9. The Helsinki Card: It was not so much the cost-saving aspect that made this a big hit with me, but rather the convenience. For 55 euro (the three-day option), you get a detailed map of Helsinki, plus a guidebook that gives you all the information you need to make the most of your stay. The multilingual ticket agent will also ask you if you’d like to take advantage of a free bus tour of the city. Sign up for it—it’s a great way to get a sense of the place and visit more out-of-the-way destinations; for example, the Sibelius Monument and the Church in the Rock, both of which are stops. I took some time to research attractions in Helsinki before I arrived, but I think I would have fared just as well if I hadn’t and had bought this card upon arrival. It's available for purchase at the Helsinki train station and airport.
8. Free Museums (With the Helsinki Card): Museums in Helsinki, like most other things in the city, are quite expensive. Think six to eight euro for entrance to a place that you can easily stroll through in under an hour. The time-cost analysis wouldn’t have made sense to me if I hadn’t bought the Helsinki Card. With that said, there are some wonderful little museums here, and you will definitely want to take advantage of the fact that you’ll have free admission to just about all of them. The Sinebrychoff is the best museum for foreign art in the city. I counted two Tiepolos, two Cranachs, and one Rembrandt when I visited—maybe not a collection to rival the Louvre or Hermitage, but still not too shabby.
The Ateneum is without a doubt the city’s most famous art museum, however. Located right across from the train station in the heart of Helsinki, it always has some sort of uniquely Finnish exhibit. When I visited, there was an excellent exhibit on art from Lapland, the far northern region of Finland.
7. Proximity: It’s never good to write that the best thing about a place is how easy it to get to somewhere else—that’s why this item is only seventh on the list. The fact remains that Helsinki is alluringly close to two other places worth visiting. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, lies just across the Baltic, and St. Petersburg, the heart of old imperial Russia, is just a short cruise away. For Petersburg, there’s even a non-visa option to visit for short period of time (48 hours max).
6. Proximity Within the City Itself: You can walk just about everywhere, and should. My half-hour stroll to the Museum of Photography nonironically made for some great photo opportunities, as I passed ultra-modern Finnish apartment buildings and bridges that looked like they had been assembled out of K'NEX.
5. Market Square (and Reindeer Meatballs!): Vegetarians and vegans, my apologies, but Rudolph makes for one tasty meal. Be sure to visit Market Square near the South Harbor to pick up souvenirs and to try some of Finland’s more traditional fare. There’s usually a market set up in the area that sells everything from coffee and doughnuts (it’s rumored you can even see Finnish diplomats and officials grabbing a quick breakfast on their way to the Presidential Palace across the street), to freshly picked currants and mushrooms, to touristy knickknacks and postcards. While the Market is a great place to sample cheaper variants of Lappish cuisine, Helsinki also has several well-established Lappish restaurants for epicureans.
4. Baked Goods: In terms of sugary, flaky edibles, Paris and Vienna might get all the press, but Helsinki stands its own ground when it comes to Scandinavian specialties. Cinnamon rolls are big here, both literally and figuratively. Head to Café Esplanad, one of the city’s best and most popular foodie spots, to grab one of their enormous cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee. Next on the agenda? Café Ekberg, a place with a charming fin de siècle atmosphere and famous pastries. Their napoleon was recommended to me and faired admirably. Most definitely worth a visit if you’re visiting the Sinebrychoff Museum.
However, the unexpected winner in the Helsinki baked goods competition is the dallaspulla sold at the Kioski convenience store chain. In vain, I tried to get an English translation for the filling inside these delectable pastries. The best I got was custard, though a warm, creamy, eggy, caramelized sort of custard. The pastry around the custard is wet and gooey from the filling's moisture, while the outside is flaky and magnificent. This might make my list of the top ten best things I’ve ever eaten.
3. English Skills: Because this is Scandinavia, most people speak English fluently and flawlessly—or at least well enough to give you good directions to the nearest sauna. Furthermore, in the three days I spent in Helsinki, I found Finns to be very down-to-earth and friendly people.
2. The Sauna: After a long hard day of walking, gawking, and eating, there’s no greater treat than a Finnish sauna. You can find them in most hotels, sometimes even hostels (my hosts at Help Hostel were kind enough to open it especially for me—I can honestly say I recommend a stay!). Yrjönkatu, a swimming hall in the center of town, lets you follow your sauna with a naked swim in their indoor pool. If you’re planning to fit in a naked swim, be sure to check the swimming hall’s schedule—men and women have separate hours, and, fortunately or unfortunately, separate swims.
1. The Coffee: I’ve heard from numerous sources that the Finns are the biggest coffee drinkers per capita. Given the long days of darkness that start creeping in around October, I guess this isn’t surprising. I have to give credit where credit is due, however: the Finns know how to brew a good cup. As less of a coffee drinker myself, I was surprised to find that I had developed a caffeine addiction by the end of the three days I was here. You have been warned.