Helsinki - a few ideas.

Advantages: It's a 'different' place to visit!!
Disadvantages: Seems expensive!!

...Have spent over 20 weeks here during the last 12 months. We?ve spent time in Denmark and Sweden before, so we were surprised to find the culture so different, maybe it?s because of it?s long land border with Russia. Getting from the airport. For 3 or more people a taxi is probably about the same price as buses. The Finnair bus goes from the airport to the railway station, but the locals use the 615 from the next stand, it takes about 10 minutes longer as it?s the local bus service, but still goes to the railway station and is currently about a third cheaper. Do get a copy of Helsinki This Week from your hotel or the main Tourist Information Centre near the Harbour. The main events and information are now online at the Tourist Information (www.hel.fi.tourism) and Helsinki Expert (www.helsinkiexpert.fi) websites. In...

meagainxyz 09.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Helsinki (Finland)

Helsinki Vantaa - Europes Best?

Advantages: Easy structured
Disadvantages: Nothing I?d know

...My flight to Helsinki was the most adventurous in my life. It was my first flight on my own and I was about to stay 3 winter months in Finland for a traineeship. Until, I only knew the airport in Frankfurt / Germany which is not really famous for his clarity. You can imagine, I was nervous... There was no reason for my fear. The airport (lento-asema in finish by the way) is very small (some years ago it did win the price as the most clear airport in Europe) and very clear structured. In July 2003 the main terminal was finished and is about 1.000 m² big. The airport Helsinki-Vantaa is about 1/2 Stunde from the City of Helsinki (about 19 km) and about 25 km from Tapiola in Espoo. For 4,90 ? the bus takes you from the airport to the centre of Helsinki. And Helsinki is worth at least a weekend trip! Direct bus connections are...

Nicole78 03.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Airport Helsinki-Vantaa

Biking in Helsinki

Advantages: best, cheapest and easiest way to get around
Disadvantages: some people like to damage everything

...The city of Helsinki is rather small compared to the much bigger capitals of other European countries, but it is full of wonderful sites and sights and the second best way to get around is to take the number 8 tram. It has not only got the number 8, but it is going around the city in a big 8 and you can even have a guided tour in English without being charged seperately. Do the trip (about one hour) and then start to conquer the city on your own - by bike. You don´t intend to bring a bike? Well, you need not! On 25 stands all around the city you can get a bike. You only have to insert a 10 markka piece into a slot and you can use the bike as long as you want, at least for one day. When you want to get rid of the bike you only have to find another stand, park the bike there and take the coin out of the slot. But, please, be a little...

minae 11.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Getting around in Helsinki

Drifting around Helsinki

Advantages: Some comedy amongst the tragedy, quirky
Disadvantages: Some will find it too depressing and dull

...Ilona and Lauri both have reasonably good jobs in Helsinki: Ilona is a head waiter, Lauri is a tram driver. Then they both get made redundant within a few weeks of each other. Lauri refuses to sign on and, already in debt, they are plunged into despair. Searching for jobs is no easy feat, especially when Lauri finds out that he is deaf in one ear and will never be able to drive again. Can they come to terms with their predicament, or will it be the ruin of their relationship? Directed by famous Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, Drifting Clouds is typical of many of his films - it provides a depressing view of Finland and the Finnish, interspersed with a little unexpected and gentle humour. Having said that, I think that this film is a little more vibrant than most. There are the usual long, expressionless faces, but there is a lot more...

sunmeilan 01.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Drifting Clouds (DVD)

I loved it - by the Finnish

Advantages: Great architecture, good food, lots to do
Disadvantages: Closure of many attractions in the off season, expensive by UK prices

...Helsinki was not my choice. My partner had for a long time wanted to visit Finland's capital (he collects capital cities) and so I treated him for his 40th birthday. I wasn't against the idea, I just didn't really know anything about the place. We did buy a Lonely Planet well in advance of the trip but since we were also planning to visit Estonia my mind was focused more on my beloved Eastern Europe than on Finland. All I set out with was my pre-conceived idea of a very modern and forward-thinking city in the Scandinavian model; I did not expect much in the way of history, certainly not in the capital though I knew that Helsinki is a city with a strong maritime background. There is a band called "Architecture in Helsinki"; I don't know much about them other than that I have often thought it a good name. Having now seen much...

fizzytom 05.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Helsinki (Finland)

You can't afford to miss Helsinki!

