For a capital city, Helsinki is far from flashy. Instead, booking flights to Helsinki is more like booking flights home for the holidays. There are no high-rise buildings in this small-town city and 19th century architecture remains the city’s landscape. Helsinki is Finland’s culture center and financial and economic hub. Because of its abundance of green parks, neoclassical architecture and open-air markets and cafes, summer travelers will do well booking flights to Helsinki. Grab your best walking shoes and start exploring this compact city – you’ll find there’s more to Helsinki than meets the eye.
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Finland may seem to have a typical northern European climate, but many people don’t know about the country’s ultra long days of sunshine in the summer. Reaching up to 19 hours of daylight in the months between June and September, summer makes for the perfect time to book flights to Finland. While cheap flights to Finland and discount hotel accommodations are likely found in the winter months,warm summers average temperatures in the 70’s, and as soon as October rolls around, they drop to the high 40’s. Snow beings to fall in November, as winter brings much shorter days and Finland sees freezing temperatures in the teens during both January and February.
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To take advantage of the constant daylight, arrange for flights to Helsinki in August, when the warmth of daylight allows for many outdoor adventures.
Peak Season: While summer tourism hauls in the crowds, be careful when you book your flights to Helsinki. Although July brings sunny skies and good conditions, it also means vacation time for locals, leaving restaurants and other business closed for weeks. If you do find yourself wanting to travel in July though, you’ll still find places to go, as markets and cafes teem with visitors. To air on the side of caution though, to visit in June, when the sun makes its debut, or August, when art festivals take over the city.
Off-peak Season: Bringing in fewer visitors than the summer does, winter in the city still has its perks. For a less hectic visit, and for cheaper flights to Helsinki, consider going in the colder months and braving the snow. Outdoor activities can dominate your day, while gazing up at the Northern lights can occupy your evenings.
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Numerous buses run to and from the Helsinki city center with regular departures. Bus travel takes about half an hour. Taxis are available at ranks outside the Arrivals hall of both domestic and international terminals.
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Once your Helsinki flight touches down, buses and taxis are your best bets on the ground. Buses, trams, and subways all have extensive route systems and regular departures.
The most you’ll spend on any mode of transportation within the city is approximately 30 minutes, and the fastest times to ride are weekdays, since nights and weekends are a bit less frequent. To save money for a single ride or family pass, buy a Helsinki Kortti, which will give you unlimited travel on public transit, discounts and even free admission to some of the city’s most popular destinations.
Taxis have their good and bad sides. On one hand, they provide a safe ride from one place to another, and a great alternative to seeking out a train schedule, or walking in an unknown place. On the other hand, finding one anywhere close to rush hour is near impossible, and although they remain reliable, they also remain pricey.
A great independent eco-friendly option for Helsinki travel is to rent a bike. Paths are clearly marked and well preserved with safe conditions. Renting a free city bike requires a deposit that is refunded upon the bike’s safe and timely return.
Driving is a difficult feat, and parking is even more challenging. Despite the selection of transport, Helsinki is really best explored on foot.
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National Gallery: For the art-lover, there’s no better place to experience Finnish artwork than the Alteneum (National Gallery). Built in 1887, the façade of the Gallery looks like continuous rows of windows, and if the outside doesn’t impress you, the inside surely will. Filled to the brim with paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to the 1950s, this collection is truly worth an entire day of your trip. Inside, you’ll find classics like Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, and other specialties by leaders like Van Gogh, Gaugin, and Cezanne. For a break midday, head right downstairs and wander into the café, bookshop, or reading room. If you purchase a print, be sure leave ample packing room for it on your return Helsinki flight so you don’t damage the artwork.
Kids: If you’re traveling with your children in Helsinki, you’re in luck, because this city is incredibly kid-friendly. While kids may have tossed and turned on the flight to Helsinki, they’ll be happily stimulated once they hit the ground. Charm the little ones with rides on friendly ferryboat and waterbus cruises that link the islands with the biggest tourist attractions. Obtaining a Helsinki card gets them free admission and reduced rates to museums and sights. Other options are the Helsinki Zoo, the model-shop collection at the Ehrensvard Museum, and the outdoor 1952 Olympic Stadium.
Botanical gardens: For a breath of fresh air after your flight to Helsinki, take a five-minute walk from the central station to see the the beautiful displays of flora in the Botanical Gardens. Located in the heart of the University of Helsinki, and overflowing with colorful shrubs and vivid flowers, ornamentals, and indigenous trees, this natural prize is the perfect place to collect your thoughts and center while absorbing the organic scenery. Greenhouses on the grounds have reopened after long-time renovations, and are rumored to be better than ever. Another kid-friendly venture, the Botanical Gardens are free for children under seven-years-old.
Hietalahden tori: If the shopping bug hits during your Helsinki travel, head straight to Hietalahden Tori, an outdoor flea market located at Bulevardi and Hietalahdenkatu. Open early mornings to late afternoons (but not on Sundays), the market offers a wide selection of unique products from new to used. Once you’re done outside, take a step inside to experience the fast-paced version or food stables and flower vendors, among a multitude of other cultural items.
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