In a little over a month, we’ll be visiting Helsinki for an extended weekend! I’ll be in Finland anyway for a conference, so it’s the perfect opportunity to spend time in the city that was named the 2012 World Design Capital. And quite honestly, the more I read (like here, here, and here) about all Helsinki has to offer, the more excited I become! To channel that excitement into something productive, I’ve put together a short wish list of things to see while we’re there:
1. The Sibelius Monument: Dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, this monument would be simply amazing to see in person.
2. The Temppeliaukio Church: Carved directly into the bedrock in the heart of the city, with a glazed dome ceiling to let in natural light and fantastic acoustics. Looks so cool, right?
3. The Ateljee Bar at the top of the Sokos Hotel Torni: Mein Schatz loves discovering a city’s tallest rooftop bar so we can drink cocktails and enjoy the view — so I think this is going to be a hit with him!
4. A picnic on the beaches of Suomenlinna: This small island is also a maritime fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yes, please.
5. Wander through the Design District and visit the Design Museum: I’ve developed a love of Scandinavian design these past few years living in Europe, so this is a must.
6. A visit to the Kotiharjun Public Sauna: It wouldn’t really be a trip to Finland without visiting a Finnish sauna, now would it? I’ve been told that Kotiharjun is the last public sauna in Helsinki that still heats with wood. And BYOB.
I’ve gathered some other hot tips (from @Vaasankatu), including: a good sushi place, a walk around Lammassaari (Sheep’s Island), getting drinks along Vaasankatu, checking out the ongoing waterfront building project of Kalasatama, and Ihana Kahvila for great coffee. I’ve also been told that salmon soup, chanterelles, and smoked salmon and cloud berries are definite must-eats while we’re there (thanks, Christine).
Sounds like we’re going to have more than enough to see during our visit to Helsinki — I can’t wait!
What are your favorite sights and recommendations for Helsinki? For Finland? Have you ever visited a Finnish sauna?