiharju sauna, the oldest public wood sauna in the city. There’s always plenty to do outside too, with fishing, cycling, golfing or a visit to the Finnish Nature Centre in nearby Nuuksio National Park among the summer highlights. In winter, try ice skating, skiing and snowboarding or go cross-country skiing on one of the city’s dedicated trails. It might be a bit dark in winter but Helsinki really is a year-round city.

• Helsinki History

Affectionately known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’, Helsinki sprawls across a low-lying peninsula and is sheltered by an archipelago of 315 islands. Founded by Swedish invaders in 1550, the city is young by European standards, but its power and influence grew dramatically when Russia invaded in 1809. Under the Swedish King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden, the city grew slowly, although it remained an important military centre for troops and a winter retreat for the navy. However, Russia’s growing dominance in the 18th century and the creation of a new capital, St. Petersburg, not far from the Finnish border, had a major influence on Helsinki. Plague and hunger caused by two separate Russian occupations ensued, so the city constructed the Suomenlinna sea-fortress in 1748. The Swedes gradually weakened and Finland was finally annexed by Russia as an Autonomous Grand Duchy in 1809. Helsinki was subsequently proclaimed the Finnish capital in 1812 and was rebuilt to match its new status. Industrialisation, new railways and increasing wealth led to new neoclassical and art deco buildings springing up. The jewel in Helsinki’s art deco crown was its railway station created by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. In 1917 came Finnish independence and another facelift for Helsinki, which boomed throughout the 1920s and 30s. It became a hotbed of creative activity, producing designers such as Alvar Aalto along with the Moomins cartoon, the Nokia company and latterly, Angry Birds. When it stepped onto the world stage with the completion of its Olympic Stadium in 1938, the city gave notice of its new status as the capital of a fiercely independent new country. Relatively untouched by WWII, Helsinki and Finland emerged from the conflict as an important partner for the West, although its proximity to Russia made the years of the Cold War uneasy ones. Now part of one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, Helsinki is fast becoming a popular tourist destination and is as famous for its cutting-edge design as it is for its fascinating east-meets-west churches.

• Did you know?

In 1941, The Finnish Foreign Office summoned Tor Borg to the German embassy in Helsinki to question him about his dog Jackie who had been taught to raise her paw when she heard the word ‘Hitler’. No charges were brought. During the WWI, the Suomenlinna fortress (then called Viapori) was part of the Naval Fortress of Peter the Great, designed to protect St Petersburg in Russia. Helsinki was named World Design Capital in 2012.

• Weather in Helsinki

The pace of Helsinki life varies with the seasons. During the long days of summer, when average temperatures climb to 18°C (64°F) and above, life spills out into the streets and nights out continue most of the way through till morning. The dark, cold winters are a different story – temperatures that dip below -5°C (23°F) drive everyone inside and Helsinki starts to resemble the miniature St Petersburg that its 19th-century architects intended.

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Things to see in Helsinki

Attractions

• Suomenlinna (Sea Fortress)

About 1.5km (1 mile) offshore from Eteläsatama harbour, the sea fortress of Suomenlinna was once the bastion of the Swedish empire, with a larger population than Helsinki itself. Founded in 1748 to protect the coast from Russian attack, the fortress island was finally surrendered to Russia in 1808. This superb fortification was one of the main reasons why the Russians moved the capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the fortress buildings contain the Suomenlinna Museum, the Ehrensvärd Museum, the multimedia Suomenlinna Experience, the Suomenlinna Toy Museum, the Military Museum’s Manege, the Customs Museum and the WWI-era Submarine Vesikko, amongst other attractions, restaurants and bars. Despite the looming cannons, the rest of the island is a peaceful green haven, and locals flock here for summer picnics. During the summer months, there are daily guided tours around Suomenlinna in English, Swedish and Finnish. In the winter there are tours in English during the weekends. Helsinki City Transport runs regular ferries to Suomenlinna from Kauppatori (free with a Helsinki Card, journey time – 15 minutes). JT-Lines runs a waterbus service on the same route from May to mid-September. Address: Suomenlinna, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 29 533 8410 Opening times: Various. Website: www.suomenlinna.fi Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: Yes

