Design. Architecture. Arts. There is so much beauty and inspiration everywhere you look in Helsinki. Even the city itself is well designed with many parks and open public spaces that encourage relaxation, community, and creativity. Here are some tips and suggestions for a trip to Helsinki.
STAY
I stayed at Klaus K, located on a peaceful tree-lined street in the design district. I liked the room which was simple and modern but a few things were off (finicky elevator; the bathtub was kind of dangerous - high and slippery). Overall a convenient location within walking distance to lots of places. A good breakfast buffet was included and I liked the Malin + Goetz toiletries.
SEE + DO
The Esplanade is a lovely big park in between the city center's two major streets. In the summertime, there are concerts and other events held here. A great place to take a stroll or relax and people watch.
Senate Square is a popular destination to view the impressive Helsinki Cathedral and other important neoclassical buildings.
Market Square is a large open-air market near the harbor. The stalls sell fresh product, food, souvenirs, and crafts. Definitely worth a visit.
Other top Helsinki sights:
Rock Church
Sibelius Monument
Kamppi Chapel of Silence
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
If you’re interested in design, you may enjoy:
Aalto House (famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s residence and studio)
Artek 2nd Cycle (has vintage Artek stools and chairs)
Finlandia Hall
FOOD + DRINK
Salutorget is a restaurant near the waterfront and Market Square. Elegant dining room. We stopped by for lunch and splurged on lobster. Yum!
Savoy is a classic Helsinki restaurant designed by Alvar Aalto. The interior is elegantly understated. Very good service and interesting presentation. The dishes we had were pretty good but this is probably the kind of place you come for the experience rather than just the food. Reserve early to get a table with a panoramic view.
Old Market Hall is a fun place to browse Finnish foods and have an inexpensive lunch.
Gaijin is a modern sleek Japanese/Asian restaurant near our hotel where we stopped by for a break. We didn’t have food there so I can’t comment on the menu but the lounge area was a nice place to have drinks.
SHOP
The store window displays along the Esplanade are a visual feast. Artistic, cute and creative!
There are also so many beautiful small shops in Helsinki even in unexpected areas. For example, in the touristy Senate Square area, I stumbled upon a shop which carried beautiful locally made items and tasteful souvenirs. I bought a couple pairs of pretty painted wood earrings.
Stockmann is a huge department store that’s been compared to Harrods. A good place to pick up gifts.
Marimekko The iconic flagship store is a must visit. Seeing all the colorful products will brighten your day. If you have time, go to the factory outlet!
Artek the famous Finnish design/furniture company founded by Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto. Visit the flagship store to admire the innovative, timeless and functional design.
iittala Visit the flagship store to admire all the beautiful glassware. I got an Aalto mini bowl to take home.
SOUVENIR IDEAS
Finnish design products, crafts, anything from Marimekko or iittala, and Finnish skincare brands like Lumene (Stockmann is a good place for this).
Thanks for reading!
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