Helsinki, Finland
66%
66%
What's Hot
Getting Around, Sightseeing, Culture, Weather
Getting Around, Sightseeing, Culture, Weather
What's Not
Value For Money, Eating Out, Partying, Shopping
Value For Money, Eating Out, Partying, Shopping
( Click on the tags to see related Helsinki reviews )
Design, Food, Modern culture, Quiet, Shopping, Theatre, good transport, quiet in the night time, shopping not great
Also Check Out …
B&bs
Bars
Helsinki Reviews ( 47 reviews )
| Helsinki Reviews |
by glennsallis
| 7 Oct 2006 | 40% |
 |
Seemed quite dull and boring but it\'s not fair to say as I was only there for one night! |
|
|
|
by Carmel
| 30 Apr 2007 | 80% |
 |
Helsinki is a quiet seaside city, that’s got a great public transport system, great coffees and pastries but is it quiet! You can pretty much walk around the city in a half day, theres some cool Russian Orthodox churches to take some nice pictures of, the City Hall is cool. The market on the seafront has really good and cheap food. You can take a boat trip out to the island Suomenlinna which is pretty nice, its an old fortress still inhabited today. |
|
|
|
by catarina
| 1 May 2007 | 100% |
 |
The Finns always seem to go their own way... so Helsinki is unique. Great for independent designer shopping, odd bars and cafes and for culture. Kiasma the museum is great and so are the theatres. A bit quiet in the evenings maybe, but if you know where you're going all the fun is inside. |
|
|
|
by annamilja
| 29 Aug 2006 | 80% |
|
I visit Helsinki quite frequently. Weather was great for end of August, surprisingly warm, even at night! Beutiful city in the summer time and almost everything is walking distance. |
|
|
|
by Kamanigil
| 10 Jun 2006 | 40% |
|
Nice safe city for a female traveller. A bit like Stockholm but far nicer! |
|
|
|
by MMM2888
| 11 Feb 2007 | 80% |
|
Despite the ratings I´ve given it I quite liked Helsinki, even though there isnt a huge amount to do their, I am a little over museums. It is quite picturesque with the harbour all frozen, and although it was cold, most days had fined up by lunch time |
|
|
|
by ellielas
| 29 May 2006 | 80% |
|
I could live in Helsinki, the people were extremely nice and helpful,. the design centers, Kiasma art museum, market hall and senate square were all great and worth seeing. Weekly papers in English guided us to some nightlife, but I know there was a lot more we just didn't have time for. If any traveller wants a break from the old towns and guided tours of other european cities, Helsinki is a great stop to expeirience a real live city |
|
|
|
by andrewv
| 7 Jul 2006 | 100% |
|
Great city in the summer (I'm sure this changes when the temperatures drop in the winter). Good clean parks to chill out in, loads of clubs and bars and lots of sightseeing to do. Definately check out Suomenlinna Island (take your swimming trunks during the summer). Also take the time to look around Kauppatori (the market). |
|
|
|
by amycb
| 18 Jul 2006 | 100% |
|
Hesinki is a very nice city, it has a nice atmosphere, the pace of life is a notch slower than the UK, and there are plenty of things to do and see as well as the space to relax. It makes a nice change from your average beach holiday too and is a good opportunity to go somewhere a bit different. I have been there twice now and would definately go back. |
|
|
|
by anssi4459
| 12 Oct 2006 | 100% |
|
An honest review from a native Finnish: Helsinki is not Finland's capital for no reason... It has lots to offer for everyone, lots to see whether u like the cultural sites, nature, shops, or partying.. Keeping that in mind, Helsinki can only offer the capital atmosphere, and to get to know Finland more thoroughly i recommend to see some smaller cities somewhere away from the southern region. But if u only have time to see one city, Helsinki is surely the place to begin!!! |
|
|
|
by bench2222
| 21 Jun 2006 | 80% |
|
While I have rated the weather highly, I went in June, and rumour has it that it gets a bit chilly in the winter. |
|
|
|
by eknapa
| 26 Jun 2006 | 60% |
|
helsinki is not very interesting and if u dont hav much time in scandinavia, skip it. the city lacks the characteristic and looks like normal european town. but i love the people though |
|
|
|
by Fmlai
| 13 Jun 2006 | 80% |
|
I enjoyed the friendliness and fuss-free attitude of the people. The transport system was punctual and efficient. The 5-day travel card was a steal and allowed my wife and I to go to many places, as far as Itakeskus. Overall, a little expensive, expected for that part of the world. But we really had a wonderful time, tasting the local delicacies like reindeer meat and reindeer liver steak, arctic char, elk and the various unique berries. |
|
|
|
| 2 Apr 2007 | 60% |
|
Helsinki was ok. Tallinn better.. But KIASMA-contemporary-art museum was GREAT*** recommend it to all who like new art from all over the world.. |
|
|
|
by Jgars4253
| 4 Nov 2006 | 40% |
|
Tough for me to comment on a lot of the points as the day I was there was a public holiday so I couldn't do anything or go anywhere. |
|
|
|
by Miano348
| 4 Jul 2006 | 80% |
|
We enjoy a lot our vacations in Helsinki. Hope some day we'll be back(maybe next year).I think it's a very nice and calm city. |
|
|
|
by mvosloo
| 25 Jun 2006 | 40% |
|