• Finlands Nationalmuseum (National Museum of Finland)

Located opposite Finlandia Hall, about 10 minutes’ walk from Helsinki’s city centre, this museum contains rich archaeological and ethnographic collections depicting Finnish life from the earliest times to the present day. The sections on prehistoric Finland and the culture of the Sami people of Lapland are particularly interesting, and the museum building, constructed in 1916, is a Helsinki landmark. Guided tours available. Address: Mannerheimintie 34, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 29 533 6000 Opening times: Daily 11:00-18:00. Website: www.nba.fi Admission Fees: Yes (free on Tues 17:30-20:00). Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Finlandia-Talo (Finlandia Hall)

Built in 1971, Finlandia Hall is one of Alvar Aalto’s most iconic works. Stately, angular and unmistakably Modernist, this striking building serves as Helsinki’s main conference and concert venue, and is the current home of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Robert Kajanus in 1882. If you are unable to visit for a performance, guided tours are offered on fixed dates (see the website for details). Address: Mannerheimintie 13, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 40 241 Opening times: Daily 11:00-21:00. Website: www.finlandiatalo.fi  Admission Fees: Yes (for tours). Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Senaatintori (Senate Square)

Dating back to the first half of the 19th century, Helsinki’s neoclassical heart was constructed by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who was also the official architect of Tallinn in Estonia. Engel was heavily influenced by the architecture of St Petersburg, and the Senaatintori has been used as a stand-in for St Petersburg in numerous Cold War espionage films, including Gorky Park (1983), Reds (1981) and White Nights (1985). Facing a statue of Tsar Alexander II, the white-domed Tuomiokirkko is flanked by the grand neoclassical facades of the Government Palace, Helsinki University, Helsinki Cathedral and the National Library of Finland. Address: Senaatintori, Helsinki. Opening times: Daily 24 hours. Website: www.myhelsinki.fi Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Kiasma (Contemporary Art Museum)

Constructed by award-winning architect Steven Holl, this top-class Helsinki museum is a sculpture all by itself. Contained inside this geometric wave are examples of Finnish art and design from the 1960s to the present day, with approximately 4,000 pieces on display at any one time. The museum has an excellent bookshop and the design-savvy café is a popular meeting point for arty locals. Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 29 450 0501 Opening times: Tues-Sun 10:00-17:00. Website: www.kiasma.fi  Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: No UNESCO: No

• Sibelius Monumentti (Sibelius Monument)

Hundreds of steel pipes shaped by sculptor Eila Hiltunen make up the impressive monument to the famous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). A rebel under oppressive Russian rule, Sibelius wrote tunes that have become synonymous with Finnish patriotism – ‘Finlandia’ came to symbolise the Finnish struggle for independence. A journey to this monument is a pilgrimage for most Finns. Address: Sibelius Park, Töölö, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 3108 7001 Opening times: Daily 24 hours. Website: www.taidemuseo.fi Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Temppeliaukion Kirkko (Temppeliaukio Church)

Consecrated in 1969, the ‘Church in the Rock’ is one of Helsinki’s most iconic buildings. Designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, the church was built into the bedrock beneath Helsinki and finished using stone quarried on the site. Its inner walls are raw, unfinished rock and the roof is a futuristic dome of copper plates. Come during one of the regular concerts to hear the impressive acoustics. Address: Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 2340 6320 Opening times: Daily 10:00-16:50. Website: www.temppeliaukionkirkko.fi/en Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral)

The imposing, ice-white Helsinki Cathedral on the north side of the Senaatintori was constructed between 1830 and 1852 by Carl Ludvig Engel. Although it was built for Lutheran worship, the cathedral has a distinctively Russian Orthodox flavour thanks to later alterations by Ernst Lohrmann, who drew inspiration from Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St Petersburg. The stone steps leading up to the Tuomiokirkko are a great place to watch the comings and goings of life in the capital. Address: Unioninkatu 29, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 2340 6120 Opening times: Sun-Fri 09:00-17:00. Website: www.helsinginseurakunnat.fi Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Ateneum (National Gallery)

