Back by popular demand – another CliffsNotes version showcasing our adventures in Europe – this time in Helsinki, Finland.  Fair warning, this is a picture heavy post!

Arrival

Gabe and I took a €10 Eckero line Ferry from Tallinn, Estonia up to Helsinki, and loved every minute of the just over 2-hour journey.  We didn’t expect much for that price, but the ferry had a nice lounge with live music, a casino, cafeteria with extensive buffet (get the Swedish meatballs), kids’ play area, beautiful views on deck (though it was freezing), and shopping areas.  They accept credit cards on board so you don’t have to worry about currency, and they offer lockers you can rent for €4 to store your luggage if you don’t want to lug it all over the ship with you.  Highly recommend this mode of transport if you’re wanting to see Estonia and/or Finland.

Though we didn’t take the train, we did walk around the train station for a while, just because it was cool looking!

Accommodations

After just finishing a wonderful experience at the Red Emperor Hostel in Tallinn, we were looking forward to trying out another highly rated hostel in Helsinki called Eurohostel.   The good ratings are well-deserved – it was clean, had good wi-fi, a nice breakfast, was 50 feet from the tram stop and had a free morning sauna!  The staff at the reception were very friendly and the hostel did not have a party vibe – it was quiet and felt more like a hotel.  This was perfect for us, but don’t book a room here looking to make connections with other travelers, because the setup doesn’t really lend itself to that.  Definitely start your day with the sauna if you can (and if nudity doesn’t bother you).  It’s invigorating and a great way to warm up before you brave the chilly weather.

Transportation

Trams are the easiest way to get around here.  It cost €14 per person to get from the port to our hostel, but the other Trams around the city were much cheaper.  They rarely seemed to validate our tickets, so they must trust that everyone will be honest and buy a ticket.  Some of the trams got quite crowded during rush hour, but overall we enjoyed using them all over the city for places that were too far to walk.  They run often and stay on schedule, so don’t waste money on a taxi.

Artsy

Looking for something a little different?  Head on over to the Sibelius Monument and learn a little history.  Sibelius was a famous Finnish composer and the monument is meant to symbolize his music.  It was in a neat park right by the water.

You’ll also enjoy the creative street art scattered throughout the city.  We just happened upon these while out exploring!

Tourist Trap

Cafe Regatta wins the award for being the most fraught with tourists, but we still enjoyed going.  It’s an adorable but tiny place to warm up with some fresh cinnamon buns and hot chocolate!

Fitness & Health

Don’t miss the traditional Finnish saunas.  As I mentioned, they have the type you have probably seen before in most of the hotels and hostels, but there’s more!  Since it stays light long into the evening (if you go in Spring) you’ll have plenty of time to visit an outdoor sauna like Loyly and maybe even take a polar plunge in the Baltic Sea!  Get some swimming in between your stints detoxing in the saunas and you’ll get the blood flowing!

Bites & Brews

Ravintola Base Camp – Amazing Nepalese food – get the lamb momos (dumplings)!

Karl Fazer Cafe –  The best chocolate cake of my life, along with many other sweets (they even had overnight oats with chia seeds)

Il Birrifico  – Their Gose was on point.  The Joker didn’t hurt either

Soma – There are only a few places in the US that I’ve found Sushi burritos, so I was completely geeking out to find them in Helsinki. This variety had purple potatoes and did not disappoint!

Off The Beaten Path

On our last night there, Gabe surprised me by taking me to a “secret bar” called Trillby & Chadwick.  You need a password to get in, and once you do, no pictures are allowed.  If you go, try the Red White Lie or the AM to PM (both were delicious cocktails).  This was a former police station turned into a speakeasy and they like to maintain the mysterious atmosphere.  Very fun evening spot!

If you need a peaceful respite in the midst of your exploring, visit Kampii Chapel

Natural Beauty

Take the Ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress.  It is only 15 minutes from downtown Helsinki and about €5 per person.  We spent a few hours just exploring and enjoying the scenery.