Finland used to have basically one beer. All the breweries used to make the same type of lager with almost no alternatives. Now, luckily, the trend has changed and Finns have a growing interest in beer in its many varieties. There are several new beer-serving bars with a large selection of craft beers.   Bier Bier (Erottajankatu 13) aims to make beer-tasting […]

Happy Midsummer or Hyvää Juhannusta, as the Finns would say! Apart from Christmas, Midsummer is the biggest celebration of the year. If you’re in Helsinki you’ll undoubtedly notice how quiet the city is, as many of the locals are away at their summer cottages in the woods and islands around Finland. Here are a few […]

Heads up, foodies! If you’ve been searching for traditional Finnish food in the capital but coming up short, then we have a tip for you. Restaurant KarlJohan is a hidden gem that is known mostly by locals, with a menu that contains several hard-to-find Finnish classics. The street-level restaurant is on Yrjönkatu, between the Forum […]

This week on Let’s Eat, Helsinki, we visited one of Helsinki’s oldest, classical restaurants Restaurant Lehtovaara, which neighbors the famous Sibelius Monument. To make an online table reservation, click here. Fine Tradition Established in 1916, Lehtovaara was originally located in Vyborg, Russia. The Winter War of 1939 led to the evacuation of Vyborg and the […]

Every June, the streets of Helsinki come alive with the sounds of samba.  The Helsinki Samba Carnaval is presented by the Finnish Samba School Association as part of their annual samba championship, and the local samba schools put on their best performances in true Rio style. Much like the Rio Carnival, each samba school perfects […]

When summer arrives, Helsinki’s street food scene comes alive. From food trucks and bikes to people opening their doors on Restaurant Day, there are an incredible amount of options if you know when and where to go! Here’s our guide to some of the best street food fare around town. Summer treats on-the-go Summer brings […]

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 […]

Helsinki’s new central library Oodi opened on December 5, the eve of Finland’s 101st Independence Day, a fitting celebration for one of the most literate nations in the world. Located at Kansalaistori Square in the heart of the city, Oodi is a transformative and multi-functional space, defying any notion of the library as a dated public institution. Viewed from […]

The Lapinlahti former psychiatric hospital stands poised on the edge of Lapinlahti Bay, a naturally beautiful site noted for its richness in biodiversity.  Much like the rare butterfly (Depressaria Chaerophylli) that can be found in the area, its future is uncertain, but its history certainly deserves preservation. The Lapinlahti estate is comprised of several structures, […]