With all the excitement about contemporary Finnish design, it’s easy to forget that Finland has a rich history of fine art, showcased at this excellent gallery near the train station. Inside, you can see works by such Finnish icons as Albert Edelfelt, the Von Wright brothers and Akseli Gallen-Kallela, whose famous triptych showing scenes from the Kalevala – the Finnish national epic – is the star attraction. Address: Kaivokatu 2, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 29 450 0401 Opening times: Tues-Sun 10:00-17:00.. Website: www.ateneum.fi Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Mannerheim Museo

This fascinating museum was the home of Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the Imperial Russian Army officer who led Finland to independence in a bloody civil war that saw 30,000 Finns killed in 108 days. A particular hero for Swedish-speaking Finns, Mannerheim later served as Commander-in-Chief, Regent of Finland and Finland’s sixth president. His former home remains much as the great man left it, and inside, visitors can see such heirlooms as Mannerheim’s war medals and hunting trophies. Guided tours are available in seven languages. Address: Kaivopuisto Park, Kalliolinnantie 14, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 635 443 Opening times: Fri-Sun 11:00-16:00. Website: www.mannerheim-museo.fi Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Taideteolisuusmuseo (Design Museum)

Finnish design is world-famous and this interesting Helsinki museum tracks the history of the Finnish design movement, from the fabrics of Marimekko to the Arabia ceramics of Kaj Franck, the glassware of Timo Sarpaneva and the furniture and buildings of Alvar and Aino Aalto. There are regular special exhibitions and the museum café has chairs by celebrated designer Yrjö Kukkapuro. Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 622 0540 Opening times: Tues-Sun 1100-1800. Website: www.designmuseum.fi Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Sederholm Talo (Sederholm House)

Just near Senate Square, this stone building is the oldest in Helsinki (1757). Built in 18th-century rococo style, Sederholm Talo has been turned into a museum that documents the life of Johan Sederholm, a Counsellor of Commerce who lived in the early part of the 18th century, complete with all the appropriate fixtures and fittings. Address: Aleksanterinkatu 16-18, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 3103 6630 Opening times: Daily 11:00-19:00. Website: www.hel.fi Admission Fees: Yes (free on Thurs) Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Kaapelitehdas (Cable Factory)

Originally owned by Nokia, the defunct Finnish Cable Factory in the Ruoholahti district was leased out to artists in the 1980s, creating one of Finland’s most successful artists’ colonies. Today, the building is home to 12 galleries, design studios, recording studios and offices of dance companies, theatre companies, TV and radio stations, as well as three art museums. The complex is open daily and you can break for lunch at the suitably arty Ravintola Hima & Sali. The Kaapelitehdas lies on tram line 8, or take the metro to Ruoholahti station. Address: Kaapeliaukio 3, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 4763 8300 Opening times: Daily 09:00-21:00. Website: www.kaapelitehdas.fi Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

• City of Helsinki Tourist Office

Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 19, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 3101 3300 Opening times: Daily 09:300-16:30. Website: www.myhelsinki.fi

Tourist passes

• The Helsinki Card   ( Website: www.helsinkiexpert.com ) entitles visitors to free entry to sights and museums, a free city tour, free travel on the buses, trams, trains and metro, and special discounts at stores, restaurants, theatres, concerts and the opera.

The pass is valid for one, two or three days, and can be purchased online, or from the City of Helsinki Tourist Office, the railway station Hotel Booking Centre, or from travel agencies, city centre kiosks and hotels. The price includes a guide book in Finnish, Swedish, English, German and Russian. Prices start from €38 for adults and €16 for children.

Things to do in Helsinki

• Hiking and cycling

Nuuksio National Park    ( Website: www.nationalparks.fi ) is a rolling terrain of lakes and forests just north west of Helsinki, and makes a fabulous place to go trekking or biking. The 4km-long (2 miles) Haukankierros Trail gives a good introduction to the park, and climbs over high rocks, affording great views towards Haukkalampi and Brook Myllypuro valley.