Advantages: friendly feeling, very relaxed
Disadvantages: increasing property prices

...Helsinki is a small-big city. Indeed it is the capital of Finland, the population is very small (about 1 million). This makes the city a good place to relax. The city has a lot to offer for tourists. For example endless art galleries (see the Kiasma! Truly modern art, and a building to go with the same theme!), the Helsinki week during every summer (everything to do with art, and good chance to party, its like a carnical!) and some nice bars and clubs to visit. Some special places you must visit: * Suomenlinna ? an island outside Helsinki (a ferry goes from the central of Helsinki), good family fun in the summer, loads of young people enjoy the sun and sea? * Kaivopuisto ? a park in the heart of the town, don?t miss the huge concerts in the summer! Nice boats in the seaside, benji jumping etc. * Shopping ? many good quality shopping...

Annukka 18.10.2000 · Read review
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Review of Helsinki in general

A Non-Internet Forum

Advantages: Lots of different shops, helpful staff
Disadvantages: None

...The Forum is a shopping centre in the middle of Helsinki. It's only a few hundred metres from another shopping centre, Kammpi, which also houses the bus station and a metro stop. You'd think that two large shopping centres might struggle so close together, but both seem to be thriving. The Forum is built on several floors and has what you'd expect of a shopping centre: a lot of shops. Most of them are clothes shops, generally aiming at the teenage/early twenties market. So, like a lot of UK shopping centres in that respect. Wandering round, you'll see a few shops with familiar names. I spotted a H&M in there and the inevitable McDonalds. There are cafes and food shops as well. I had a very nice (only slightly expensive) sandwich from the Fazer café. There is plenty of choice of what to eat, whether you want a stylish sandwich...

87degrees 07.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Forum (Helsinki)

You'll be sure to Finnish your plate!

Advantages: Great value buffet, delicious food, chance to try lots of things
Disadvantages: None

...Ravintola Konstan Molja appears in all the Helsinki guidebooks and with good reason. Want to try a selection of traditional Finnish dishes without breaking the bank? Not in Finland for long and want to try lots of different things? This is the place to visit. There is an a la carte menu with main courses starting around 15 Euro but the highlight of this attractive nautical themed restaurant is the evening buffet. For 18 Euro you can start with soup or a selection of hot and cold starters (have soup AND starters if you want!), then fill your plate with some delicious home-cooked Finnish specialities and go back as often as you please. The restaurant is run by a charming husband and wife couple who wear traditional dress to maintain the theme. As it's a small place and there's usually just the two of them I didn't feel like I...

fizzytom 19.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ravintola Konstan Molja, Helsinki

A Warm Nordic Welcome to Travellers

Advantages: Central location, great breakfasts, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Somewhat overpriced, small bedrooms, tiny bathrooms

...Recently, I relocated from Australia back to Scotland and decided that as it's a very long journey I would break the trip in several places. Thanks to a direct flight from Singapore to Helsinki I was able to visit the Finnish capital for a few days and was able to secure accommodation in a special little hotel in central Helsinki. ♣♣♣Hotel Location and History♣♣♣ The 3 star Hotel Anna is situated in a 7 storey building dating from 1926 in central Helsinki and possesses 36 single rooms, 25 doubles and several suites. Located on a street called Annankatu it is part owned and run by the Lutheran church although this has little significance for the traveller wishing to stay there. The hotel is about a 2km easy walk from the centre of Helsinki and all the main tourist attractions which is ideal if...

cladach29 18.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of Anna Hotel, Helsinki

Stockmann, stocks everything!

Advantages: amazing food hall, clean, efficient, comfortable, great range of stuff
Disadvantages: Not many! No paper cups?

...The central Stockmann store in Helsinki is essentially the Finnish equivalent of Harrods, I think! It's a massive department store, located just a couple of minutes walk from Rautatientori, or the Central Railway Station (which is handily next to the Central Bus Station), right in the middle of town. There are a number of branches of Stockmann across Finland, but this review pertains to this central branch specifically. I recently spent a month in Helsinki, mostly at the university there, and had a lot of time around lectures to browse the city, which I did at length, but time and time again I found myself returning to Stockmann simply for the joy of browsing all the different departments! It's an enormous building, with entrances from vahosrious angles and numerous floors, with a setup that can, if you're not concentrating, turn...

abbichicken 20.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of Stockmann (Helsinki)