Helsinki was part of our Scandinavian trip through Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. While Stockholm gets most of the attention and Copenhagen gets most of the hype, Helsinki has a personality all its own. Especially coming from the Pacific Northwest, we were surprised how similar it felt to Bellingham, Washington.
We spent our time wandering between many of Helsinki's best-known sights, including Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Hakaniemi Market Hall, and the Old Market Hall. Like much of Scandinavia, Helsinki does a great job of blending historic architecture with modern design, and some of our favorite moments were simply walking through the city without much of an agenda.
The food ended up being one of the highlights. Our first dinner introduced us to several Finnish classics, including reindeer, wild mushrooms, and lingonberries. Throughout the trip we found ourselves gravitating toward hearty Nordic dishes and seafood, including more than one bowl of salmon soup.
One experience that absolutely lived up to the hype was Löyly Sauna. After spending time in the sauna, guests can cool off with a plunge into the Baltic Sea before heading back inside and repeating the process. After trying it ourselves, we quickly understood why sauna culture is such a big part of life in Finland.
We also spent time exploring Helsinki's Design District, browsing independent shops and cafés that reinforced the city's reputation for good design. That combination of thoughtful architecture, excellent coffee, and easy access to the water gave Helsinki a personality that felt distinctly its own.
Helsinki may not have the headline attractions of cities like London, Paris, or Rome, but that's not really the point. It's a city that's easy to enjoy, easy to navigate, and full of small moments that add up over a few days. If there's one thing we'd recommend to every visitor, it's making time for Löyly.