Although I didn’t fall in love with Helsinki on my first visit two years ago, my second visit to the city is sure to me that the city offers a lot to do with a 48-hour stopover. Fly to Europe together Finnare Second time, I decided to spend two days in Helsinki before embarking on the rest of my European adventures. The cold not only forced me to jet lag, but I also managed to spend a day of comedy with my friends watching the snow fall in the spring! Here’s how I spent 48 hours in Helsinki, one of Europe’s coldest capitals:
Check-in: Hotel Kamp
In the most beautiful part of town at Suuuuuper Swanky, Hotel Kamp has been on my hotel stay list for a long time. Such a hotel makes you feel like Kevin Home and aloneWandering through long, lush corridors, you’ll be rolling up in the Super Lux Suite. There is an indoor pool, so get ready to pack your togs and kick your jet lag before continuing your adventure!
Helsinki Cathedral
Visiting Helsinki usually starts at Helsinki Cathedral and is located in Smackbang, in the heart of the town, offering great insight into Helsinki’s architecture. The cathedral was most often visited early in the morning when the rest of the city was sleeping and you could enjoy the church that was impressive to yourself.
Cafe O’Clock
Helsinki has a powerful emerging coffee and cafe scene so I didn’t waste any time testing them! Scandinavia has built a very strong reputation with the drip coffee, which is most commonly found in Paulig Kulma and Fratello Torrefazione. Other great coffee shops of its own include Johann & Nie Strom (Hipster Hunt), Cafe Feather (Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!!!), and Stringberg for great coffee in casual settings.
Port of Helsinki
The port of Helsinki is one of the city’s most central points and business locations. Here you can visit local markets and wander along the waterfront or enjoy the views from the Ferris Wheel.
Market Hall
Located on the waterfront, it is one of my favourite discoveries from my second visit to Helsinki. Within the market hall you will find a variety of local produce, farm-to-table products, local delicacies, and traditional giftware.
Esplanade
Not too far from the waterfront is the Esplanade, perhaps my favorite area of Helsinki. Here you can find the most luxurious hotels in the city. Hotel Kamp. Nearby you will find a variety of fine dining restaurants and cafes as well as both local and international luxury boutiques. Capelli is a great place to grab lunch, especially in a warm month where you can enjoy outdoor seating. When walking through this part of town, don’t forget to look up – the architecture is amazing!
Experience Finland’s sauna
One of the absolute must-have experiences in Finland is enjoying the traditional Finnish sauna. Many of the hotels in the city have saunas for you to use, but don’t check out Helsinki Day Spa for the full experience. A more traditional way to a more traditional spa (outside the city) is to follow a hot sauna with an icy cold rush into the lake (I tried it once, never again!)
Pastry shops to visit for pick-up
After all the wandering, head to one of these amazing pastry shops and one of the sugary treats called Paulig Kulma, Fazer Cafe, or The Brotued Frangipani Bakery Boutique.
A successful cathedral
Another impressive church in Helsinki from Orthodox faith is Uspenski Cathedral, located near the port. The church is located in the mid-19th century and is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe.
Take a day trip to Tallinn
Just as beautiful as Helsinki, there is an absolute gem of the city, riding a ferry for just two hours. You guessed it: Tallinn, Estonia! The ferries run very often every day and are a great way to return to Helsinki in the late afternoon or evening before spending 6-8 hours a day in Tallinn.
48 hours in Helsinki
Useful information:
Arrived at Helsinki Airport
Helsinki International Airport is a 30-minute drive from the city. The most affordable and convenient way to reach the city is by one of the public buses or Finnar City buses (both prices are the same).
Arrived in Helsinki
The bus will be off at the main station in the centre of the town. For convenience, we recommend booking hotels within the Krubi area.
Early arrival
Are you coming to Helsinki? Below the main station there is a luggage storage locker, which costs between 4-6 euros for 24 hours (depending on the size of the locker you need).
Ferry to Tallinn
Catching the ferry is very simple and affordable. To purchase tickets at the Ferri Dock, it costs 35 euros. It is approximately a 20-30 minute walk from the main station to reach the port.
Money is important
Finland is located in the Euro and ATMs are widely available both at the airport and in the city centre. Most locations will receive credit card payments.