Helsinki

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Statue, Senaatintori silhouetted, Helsinki

Introducing Helsinki

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Helsinki is a sea-town par excellence and an exciting, dynamic place. Half the city seems to be water, and the tortured geography of the coastline includes any number of bays, inlets and a speckling of islands. The harbour is the heart of the city, and watching the giant ferries glide into port is a defining memory and essential Helsinki experience.

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Helsinki is cool without - as yet - being self-consciously so. Unlike other capitals, you sense that people go to places because they enjoy them, not to be seen. Much modern décor is ironic and humorous, and achieves stylishness by daring to differ rather than trying too hard.

While not an ancient place, much of what is loveable in Helsinki is older. The style of its glorious Art Nouveau buildings, the spacious elegance of its cafés, the careful preservation of Finnish heritage in its dozens of museums, restaurants that have changed neither menu nor furnishings since the 1930s are all part of the city's quirky charm.

It has a very different feel to the rest of Finland, partly because before the days of the hi-tech society it was the country's sole point of contact almost with the rest of the world.

Like all of Finland, though, Helsinki has a dual nature. In winter you sometimes wonder where all the people are. In spring and summer they are back again, packing green spaces and outdoor tables to get a piece of blessed sun, whirring around on thousands of bicycles and kicking the city's nightlife into overdrive.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

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Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. allisapp avatar
    RE: Questions about travelling in UK and money

    by allisapp 13 September 2011

    Okay, one more question: *Reservations can be made for journeys a number of days in advance of departure. Due to operational constraints,…
  2. uberteeb avatar
    Re: Questions about travelling in UK and money

    by uberteeb 12 September 2011

    I've only been to Helsinki sop haven't used inter city buses in FInland but the buses here are not particularly comfortable. You'd be…
  3. Djimbo82 avatar
    Re: Helsinki - end Nov/Dec 2011

    by Djimbo82 12 September 2011

    Hi Tanya! In November whole Finland will be cold. In Helsinki it will be around +5 and -5 degrees celsius. It will probably rain also…

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