Helsinki, the city of design
WHAT TO SEE:
SENATE SQUARE
The first thing to visit before arriving at the port of Helsinki is the Senate Square and witness the good atmosphere there. his famous Lutheran Cathedral is the hallmark of the city and where the statue is located Tsar Alexander II , who was Grand Duke of Finland. The church was built in 1830 and was originally designed by Carl Engel, representing the neoclassical style.
The Plaza del Senado, hallmark of the city
TORI QUARTERS
It is the street between Senate Square and Market Square, one of the Helsinki's busiest streets , where people eat on the street, on the terraces, or in some charming restaurant. You will find some improvised theater and concerts with Finnish music groups entertaining and entertaining the public.
Tori Quarters, one of the busiest streets in Helsinki
MARKET SQUARE
A city like Helsinki could not miss a square with market full of shops souvenirs, fresh food products, vintage accessories , and with a bonus: sea views . Here we find several beach bars where you can eat typical Finnish food, such as the fish -you must try the salmon- and also, of course, the reindeer meat . A little more hidden (but striking for its architecture) is the old market , an old-fashioned market full of gourmet products and small restaurants for a quick bite. One cannot go without seeing the area more cosmopolitan from the city.
The market square, the ideal place to find a relic
ESPALDI AVENUE
It is a perfect street to enjoy walking. go through a park where people sit on the benches to read quietly, to chat or simply to take a ray of sun. It is worth going all the way to the end, where there are some very stylish terraces to have a drink while you watch the tram go by.
USPENSKI CATHEDRAL
Short of one, Helsinki has two cathedrals. The one next to the market square is the orthodox rite , symbol of the russian presence in Finland, with its striking red brick facade and golden domes. It does not go unnoticed. From the port, the panoramic view that it has collides due to the great aesthetic contrast that exists between both cathedrals, and that they were built at the same time of the aforementioned Tsar Alexander II, who promoted the development of Helsinki as the new capital of Finland.
Helsinki Orthodox Cathedral
TO DO:
DESIGN STREET
For people who like and are interested in fashion and good design, this district is a must. Design Street is full of small shops and charming cafeterias-restaurants, where you want to enter all of them. Each one has its own touch: there is Nou Nou, a store with unique decoration pieces; Kauniste , another decoration shop created by some talented Scandinavians; and shops vintage like Peroba.
A BOAT TRIP
In a city open to the sea like Helsinki, your visit should not miss a boat trip or a panoramic cruise. In an hour and a half you have a totally different view of the city. Enjoy the small islands that surround the city and its leisure ports, with more than 10,000 moorings.
THE SAUNAS
If you go to Finland -especially in winter- you will want to visit its famous saunas. In Helsinki there is one sauna for every three Finns Or so the statistics say. Many houses have their own sauna at least, in each building there is usually one. The most classic public sauna in Helsinki is the Kotiharju Sauna , open since 1928. Other must-see saunas are Harjuntori Sauna and Sauna Arla , located very close to each other.
Peroba, one of the vintage shops in the Design District
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:
THE SHEPHERD RESTAURANT
One of the restaurants with more style and with a cozy atmosphere is the Pastor Restaurant, in the center of the city. Here you can choose various tasting menus, or simply snack on some portions, which although they are not very abundant, for a dinner they are more than enough. The best: desserts , very elaborate.
** BRYGGERI **
is the brewery you can't miss, If you like beer of course. It is also a restaurant: its grilled salmon with Chanterelle sauce It is the exceptional dish. The place becomes a very busy pub. In the backyard is the area chill out where music groups give concerts while people listen to them drinking their beer.
TERRACE BOAT _(LIGHTSHIP RELANDERSGRUND) _
In the port there is a key place to have a coffee, beer or whatever one pleases. Look for a red boat very striking: it is the oldest lighthouse in finland (carries there since 1888 ) . On its upstairs terrace you can eat and drink something; in the part of the bow there are some hammocks from where you can see the orthodox cathedral . At the bottom, you have the store with marine products to take with you as souvenirs.
A terrace ship in the port of Helsinki
WHERE TO SLEEP:
RADDISON BLUE HOTEL
Located next to Central Station, the great advantage of the Raddison Blue hotel is that you can walk anywhere in the center. The building in which it is located is historic yet modern in style. What we like the most: breakfast , has a lot variety to choose from and it is very complete.
** GLOHOTELS **
In Helsinki there are four hotels of the Glo brand, they are design hotels, with loft-style rooms. It is worth spending a night in them and appreciate the good Finnish taste. Two of them are in the center, another is a renovated castle in the Design Street area and the fourth is found at the airport.
Glo Hotels, design in Helsinki
WHERE TO END THE NIGHT:
DISCO CIRCUS
is the oldest city disco and where most of the young people usually end up to finish off the night. Located in the center of Helsinki, music events usually take place in circus, such as the famous MTV PUSH Helsinki festival, with performances by international artists such as Charlie XCX , singer of the soundtrack of Under the same star; the dj Oliver Heldens, Becky Hill and finnish rapper Redrama.
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Circus nightclub, the hottest in Helsinki