• Join a nation of swimmers

Helsinki is renowned for its swimming halls: Mäkelänrinne Swimming Centre ( Website: www.urheiluhallit.fi ) is the largest in the country, whilst Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall              ( Website: www.yrjonkatu-swimming-hall ) is Finland’s oldest indoor public pool and offers the atmosphere of a Roman bath. If you’re brave/mad enough Kuusijärvi Recreation Centre                    ( Website: www.cafekuusijarvi.fi ) offers ice swimming in winter.

• Saunas

There’s little so Finnish as stripping off and sweating up in a sauna: to immerse yourself in this local tradition, head to Sauna Arla Telephone: +358 09 719 218 Website: www.arlansauna.net The Kotiharju sauna Telephone: +358 09 753 1535 Website: www.kotiharjunsauna.fi The latter is oldest public wood sauna in the city and the perfect location for this distinctly Finnish experience.

• Take it to church… underground

Whether or not you’re religious, a trip to Temppeliaukion kirkko (church) is a must for anyone with an affinity for unique architecture. With its domed roof propped up by a circular wall of hewn stone and vast glimmering indoor skylight, its somewhere between church, farmhouse and extraterrestrial landing base.

• Take the mic in a karaoke bar

Finnish people are second only to the Japanese in their ardent love for a night spent wailing their troubles away in a karaoke bar, and you shouldn’t leave town without at least one shared rendition of ‘You Can Call Me Al’. Check out Karaoke Bar Pataässä Telephone: +358 09 626 076 Website: www.karaokebar.net Anna K Telephone: +358 09 676 128 Website: www.anna-k.cz

Helsinki tours and excursions

Helsinki tours

• Walking tours

Helsinki Expert, Lönnrotinkatu 7B, offers a variety of tours around Helsinki, including a two-hour guided city walk focusing on Finnish design. You can book at the City of Helsinki Tourist Office and Hotel Booking Centre at the railway station. Telephone: +358 9 2288 1222 Website: www.helsinkiexpert.fi

• Bus tours

Year-round sightseeing bus tours of Helsinki are available from Helsinki Expert, Lönnrotinkatu 7B. Options include a one-hour-and-a-half audio tour with a pre-recorded commentary in 12 different languages, and a one-hour-and-45-minute tour with a live commentary in English and Swedish. Extra tours run in the summer months. Telephone: +358 9 2288 1222 Website: www.helsinkiexpert.fi

• Boat tours

Royal Line and Sun Lines offer 90-minute cruises around the islands and inlets surrounding Helsinki harbour, with food and refreshments, starting from the quayside in front of Kauppatori. With more time to spare, consider the boat trip to Suomenlinna sea fortress. Telephone: +358 20 711 8333 , +358 20 741 8210 Website: www.sunlines.fi

Helsinki excursions

• Vihti

Imagine an undulating landscape peppered with hills, valleys, lakes, tranquil villages and manor houses. Less than an hour’s drive from Helsinki, Vihti offers a refreshing countryside break from the city and for those looking for rustic accommodation, there is a plethora of barns, loggers’ cabins and lean-to shelters to stay in. Meanwhile, there are tons of activities: horse riding, golfing, gliding, snow mobiling, canoeing, cycling, hiking and cross country skiing. Website: www.vihti.fi

• Hamina

Hamina’s unique circular-planned town is a boon for visitors – it’s impossible to get lost. At the centre lies the Town Hall, visible from every street corner. An amazing star-shaped, 18th century fortress takes centre stage however featuring six bastions named after other Finnish cities. Parts of the structure today are still used by the military, while it also hosts the Hamina Tattoo, a military music event, held bi-annually in the city. Other places of interest include wooden houses, churches and museums plus fishing villages. Website: www.visithamina.fi

• Porvoo

Rich in history, Porvoo’s unique Old Town is less than an hour by bus from Helsinki. Framed by charming wooden houses, gardens, boutiques and cobbled streets, it is enchanting all year around. In summer, enjoy cruises in the archipelago, guided walks and plundering little markets and boutiques. Good restaurants and atmospheric cafes mean there are plentyof places to rest your feet. During the winter, the town comes alive with Christmas markets and concerts. Website: www.visitporvoo.fi 

