I’m really excited to interview Shelly Nyqvist of your MEscape about Helsinki, Finland. Shelly’s tips for the best things to do in Helsinki are awesome because she’s lived in the city for almost 30 years. She was married to a Finn, but got divorced and stayed there so her daughter could be close to her dad. Shelly loves the long days of sunlight from May to August.
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Helsinki Cathedral. Photo courtesy of David Mark on Pixabay.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and is located on a peninsula on the Gulf of Finland. The National Museum of Finland can trace Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Visitors will also find the nation’s Parliament House and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, but most people speak English. The primary currency is the Euro, but the majority of businesses take credit cards and mobile payments, so don’t worry about converting a lot of cash into Euros.
Although Finland is a Nordic country and Helsinki is located at the same latitude as St Petersburg, Russia, winter is not that snowy. It is mostly rainy and gray and snow sometimes does not arrive until February. Spring comes late with temperatures rising into May. Summer can be rainy but temperatures are typically in the 70s and 80s.
Shelly suggests visiting the islands dotting the coast, taking a tour of the fortress island of Suomenlinna, and booking a day trip to the Nuuksio National Park.
We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out the City of Helsinki, the local visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.
If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.
Helsinki Port. Photo courtesy of Kosti Keistinen on Pixabay.
Getting around Helsinki
The local airport is Helsinki Airport (HEL), which is a 25-minute drive to the city. The Finnair bus takes you from the airport to downtown for 30 to 55 Euros.
Shelly says that, if you’re staying downtown, there’s no need to rent a car. Helsinki is known as a walking city, but public transportation is convenient and plentiful. She suggests that you rent a bike from over 200 locations if you need to get someplace faster.
Uber and Lyft are also excellent ways to get around. If you must recent a car, click here for the best offers from visit Avis, Budget, or Hertz.
Allas Sea Pool with SkyWheel Helsinki
Places we talked about on the podcast
Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Shelly Nyqvist about Helsinki, Finland. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.
- Red dots = best places to eat in Helsinki, Finland
- Green dots = best things to do in Helsinki, Finland
- Yellow dots = best places to stay in Helsinki, Finland
Who is Shelly Nyqvist?
Shelly Nyqvist is a certified lifestyle and travel coach, writer, and workshop facilitator fueled by yoga, meditation, coffee, and the occasional rosé. She’s on a mission to empower ex-pats and empty nesters to dream more, achieve more, and become more through travel. Her signature MEscape™ coaching concept is a practical and tailored approach toward bringing balance into the every-day and accomplishing something epic.
Here are a few articles that she’s written:
- 4 ways to be the hero of your story
- Want to Be Happier? Consider Incorporating Nine Simple Strategies Into Your Every Day
- 10 tips for a vacay mindset while stuck at home
You can connect with Shelly on her website and on Facebook and Instagram.
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Traditional Finnish pastry: Korvapuisti (similar to cinnamon rolls)
Stay tuned for our next episode
Sam enjoying a drink by the water
Listen to the next episode when Sam Adeleke of Travel With Sam shares the best things to do in Lagos, Nigeria. Sam and I talk about the Badagry Black Heritage Museum, the Freedom Park on Lagos Island, and the Lekki Conservation Centre. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.
What’s your favorite part of Helsinki? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!
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