Relaxing

Image by Nea Barman

How do you describe the beauty of a breathtaking view? It is hard to describe the beauty of this place, which of course changes during the seasons. At this place it is also hard to capture one great image of the hole 360 degree view.

Helsinki is quite flat so observatory Hill (Tähtitorninmäki) is one of the few natural hills in the Helsinki city center.

I love lookout spots and high places with a great view. Many things I love about Helsinki I can see from this vantage place at once. The contours of the old Helsinki city center, the sea, the amazing sky and boats leaving to Stockholm in the evening. The white Helsinki Cathedral, the shining golden onions of Uspenski Cathedral. The Helsinki market square and the pastel colored old buildings in the lion block. The sea breeze and Suomenlinna.

During winter you can go down the hill with a sled or just snowboard in the middle of the city as some young people do! But it is no skiing center… During summer you sunbath here in your bathing suit without going to the beach in Helsinki!

The best time to go during summer or winter is just before 17:00, so you can watch the large cruise ships leaving the harbour. Also another great time to go is when the sun goes down. But remember that in summer the sun really does not go down!

I also recommend to read about the interesting history of this place.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Observatory Hill | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Tähtitorninkatu 2 | South
24 hours daily

Image by Nea Barman

Thinking what to do in Helsinki? Well.. There is nothing special about skating, but skating in the very heart of Helsinki is true winter fun for me and for many Helsinkiar! It’s so romantic, it’s so so much fun and silly. Even though I don’t skate very well it’s still fun!

To skate in the ring, to see that everyone is smiling, laughing and enjoying the fun and the great company! It really puts you in a good mood! Skating is something that you can do when you go out on a date. Or if you are traveling to Helsinki with kids – this is must-visit spot for you. Or if you are traveling together with friends – I still recommend to go!

The skating ring is just in the middle of the most beautiful buildings in Helsinki. I would recommend to go skating when it gets dark. Then you can see the beautiful lights of the old buildings surrounding the square.

They rent skates and they are very modern and comfy skates various sizes. Also after the skating comes the best part! Drinking hot chocolate or coffee in the skating ring cafeteria and warm your palms!

If you really don’t feel like skating you can just sit in the cafeteria and drink hot chocolate. Alcoholic beverages are served in the evenings, from 16:00 onwards.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Icepark Helsinki | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Ticket + Skate rental € 10
Railwaystation Square | South
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 21:00, Sat 10:00 – 21:00, Sun 10:00 – 21:00

Image by Nea Barman

One of my favourite indoor activity for a rainy day in Helsinki is to go drive karting at Kart´in Club. The thrill takes 10 minutes, but for me it is enough. I race my self and relax at the same time!

There are several karting places in Helsinki, but this Kart´in Club is my favourite. It’s modern, clean and easy to access from the city center.

If you want to get there from the city center you can take the bus from the Railway station (numbers 77, 75, 742, 740 will go) and you need to get off at Valtimontie stop. This takes you about 25 minutes. A taxi costs around 20-30 euros from the city center. I always go with the bus since it’s not long to walk from the stop.

At Kart’in club they provide all the gear you need, all very clean. Just make sure you have good shoes. They also have really good dressing rooms – both for men and women of course. In the dressing rooms they have showers and saunas too – separate sauna´s for men and women of course!

What would be more Finnish than have an exciting, fast race like a famous rally driver or formula-1 driver, with a sauna and shower afterwards! Total relaxation in my opinion!

The entire family can go with or with out the kids – they have different races for both adults and kids. Many adults and groups go before going out in the weekends! Great fun I say!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kart’in Club Helsinki | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Adult (not member) € 20
Koskelantie 39 | Central | +3589576500
Mon – Fri 14:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 20:00

Image by Nea Barman

Simple things in life are the best. The Artotheque at Rikhardinkatu Library is one of them. I love galleries and art but sometimes I just do not like the atmosphere in some galleries. Too fancy for my taste.

Well The Artotheque at Rikhardinkatu Library is not actually a gallery – its art part of your everyday life! Its more like real space for “art surfing”. At the same time it’s an extremely pleasant place for a rainy day or to get a good overall picture of today’s Finnish artist and art at one place.

The idea of this place is that the works may be rented by paying a monthly fee 20-200€ determined by the price of the work. Once the full price has been paid, ownership of the work transfers to the holder. Alternatively art works may be purchased directly at the Artotheque.

Customers can be private persons, corporations or organisations or even tourists. Of course not many tourist will rent art since the logistic prices when sending back the art is just too high. But this is a excellent place to find your own piece of art on moderate price!

Go and uncover your very own piece of Finnish art!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
The Artotheque | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping
Rikhardinkatu 3 | South | +3589673720
Tue – Thu 12:00 – 18:00, Fri 12:00 – 16:00

Image by Nea Barman

I love Helsinki because it provides many unique and truly magical wildlife conservation areas inside of the city.

Vanhankaupunginlahti (Vanhankaupunginselkä) is one of my favourite nature spots in town and in Finland. It’s located near the city center and it takes just 15 minutes by bus from the city center and you are in the middle of a magical and totally different kind of Helsinki.

When you get out of the bus you pass the beautiful and historical area Vanhankaupunginkoski Rapids, which is also a great spot to visit.

Vanhankaupunkinlahti is a bay area which together with parts of adjoining Viikki district constitute a natural conservation zone. The area is listed in Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and it is part of European Union’s Natura 2000 program and it is also listed as BirdLife International’s Important Bird Area.

Many tourists and Finnish people go there to watch birds – I’m not a bird watcher, so what do I do there and why do I love this place so much?

Walk a kilometer along duckboards (for one way), listen the tranquility side of my city. When walking I can hear the duckboards clattering and I can see peaceful nature surrounding me. When stopping I can hear my own heart beating and I can see the city center at the horizon. About half way I stop to eat my sandwich and drink my cooling drink. What is there at the end of the duckboards? I’ll let you figure out that one your self.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vanhankaupunginlahti | Relaxing | Free
Vanhankaupunginselkä | Central
24 hours daily