• Seurasaari

About 4km west of Helsinki’s city centre, the peaceful island of Seurasaari is an open-air museum of traditional Finnish life. The island is dotted with 18th- and 19th-century houses and wooden farm buildings, relocated to Seurasaari from around the country, alongside the wooden Karuna Church, constructed in 1686. Guides in period costume demonstrate traditional crafts and folk dances, but the museum has been open for more than a century, and the experience is informative and actually rather charming. A bridge links the island to the mainland, and bus 24 and tram 4 run here from Erottaja. Telephone: +358 4 0128 6374 Website: www.kansallismuseo.fi

Shopping in Helsinki

Helsinki is wonderful for keen shoppers, offering a vast selection of items to take home.

• Key areas

Helsinki’s main shopping streets are Mannerheimintie, Pohjoisesplanadi, Aleksanterinkatu and Fredrikinkatu. All the big names in Finnish design can be found at the boutiques around Esplanad Park and the Design District, including Artek (Alvar Aalto’s store), Aarikka (jewellery), Design Forum Finland (cutting-edge furniture and accessory design), Littala (Arabia ceramics) and Marimekko (fashion). For smaller, one-off boutiques, Fredrikinkatu is the street for nick-nacks and fashion and Annankatu for antique furniture. Fans of Finland’s most famous cartoon characters should visit the Moomin Shops inside the city malls.

• Markets

The biggest and best market in Helsinki is held at the Kauppatori, a cobbled market square specialising in seasonal Finnish foodstuffs and souvenirs located on the seafront at the northern end of Eteläsatama harbour. Although partly a souvenir market, it is also a bustling produce market. Late summer and autumn bring huge piles of strawberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries, and food stalls serve up all sorts of Finnish delicacies, including local sausages, herring and salmon and reindeer meat. Nearby is the covered Hakaniemi Market Hall, with stores selling more regional delicacies, including reindeer salami and bear pâté. At the end of one of Helsinki’s most upmarket streets, the Bulevardi, is the Hietalahti Flea Market, where rich Helsinkiläiset discard their designer gear and bric-a-brac (closed Sunday). It’s great fun sorting through the piles of hand-me-downs. Nearby are antique and art shops.

• Shopping centres

The main shopping centres in Helsinki are Forum, Mannerheimintie 20; Kluuvi, Aleksanterinkatu 9, and Kamppi, Urho Kekkosen katu 1. More glamorous brands are on offer at Kämp Galleria, Pohjoisesplanadi 33, adjacent to the swish hotel of the same name. Stockmann, Aleksanterinkatu 52, and Sokos, Mannerheimintie 9, are the best known department stores. Another one-stop shop for retail therapy is Itäkeskus, the largest shopping centre in Finland, accessible via a 14-minute metro-ride from central Helsinki.

• Opening hours

Shops in Helsinki are generally open on weekdays from 0900 to 1800 and Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00/14:00. Department stores and shopping centres open on weekdays from 09:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 18:00.

• Souvenirs

There is a lot of choice when it comes to souvenirs: look out for carved wooden bowls, Lapp hunting knives, reindeer skins, Finnish woollens, jewellery, homeware, furniture and textiles.

• Tax information

VAT, charged at 17% or 22% dependent on the type of goods, is included in the marked price. Non-EU residents can claim 10-16% tax back upon departure, for items over €40 purchased from stores with the ‘Tax Free for Visitors’ sign. Presentation of receipts and a passport will be required.

Restaurants in Helsinki

The Helsinki restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories: Expensive (over €90) Moderate (€30 to €90) Cheap (under €30) These Helsinki restaurant prices are for an average three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.