OK, so seriously now, I have never seen so many old people in a hostel or city in my life. This is not the place to party it out, you go here if you just want to chill. |
|
|
|
by Jengr9790
| 14 Jul 2006 | 100% |
|
very easy to get around. geared for the tourist. great music - summer goes off (can you blame them?? with such cold weather they have) |
|
|
|
by bpr23
| 8 Aug 2006 | 40% |
|
ok city, didnt geel that there was much to do except the island, and a few museums. did very much enjoy the market though. |
|
|
|
by wolly
| 9 Oct 2006 | 60% |
|
Helsinki is a very pretty and clean city. It's great for window shopping at least because everything is so expensive! Still the European style cafes are a nice place to unwind after a day of siteseeing. |
|
|
|
by druzil
| 19 Jul 2006 | 80% |
|
check out the market, other than that it's a bit dull, the olympic pool was the best fun i had there, |
|
|
|
by DionG
| 12 Feb 2007 | 40% |
|
My review may be a little unfair as it was in the middle of winter and I'm from warmer parts of the globe but here goes. As with all Scando countries it is quite expensive (but not nearly as say, Oslo) and modern. Helsinki did lack the sightseeing, there were only a few "musts" in the whole city (as far as I knew). There is however a lovely harbour and great parks surrounding it. This city is tops for shopping, endless amounts of malls etc. The public transport system here is great and very easy to figure out. It's so hard to rate the weather in any city as it alsways changes but it was at leats always 10 below zero when I was there in February and overcast with occasional light snow. Loads of cool bars/clubs and great shopping is what I found in Helsinki, but that was about it. Overall: So-so, go to Stockholm instead |
|
|
|
by kadoeh
| 21 Aug 2006 | 60% |
|
A little expensive-but very nice and perfect if you have an early flight because of the free shuttle sevice-very convenient. Not a place to stay if you want to see the city however. |
|
|
|
by timro5272
| 31 Aug 2006 | 80% |
|
Helsinki is an attractive clean city, not as action packed as Stockholm, with enough sigfhtseeing trips and biuldings of interest to easily last one day and probably two. Over all it is a great small city which is cheap for Scandinavia. |
|
|
|
by StevenBarron
| 3 Dec 2006 | 60% |
|
Unfortunately the weather this time of year is crap so i didnt bother going out to any islands and there isnt much to see around the city itself, even the markets werent in full flight, there are alot of museums, none are free, and why do you have to pay 1euro to use the toilet??? Steven Barron |
|
|
|
by tijames
| 3 Apr 2007 | 40% |
|
If you are looking for a big city with lots of things to do...Helsinki is not it. You can see all the sights in half a day. |
|
|
|
by jmild7543
| 15 Nov 2006 | 80% |
|
Helsinki is a wonderfully green city. Loads of parks etc, but I guess the best time to go is in summer when things are actually green. However in winter things can also be enjoyable if you are cold proof as the snow also makes things look very nice. The biggest disadvantage is that Finland is expensive, but that goes for basically all Scandinavian countries..... |
|
|
|
by Galle8600
| 23 Feb 2007 | 60% |
|
The city is not very big and quite traditional. People are friendly and independent and multilingual. If you are tired and want to have a couple of days of complete peace - a weekend in Helsinki is your choice. |
|
|
|
by johnanslow
| 6 Mar 2007 | 80% |
|
The city offers some outstanding architecture and the experience of a ferry cutting through ice to the outstanding Suomenlinna maritime fortress, is an experience not to miss |
|
|
|
by krokodile
| 17 Feb 2007 | 40% |
|
Nice calm city - but just for couple of days. There are not too much places too see - as i think - but it is enough to have nice weekend. Be ready that almost all shops are closed on Sunday. Do not forget to visit Helsinki Zoo.! :-) |
|
|
|
| 16 Apr 2007 | 60% |
|
Although sights don't wow like other euro capitals, I had a fantastic time, met some really bizarre people and some really wonderful ones. The trip out to Suominella is WORTH it, if you have a free afternoon. |
|
|
|
by dramafay3469
| 28 Mar 2007 | 60% |
|
The weather was great, but the prices were high and we found that there wasn't that much that we wanted to do in the way of tourist attractions. Feels like it would be a great city to live in |
|
|
|
| 7 Apr 2007 | 100% |
|
A friend an I went on an easter weekend break to Finland. I didn't know anything about the place. Helsinki is an awesome place, the best thing about by far are the people.All friendly and helpful, some girls we met walked 15 mins out of their way to take us to a good bar they knew. Which sums up all the people we met, happy to help. We eat some good food and quaffed several good pints. See rafaello's restaurant!! |
|
|
|
by verastelz
| 16 Nov 2007 | 60% |
|
helsinki is really nice, people friendly, interesting (but not many) sights, perfect public transport, expensive, age limit at discos |
|
|
|
by kspecial4396
| 24 Nov 2007 | 80% |
|
helsinki - beautiful, interesting city with its own character, i like it so much and feel that i/m practicaly at home there! |
|
|
|
| 12 Dec 2006 | -40% |
|
Easy to get around, enough to see to fill in a few days plus some of the friendliest people in scandanavia |
|
|
|