You wouldn’t expect a beautiful, sprawling, international metropolis to be able to retain a charming small-town feel, but Helsinki manages to do just that.
The capital city of Finland, it is an interesting and beautiful place to visit — especially in the summer, when the numerous parks erupt into lush greenery and you can sunbathe on the city’s beaches.
The Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki boasts an incredible array of things to sightsee — as well as a huge variety of museums, their range of churches is extensive and eclectic.
One major attraction is the Suomenlinna fortress, a majestic building full of catacombs, restaurants, cafes, theatres and museums.
Suomenlinna Sea fortress, Helsinki
If you want something less touristy, you can take a stroll along the coast to really get a taste of Finnish life, as well as enjoying the beautiful Helsinki natural surroundings.
You can enjoy a lot of nature in Helsinki; it’s packed full of sandy beaches and leafy parks.
Senate Square, Helsinki
There’s plenty of things to do as well; you could visit Linnanmäki, famous for its wooden roller coasted and for being the oldest amusement park in Finland.
The Flamingo Entertainment centre is right near the airport and has everything from a spa to a miniature gold course to a cinema to a theatre to one of the biggest nightclubs in Finland, Onnela.
This isn’t counting concerts, festivals, farms, sailing, saunas and sports. Whatever your taste, you’ll find something to enjoy in Helsinki.