Things to do in Helsinki when you're dead

[Arwon]

I'm leaving Sydney later today, for the (temporarily) warmer climes of Zaragoza, Spain, for a two semester, year-long exchange at the University of Zaragoza. Very exciting, naturally. Of course, I'm sort of in a low-level panic over the language aspect... everytime somebody attempts to speak to me in Spanish (and it happens surprisingly often in Sydney) I freeze up and panic and yell DON'T DO THAT TO ME at them.

Hopefully total immersion in a place without a huge number of English speakers will remind me that I do, actually, know a decent amount of Spanish and force that two and a half years of study to resurface.

ANYWAYS. My flight is stopping in Helsinki and I'm spending two nights there. It seems a satisfyingly obscure place to start a European odessy, but I have NO idea what is there to see. I'm thinking of taking a ferry to Talinn just to say I have. Any other suggestions?

 

[Ansar]

I'm leaving Sydney later today, for the (temporarily) warmer climes of Zaragoza, Spain, for a two semester, year-long exchange at the University of Zaragoza. Very exciting, naturally. Of course, I'm sort of in a low-level panic over the language aspect... everytime somebody attempts to speak to me in Spanish (and it happens surprisingly often in Sydney) I freeze up and panic and yell DON'T DO THAT TO ME at them.

Hopefully total immersion in a place without a huge number of English speakers will remind me that I do, actually, know a decent amount of Spanish and force that two and a half years of study to resurface.

ANYWAYS. My flight is stopping in Helsinki and I'm spending two nights there. It seems a satisfyingly obscure place to start a European odessy, but I have NO idea what is there to see. I'm thinking of taking a ferry to Talinn just to say I have. Any other suggestions?

Go and visit Hitti-Litti!

Btw, have fun in Spain!

 

[frob2900]

Depends on what your interests are. Helsinki's a national capital, so of course theres the requisite museums and art galleries etc. (I can't vouch for them) There also some historical stuff like Suomenlinna (a big naval fortress built by the swedes ca 1750). I saw it when I was around 10, so I can't really recall if it was awesome.

Shoppingwise there's a bunch of places like the Stockmann department store (I rather like it) and Kamppi center, but I guess a shopping spree won't be on the top of your list unless you want to furnish your room at the university with a bunch of souvenirs from finland.

If you like wining and dining I'm afraid I can't help much; I usually eat at McDs or a cheap pizza buffet when I'm there

Actually, to be honest, imo Helsinki isn't much of a city. Most of it is rather cluttered and ugly (only the area around the university looks good) and if you really want to experience the best of this region of the baltic (which is characterized by a very beautiful archipelago), a ferry trip is probably a better idea.

In addition to the Tallinn trip, theres a possibility of taking a trip to Stockholm and back. You probably won't have time to stay long in actual Stockholm, but if you do have two nights to spare, the trip would fit well in to your schedule (the Helsinki-Stockholm ferry trip takes ca 16 hours, so roughly 32 hours total travel time). Personally I think the trip itself is worth doing once.

In any case, I think it's the same company, Tallink that runs both the main Helsinki-Tallinn and Helsinki-Stockholm ferry routes.

 

[Atticus]

Actually, to be honest, imo Helsinki isn't much of a city.

That's quite true, but I'd neither go to Stockholm to stay for a couple of hours.

Most of it is rather cluttered and ugly

But this isn't true, the beautiness of Helsinki isn't just that obvious. Like every where else it's best grasped if you just go walking around and try some smaller streets too. I think tourist information deals out free street maps, which might be of use.

Sightseeing and everything like that is boring, at least in Helsinki. Suomenlinna is a good place to go, and Helsinki cathedral is very beautiful. If you go see it, visit also a very nice second hand bookstore on an alley other side of the Senate square (Sofiankatu is the alley, once you find it you can't miss the store). There's English books too, so you'll have something to read while in the ferry to Tallinn.

 

[frob2900]

But this isn't true, the beautiness of Helsinki isn't just that obvious. Like every where else it's best grasped if you just go walking around and try some smaller streets too. I think tourist information deals out free street maps, which might be of use.

