We arrived late in the evening after the ferry ride from Tallinn. The ferry was huge, with plenty of bars and shops, as well a live band and karaoke! We jumped in a Bolt to our last hotel of the stay – we knew it was close proximity to the station, but didn’t expect to look out the window straight onto the train platform. So for the 2nd hotel of the trip, complimentary earplugs were supplied. That being said, we weren’t disturbed by them at all!
Breakfast was a rowdy affair, as this hotel was much bigger and busier than any we had stayed in for the last week. But there was still plenty of options, and we took advantage of all the freshly baked breads and pastries, ready for a day of exploring.
We started by getting a ferry over to Suomenlinna – a must see when in Helsinki. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s made up of a group of eight islands that together form a sea fortress. We got off the boat, grabbed a map from the visitors centre, and headed out to see what the island had to offer. One of the first things you come to is Suomenlinna church, which also functions as a lighthouse, making it one of the only dual purpose churches in the world. The rest of the first section of the island we found quite underwhelming, and it would definitely look better with a bit more green on the trees. Once we got to the Kustaanmiekka sand banks and artillery however, the scenery became a lot more intertesting, and definitely worth coming for. Most of the cafes on the island were shut due to being out of season, but I can imagine Suomenlinna gets absolutely rammed during the summer months.
Helsinki Cathedral – The church is built in the shape of a Greek cross and the central dome of the Cathedral rises to more than 80 metres above sea level.
Uspenski Cathedral – Considered to be the largest Orthodox temple in Northern and Western Europe. The central cupola of the cathedral is 33 meters high.
Old Market Hall – Relatively small inside, but full of local produce, and is perfect for those who love fish. Also check out the Market Square – look out for the orange tents (which are heated in the winter months). It sells produce, treats, crafts and souvenirs. It is opposite here that you catch the ferry to Suomenlinna.
Sibelius Monument – Perfect to pop by on your way to Regatta Cafe. It resembles large church organ pipes and is dedicated to the Finnish composer – Sibelius.
Regatta Cafe – The ‘must visit’ cafe. The traditional red cottage cafe has brought a part of the Finnish countryside to Helsinki, and is famous for their cinnamon buns and hot chocolate. We tried both, and have to say they were delicious. Expect a queue as its very popular. We were lucky and were able to get one of the few seats inside.
Temppeliaukio Church – Built directly into solid rock, it’s also known as The Rock Church. Very interesting to see the architecture, but at €8pp it was way too expensive for what it was. I was expecting guides and access to a toilet – unfortunately you don’t get either.
We finished off our day in Helsinki with yet another Newcastle game. We found a sports bar, got settled in, and then they changed the game for NHL instead 🤣 the next nearest option was an Irish bar. It was smelly and sticky, with dirty glasses (we were told that’s all they had 🤷🏼♀️) and strange people.. but it had the game on, and that meant Mark got to see them beat Blues. A perfect end to the trip!
So, was Helsinki worth it? We definitely wouldn’t recommend it as a stand-alone trip. However, the flights here can be super cheap, so it is a perfect place for 24 hours before going onto Tallinn. Being Finland, it’s obviously a lot more expensive. We went to another bar after the Irish Bar, and a pint & 2 packets of crisps cost €18!! There’s certainly no ‘old town vibe’, it’s just another busy and modern city.
The Travelling Ginger 