Helsinki

Why go

Go because ice-cool, angular Helsinki looks like no other capital in Europe.

When to go

Winters are long and cold in Finland, but they are also fantastic for a wide range of winter sports including skating and cross-country skiing. Summer days are long and the Finns enjoy nothing more than retreating to their summer houses near the sea or lakes and relaxing in unspoilt nature.

Best for

Romance , Restaurants , Shopping

How to get there

Regular flights from London land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which is 19km north of the city. The airport is linked by buses, which take approximately 20 minutes, or there are plenty of taxis available for hire.

Shopping

The streets around Aleksanterinkatu and Esplanadi are the place to head if you’re after some fine examples of Finnish design. For something equally cool at a lower price, there’s a Moomin shop at the Kamp Galleria (Kluuvikatu 4), dedicated to cult Finnish cartoon character. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for then the Stockmann department store (Aleksanterinkatu 52b, +358 (0)9 121 51, www.stockmann.fi) offers a massive choice.

Alternative Perspectives

In most countries you’d expect to learn about the history and culture of a city via museum exhibits and café chatter, but not in Helsinki; here the place to learn about Finland is in the sauna.

Must see

Don’t miss the designs of architect Alvar Aalto who, more than anyone else, has helped to define Helsinki’s 20th-century cityscape. One of his masterpieces is Finlandia Hall, glittering on the shores of Lake Toolonlahti. It’s a distinctly Finnish aspect of a city heavily influenced by Sweden and Russia.

Family activities

Helsinki has a host of attractions suitable for family outings including the Linnanmaki Amusement Park, Helsinki Zoo and several museums that will appeal to children in particular, such as the Natural History Museum.

Sports activities

Mountain Biking , Hiking , Sailing

Local customs

Etiquette. Finns may appear somewhat reserved, but don’t be put off; it is perhaps because they are better listeners than talkers

Tipping. Tipping is not particularly common – service is normally included – but no one would object to a small gratuity.