A few months ago, my non-Finnish friends, who were planning to travel to Finland, asked me about tips and things to do in Helsinki, thinking that, as a Finn, I might have some amazing insight.
I had to really think about it. I haven't lived in the country for seven years, and, as much as I would like to think that everything has stayed the same, it hasn't. In seven years, my hometown has changed quite a bit.
That's why, during my travels to Finland a couple of weeks ago, I made it my mission to explore the capital city through the eyes of a tourist and make a list of things you can do in Helsinki in one day.
So, friends, based on my recent explorations, here are places I would visit if I had a chance to spend 24 hours in Helsinki as a tourist:
Kauppatori - Market Square
For me, a girl born and raised in Helsinki, the best part of the capital city has always been (and probably will always be) the Market Square (Kauppatori). Located in the center of Helsinki only a ten-minute walk from the Central Railway Station, the Market Square is a place where you can buy Finnish (and non-Finnish) berries, vegetables, and different pastries, such as lihapiirakka (meat pie) and munkkipossu (a type of doughnut with apple jam inside), as well as local arts and crafts like reindeer skin gloves and reindeer hides (basically anything reindeer) and other things.
The Market Square is not exactly a "hidden gem," as it's probably featured in most - if not all - Helsinki travel guide books and blogs. But although it does get its fair share of tourists, the market also attracts locals. It's a nice place just to walk around and take in the atmosphere, but if you get a chance, I do recommend trying Finnish strawberries and peas, which, in my humble opinion, just happen to be the best in the world (I'm obviously completely unbiased).
However, as with everything in life, sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. The bad in this case are the flocks of Hitchcockian seagulls flying around ominously, lustfully eyeing your food! If you're a bird phobe, the Market Square is unfortunately not a place for you. And if you're not a bird phobe, well, you just wait, as this place will turn you into one.
To be fair, most of the seagulls just fly low, screech, and sometimes poo on people, but there is always the occasional type A personality - or the poetic, misunderstood soul that decides that now is as good time as any to start asserting itself - that'll go straight for your food. During my explorations, I saw a young lady lose a battle with a seagull over a cinnamon roll, so if you do decide to eat or take out your food at the Market Square, I suggest you hold onto it for dear life and don't count your munkkipossus until you've safely exited the seagull zone. Also, if you are approached by one of these go-getter type seagulls, you are supposed to clap your hands together twice to shoo them away. I don't exactly know if that helps or not, but at least it's entertaining to everyone around you.
The seagull problem is well-recognized at the Market Square and the measures taken against it include (but are not limited to) a net...
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| Arrow in turquoise: the net Red circle: the enemy |
...and a bunch of fake black birds.
However, my guess is the seagulls have figured out long ago that the black birds are fake (at least they didn't seem to slow them down), and many of them just fly under the net, sooooo.... yeah. I imagine there's a lot of laughing and pointing at humans happening at the annual seagull conventions.
Allas Sea Pool
My first time experiencing Allas Sea Pool was during my latest travels a couple of weeks ago.The place has been open for a few years now, but, for whatever reason, I haven't gotten around to visiting it before now.
Allas Sea Pool is situated near the Market Square by the harbor basin that the locals have given the inviting name Cholera Basin (some historical thing... don't ask!). For 14 euros, you get to swim in the pools, experience a Finnish sauna, and soak in the sun in one of the sun chairs (that is, when the sun actually bothers to make an appearance). If you don't want to buy a ticket, however, you can still enjoy the Allas Sea Pool restaurant, café, bar, and terraces.
As for the swimming pools, you've got three options:
If you want to prove that you've got as much sisu (perseverance, guts, stamina, etc.) as us Finns - who are more or less famously known for being tough sons of b-words -, you can dip into the seawater pool which is the same temperature as the Cholera Basin (a.k.a freaking cold!) as it comes from a nearby clean stream and is filtered for contaminants. And if you really want to prove what a bad-ass you are, the perfect time to go for a swim in the seawater pool is in the middle of January as Allas Sea Pool is open all year round (pictures or it didn't happen)!
For those of us who have nothing to prove (me) or who hate cold water (also me), the best pool option is the warm water pool (a.k.a the sensible person's choice), which, according to the website is heated to 27°C/80.5°F. There's also a kiddie pool for those who have (or are) children. Obviously, you don't get the bragging rights by swimming in these pools, but you also don't get a cold and maybe you even get to enjoy the water, which, in my opinion, is kind of worth it 😏.
After you've swum in the water (whichever pool you choose depending on your level of bad-assery/sensibility), you have the option to experience a Finnish sauna. Full disclosure: I didn't try the Allas Sea Pool sauna(s) during my visit, so I can't say if I recommend them or not, but I will say this: you will never get the full Finnish experience unless you go to a Finnish sauna!
We Finns take our saunas very seriously. A sauna for a Finn is a sacred place, where we solve personal and worldly problems, do business, celebrate/commiserate, or just relax. Traditionally, Finns go to the sauna stark naked. Yup, that's right - no swimsuits, no towels, nada, zip. A Finn sees nothing weird about this, and if somebody points out, "Really? You're too shy to say 'hello' to a person who's lived next door to you for the past five years, but you're comfortable sitting naked in a sauna next to a complete stranger who's also naked?" they'll most likely be met with a blank stare.
However.
As Allas Sea Pool gets a lot of international visitors, you can wear a swimsuit or a towel in the women's and men's sauna if you want to (but don't have to), whereas in the mixed-gender sauna, wearing a swimsuit is actually a requirement!
Also: although in a traditional Finnish sauna, you might see Finns gently (or less gently) beat themselves or each other with a bunch of tree twigs called a sauna whisk (if you hadn't gathered it by now, we're masochists), unfortunately (or fortunately), this practice is forbidden at Allas Sea Pool.
