Tag: helsinki

Prepaid SIM-Card in Helsinki Finland

It is very easy to get a Prepaid SIM-card for data and phone calls in Finland and Helsinki. Starting from only 5€.

Where to Buy?

Definitely the best place to buy a prepaid SIM-card in Helsinki is R-Kioski. They offer a good selection of prepaid cards from the 3 biggest mobile phone carriers Elisa, DNA and Telia. You can find their selection in here, information available only in Finnish unfortunately.

You can find R-Kioski in the airport and everywhere in the city. When arriving from an international flight. You can find Alepa on your left side after exiting baggage pick up.

  • Alepa
  • S-Market
  • K-Market
  • R-Kioski

Plans and Cost

These are example costs and plans for different usage.

Short term stay(week or less):

Telia Prepaid 5,90€
Includes 7€ of balance. 100mb/s internet speed. All SIM-sizes. Data 0.01€/Mb (max 0.99€ day, then no limit).

DNA Unlimited Prepaid 7,90€
Includes 7€ of balance. 300mb/s internet speed. All SIM-sizes. Data cost 0.89€/day unlimited usage

Saunalahti Prepaid 5.90€
Includes 6€ of balance. 100mb/s internet speed. All SIM-sizes. Data Cost 0.066€/MB (max 0.99€/day, then no limit)

Long term stay(more than a week):

DNA Dataprepaid 4G 30 days 24,90€
All SIM-Sizes, 300mb/s speed. 30 days unlimited use.

Telia Prepaid Internet 31 days 24,90€
All SIM-sizes, 100mb/s speed. 31 days unlimited use.

Saunalahti Wifi-egg + 4G 30 days 59,90€
Includes a wifi-egg, best way to share internet for many people. 100mb/s speed. 30 days unlimited use.

Top Up / Recharge

Head to R-Kioski, Alepa, S-Market, K-Market with your phone number and tell the clerk how much you want to top up / recharge and they will do it for you.

WIFI in Helsinki

Free public unlimited WIFI is available in the airport and all around downtown.

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Uspenskin Katedraali

Uspenksi Cathedral – Uspenskin Katedraali

What is Uspenski Cathedral?

Uspenski Cathedral is second of the two iconic Cathedrals that define the Helsinki skyline. The other one being the white, Helsinki Cathedral, facing each other just a few hundred meters apart. Uspenski is an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, dedicated to  Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). The location of the Cathedral is very pleasant. It sits on a hill in Katajanokka-district, overlooking at the sea and market square, giving visitors spectaculars views of the city and other historic buildings.

 

 

Uspenski Cathedral in a Nutshell

  • Consecrated 1868
  • Designed by Aleksey Gornostayev, who died before the cathedral was built
  • Commissioned by Emperor Alexander II
  • It took 9 years to build the cathedral
  • The dome rises to 33 meters height
  • Over 500 000 people visit the cathedral every year
  • Free entrance
  • Closed on mondays

How To Get To Uspenski Cathedral

Address: Pormestarinrinne 1, Helsinki
09 85 646 200

From downtown Helsinki:

  1. Located in Katajanokka, best way to reach it is by trams 4 and  5, that stops right by it. Stop: Tove Janssonin Puisto
  2. If you are nearby such as Kauppatori  or Helsinki Cathedral, it is just a short walk away
  3. Bus number 17  stops at Ritarihuone, short walk away
  4. Tram line 7 to Senaatintori, if you are coming from Kamppi or Länsisatama

What to do at Uspenski Cathedral

Inside the cathedral:

The Orthodox cathderal is full of icons and beauatiful paintings. Entrance is free, so take your time to take pictures and awe at history and culture of the Orthodox religion. There are service and masses everyday, so come join and see the orthodox way. Just outside the cathedral, there is also a chapel devoted for peace, which is worth visiting.

