A Helsinki Weekend with Friends

Now it’s time to experience just what Helsinki can really offer for one weekend. If you are looking for a good time, tasty food, shopping and a relaxed atmosphere, then Helsinki is for you.

Famous for its design…

Finland is globally renowned for its clean-cut, simplistic design, which is one reason that the capital has deservedly earned the title World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.

There are a number of opportunities for Helsinki visitors to explore the wide spectrum of Finnish design, from a tour of the Design Museum to a trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Finland is also home to Marimekko, world famous for its fashionable printed fabrics and simple styles, and a visit to one of their stores is also highly recommended.

When it comes to shopping, you can’t go wrong with starting in Stockmann, the country’s most famous department store, which prides itself on its massive selection – the clock at the main entrance has also become a popular meeting point.

Close to Stockmann is the design hotel Klaus K, located on Bulevardi. Every single room has its own individual look and there’s the added bonus of the freshly baked bread served at breakfast…

Full of café and culinary excellence

Helsinki offers many haute cuisine restaurants offering a different Finnish culinary experience, with restaurants Kosmos, Elite and Sea Horse immediately coming to mind. They each boast an impressive history, with Sea Horse, for example, running since 1934 and a visit there feels like a trip to the past.

Another very good restaurant is the charmingly named Grotesk, which offers a delightful courtyard dining experience in the summer, as well as a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food the whole year round.

If you are looking to get a complete vista of Helsinki, then enjoy a cup of coffee in Restaurant Torni, located on the top-floor of one of the city centre’s most historical buildings. As you sit with your coffee, you are presented with a bird’s-eye view of the city, the harbour and beyond.

Back down on earth, Sinebrychoff Park is one of the most popular picnic places among young people in the summertime. It’s definitely worth a visit if you want to see how people from Helsinki chill out. One other place to people-watch is the market, located in the city’s heart, which sells a variety of traditional Finnish foods.

However, if you really want to see the locals at ease and breaking the quiet and shy stereotype, then a pop into one of the many karaoke bars. You can marvel at Finns, both young and old, singing from the very bottom of their hearts, proving just why karaoke is so popular in Finland.