Aalto University Shop is a campus store that offers a unique range of original design items along with stylish products bearing the university’s branding. Not Just a Campus Bookstore Aalto University Shop is located within Aalto University’s main campus at Otaniemi. Named after world-renowned Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, it is fitting that this […]

Tampere is located just under 200 km north of Helsinki and can easily be reached by train or by car in around 2 hours. Here’s a five reasons to visit this compact and charming city. 1. Natural Beauty You have probably heard about Finland’s lakes, which number in the thousands. In Tampere alone there are […]

Helsinki is surrounded by over 300 islands, several of which are easily accessible by waterbus from either the Market Square or Hakaniemi. Here, we take a look at three of the most popular islands – Lonna, Vallisaari and Suomenlinna. Despite their closeness to each other, each island is different and has unique features worth exploring. […]

Vanhankaupunginlahti means the “old city bay”. Helsinki was originally founded here in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa I, just a 20-minute tram drive away from the current city centre. An equally easy and rewarding way to get here is by cycling. Nowadays, the mouth of the Vantaa River serves nature lovers, tech freaks and culinary […]

Helsinki’s location makes it a great starting point for anyone who wants to explore the nearby cities. From Helsinki, you can visit neighbouring St. Petersburg and it is possible to do so without a visa. Finland borders Russia on the eastern coast and Helsinki is just under 400 kilometres away from St. Petersburg.  Perfectly located […]

Getting from Helsinki to Espoo is even easier, now that the new West metro extension has openend. Exploring Helsinki’s neighbouring city makes for a great day out.

The ferry service to Suomenlinna is operated by the Helsinki Region Transport Authority (HSL). Depending on the season and the time of day, ferries run 1 to 4 times per hour, from the morning until the night throughout the year Departure of Suomenlinna ferries from the Market Square and Suomenlinna usually once an hour. From […]

Update 13.3.2020: Helsinki Regional Transport has advised that bus tickets will not be sold on board, effective today. Use of the HSL app and travel cards continues as usual. HSL advises that routes continue to be operated normally, but asks the public to avoid unnecessary use of public transport. Helsinki is served by an efficient […]

If you’re in Helsinki for more than a few days, you can take advantage of the closeness to our neighbour Estonia by planning a day cruise to Tallinn.  Located south of Helsinki across the Baltic Sea, it is a great way to spend a day, either exploring the picturesque medieval old town in Tallinn or […]