Sorry, disagree. Helsinki city center is pug-ugly compared to most cities. Especially when walking around. Away from the city center, yeah ok, but then again theres nothing that really distinguishes it to me as "beautiful". At least not in the sense of e.g. Stockholm.

[EDIT] I should add that there are some architecturally nice buildings, like the railway station, but I don't feel like they fit into the city plan very well. Hence the term "ugly".

Helsinki cathedral is very beautiful.[/URL]

I agree that it's impressive from the outside, but its completely pathetic on the inside, and for that I shall never forgive it.

 

[Atticus]

I agree that it's impressive from the outside, but its completely pathetic on the inside, and for that I shall never forgive it.

Might be, I don't usually go inside churches.

It seems that we hold different esthetic values on cities. I'm not so much into pompous Stockholm buildings, but like more average or even "ugly" buildings like these:

Spoiler :

Or the contrast between old and "beautiful" and new and "ugly" like this:

Spoiler :

It's of course true that places where you can't find this kind of beautiness are rare, but it doesn't mean that these places aren't beautiful.

 

[frob2900]

It seems that we hold different esthetic values on cities. I'm not so much into pompous Stockholm buildings, but like more average or even "ugly" buildings like these:

The first picture actually looks like a Stockholm view, at least as soon as you get away from the Gamla Stan / NK areas. It also kind of reminds me of Turku.

Or the contrast between old and "beautiful" and new and "ugly" like this:

Nah, the second picture is exactly why I think Helsinki is awful. All it makes me think of is grey/black snow, wet shoes, traffic noise and cold, damp weather.

 

[Atticus]

Well I guess nobody likes dampness, coldness and gray snow, but the pictures were more to illustrate what kind of beautiness you can find from Helsinki. At winter it's boring place because there's not enough snow to spread light around, and after work/studies/something people just go home and stay there. Inland cities in north are more fun at winter.

But Arwon, do not despair, there wont be gray snow for months! Just gray skies.

 

[bombshoo]

Well I don't want to threadjack, and Im not traveling to Finland,this is relavent anyways and Im curious, whats Finnish food like?

 

[Atticus]

"I have been to Finland and I have had to endure Finnish food"
-Silvio Berlusconi

"After Finland, [Britain is] the country with the worst food."
-Jacques Chirac

It of course depends on what you are used to. Many foreigners (and Finns too) say it's tasteless. I think it's good, it won't blow your mind, but it's good and edible. Basic and close to earth.

 

[GVBN]

Helsinki is the ugliest capital in Europe and Finnish food gives you food poisoning

 

[Hitti-Litti]

Go and visit Hitti-Litti!

Yeah, it's only 200 kilometres...

Just travel around the city, see what you like and go there. Don't go to Tallinn with a ferry unless you want to see a ferry full of drunk Finns singing karaoke(you don't want). I suggest Suomenlinna, it's a neat place. Or take a train somewhere(to Kouvola!) and stay there for a night and come back.

Do you need help in learning Finnish swear words?

 

[Love]

Helsinki is a HELLHOLE!

 

[kuukkeli]

Helsinki is a HELLHOLE!

Maybe even a Hellmouth. I think I saw bunch of demons and vampires the last time I visited there

 

[Princeps]

Helsinki is the poopy-hole of Finland. Don't go there.

 

[Jawz II]

Why shocks, now I have to go there to see for myself, even though that means Ill have to take the dreaded stockholm ferry there.

That ferry = place of brain damaged youth and drunken middle aged matin rituals. *shudders*

PS. you could go to talinn and have your carrot polished for cheap.

 

[Mathilda]

1. How old are you?
2. When are you going to be here?
3. What sort of things would you show someone from Sidney in two days?

 

[Ansar]

2. When are you going to be here?

He's in Finland already!

 

[Love]

Helsinki is the most boring place on earth (exept solna)

 

[kuukkeli]

Helsinki is the most boring place on earth (exept solna)

Never been to other Finnish "metropolises" I guess. I lived my first 18 years in Pori (that's Björneborg for you I suppose) and I can assure you that it's far more boring place than Helsinki.