Outside the cathedral:

Get your camera ready to take some landscape photos. Uspenski cathedral is surrounded by sea in 3 sides and the side that is not sea, is downtown Helsinki and silhouette of the beautiful white Helsinki Cathedral. Take your time to walk around the seaside and maybe visit Kauppatori to enjoy some local delicacies.

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Helsinki International Airport

What is Helsinki International Airport?

Helsinki Airport is the main international airport of Helsinki, and the largest in Finland. Well engineered to handle the masses of people flying between Europe and Asia, it is one of the most convenient and fast airport to transfer through. Home base for Finnair, which flies to multiple destinations in Europe, Asia and North-America, it is very well located as a gateway between the European and Asian Continents. In recent years the airport has been modernized a lot and there are plenty of options to eat, refresh and rest in the airport, including napping pods and saunas.

"The airport is the largest in Finland and the fourth busiest in the Nordic countries in terms of passenger numbers. About 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through Helsinki Airport. The airport handled close to 19 million passengers in 2017, including 16.2 million international passengers and 2.7 million domestic passengers. On average, the airport handles around 350 departures a day.

The airport is the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, and its subsidiary Nordic Regional Airlines. It is also a hub for CityJet (on behalf of SAS), Jet Time, TUI fly Nordic, and an operating base for Norwegian Air Shuttle and Primera Air. The airport is also a focus city for Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia. Helsinki Airport has around 50 regularly-operating airlines. The airport has around 80 scheduled destinations to other parts of Europe and 21 direct long-haul routes to Asia, the Middle East, and North America. There are also 35 charter destinations including numerous long-haul charter destinations.Currently, Helsinki Airport has two terminals with a total of 29 gates with jet bridges and 80 remote aircraft parking stands.

Originally built for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, the airport today provides jobs for 25,000 people and there are 1,500 companies that operate at this airport.

Finavia aims to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport in transit passenger traffic between Europe and Asia, and to increase the number of direct connections to Europe. Helsinki Airport's minimum transit time of 35 minutes is among the shortest in Europe.

According to Finavia's survey, as many as one in every three passengers select their flight route based on the transit airport. Airline passengers have several times chosen Helsinki Airport as one of the best airports in Europe. In March 2018, Skytrax World Airport Ranking elected Helsinki Airport as the best airport in Northern Europe."

  • Helsinki Airport @ Wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Airport

Helsinki Airport in a Nutshell

  • Opened 1952
  • 19 million passengers in 2017
  • On average, 350 departures in a day
  • Provides work for 25 000 people
  • Minimum transit time 35 minutes
  • 17 km from Helsinki City Center
  • Home airport of Finnair

How To Get To Helsinki Airport

Address: Helsinki Airport, Lentäjäntie 3, 01530 Vantaa
https://www.finavia.fi

From downtown Helsinki:

  1. There are two airport Lines - I and P - that both go to the airport from Helsinki Centrail Railway Station and stop on all stations on the way. Traveling time approximately 32 minutes
  2. Finnair Bus that leaves from Elielinaukio
  3. Public Bus 615
  4. Taxi costs about 60 € and takes 30 minutes

From Elsewhere in Helsinki:

  1. Bus 415
  2. Bus 561
  3. Bus 617

What to do at Helsinki Airport

Obviously, you are either flying in or going somewhere else. Otherwise, it might be hard to get inside the airport at all. The airport offers lots of good food, especially if you are flying from the non-schengen area. If you really have time, we suggest going to sauna and spa or try the napping pods.

The Irish Pub - The Oak Barrel - is a cult place for Finns going abroad. So stop by here, have a pint and a whiskey while reading your lonely planet, oh and don't forget to take a picture to instagram!

