How many days are enough for Helsinki?+
2 days cover the centre, the cathedral, the Rock Church, the Ateneum and all of Suomenlinna without rushing. 3 days let you add a trip to Porvoo, to Nuuksio National Park, or a boat trip to Tallinn. The city itself is smaller than Stockholm and the sights run out after 2 days; Helsinki does make sense as the start of a longer trip through the Baltics or up to Lapland.
Do I have to do a sauna in Finland, and how does it work?+
You don't have to, but without it you haven't really been to the country. At public saunas like Löyly and Allas, swimwear is worn because they're mixed-sex; at traditional saunas like Kotiharju there are separate sections and people go nude. You sit on a towel, speak quietly or not at all, and phones stay in the changing room. After the sauna, people jump into the sea even in winter — enter the water slowly, and never after drinking alcohol.
Is the Helsinki Card worth it?+
It's worth it for anyone who can manage 3 paid museums in a day and uses public transport — the card covers transport, over 30 museums and a sightseeing cruise. Plenty of Helsinki's best spots are free, though: the cathedral, the Uspenski Cathedral, the Oodi library, Seurasaari island and entry to Suomenlinna. Anyone mainly after those is fine with a €9 HSL day ticket.
Will I see the northern lights or the midnight sun in Helsinki?+
The northern lights only occasionally, during a strong geomagnetic storm and away from city lights; they're reliably visible only in Lapland, 1,000km further north. The midnight sun doesn't occur in Helsinki, since it lies south of the Arctic Circle, but around the summer solstice it never really gets dark — at midnight it's dusk-like twilight, and by 5am it's already light.
How do I get from Helsinki to Tallinn?+
By ferry from the harbour; the crossing takes 2 hours, and Tallink, Viking and Eckerö boats run every hour. A return ticket starts at around €25, and you can walk on board without a car. It's the most popular day trip, and you can do it there in the morning and back in the evening — just note the crossing alone takes 4 hours in total.
How do I get from Vantaa Airport to the centre?+
By commuter train, lines I or P, from the underground station beneath the terminal — it runs every 10 minutes, reaches the main railway station in 30 minutes, and a ticket for zones ABC costs €4.50. The line is a loop, so it doesn't matter which of the two trains you board. It's clearly the cheapest and most reliable option; taxis start from €45.
Is there an entry fee for Suomenlinna?+
No, entry to the islands is free and they're accessible year-round, 24 hours a day — you only pay for individual museums and the Vesikko submarine. The HSL ferry from Market Square is covered by an ordinary public transport ticket, so the whole trip costs the same as a single fare. The tourist boats moored alongside charge 3 times as much for the same route.
What should I wear in winter?+
Shoes with a rough sole are essential, since Helsinki's pavements are gritted rather than salted in winter, and the most common visitor injury is a fall on ice; slip-on ice grips cost a few euros and solve the problem. Beyond that, layers, a hat and gloves — temperatures drop to around -5 to -10°C, with wind off the sea. Indoors it's kept very warm everywhere, so expect to be changing layers.
