Finnish are considered the happiest people in the world. In less than two days, I learned the secret of that.
I spent about two days in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, where roughly 30% of the country’s ~6 million people reside.
Day 1 – sauna and walking tour
Compared to Oslo, the city looked more lively. Still below Copenhagen in my ranking though. One thing stood out though, and that’s Sauna. The Finnish sauna goes up to 100º C!
And that is the lovely enjoyment in the city of Helsinki. There are two Saunas that I tried, one of them in a public sauna called Sompasauna, a free, 24-hour sauna run fully by volunteers. If you are planning to go here then go at 9 or 10 PM during summer to see the full crowd.
The second one that’s more palatable to foreigners is Allas Sea Pool, this one is set up more for tourists. Travelers would prefer Sompasauna while the tourists would find Allas Sea Pool to be more convenient.
I would also recommend doing a walking tour. The history of Finland is mostly unassuming compared to many other European countries, so, there isn’t a lot to see.
Afterward, spend time at the Senate Square.
Aeolus House is considered iconic. I would Barcelona, Spain much more though for architecture though.
Day 2
The town has a cozy feel with trams everywhere.
In the afternoon, I went to Philjasaari island.
It is a 9€ round-trip ferry that departs every hour and returns 40 mins past the hour mark.
The trip was initially delayed when I got stuck due to heavy rains which seem to happen any time.
If you like hiking, I would recommend hiking on this island for a few hours. The island has a private sauna as well (60€ for 2 hours) and is booked usually months in advance.
Note
- Unlike some other European cities, public bathrooms are free in Helsinki.
- From Helsinki to Tallinn, there is a two-and-a-half-hour ferry for 20€. The ferry is an old cruise ship converted to ferry.