An Insider’s Guide to Activities in Finland

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland

Walks + Hikes

Around Helsinki, there are plenty of scenic walks to go on. My favourite one was from the harbour by the Market Hall, and then along the rocky coast until the beach. During Winter, along this walk, you would come across outdoor ice-skating rinks and Christmas lights.  I preferred Helsinki in Summer, watching the sunset from the coast, watching people play volleyball at the beach and seeing more happy faces about.

Just outside Helsinki, in Vantaa, was Nuuksio Park – an expansive hiking spot.  When friends and family from home came to visit me, I always took them to Nuuksio, an easy hike with impressive views of the forest.

Cabin Trip

Another activity in Vantaa is booking a cabin trip, preferably by a lake.  I did this with a big group of my friends, and had the best time.  First of all, on arrival, the sunset was extraordinary (as pictured below), as was the lake, which had a little canoe that we played around with for a bit.  During the trip, we went for a walk, did a sauna, dipped in the cold lake at night, toasted marshmallows at the outdoor stove and enjoyed a wholesome trip of making memories and spending quality time with my friends.

Ferry to Estonia

From Helsinki, it is cheap and efficient to take a 2-hour ferry across the Baltic Sea to Estonia and explore Tallinn.  The city has an old central square, which is fun to walk around because there are several Amber shops, stalls along the street and pretty old buildings.  For a bird’s-eye view of Tallinn, you can walk up the spiral steps of the church and, if you’re not afraid of heights, admire the city.  Nearby are several old religious buildings to visit.

Suomenlinna Fortress

Another activity involving a ferry, this time only 20 minutes, is a trip to the fortress just off the coast in Helsinki.  This remote little place is perfect for walks, to breathe in ocean air, and maybe grab an ice cream by the museum.

Ice Hockey Match

Ice hockey is a big deal in Finland, and watching a match is a must-do activity.  It is a very entertaining ordeal, with fun songs being played to sing to throughout the match, celebratory lights and fire when someone scores, and cheerleaders keeping the atmosphere high.  Once when I went, we even made the fan cam, which was on the Finland bucket list. 

Sight-seeing

Within Helsinki, the architecture is very impressive, with a focus on ‘wave-like’ designs from the architect Alvar Aatlo.  The ‘Oodi’ is a public library just outside the central train station, that is impressive from the outside (pictured below) and inside, with floors filled with different educational resources, from the library to a 3D printer to recording studios.  Another sightseeing spot is the university library, which has a modern and interesting tunnel design when looking up, and nearby is Helsinki Cathedral.  This is particularly worth visiting during December when the Christmas markets are up, and it is bustling with people.