  • GoSleep sleeping pods near Gate 11, 6€/h
  • The Oak Barrel near gate 22
  • O'Learys restaurant and sports bar near gates 28-29, 2nd floor

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Viva Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral – Helsingin Tuomiokirkko

What is Helsinki Cathedral

The most iconic attraction in Helsinki. This cathedral defines the Helsinki Skyline and is the star of all postcards. Very easily accessible and free to enter, it is a must-see for all visitors to Helsinki. Finish off by seeing the statues in Senate Square just below the cathedral and have a snack sitting on the high stairs leading to the attraction.

-Visit Helsinki

"A distinctive landmark in the Helsinki cityscape, with its tall, green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, the building is in the neoclassical style. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel as the climax of his Senate Square layout: it is surrounded by other, smaller buildings designed by him. The church's plan is a Greek cross (a square centre and four equilateral arms), symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions, with each arm's façade featuring a colonnade and pediment. Engel originally intended to place a further row of columns on the western end to mark the main entrance opposite the eastern altar, but this was never built."

- Helsinki Cathedral @ Wikipedia

Helsinki Cathedral @ Youtube

Helsinki Cathedral in a Nutshell

  • Completed 1852
  • Seats 1300 people
  • 62 meters high
  • Designed by Carl Ludvig Engel
  • 500 000 visitors in a year

How To Get To Helsinki Cathedral?

Address: Unioninkatu 29, 00170 Helsinki

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Hop On Hop Off - Private Tourist Bus Operator
  2. Tram lines 2, 4, 5 and 7. Stay off at Senaatintori-stop
  3. Walk from city center. It is 15 minutes walk from Kamppi and 10 minutes walk from the Centrail Railway Station

What to do at Helsinki Cathedral?

Get your cameras out and start shooting! The wide senate's square just below the cathedral makes it a perfect spot to take some beautiful sightseeing photos. Get your family on the stairs just before the cathedral and have yourself a new social media profile picture. The cathedral is being used as a church and such its main purpose is to hold religious events. If you're lucky during a weekend, you might catch a Finnish couple getting married!

Popular as a picnic spot or a quick break location to gather one's thoughts, the chairs offer a beautiful view of the surrounding are and the skyline that defines Helsinki. Sit a for a while, listen to the sounds of the sea and seagulls and take a walk around the cathedral, admiring its architechture.

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Kansallismuseo – National Museum of Finland

What is Suomen Kansallismuseo?

The National Museum of Finland presents Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present day, through objects and cultural history. The Finnish National Romantic style building is located in central Helsinki and is a part of the National Board of Antiquities, under the Ministry of Culture and Educatio

-National Museum of Finland @ Wikipedia.com

This beautiful, castle-like building located just next to the house of parliament in downtown Helsinki, is the place to learn about the history of Finland.  Easily accessible and boasting temporary and permanent exhibitions, it is a great institution to visit while in Helsinki.

How to Get to Kansallismuseo - National Museum of Finland?

Address: Mannerheimintie 34, 00100 Helsinki

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Easily accessible by walking from anywhere in downtown Helsinki
  2. Next to trams and buses going north along Mannerheimintie
  3. Reachable by yellow citybike

Contact information:

Phone: +358 295 33 6000

email: kansallismuseo@kansallismuseo.fi

What to do at Kansallismuseo - National Museum of Finland?

Inside Kansallismuseo

Three main reasons to visit Kansallismuseo:

  1. Visit the permanent exhibition to learn about Finnish history and culture
  2. See and learn about the traditional Finnish lifestyle and household items.
  3. Temporary exhibitions have interesting themes that vary

Nearby Kansallismuseo

Kansallismuseo is in Töölö-district, which has many interesting shops and old buildings. Helsinki Rock Church is just a short walk away. Good restaurants nearby for lunch and some popular places to have drinks in the evening.

 

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Ateneum Art Museum Helsinki

Ateneum Art Museum Helsinki

What is Ateneum?

