Advantages: Great architecture, good food, lots to do Disadvantages: Closure of many attractions in the off season, expensive by UK prices
Helsinki was not my choice. My partner had for a long time wanted to visit Finland's capital (he collects capital cities) and so I treated him for his 40th birthday. I wasn't against the idea, I just didn't really know anything about the place. We did buy a Lonely Planet well in advance of the trip but since we were also planning to visit Estonia my mind was focused more on my beloved Eastern Europe than on Finland. All I set out with was my pre-conceived ... ...capital though I knew that Helsinki is a city with a strong maritime background.
There is a band called "Architecture in Helsinki"; I don't know much about them other than that I have often thought it a good name. Having now seen much of Helsinki's architecture I appreciate that it is a fabulous name for a band. It is impossible to visit Helsinki and not comment on the architecture to your traveling companion at least several times a day. It is ...
fizzytom 05.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Helsinki (Finland)
Advantages: Friendly. Fresh. Not too far to travel. Disadvantages: Not cheap.
...bus that takes you to Helsinki central can be picked up from just outside the terminal building. Come straight out of the main doors, over the small crossing and you'll find Stand 1A, this is what you are looking for. Have a couple of quid in Finnish currency for the driver. I'd felt cooped-up on the flight so we jumped in a taxi instead. I'd already done my research and knew the ride should cost no more than a tenner. This one cost £15. Then again, ... ...everything. The largest store in Helsinki and probably Finland, complete with fully stocked supermarket! Buy your beers from here to replace the mini-bar, that is if you can beat the mini-bar maid. Local beer works out about 70p for a 36cl bottle; ciggies £2.30 (local brand) and a bottle of Chardonnay around a fiver. Oh Yeah! and the cheese sarnie £3.00. Comparable pricing to back home really, in fact everything in Helsinki price-wise is more or ...
Trev15 13.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Helsinki (Finland)
Advantages: Plenty to do if you're on a weekend city break Disadvantages: Almost 3 quid for a 400 ml beer
...to when you go to Helsinki (they pretend to offer much in the way of cheap flights, but it ain't necessarily so). Despite leaving from Birmingham instead of Stansted (dahn sahf). It was still an early get out for the Lufthansa flight via Munich for me and my long suffering travel buddy, Mr. Adrian Dowd. Commuter flight. Good nosh. ***
26 Apr. 2002: I have resurrected this series of opinions "The Scruffy Shoe Diaries" to beef up and re-write bits ... ...nice neat series. Helsinki has been updated with prices in Euro. I've also added a few more details and tweaked some of the writing. For those seeking information and armchair travellers alike. ***
Dateline - September 2000. Helsinki was bright, warm and far too clean. Although I'm led to believe it's not always this warm. It took just a small amount of organisation to ensure that the airport bus (runs at regular intervals from Helsinki-Vantaa until ...
Paiceyjohn 24.10.2001 (04.05.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Helsinki (Finland)
Advantages: It's a 'different' place to visit!! Disadvantages: Seems expensive!!
...Do get a copy of Helsinki This Week from your hotel or the main Tourist Information Centre near the Harbour. The main events and information are now online at the Tourist Information (www.hel.fi.tourism) and Helsinki Expert (www.helsinkiexpert.fi) websites.
In the summer do catch the PUB Tram, it is a converted tram, and it goes on a sightseeing tour, so you can really enjoy watching the world go by! Unfortunately not included in the normal Helsinki ... ...like museums, look into the Helsinki Card, it does have a few other discounts. If you only want to get around it’s worth checking out the HKL Transport Tourist cards; these only cover transport on buses, trams and ferries in the city centre (doesn’t include the airport).
Tallinn is worth a trip, but at busy times the ferries at the right times for a day trip book up well in advance. Helsinki Tourism have a sheet listing the ferry operators and approximate ...
meagainxyz 09.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Helsinki (Finland)
Advantages: not too big, exotic, nice people, seaside town(cruises to Sweden), great airport... Disadvantages: a bit Expensive I guess
...Joensuu and comparing to that Helsinki seems very big and interesting! And of course many of my friends live there and my cousins, so I have spent there many memorable moments. Last year I had to take some exams there in Helsinki and of course I travelled through Helsinki many times(most flies leave from Helsinki if you're travelling somewhere outside Finland), I guess I spent many days in Helsinki. Just walking there, doing a little shopping and ... ...London I would probably choose Helsinki as my hometown! It's not too big, it's not that crowded like most cities in Europe are and it's beautiful. Air is guite a clean and shopping great. And I think it's exotic enough for tourist, beside through Helsinki you can visit lost of more exotic places, like take a plane to Lapland etc. ...
tanssi 07.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Helsinki (Finland)
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