Avianca From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5857 posts, RR: 40 Posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2228 times:
I just saw a very low fare from MUC to HEL next July with LH just under 100 EURO return ticket including taxes.... I will be visiting my country germany next july I now I am asking me if I should book the flights to HEL for a short 2 day trip .... now the question what can be done in Helsinki and is it worth for a short 2 day trip?
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2211 times:
I have been to Helsinki 3 times in the last 2 years and always when the city is knee deep in snow, so it is not the best time for sightseeing! But, I get the impression that in summer it is a beautiful place to visit. Ask fellow a.netter Joge, he lives there, you might find him in the chat room.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2182 times:
The market at Senator's Square is definately worth checking out, as is the academic bookstore downtown. I only got to spend a few days there myself, so I can't say much more than that. It's a pretty easy city to get around on foot, so I'm sure you'll be able to find plenty to do.
ZRHnerd From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2175 times:
I'd say definately go for it. 100€ is a bargain and there's always something to do in Helsinki. It's a nice city with lots to see, good shopping opportunities and the best burgers ever (yes, thats right - Hesburger )
And if you get bored, just sit in a coffee shop and check out the ladies, or go to HEL to see some MD11s, that should keep you entertained
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 4, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 3): the best burgers ever (yes, thats right - Hesburger Big grin )
Jesus...no. Easily the grossest thing I ate during my time there.
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 3): sit in a coffee shop and check out the ladies
Yeah. Finnish women are gorgeous...not sure how I came from my mom!
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 3): go to HEL to see some MD11s, that should keep you entertained Wink
Show up at HEL a few hours early, have some Lapin Kultas (pre-security even!) and watch traffic from the terminal or pre-security observation deck. Great airport for spotting!
WSOY From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2135 times:
Quoting Avianca (Thread starter): now the question what can be done in Helsinki and is it worth for a short 2 day trip
July in Finland in bearable. You'll have 19-21 hours of daylight out of 24. July is the vacation month in Finland so you'll need to book rooms well in time.
ZRHnerd From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2135 times:
Quoting Gunsontheroof (Reply 4): Jesus...no. Easily the grossest thing I ate during my time there
Yes, i know the Americans have their "very own" ideas of how a hamburger is supposed to taste. But as a Euro i can say they are truely great, better than the junk you get here at mcdonalds or burger king.
Joge From Finland, joined Feb 2000, 1441 posts, RR: 48 Reply 9, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2128 times:
Quoting Avianca (Thread starter): what can be done in Helsinki and is it worth for a short 2 day trip?
Sure it is worth! And July should be a good pick, although the weather is usually at its best from begin of August all the way till the end of September. But you can never guarantee this. Get prepared however, that during those two days, it may be rainy and cloudy most of the times. However, I don't want to scare you, the weather can be unpredictable in many other places too.
You didn't mention, where you plan to stay?
In case of rainy weather, you could probably go walk around in the city. Visit Forum (a big mall right in the city center) or Stockmann (a huge department store, worth of visit!) and get some souvenirs. Try reindeer or elk meat. Go have a beer at the top of Torni restaurant. You can have a great view from here over the city! Go to Senaatintori, the "Senator's Square" (the one Gunsontheroof mentioned already). Near that spot you can find another market square, Kauppatori. It's by the sea and from here you can have a view to most of the ferries leaving to Stockholm and Tallinn. A small food market can be found here. Visit Suomenlinna, which is an island and old fortress not too far away from Kauppatori. Here's also where you can catch the ferries. Suomenlinna is a place, however, where one should go on a sunny day.
A photo of the market squares, Kauppatori in the front, Senaatintori at the back (right in front of the church).
If you have something specific on your mind, let me know and I can see how I can help you. There are lots of parks and other things to see and do. If you decide to come, I'll try to get those days free and guide you around.
Quoting Andz (Reply 1): you might find him in the chat room.
Sorry Andz, not anymore. The Java applet just keeps on crashing my web browsers.
WSOY From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day ago) and read 2119 times:
Quoting Joge (Reply 9): And July should be a good pick, although the weather is usually at its best from begin of August all the way till the end of September
Is "best" is "the warmest and the driest", then July is clearly better than August. In July Helsinki typically sees 12-14 rainy days, in August 14-16. http://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot.html
(Variation of mean monthly temps in downtown Helsinki with the mean of the means mark)
ZRHnerd From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 5 months 1 day ago) and read 2118 times:
Quoting Joge (Reply 9): Visit Forum (a big mall right in the city center) or Stockmann
I second that. Highly recommendable, aswell as kamppi (which is adjacent to Forum) and Itäkeskus, which is however a bit off center, but easily accessable by metro.
Joge From Finland, joined Feb 2000, 1441 posts, RR: 48 Reply 12, posted (6 years 5 months 23 hours ago) and read 2103 times:
Quoting WSOY (Reply 10): Is "best" is "the warmest and the driest", then July is clearly better than August. In July Helsinki typically sees 12-14 rainy days, in August 14-16.
I've never really thought about it. August has been more summer for me than July.
WSOY From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 5 months 22 hours ago) and read 2094 times:
It's surprising that nobody you know prefers to have their vacations in July. Did you know that many Finnish industries close completely for the month of July?
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (6 years 5 months 20 hours ago) and read 2071 times:
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 7):
Yes, i know the Americans have their "very own" ideas of how a hamburger is supposed to taste. But as a Euro i can say they are truely great, better than the junk you get here at mcdonalds or burger king.
