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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Helsinki enjoys warm and sunny summers with temperatures reaching the 70s (F) and up to 19 hours of daylight. By October temperatures have dropped to the 40s and the days are shorter. November marks the beginning of the cold, snowy winter. The shortest days have six hours of daylight, and temperatures are in the teens and 20s in January and February.
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Peak Season:
The glorious Helsinki summer is the peak tourism season and when most travelers book flights to Helsinki. June through September has mild weather and long sunny days. Many of the Finns take their vacations in July, which means many restaurants are closed, but the markets are busy and the outdoor cafes are set up. A major arts festival is held in August, and there are smaller performances throughout the month.
Off Season:
Finland is busy in winter with snow activities but it's also when cheap flights to Helsinki and discounted accommodations can be found. The winter weather can be exhilarating, and the long dark nights are the perfect backdrop for the Northern Lights.
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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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The compact center of Helsinki is best explored on foot. The bus, tram, and subway public transportation system is extensive with frequent service during the day Monday through Saturday. Evening and Sunday service is less frequent. The Helsinki Kortti provides unlimited travel on public transportation, free admission to many museums, and other discounts.
Taxis are typically called or picked up at a stand, but are hard to come by during rush hour. Taxis are reliable and the fares tend to be high.
Driving is not recommended only because the parking is so limited. However, bicycling is a great way to get around the city. Bicycle paths are well marked and of good quality. The free Citybikes are available for a deposit which is refunded when the bike is returned. Bike rentals are also available.
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- Tipping is not the norm in Finland and is not expected. Prices in restaurants can seem relatively high, but remember that you don’t need to leave any tip at the end of the meal. The same is true for hotels and taxis.
- The image of Scandinavians taking saunas all the time isn’t just a stereotype. The population of Finland is around five million, and the country has 1.5 million saunas. Many private houses have saunas and almost all guesthouses will. Finns take saunas a few times a week. Before you join them, it’s best to know some basic sauna etiquette. Don’t expect to find mixed-sex saunas. Apart from with family members, locals will always take separate saunas. In fact, there are no mixed public saunas in the country. If you’re not sure when to move between the steam room, the washing room and the open air follow one of the locals. And remember that clothes are often optional.
- During the summer months, members of the Helsinki tourist information are available on the streets for advice and maps. Dressed in green T-shirts, with a big “i” on the front, they patrol all the main tourist areas. Most speak at least four languages, so approach them with your questions…
- There are more than 80 museums in Helsinki, offering everything from art and design to sport. If you’re planning on visiting one, be aware that all museums are shut on Mondays.
- There is an ice park in the city center open from the start of winter all the way through to March. It is situated on Railway Square. Friday evenings are for romantic skating, Saturday evenings are for an “Ice club” and Sunday is the day for families. Special events also take place.
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