Expensive

• OR Restaurant & Bar

Cuisine: French OR is a fresh and warm brasserie hotel on the corner of Torni. Our French-tinged menu is complemented by Finnish seasonal ingredients, and our curious desire to create new classics as well. ​In OR’s kitchen, we seek inspiration from our house’s more than 90-year culinary tradition, with a modern bubbly style. Experience the surprising details and delve into taste memories surrounded by the hospitality of OR’s golden team. ​ Address: Kalevankatu 5, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 300 870 020 Website: www.raflaamo.fi

• Stefan’s Steakhouse

Cuisine: Finnish The Stefan’s Steakhouse restaurant, located right next to the Esplanadi park, along Ludviginkatu, offers an elegant setting for a successful dinner. Address: Ludviginkatu 8, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 6128 6000 Website: www.stefanssteakhouse.fi

• Ravintola Palace

Cuisine: Finnish and European Offering commanding views of the sea, Restaurant Palace is one of a suite of glamorous restaurants in Helsinki run by the owners of Hotel Kämp. The restaurant opened in 1952 to cater to high fliers attending the Olympics, and it still leads the way in Finnish gastronomy. The exciting à la carte menu changes every month, fusing modern European ideas with fresh Finnish ingredients, and the wine list is exceptional. Its crayfish parties are also legendary. Address: Eteläranta 10, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 50 502 0718 Website: www.palacerestaurant.fi

Moderate

• Restaurant Passio

Cuisine: Nordic/Finnish The idea of Passio was conceived in 2012 at Savonlinna where our founders Jussi Hukkanen and Jesse Vottonen were influenced the areas food and brewery culture. We wanted to have place which is original and fills greatly our vision. In the end, at 2014 we delivered a combination of modern Nordic, classic French and laid-back atmosphere in form of Passio. Not forgetting the surprise factors. Address: Eteläranta 16, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 2 0735 2040 Website: www.passiodining.fi

• Ravintola Zetor

Cuisine: Finnish An idiosyncratic, almost legendary restaurant in Helsinki that really should be experienced by everyone who visits the city. Part bar and part restaurant, Zetor features some of the most zany décor in Helsinki, with walls adorned with farm implements and tables made out of tractors. Even the menus are designed to resemble a vintage agricultural newspaper. Open daily until late, with rock and pop music to love forward to after you’ve eaten. Address: Mannerheimintie 3-5, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 1 0766 4450 Website: www.raflaamo.fi

• Restaurant Gaijin

Cuisine: Asian At Gaijin we’ll take you to a mystical journey full of elegant, unforgettable and exotic tastes. Majestically located in the corner of Bulevardi and Yrjönkatu, we want to enchant you with an extraordinary experience blending Japanese, Korean and Northern Chinese traditional cuisines, with our own contemporary techniques. Address: Bulevardi 6, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 1 0322 9381 Website: www.gaijin.fi

Cheap

• Ekberg 1852

Cuisine: Breakfasts/Baking Founded in the 1852s and famed for its buns, biscuits, breakfasts and baking, Café Ekberg is a great place to start the day in Helsinki or take a break from sightseeing. Salads, sandwiches, bruschetta and soups are the order of the day at lunchtimes, while in the afternoons the on-site patisserie takes over. Open daily, early morning until early evening. Address: Bulevardi 9, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 681 1860 Website: www.ekberg.fi

• Kampin Pippuri

Cuisine: various We are a cozy and versatile restaurant on Runeberginkatu in Kamppi. Here you can feast on a hearty lunch, traditional steaks and pizzas, taste Turkish flavors or satisfy your hunger with kebabs or pasta. You can eat with us or take a portion with you. Address: Runeberginkatu 4, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 694 3447 Website: www.kampinpippuri.fi

• Ravintola Sea Horse

Cuisine: Famed for its generous portions and hearty, home-cooked Finnish fare, Ravintola Sea Horse first opened its doors in 1934, and it has hardly closed them since. The menu features all the Finnish favourites – herring, meatballs, reindeer fillet, pikeperch with mushroom sauce – and the wall murals add a chintzy 1950s charm. Address: Kapteeninkatu 11, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 628 169 Website: www.seahorse.fi

