Helsinki Travel Guide

Helsinki OVERVIEW

Leisurely walks with seagulls keeping noisy company, a tranquil archipelago cut out for idyllic cruises, a room overlooking the Baltic, morning coffee at a seafront cafe, and exquisite crayfish on you plate- Helsinki lives in peaceful symbiosis with the sea, and it is this relationship that distinguishes it from other Scandinavian metropolises. Lying in a splendid Art Nouveau cradle, sheltered from the ubiquitous babble typical for flashy modern capitals, the city is rocked in a laid-back rhythm that by no means makes you drowsy, and is only conducive to a relaxed stay in the magnificent, slightly old-fashioned heart of the country, but away from overwhelming clutter. Don't be fooled by this timid aura, though. Several layers of seamlessly entwined Western and Eastern influences make Helsinki refreshingly active in terms of restaurants, nightclubs, sightseeing spots, and cultural event. Just wait until the Samba Festival sweeps over the streets, and the myth of Finnish introversion shatters into pieces.