Helsinki Travel Guide - Activities

After the invigoration of winter sports, you’ll find many locals sitting at street bars, covered in a rug and sipping hot spiced wine (‘gloggi’), to get back a bit of body warmth. Throughout the year, the city is an ideal walking destination, with the fascinating sights of the centre framed underneath the towers of the principal cathedrals.

Finnish sauna: in a country with a population of just over five million, you’ll find more than one million saunas. A traditional Finnish sauna involves sitting back and relaxing on a wooden bench, while pouring water over hot coals to create steam. This tradition is an integral part of Finnish life and if invited to someone’s home, don’t be surprised if you find their house or apartment fitted with a small sauna in the bathroom.

Swimming: Helsinki has a number of good beaches and among them are those at Mustikkamaa, Pihlajasaari and Uunisaari; and a beach at Hietaniemi that is particularly popular with younger people. You’ll also find a number indoor pools, the oldest and most well-known being Yrjonkatu Uimahalli, which allows nude swimming.

Skiing: this is the ultimate destination for skiing, with conditions in Finland ranking among the best in the world. The season is a long one and trails are well-groomed. The best months for skiing in the north of Finland are March and April, when you can enjoy up to 16 hours of daylight. Early winter, known as kaamos, is a time when the sun doesn’t shine at all: this has a special attraction for skiers who are looking to experience something a bit different.