If you're spending more than 24 hours in Helsinki (or you're a more energetic person than I am), here's some more stuff you might want to check out:
1. Suomenlinna
Whilst you're at the Market Square, you can take a ferry to the Fortress of Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna is a beautiful and historically interesting place with ruins, museums, and other cool stuff. It's also a nice place to have a picnic. However, I would plan to spend more than just a couple of hours there because otherwise you might miss out on stuff to see and experience. If you're interested, you can read more about Suomenlinna on their official website.
2. Cruises
Another thing you can do is take one of the Helsinki archipelago cruises. Some of these cruises serve food and drinks. There are several options out there, but as my last experience dates back to 2010, I encourage you to do your own research. Also, if you have been on one of these cruises, please do share your experience in the comment section below 😊!
As for the swimming pools, you've got three options:
If you want to prove that you've got as much sisu (perseverance, guts, stamina, etc.) as us Finns - who are more or less famously known for being tough sons of b-words -, you can dip into the seawater pool which is the same temperature as the Cholera Basin (a.k.a freaking cold!) as it comes from a nearby clean stream and is filtered for contaminants. And if you really want to prove what a bad-ass you are, the perfect time to go for a swim in the seawater pool is in the middle of January as Allas Sea Pool is open all year round (pictures or it didn't happen)!
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| You'll recognize the seawater pool by the beautiful murky greenish-brownish color of the water |
For those of us who have nothing to prove (me) or who hate cold water (also me), the best pool option is the warm water pool (a.k.a the sensible person's choice), which, according to the website is heated to 27°C/80.5°F. There's also a kiddie pool for those who have (or are) children. Obviously, you don't get the bragging rights by swimming in these pools, but you also don't get a cold and maybe you even get to enjoy the water, which, in my opinion, is kind of worth it 😏.
 |
| The warm water pool and the kiddie pool |
After you've swum in the water (whichever pool you choose depending on your level of bad-assery/sensibility), you have the option to experience a Finnish sauna. Full disclosure: I didn't try the Allas Sea Pool sauna(s) during my visit, so I can't say if I recommend them or not, but I will say this: you will never get the full Finnish experience unless you go to a Finnish sauna!
We Finns take our saunas very seriously. A sauna for a Finn is a sacred place, where we solve personal and worldly problems, do business, celebrate/commiserate, or just relax. Traditionally, Finns go to the sauna stark naked. Yup, that's right - no swimsuits, no towels, nada, zip. A Finn sees nothing weird about this, and if somebody points out, "Really? You're too shy to say 'hello' to a person who's lived next door to you for the past five years, but you're comfortable sitting naked in a sauna next to a complete stranger who's also naked?" they'll most likely be met with a blank stare.
However.
As Allas Sea Pool gets a lot of international visitors, you can wear a swimsuit or a towel in the women's and men's sauna if you want to (but don't have to), whereas in the mixed-gender sauna, wearing a swimsuit is actually a requirement!
Also: although in a traditional Finnish sauna, you might see Finns gently (or less gently) beat themselves or each other with a bunch of tree twigs called a sauna whisk (if you hadn't gathered it by now, we're masochists), unfortunately (or fortunately), this practice is forbidden at Allas Sea Pool.
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| Right behind Allas Sea Pool, there's a Ferris wheel (SkyWheel Helsinki), which you can ride if you want to end your Helsinki experience on a high (very proud of this pun, by the way) |
Other stuff to do
If you're spending more than 24 hours in Helsinki (or you're a more energetic person than I am), here's some more stuff you might want to check out:
1. Suomenlinna
Whilst you're at the Market Square, you can take a ferry to the Fortress of Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna is a beautiful and historically interesting place with ruins, museums, and other cool stuff. It's also a nice place to have a picnic. However, I would plan to spend more than just a couple of hours there because otherwise you might miss out on stuff to see and experience. If you're interested, you can read more about Suomenlinna on their official website.
2. Cruises
Another thing you can do is take one of the Helsinki archipelago cruises. Some of these cruises serve food and drinks. There are several options out there, but as my last experience dates back to 2010, I encourage you to do your own research. Also, if you have been on one of these cruises, please do share your experience in the comment section below 😊!
3. Korkeasaari & Linnanmäki
If you're traveling with your kids (or if you yourself are a kid at heart), you might want to consider visiting Korkeasaari Zoo or the amusement park Linnanmäki. Linnanmäki is actually one of my favorite places in Helsinki but, unfortunately, nowadays it's quite pricey.
So, there you have it! If you have more/other suggestions or comments that could help the people planning to visit Helsinki, I would really appreciate it if you could share your wisdom in the comment section below 😊.
Next time, I'll be talking about what you should (and shouldn't) eat on your trip to Helsinki as, in my opinion, Finnish food gets a bad rap for nothing (and even if it didn't, you gotta eat, don't you 😏?)!
So, until then...
...moi moi!
If you're traveling with your kids (or if you yourself are a kid at heart), you might want to consider visiting Korkeasaari Zoo or the amusement park Linnanmäki. Linnanmäki is actually one of my favorite places in Helsinki but, unfortunately, nowadays it's quite pricey.
Closing words
So, there you have it! If you have more/other suggestions or comments that could help the people planning to visit Helsinki, I would really appreciate it if you could share your wisdom in the comment section below 😊.
Next time, I'll be talking about what you should (and shouldn't) eat on your trip to Helsinki as, in my opinion, Finnish food gets a bad rap for nothing (and even if it didn't, you gotta eat, don't you 😏?)!
So, until then...
...moi moi!
