{"id":1117,"date":"2019-04-26T09:11:50","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T08:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturetravels.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1117"},"modified":"2022-11-03T10:26:58","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T10:26:58","slug":"what-to-do-with-a-day-in-helsinki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturetravels.co.uk\/blog\/what-to-do-with-a-day-in-helsinki\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do With A Day In Helsinki"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bob from the Nature Travels team spends a day exploring Finland\u2019s capital in May as part of his visit to some of our new experiences in Finland.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twelve Hours in Helsinki<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The night train from Oulu (on which I had spent a restful night in unaccustomed luxury, in a private cabin with en-suite shower and toilet! \u2013 thank you VR Finnish Railways!) pulled into Helsinki station at just after 7am on a beautiful May morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d been provided with a 24-hour Helsinki Card city pass to try out (48 and 72-hour passes are also available), so before I went to bed the night before, I\u2019d browsed through the brochure that comes with the card and planned my day. The Helsinki Card offers unlimited use of public transport and free or reduced price admission to many of Helsinki\u2019s attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Jussi Helst\u00e9n\/Visit Finland<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As not much is open in Helsinki before 9am (or 10 or 11 for some of the attractions), I had a couple of hours to kill, so I wandered through the wide, quiet streets towards the water, where I settled down on a park bench in the morning sunshine for a snooze with a view, looking out across the shining blue Baltic Sea to some of the islands that fringe the shore and watching the sailing boats glide by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon it was time to potter along the seafront to the main harbour for the Beautiful Canal Route sightseeing cruise, which is one of the many things that are free with the Helsinki Card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cruise is not so aptly named, actually, as rather than canals, the majority of the trip takes in some of the nearest of the gorgeous archipelago islands that lie just off the coast, but it\u2019s great for a taster of archipelago life and a basic history lesson on Helsinki\u2019s turbulent past. Prepare to be just a little jealous at how nice the Helsinkians have it when you see the idyllic summer houses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Juho Kuva\/Visit Finland<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not a huge art fan, but I do enjoy a look at a gallery or two in any city I visit, so after a spin on the SkyWheel (Helsinki\u2019s version of the London Eye), it was time for some culture as I headed back towards the station for the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Whatever your view on modern art (mine ranges from \u201cclever\u201d to \u201crubbish\u201d), it\u2019s always fun. The Kiasma is well worth a visit, and once again free with the Helsinki Card. Prepare to blush if you\u2019re caught staring too long at some of the rather naughty photos currently on exhibit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Jussi Helst\u00e9n\/Visit Finland<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With my flight time approaching, my day in Helsinki was already drawing to a close and I hadn\u2019t yet bought the goodies I\u2019d promised to take back to the office (in the end I settled on some licquorice and a bag of something wonderfully named Suffeli Puffi), but I still had time for a quick trip to the Ateneum Art Museum, just a couple of hundred metres away and right next to the railway station. Here they had a fascinating exhibition of photographic portraits of rural and urban Finns in the mid-1960s taken by Ilmo. I have to say this turned out to be the highlight of the day. Oh and you\u2019ve guessed it, entrance is free with the Helsinki Card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then it was time to board the airport bus, wishing I had another day or two to spend \u2013 but with the recent addition of Finland to the Nature Travels portfolio, I\u2019ll be back soon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, some top tips for Helsinki? Here are 8 things I really liked, and one I didn\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Things I Like About Helsinki:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n