Going to Helsinki tomorrow, any tips?

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Hello!

DP and I are going to Helsinki for a few nights tomorrow, anyone been and has any recommendations for things to do/to eat? I’d like to explore some of the nearby parks and lakes and do some walks. Hopefully it’s not too busy, have heard it’s quite a small city.

If anyone has been would love to hear your tips!

Thanks!

Boat trip round the archipelago, Suomonlinna, the covered market by the harbour.

Thank you, are there lots of boat trips going from harbour or do you have to book ahead?

We booked on the day at the harbour.

Take a traditional Finnish sauna. My favourite one is closed for renovations but the Kotiharjun sauna would be a good one to try, it's been there for many years and is wood-fired. The men's and women's saunas are separate. There are plenty of other public saunas in Helsinki too.

Temppeliaukio Church is worth a visit, it's set directly into the surrounding rock and has a beautiful copper dome roof.

Esplanade Park is good for people-watching and there are some lovely cafes nearby for coffee and cake (cinnamon rolls!)

Kiasma the contemporary art museum was somewhere we really enjoyed looking around too. And the Art Museum Ateneum for more art.

The tram system is good and you can buy a day ticket to travel around.

We enjoyed going to the supermarket and checking out some Finnish food for our packed lunches, DH developed an obsession with salmiakki (salty liquorice) the rye breads and the different cheeses were lovely too. And yoghurt with wild strawberries 😋

Sibelius Park was nice and we also walked along the coastline to Hietaranta Beach. And an excursion to Suomenlinna island as PP has mentioned.