Helsinki Nightlife

Bars and clubs in Helsinki are concentrated southwest of the centre in the districts of Kamppi and Punavuori, particularly along Uudenmaankatu and Eerikinkatu, but there are more bars south of the railway station and north of the centre in the gritty but up-and-coming Kallio district. Locals are huge fans of the restobar concept – many venues start the evening as restaurants and transform into bars and clubs as the night wears on. Note that nightlife in Helsinki in winter is very different to nightlife in summer. During the long days of summer, most bars set up summer terraces and nightlife spills out into the street, particularly around Mikonkatu. All venues close earlier during the cold, dark winters, but most will stay open as long as there are patrons in need of a beverage. One eccentric Finnish custom is outdoor dancing – open-air dances take place in summer in Vantaa, close to the airport. Although Helsinki is one of the younger European capitals, it also bubbles with cultural activity. Theatre, classical music, dance and opera are celebrated with just as much enthusiasm as in Moscow or Rome, and Helsinki can draw on a long line of home-grown composers and playwrights dating back to the Russian and Swedish empires, including the famous Sibelius. The main cultural festivals take place in summer and autumn, but there are smaller productions throughout the year. For the listings of upcoming events, contact: Finnish Theatre Information Centre ( Telephone: +358 9 2511 2120 ) or pick up a copy of Helsinki This Week, published by the Helsinki Expert                   ( Website: www.helsinkiexpert.com ) and available from the tourist office and tourist-oriented hotels, venues and restaurants. For tickets, contact the Ticket Theatre Information Centre  Telephone: +358 600 11 616 Website: www.tiketti.fi

• ippupalvelu Oy

Telephone: +358 600 10 800 Website: www.lippupalvelu.fi   Finland’s nationwide ticket retailer.

Bars in Helsinki

• Café Bar 9

Most of the big-name bars in Helsinki are scattered along Uudenmaankatu and Eerikinkatu, a short walk southwest of the station. Café Bar 9 is a favourite with Helsinki movers and shakers. Address: Uudenmaankatu 9, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 621 4059 Website: www.bar9.net

• Café Tin Tin Tango

At the eccentric end of the spectrum, Café Tin Tin Tango has an in-house launderette and sauna – one of the most convenient bars in Helsinki. Address: Töölöntorinkatu 7, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 2709 0972 Website: www.tintintango.info

• Base Bar

The base bar an Indian pale in the heart of Helsinki is a unique rock and roll bar and is a great recreation of a cocktail bar. Address: Kalevankatu 3, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 4 5887 8914 Website: www.basebar.fi

Clubs in Helsinki

• Babylon Club & Garden

The heyday of Babylon in the center of Helsinki. Babylon Club & Garden, located at Erottajankatu 2, is a new nightclub and terrace that spreads out into the courtyard of a neo-Renaissance palace. DJs change every week, the most amazing location and the city’s greatest nights all year round. Address: Erottajankatu 2, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 5 0473 1142 Website: www.babylonhki.fi

• Casino Helsinki

You will find us in the city centre of Helsinki. We offer a wide variety of international slots and table games, live poker, entertainment events and restaurant services. Address: Mikonkatu 19, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 200 55 000 Website: www.casinohelsinki.fi

• Karle XII

Kaarle XII is the center of Helsinki’s nightlife. Six bars, three different music worlds and two dance floors will take care of even the most demanding revelers. Kalle’s legendary Thursday party is also back. The crown of the week is Saturday evening in Kalle. You can also organize private events with us. Address: Kasarmikatu 40, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 4 0536 0103 Website: www.kaarle.com

Live music in Helsinki

• Happy Jazz Club Storyville

Charming old-timey bar with frequent live jazz music, Cajun-Creole food & a leafy terrace. The legendary Storyville Happy Jazz Club offers it’s customers a music-experience and a comfortable international atmosphere in the heart of Helsinki. We offer live music to our guests nearly everyday which includes both finnish and foreign bands. On our stages you can listen to classic jazz, cool blues, rooty country and hot salsa or anything in between. Since 1993 when we opened our doors we’ve had the honor of hosting some of the world’s best and we’ve been ranked as one of the best Jazz Clubs in the world. Address: Museokatu 8, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 50 363 2664 Website: www.storyville.fi

