Helsinki: The Underrated Nordic Capital
As the start and end point of my trip to Svalbard, I squeezed in a couple of nights in Helsinki and finally added a new country to my list. It was meant to be a practical stopover, but it turned into one of those city experiences that offered so much more than expected...
Helsinki is not a city that shouts for your attention. There is no single, unmistakable icon here, no Eiffel Tower or Pyramids of Egypt demanding a photo and a tick on the list. Instead, for me, much of the cities charm was just what I noticed as I wandered. With architecture that has developed over centuries I felt like I could have been in a different country every time I turned a corner. From the solid, slightly austere Soviet-era influences, immediately obvious arriving into the central train station, an attraction in its own right. Then there are the distinctive façades and details of the Art Nouveau period. And grand Neoclassical buildings adding to the cities grandeur. The cathedral, stands proud in the centre of the city but the Temppeliaukio Cathedral, built into solid rock is another feat of engineering that is well worth a look.
My visit was in summer and it was glorious to wander through the Summer Park and feel the energy of locals dancing together, playing sport together, playing together and making the most of the long warm days. For me, a city is always improved by the addition of water, and the harbour area didn't disappoint.
This is a city I will definitely be recommending in the future, which works beautifully for a weekend break, or as part of a longer Baltic journey. If you have the time, consider combining it with Riga for small city charm. Vilnius for an atmospheric old town, or Tallin, which offers a medieval centre with a modern edge.