Ateneum is an art museum in Helsinki, Finland and one of the three museums forming the Finnish National Gallery. It is located in the centre of Helsinki on the south side of Rautatientori square close to Helsinki Central railway station. It has the biggest collections of classical art in Finland. Previously the Ateneum building also housed the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and University of Art and Design Helsinki, but has solely been a museums since 1991. The Ateneum building is owned by Senate Properties (Finnish: Senaatti-kiinteistöt), the government real estate provider.

-Ateneum @ Wikipedia.com

Ateneum is a jewel in the heart of the Helsinki for classic art lovers. Permanent Finnish art exhibition is complimented by world class rotating art exhibitions. Easy to access and truly appetite-pleasing for art lovers who visit Helsinki

How to Get to Ateneum Art Museum?

Address: Kaivokatu 2, 00100 Helsinki

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Opposite of Central Railway station, walk across
  2. Easy to walk to from Kamppi Center
  3. Reachable by citybike
  4. Central Railway Station is just moments away from Ateneum
  5. Busses heading to Elielinaukio or Rautatientori are very close to Ateneum
  6. Trams 1-7 and 9 all stop at Rautatieasema tram station

Contact information:

Phone: +358(0)29 4500401

email: ainfo@ateneum.fi

What to do at Ateneum Art Museum?

Inside Ateneum Art Museum

Three main reasons to visit Ateneum:

  1. Visit the permanent exhibition to see classic Finnish paintings and art pieces
  2. See current rotating exhibition. To know what is currently on, see: https://ateneum.fi/nayttelyt-nyt/?lang=en
  3. The gift shop has many good ideas for souvenirs and things you can not find elsewhere.

Nearby Ateneum

During summertime, there are many terraces to enjoy alcohol while taking in the sun. Ateneum is literally in the heart of the city, so heading to dinner or lunch afterwards gives you full of choices. Short distance walk to Kauppatori or Tuomiokirkko, maybe even go and take a ferry to Suomenlinna.

 

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Löyly Sauna and Restaurant

What is Löyly?

In Finnish, Löyly means the act of throwing water on the hot rocks in sauna. Löyly Helsinki is a beautiful Sauna and Restaurant venue, located in the south coast of Helsinki, overlooking at the Baltic sea. Most notably known for it's architecture, it is a great place to meet friends for wining and dining with or without a Finnish Sauna experience. Sauna is a Finnish concept and a place where locals retreat to relax, gather their thoughts and spend time with their friends. Voices from the sea and steam from the sauna puts your mind at ease.

During summertime, Löyly gets sunlight to the late hours of the day, so it is great place to enjoy the magic of - short but awesome - Finnish summer. The restaurant is open from lunch to dinner, offering brunches at weekend. Reasonably priced, the menu is full of Finnish foods and local produce. Especially fish dishes are recommended.

Löyly Helsinki Homepage

How to Get to Löyly Helsinki?

Address: Löyly Helsinki Hernesaarenranta 4, 00150 HELSINKI

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Bus 14 from Kamppi - every 10 minutes
  2. Parking available around the venue
  3. Citybike from Helsinki takes 10 minutes

Contact information:

Phone: +358(0)9 61286550

email: info@loylyhelsinki.fi

What to do at Löyly Helsinki?

Inside Löyly Helsinki

There is a reason to visit Löyly any time of the day.

  1. Sauna is open whole day, you can access public sauna for a fee and even go take a dip in the sea
  2. Dining in the restaurant is a great way to taste Finnish ingredients, booking suggested
  3. Have a drink in the sunshine and suck in the Finnish summer sun

Nearby Löyly Helsinki

Walk along the coast to the east, towards downtown Helsinki. You will find bars, cafes, restaurants and island ferries you can hop on into. This is a very peaceful area, just outside downtown Helsinki. Good place to see local people relaxing and to take photographs.

Hietalahti Market – Hietalahden Kauppahalli

What is Hietalahti Market?