• On the Rocks

The Finns are enthusiastic consumers of hard rock, to the level that the theatrical Finnish heavy metal band Lordi stormed to victory in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. On the Rocks is the place to head in Helsinki for loud, lively rock bands. Address: Mikonkatu 15, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 40 063 0960 Website: www.ontherocks.fi

Classical music in Helsinki

• Finlandia Hall

The main concert hall in Helsinki for national and international artists is Finlandia Hall, which is also home to the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Robert Kajanus in 1882. Address: Mannerheimintie 13E, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 40 241 Website: www.finlandiatalo.fi

Theatres in Helsinki

• Suomen Kansallisteatteri (Finnish National Theatre)

The Finnish National Theatre is one of the main venues for theatre in Helsinki, showing a mixture of modern and classical productions (such as Ibsen) in Finnish. Address: Läntinen Teatterikuja 1, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 10 733 1331 Website: www.nationaltheatre.fi

Music and Dance in Helsinki

• Finnish National Opera House

Chamber music is performed in various venues, including Helsinki Cathedral and the iconic Temppeliaukio Kirkko. The works of Jean Sibelius are popular with Helsinki audiences, although the works of rising stars such as Magnus Lindberg are also widely performed. The Suomen Kansallisoopera (Finnish National Opera), has its residence at the Finnish National Opera House. The Finnish Ballet School also has its residence at the Finnish National Opera House. Address: Helsinginkatu 58, Helsinki. Telephone: +358 9 40 3021 Website: www.oopperabaletti.fi

Helsinki Food and Drink

As you might suspect for a nation dominated by water, seafood plays an essential role in Finnish cuisine. Salmon, herring and other fish are cooked fresh or served smoked and pickled in cold courses. Meat comes in various forms, including the ubiquitous meatballs and HK Sininen Lenkki sausage. Reindeer, elk and bear meat are served as delicacies. In summer and autumn, look out for tender new potatoes, fresh fish, fresh peas, wild mushrooms and a fabulous assortment of wild berries, which are often used in jellies and preserves. Finns drink more coffee than anyone else in the world and kahvilat (cafes, singular kahvila) are found in every village and town square. They’re also partial to beer. And vodka. And wine. Food In Helsinki

• Skärgårslimpa

Rye bread loaf sweetened with molasses, a speciality of the archipelago region.

• Karjalanpiirakka

A savoury pastry from Karelia, stuffed with rice pudding and eaten with egg butter.

• Lihapullat

Beef and egg meatballs, traditionally served with lingonberries and gherkins.

• Poronkäristys

Sautéed reindeer eaten by the Sámi.

• Pullat

Sweet cardamom-flavoured buns – a traditional accompaniment to coffee.

• Leipäjuusto

Cow’s milk cheese, oven-baked or fried leaving it brown on the outside with a squeaky interior. Traditionally eaten with cloudberry jam.

• Finland Viili

A type of soured milk, eaten like yoghurt. Silakat: Breaded fried herring seasoned with salt.

• Perunarieska

A flatbread made from potato, often served with gravlax.

• Lakka

Cloudberries, native to Lapland. They look like yellow or orange raspberries and have a unique flavour. Cloudberries cannot be cultivated and therefore are picked by hand in the wild.

• Koskenkorva

Commonly referred to as Kossu. A clear, distilled grain spirit usually served ice-cold and straight up.

• Berry liqueurs

Try mesimarja (arctic bramble), lakka (cloudberry) and mumustikka (bilberry).

Drink In Helsinki

Some of the best alcoholic beverages you should try when in Helsinki include:

• Koskenkorva Viina or Kossu

the most popular type of vodka amongst the clear spirits in Finland.

• Salmiakki Koskenkorva 

A vodka cocktail made with Turkish pepper salty licorice.

• Koskenkorva Viina Finlandia Vodka

It is a Finnish classic vodka, that has a more round taste and slightly lighter alcohol volume than the Koskenkorva Vodka Original.