Birthday destination: Finland
Expect unexpected. Three days itinerary to Helsinki.
In partnership with Finnair and Visit Finland
Time to share some more details about my amazing time in Finland. I flew to Helsinki to experience new @feelfinnair stopover service - now if you fly to Asia or North America you can spend a few days exploring Finland at no extra cost. So below I’ve put the best things you can do in the capital in 2-3 days.
Day 1
On the morning of August 15th I was welcomed at Helsinki-Vantaa airport and shortly arrived at Lilla Roberts Hotel, an Art Deco-themed boutique hotel in the very central of the city. After the breakfast we drove to Töölönlahti for a Helsinki tour with Urban SUP boarding. I had many different city tours, but Sup board tour for the first time - perfect way to combine an adventure with the city overview. Tired and excited we had lunch at Story Kauppahalli . After I visited Kiasma, museum of contemporary art. Highly recommended if you’re an art lover.
For our first dinner we were invited at Wino Kallio, a ‘new wave’ restaurant with a fine list of natural wines and delicious food. Neighbourhood of Kallio is also called ‘Hackney of Helsinki’, definitely worth checking out if you into craft coffee, good food and East London vibes. A short walk from Kallio is Linnanmäki, the adventure part with the best sunset views. We embarked the famous vintage wooden wooden rollercoaster and it was the best end of the day.
Day 2
The population of Finland is about 5 million people and there are 2,5 million of saunas in the country - needless to say, Finns know everything about them. We spent a day in Löyly, an urban oasis occupying a stretch of beautiful Helsinki waterfront. While Löyly is an exceptional architecture piece in a unique location, it is the sustainability and green approach that sets it apart. Everything from the choice of building materials to the menu was chosen with the environment in mind. The main part of Löyly is of course it’s already famous sauna. We visited smoke and traditional rooms, had a dip in the sea and ate the most delicious lunch. I slept for the rest of the day and woke up as a new person just in time for the dinner.
Dinner at Ultima by Tommi Tuominen
90 per cent of Ultima’s ingredients are Finnish. They source them as locally as possible, some of them are grown hyper locally, at the restaurant. Ultima is a sustainable and experimental restaurant and, as they state on their website, aim for sustainable hedonism and thus excited to be able to use the most innovative food and farming technologies. Definitely the one to visit if you fancy an evening of exceptional fine dining experience.
Day 3
Seventy percent of Finland is covered by forest which means you don’t even need to leave the capital to spend a day in the wild. It was an exciting day when we joined the legendary squirrel whisperer @kpunkka for a walk in Seurasaari. All you need to have is a bag of peanuts and a bit of patience. I must admit it was quite an experience to come that close to wild animals: birds, squirrels and even foxes!
Sailing in Helsinki
You might have heard that Finland is ‘the Land of a Thousand Lakes’, but did you know that Finland also has a coastline strewn with tens of thousands of islands? Finland’s Baltic coast is a perfect travel destination for anyone looking for a sailing experience. Whether you are looking for a sailing trip or a few hours tour the offers are here. We chose a classic 1920s ship trip. You don't have to be a sailor, just sit back with a glass of champagne and enjoy the views of beautiful marinas.
Sunset dinner at Lonna
Once a base for storing and clearing mines, the island is now a refuge where visitors can leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind them. Our ship moored at the Lonna’s jetty and we spend the rest of the day here. We enjoyed locally sourced, organic dinner at the restaurant and watched the most gorgeous sunset in Helsinki from the beach. There is also a 5 star public sauna, coffee shopand a bar. Perfect way to finish our Helsinki visit. See you soon, Finland!
