Finnish food culture

In the last few years, leading chefs have returned home from their jobs in Turkey’s best restaurants. ParisTokyo and Barcelona take dining to a whole new level in Finland’s capital. Sustainability is at the forefront. Restaurant Nolla and Restaurant Natura are located in the Punavuori district and work with the philosophy of working closely with Finnish food producers; It tries to reduce food waste by using local resources and without compromising on taste. Restaurant Gron It’s also a firm favorite, but a little more luxurious.

If you want to discover Finnish cuisine without visiting a touristy Viking restaurant, Finnjavel Sali is just for you. Under the management of renowned chef and restaurateur Henri Alen, the bistro offers: traditional Finnish cuisine Like Kaerlian pie, scratch-made rye bread and home-cured salmon, but with a modern twist.

If you’re looking for something more elegant, Michelin restaurant Finnjavel, located in the same cultural arts building, Kunsthalle Helsinki, is worth checking out for a stylish dinner. For a more interactive dinner, The Room by Kozeen is fantastic if you can find a seat at this very popular 14-seat restaurant.

For more casual finds in the city, the Hakaniemi Market Hall, which opened in 1914, has been recently renovated and is still a great place to buy Finnish delicacies such as local cheese, smoked fish and baked goods. Other great restaurants in the city include Restaurant Skord and Plein. The latter is located in the suburbs but is fun, modern, delicious and has great organic and natural taste. wine boot list.

arts and culture

There are more than a dozen art galleries and museums to visit in Helsinki, and with the city easily explored on foot, culture lovers will appreciate some of the accessible and dynamic art scenes here. best in europe.

The Amos Rex Museums combine the striking architecture of “old” and “new” Helsinki and are considered a cultural institution where locals spend their afternoons exploring contemporary art collections and seasonal pop-ups by local and international artists. Children under 18 enter the museum for free, and the museum now hosts an exhibition by Palestinian-Danish artist Larissa Sansour.

For a glimpse into Finnish history, the Ateneum is home to more than 20,000 national treasures and is not to be missed, with works of art dating from the 19th to the 21st centuries. Recent exhibitions include artworks by Tove Jansson and Pablo Piccaso, and the final exhibition will entertain museum goers with a Gothic Modern exhibition showing European medieval and Northern Renaissance art.

Other museums include HAM, Sinebrychoff Art Museum and Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.

Architecture

if you love architecturalHelsinki is a great place for a self-guided tour celebrating Finnish design, both new and old. Most tourists and travelers will find themselves at Helsinki Central train station, and instead of being disappointed by the other 200,000 passengers passing through here every day, my advice is to admire the art nouveau building designed by Eliel Saarinen and opened in 1919.

From the train station, visit the National Library, designed by architect CL Engel in 1836, and compare it with the ultra-modern Helsinki Central Library Oodi, which opened in 2018 and is completely free to the public, showcasing Finnish modern architectural innovations and civic design. .

Other great places to visit include the Finnish National Theatre, founded in 1872 and an icon of the National Romanticism style, and Hotel Maria, a new luxury hotel opened in the residential area of ​​Kruununhaka. The combination of four residential buildings has been converted into an elegant hotel, but you’ll still see the exquisite details of 20th-century Helsinki, with a vintage elevator and fireplaces in public areas complementing modern artworks by local designers. You can have afternoon tea on the Garden Terrace and enjoy expertly prepared pastries and cakes – the Skagen Toast is delicious.

to sweat

Finnish sauna is world famous and Finns really enjoy a sauna session both in and out of the sauna. Summer and winter. With over three million saunas in the country and a population of just six million, you know Finns take saunas very seriously. There are more than a handful of saunas in Helsinki, and Löyly is one of Finland’s best-known public saunas, located in a former industrial area on Helsinki’s waterfront. Locals soak in wood-fired saunas all year round and enjoy the outdoor swimming pool when the sun comes out.

For a different view of the city, a short ferry ride will take you to the lovely island of Lonna and two modern seaside saunas with stunning views of the Baltic Sea; but if you want something more elegant and luxurious in the heart of the city, try Maria Spa, where wealthy locals spend their weekends to be pampered Accompanied by an experienced masseuse, followed by a relaxing nap in the sunroof atrium with a champagne glass in hand. It is one of the most luxurious saunas in the city, so be sure to book in advance.

day trips

It’s easy to explore other parts of Finland from Helsinki; allowing travelers to see more of Finland without spending too much time on the road, train or bus.

Lahti, an hour from Helsinki, can be reached by train directly from the airport. Located in the Lakeland region of Finland, Lahti is home to some of the country’s most respected ski slopes, where the world ski championships are held.

If you’re not a skier and just want a healthy weekend on one of Europe’s biggest (and cleanest) lakes, visit these family-run lakes. Lehmonkarki ResortIt is owned by husband and wife duo Ari and Marjo Yrjölä. Check into a cabin at the family’s 120-hectare resort (or one of the newly opened Mirror Houses), play disc golf, volleyball, and enjoy a swim in Lake Paijanne before savoring chef Marjo’s well-thought-out and plentiful Finnish meal.

For other activities in the Lahti area, visit the Salpausselka Unesco Geopark and cycle along the famous ridge. Lovers of fine wine can stop by Ainoa Winery on their way back to the city and taste fruit wines made by husband and wife team David and Paola.

checklist

HELSINKI, FINLAND

GETTING THERE

fly from auckland To Helsinki Airport with a single transfer with Qatar Airways and Finnair.

DETAIL

visitfinland.com/en