I don't think I'd use McDonalds or Burger King as measuring sticks for burger quality!
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 7): Ouch. Lapin Kulta is about the worst choice, smells like errr... reindeer p*ss Big grin I highly recommend Karjala and Karhu.
Karhu is probably my favorite Finnish beer. I wish they'd sell it in the U.S. as "Bear"...
Quoting Andz (Reply 1): city is knee deep in snow,
Make Snow Angels!
The HArbor also looks quite good. Surely the kids would love to see the cruise ships..... or are you just planning the trip for you and your wife, leaving the kiddies behind?
Can you say 'Beer Can' without sounding like a Jamaican saying 'Bacon'?
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 19, posted (6 years 5 months 17 hours ago) and read 2046 times:
Quoting ZRHnerd (Reply 17): I hope you agree that In'N'out is just great!
Well of course! I have some friends who actually spent a day driving from Seattle to Northern California just to eat at In N Out. They got a standing ovation when they got there!
That said, I think Dick's Drive-In in Seattle is still my favorite burger joint. Strangely, (perhaps I'm only including this to add relevance to the thread) I've actually taken Finns to eat there in the past!
Willo From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 1352 posts, RR: 14 Reply 20, posted (6 years 5 months 5 hours ago) and read 2027 times:
Helsinki is a great place to visit for the weekend. There's not much in the way of sights there though. The circular route 3T tram goes past most of the important places and is a cheap way of seeing the city. We had an excellent meal at the garlic restaurant. One point, it may be cheap to get there but the cost of things once in Finland (like the other Scandinavian countries) is eye-watering
ZRHnerd From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (6 years 5 months 1 hour ago) and read 2013 times:
Quoting Willo (Reply 20): One point, it may be cheap to get there but the cost of things once in Finland (like the other Scandinavian countries) is eye-watering
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1989 times:
Quoting Willo (Reply 20): Helsinki is a great place to visit for the weekend. There's not much in the way of sights there though. The circular route 3T tram goes past most of the important places and is a cheap way of seeing the city. We had an excellent meal at the garlic restaurant. One point, it may be cheap to get there but the cost of things once in Finland (like the other Scandinavian countries) is eye-watering
Expensive for someone coming from England?? Helsinki sure is less expensive than London for example.
I have noticed tourists coming from the same European 'beer zone' like to party in Helsinki
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 23, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1983 times:
What about Feb? Hehehe a buddy of mine are planning on stopping in HEL for a day or so before heading to Tallinn. I'm Canadian so I can handle the cold, how bad are HEL's winters?
25 Joge: Have a look at the chart WSOY posted. Mean cold is around -14C, but the warm is above zero. Normally there should be lots of snow that time, but ther
26 WSOY: Joge thank's for mentioning my chart, but I think you regrettably misinterpret it. Look closer, you'll see the most typical temp for a day in Feb is -
27 Joge: Exactly. Didn't I say that? Maybe I didn't explain it well enough. -Joge
28 WSOY: Well be it the -5 or the -15, it's cold anyway. Add the typical SW wind from the open Baltic to it, and you'll be hoping for a swift relocation.[Edite
29 BigOrange: Damn..thanks for reminding me of 1998 my only visit to Finland Hope you're not planning on taking the ferry to Tallinn? If you are I hope it's a good
30 Andaman: The same happened to me those catamarans and windy weather is not a good combination. The new fast catamarans are better though. Estonian Air wouldn'
31 WSOY: There are also hydrofoils operating between Tallinn and Helsinki. (Not sure of the coming 2007 season though.) They'd be both very fast (1h 30) and ty
32 Aloges: I just booked tickets... will be there between March 27th and 31st and bring warm clothing. What can I do that time of the year?
33 Andaman: Still winter that time, warm clothing needed. You should have wait till May and experience the Eurovision Contest weekend, a BIG fiesta expected in t
35 LHMARK: While you're there, try to find Sahti. It's the last of the European primitive beers, made from rye, with few or no hops, and flavored with juniper tw
36 Coal: Of all the capitals in Nordic Europe, I found Helsinki to be the most bleak and least interesting. I spent about 4 days there, which was about enough
37 Andaman: I have had Sahti in a countyside wedding, dangerous stuff! It's coming back in fashion. You didn't drink enough Cheers Andaman[Edited 2006-12-31 18:0
38 Aloges: I've been thinking about that - time-wise, a day-trip would be easily possible. I'll try to get my hands on some of it!
39 Coal: Lol, true. We also arrived there the day after the Finnish band won the Eurovision contest, so there were a lot of interesting characters out and abo
40 Andz: It is extremely frustrating! My biggest supplier is in Helsinki and getting information in summer can be almost impossible! Take a look:
41 Joge: Nice pics, Andz! When was your last visit here? And when's the next one? -Joge
42 Aloges: That's exactly the kind of weather I'm looking for!
43 Andz: Joge I was last in Helsinki from March 6-9 last year, not sure when I will be there again!
44 Andaman: Still no snow in Helsinki Snow would bring light to the mid winter darkness. My Irish friend living in Finland said this strange dark wet winter look
45 Joge: Indeed! The lawn at the backyard is all green. And Andz, next time you come here, let me know well in advance for a meet up! -Joge[Edited 2007-01-01
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I found it to be rather cheap.
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