Once is not enough !Visit Helsinki Again

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Helsinki, the capital of the Republic of Finland, is a modern city with over half a million residents and is situated on the Baltic Sea. In 2000 Helsinki was an official European City of Culture while celebrating its 450th anniversary.

Helsinki together with the neighbouring cities of Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa forms the Helsinki metropolitan area with more than a million inhabitants.Capital where Eastern and Western cultures meet.Helsinki is unique among Northern European cities. The lifestyle in the second-most northern capital city in the world is full of contrasts and activities in the form of hundreds of events and friendly people. Helsinki’s identity has been formed by cultural influences from both the East and West.

The archipelago that surrounds Helsinki with hundreds of tiny islands creates an idyllic environment for cruises, for example.
Over 450 years of history, several architectural layers and the impact of different periods can be clearly seen in Helsinki. Finnish design has also made the country’s capital city world famous. The beauty of the surrounding nature blends seamlessly together with high-tech achievements, while old traditions mix with the latest contemporary trends. The city centre has many beautiful parks, and the nearby forests offer an ideal setting for peaceful and quiet walks.
Helsinki’s rhythm is laid back yet at the same time refreshingly active in terms of both the number and quality of restaurants and nightclubs.Everything is nearby – Helsinki is a pocket-sized metropolis that is ideal for visitors!

Climate

Helsinki is among the world's northernmost capitals and the lengthy winter, from October all the way up to April, is dark and freezing. Winter temperatures average -5°C, but the wind chill makes it feel even colder and the mercury can plunge below -30°C on a particularly cold day. Snow falls only intermittently and, until January, often melts into gray slush.

The brief summer, on the other hand, can be extraordinarily pleasant. Temperatures climb above 25°C, parks burst into green and sunbathing blonde pixies dot the city's beaches.

Islands

Suomenlinna fortress, seen from a passing ferry

A beautiful archipelago (saaristo) surrounds the Helsinki city center. In addition to the major islands listed below, there are scheduled services to many smaller islands, and you can also tour them by sightseeing cruise. Most of the cruises depart from the Western corner of the Market Square and last from one to several hours. Note most ferries and cruises operate only in the summer high season.

• Suomenlinna: The greatest sea fortress on the Baltic, which Sweden ignominiously surrendered without a fight to Russia, ceding Finland as a result. Still living in its own time with only old buildings, few cars, fewer than a thousand inhabitants and lots of old fortifications, catacombs and cast iron cannons, today the sprawling complex houses restaurants, cafes, theaters and museums, and is a very popular place for a picnic on a fine summer day, watching the vast passenger ferries drift by on their way to Estonia and St Petersburg. It was included in Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique monument to European military architecture. Accessible by ferry from Market Square, the HKL ferry is the cheapest and most convenient at €3.80 for a 12-hour tourist return.

• Seurasaari: A pleasant little island to the north of the center, filled with walking trails and authentic old Finnish houses collected from all over the country. An excellent half-day trip, especially in the summer. Entry to the park free, entry into the museum buildings 5€. Take bus 24 from Erottaja at the northern end of Esplanadi to the terminus (20-30 minutes), then walk across the bridge.

• Korkeasaari: A large island in the central Helsinki, connected to dry land. On Korkeasaari lies the Helsinki Zoo with approximately 200 different animal species. A 15-minute ferry connection from Hakaniemi and Market Square; for land access, take bus 11 from the Central Railway Station or Herttoniemi metro station to the zoo gate. Entry to the zoo 5€/3€ adult/child.

• Drink

  

  

  Chilling out at the Arctic Icebar, located at restaurant La Bodega

  Helsinki has plenty of hip places for a drink. The main nightlife districts, all in the city center within crawling distance of each other, are around Iso-Roobertinkatu, the Central Railway Station, and Kamppi. Helsinki's busy gay nightlife is centered around Eerikinkatu and surrounding streets.

  Going out is not cheap, and complaining about the prices is a popular Finnish pastime, but compared to (say) London or New York City the prices aren't that bad. If you are on a budget and intent on getting plastered, follow the Finns and drink up a good "base" at home or hotel before going out on town. Alternatively, you can start the night outside the city centre area and head to Kallio district where bar prices are significantly lower. Popular places include Heinähattu, Roskapankki, Kola and Tauko but there are lots more to choose from. Walking along Helsinginkatu or Vaasankatu will get you past many of them. The sometimes "decadent" bar culture here might not be everyone's cup of tea, though. You can reach Kallio from the center by walking, by tram (lines 1, 3B, 6 or 7B) or by metro (get off at Hakaniemi and walk uphill, or Sörnäinen, and head west). Bars in Kallio usually close at 2AM, whereas in city centre there are many that are open until 4AM.

  Note that, while entry to bars and clubs is often (but not always) free, you must use and pay for the coat check (narikka), usually around €2, if you're wearing anything more than a T-shirt. In many places you must pay even if you don't leave anything at the cloakroom. If a ticket price is advertised, it usually does not cover the coat check.

  The drinking age is 18, and this is rather strictly enforced, so bring along ID. Underaged drinking is still a huge problem, and many bars and clubs apply house limits of 20-24 years, but these are enforced less strictly and a patron of younger age will some times be let in if one fits the clientele, especially women.

  Information on clubs and live performances can be found in free, Finnish-language tabloids such as City which can be picked up at many bars, cafes and shops.

• Map of Helsinki:See the Map http://www.visithelsinki.fi/in_english/map.iw3