If you are wondering around Helsinki and looking for a place to have lunch, but can't quite make your mind on what you want, Hietalahti Market is the spot for you! With nearly 20 small restaurants there is something for everyone. From local Finnish foods to Asian delicacies and best cuts of cheese to fresh meat from a butcher.

Outside of the market there is a flea market where you can find local antiques and cheap deals. Some restaurants and coffee shops also offer seating outside, which makes it a great place to see local people go on by their daily lives.

Hietalahti Market's history started in 1903 and it has been a food market, art gallery and organic produce market during it's history, in 2013 finally becoming a food market hall as it originally was.

Hietalahti Market Homepage

How to Get to Hietalahti Market

Address: Hietalahden Kauppahalli, Lönnrotinkatu 34, 00180 HELSINKI

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Hietalahti Market can easily be reached walking from downtown. Walk South West. You can walk down Lönnrotinkatu and it will take you directly to the market.
  2. Trams 6 and 6T from Rautatientori and Länsisatama harbor stop right next to the market. 
  3. Bus 20 goes by Hietalahti Market.
  4. Trams 7 and 9 and all buses going towards Espoo or Lauttasaari stop just a short walk by.
  5. Use a citybike! There is a citybike stop near the Hietalahti Market

What to do At Hietalahti Market?

Inside Hietalahti Market

Above anything else, this a place to come eat. Busiest at lunch with nearly 20 restaurants with a huge selection offering their affordable foods to public. Don't come too early before lunch time as most places won't be open by then. 12:00 is the best time to visit. The restaraurants offer seating but are small. Take away is also possible from most places. Vegetarian, organic and other special foods are offered.

Top 5 picks:

  1. Roslund - Roslund Burgers are rated among the best in the City. The meat is superb and they are enthusiastic about their food
  2. Soppakeittiö - They only serve soups but they have good selection of them
  3. Petiscaria - Portuguese foods, one of the most popular restaurants in here 
  4. Super Bowl - Serves a bowl of super healthy food, delicious and good for you
  5. Le Marché - French food with passion. Enjoy!

Outside Hietalahdi Market

If you would like to find some local treasures, you can find them at the flea market outside. Especially busy during weekends and good weather. From brass antique to old dishes and clothes you can find things here you won't find at supermarkets. Be ready to haggle. There are also coffee places and things to eat outside if you would like to stay out and enjoy the weather.

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Sibelius Monument

Sibelius Monument – Sibelius Monumentti

What is Sibelius Monument?

In the Sibelius park is the world famous composer Jean Sibelius' (1865-1957) monument by Eila Hiltunen. It was unveiled 7 September 1967. The Sibelius Monument, resembling organ pipes, is made of welded steel with over 600 pipes and with the bust of the composer on one side. The monument is one of Helsinki's most popular statues and one of the most well-known tourist attractions.

-Visit Helsinki

How To Get To Sibelius Monument?

Address: Sibeliuksen puisto/Sibelius Park

From Downtown Helsinki:

  1. Hop On Hop Off - Private Tourist Bus Operator
  2. Tram lines 2, 4 and 10.  Stay off at Töölön Halli-station and walk west 1 km until you reach the park. Route Map
  3. Bus route 24. Rajasaarentie-bus stop. Least walking.
  4. Bus routes 39, 41, 42 and 69 from Kamppi Bus Station. Stay off at Linnakoskenkatu-bus stop.
  5. Fastest and easiest way is with a bicycle. Take the yellow "Kaupunkipyörä" Citybike. Read more.

What to do at Sibelius Monument?

The monument itself is beautiful, take your time looking at the art and learn about the greatest composer of Finland. In the summer, there are fresh juice vendors, handicraft vendors and an ice cream stall open as well as a gift shop. 

It is a good idea to head west from the monument and walk along the seaside to admire Finnish nature. If you want to make a longer walk, you walk south along the seaside and get to Hietalahti Beach, good for swimming and sunbathing in the summer.

Toilets are available west of the monument, under the hill next to the ice cream stand.

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