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)

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)

Scandinavian Delight

Advantages: Friendly. Fresh. Not too far to travel.
Disadvantages: Not cheap.

...~~~Flight~~~ I went to Helsinki, Finland at the back end of March this year (2001). I suppose like a lot of people 2 weeks' release from work and I automatically think fly South, never North. I'd always fancied having a look around Scandinavia and when cheap flights were offered by Buzz, I thought why not, even if it is only for 3 days. It's always worth bearing in mind when you see these cheapo flights for sale in the popular press that the small print can usually double the £30.00 enticing banner - as was nearly the case on this occasion. I booked 2 flights at £35.00 but when the booking fee was added, tax for this and tax for that, the total price shot to £105.00. Then again, can't complain at that really. In the weeks before the flight, Buzz changed the departure time on 3 occasions and twice for the return flight, not by...

Trev15 13.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Helsinki (Finland)

Scruffy Shoe Diaries NORDIC HIGH TEMPERATURE SHOCK

Advantages: Plenty to do if you're on a weekend city break
Disadvantages: Almost 3 quid for a 400 ml beer

...Four o'clock in the morning. Four in the morning. 4 a.m. Fouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuur. 'Kin' 'ell, it's early. Despite not flying by Buzz like you're supposed to when you go to Helsinki (they pretend to offer much in the way of cheap flights, but it ain't necessarily so). Despite leaving from Birmingham instead of Stansted (dahn sahf). It was still an early get out for the Lufthansa flight via Munich for me and my long suffering travel buddy, Mr. Adrian Dowd. Commuter flight. Good nosh. *** 26 Apr. 2002: I have resurrected this series of opinions "The Scruffy Shoe Diaries" to beef up and re-write bits of some existing pieces, add a few new ones and create a nice neat series. Helsinki has been updated with prices in Euro. I've also added a few more details and tweaked some of the writing. For those seeking information and armchair...

Paiceyjohn 24.10.2001 (04.05.2002) · Read review
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Review of Helsinki (Finland)

Finland's scariest town?

Advantages: Limestone mines, Opus K pub, the lake, walking trails
Disadvantages: Very frightening people, nowhere to eat on Sundays

...On the final leg of our Estonia/Finland travels in September 2007 we needed to find somewhere to spend our final two nights travelling before we arrived back in Helsinki prior to our return home. We wanted somewhere roughly midway between Turku and Helsinki with a bed and breakfast or hotel, somewhere to eat and something interesting to do or see. Only one of the places we identified on our map as being likely also appeared in our Lonely Planet guide - that place was Lohja. We arrived in the town soaking wet on Saturday lunchtime and squelched our way to Matkakoti Linnakangas, described in Lonely Planet as a 'comfortable and well-equipped guesthouse' with 'a variety of homely rooms with fridge, TV and toilet'. After a minute or two standing on the doorstep absorbing more rain, the proprietor appeared and in what seemed...

fizzytom 06.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lohja, Finland

Tampere, The best city in Finland

Advantages: Small heart in big city
Disadvantages: (road to Turku !)

...Awww.. Finally I will give my all to this. Really, this is my baby and I hope you will be gentle with it. As some of you know I'm from Finland and from Tampere or Manse as we locals say. Funny I still see myself as local even I haven't live there for last? (God) nearly 10 years. As most of Finnish cities Tampere got its Swedish name as well, it Tammerfors. But before I can start my review I have to say "Moro" (Tampere language and meaning "hi"). *************************************************************** *************** Location: City is situating between two lakes, Lake- Nasijarvi and Lake- Pyhajarvi in southern Finland. Tampere is the third largest city in Finland, and the largest city outside the Greater Helsinki area. Its part of Western Finland province, 173 km north from Helsinki and it have nearly 200 000...

Winterangel76 12.03.2007 (03.04.2007) · Read review
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Review of Tampere, Finland

Ruka Cottages, Ruka, Finland Christmas 2008

Advantages: Stunning Scenery, Skiing, Snow & Santa
Disadvantages: Expensive

...21st December 2008 is the day we have been waiting for we booked our 1st family ski holiday to Ruka in Finland. The kids have been non stop talking about this since we booked it on 8th Jan 08. This is not a holiday where you think about cost it is worth every penny and when we got back money was never mentioned as it was one of those priceless moments. Flight for Manchester to Kussamo took aprox 3hrs & 40 mins and was at 6.40am. As we bagan out descent into Kussamo we could see lots of trees and plenty of snow I myself was getting giddy by this time in equal ammounts as my 8,6 & 5 year olds my husband was playing it cool but not for long. Kussamo airport is very small with no duty free shop just a small shop offering souveniers and coffee's and pasteries. Cases were pretty quick coming to us and the coach journey to our accomodation...

flossy999 19.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lapland (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

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)

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