#vibinginHelsinki: Mike's personal guide

Moi, it’s Mike here!

I said previously that I feel like Helsinki is my place to be: it’s a human-sized city, not crowded, very cozy, where vibrant urban life and calm nature co-exist in a mix of cultures and modernity. 

Whenever I have some free time, I try to arrange a Helsinki Day. I usually spend the whole day around the city and get to meet my friends who live in the Capital area; however, I also enjoy hanging out alone and explore the city by myself.

From Porvoo I usually take the bus to Kamppi, the central bus station, where all my Helsinki Days start.

One of downtown's main streets

Around Kamppi you can find five (!) different malls all close to each other and a wide range of shops - which sounds like heaven for a shopaholic like me!  

You can go from one mall to the other through underground passages, so during the cold winters you can enjoy shopping without freezing :) Even though many times my bank account asks for mercy while I'm around there, I really enjoy the city vibes. The most iconic department store is for sure Stockmann; we can say that it’s the Finnish equivalent of Galeries Lafayette in Paris. 

Natural History Museum

Since I am a huge fan of museums, and especially of history, I always try to include one visit during my Helsinki Days. It’s very convenient for students because they usually get big discounts! During my last visit (some days ago), I visited Luonnontieteellinen Museo (the Museum of Natural History): in their exhibitions about Finnish nature, world nature and history of life you can find many taxidermed animals, prehistoric remains, skeletons...

I have already planned my next visit: there’s an exhibition about the last dynasties of the Ancient Egypt in Amos Rex, Helsinki’s art museum.

The food choice around Helsinki is huge, I always spend at least two hours to figure out what to eat 😊. In downtown Helsinki you can find many different restaurants and cafés, with a lot of ethnic choices from all over the world (and I can also taste a real Italian pizza in the finest pizzerias in the city center)!

However, my top pick is to go to Kauppatori, the Market Square. There are a lot of vendors selling fresh fish and many Finnish delicacies, and you can find something very unusual and curious - the first time I’ve been there I tried reindeer kebab (I recommend)!

Suomenlinna

From Kauppatori leaves the ferry to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, a small island in the Helsinki archipelago. There’s a museum, a military base and, most of all, an amazing view on Helsinki, the archipelago, and the Baltic Sea. I love to reach panoramic spots – there are many in Helsinki, sit and enjoy the view! My favorite one is in Kaivopuisto, in the southern part of the city, and there is an amazing view on both the center and the islands around.

Hakaniemi

Sometimes I also go to Hakaniemi, a lovely neighbourood located north of the city centre. I was staying in a hotel there the first time I came to Finland, so I went around Hakaniemi a lot and I know it pretty well.

If I have to do some work or enjoy a book in silence, I love to spend some time in Oodi, Helsinki’s new central library.

Oodi Library

The building itself is very modern and futuristic, and the interior is clean and aesthetically satisfying. The library is an important meeting point for young people in Helsinki because of its big spaces and multiple activities and opportunities.

Helsinki is a lovely city with so much to offer, and although I love living in Porvoo, every time I leave Helsinki by bus, I already miss the vibrant city vibes. 

Looking forward to the next Helsinki Day!

-Mike

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.”

(W. Whitman, Song for Myself)