If you’ve made up your mind about traveling to Europe this winter, we know you’re the kind of person who doesn’t shy away from braving the freezing cold. You’re probably part of the ‘no bad weather, just bad clothes’ team.
Fair enough.
Europe is magical in winter, we’ll give you that, with its snow-dusted medieval sights and cozy atmosphere, but if you think London, Berlin, Paris and the like are your best picks for a December getaway, wait until you discover this hugely-underrated Nordic city.
Boasting spas galore, beautiful lights, and numerous Christmas markets, Helsinki in Finland is Europe’s winter capital, and like those tourism hotspots, it’s a nonstop flight away for Americans:
What’s So Special About Helsinki That Will Make You Go Further North This Winter?
Even winter enthusiasts will think we’ve gone mad with this one:
Why on Earth would we be encouraging people to go to Europe’s northeasternmost end at the worst possible time of the year to be outside? As it turns out, there’s no better time to visit Helsinki than right now:
Just think about it: unless you have a particular interest in Nordic culture, you wouldn’t waste a European summer here when you could be eating soft gelato in a balmy Lake Garda instead; well, likewise, winters just suit this part of the world better.
This is literally the country said to be the home of Santa Claus, so grab your warmest jacket, slide those woolly gloves on, get yourself a cinnamon-sprinkled mulled wine from the nearest shop, and let’s set out to explore a snowy Helsinki together:
Unique Winter Activities
From the lights bedecking Aleksanterinkatu, the main shopping street in town, to the vibrant Helsinki Christmas Market, one of the largest in Europe, visited by over 300,000 people every year, this is Europe’s best-kept secret this season.
Set up before Helsinki Cathedral, which rests on a prominent plateau above the otherwise-even skyline, the market hosts a food yard, urban bonfires, live events, and even an adorable vintage carousel children are welcome to ride for free.
Before you get all sad, Santa’s got a treat for the adults too! Everyone, regardless of age, is free to ice-skate on all artificial ice rinks of the city, including the recently-opened Johanneksenkenttä, beside a red-brick St. John’s Church.
Nothing screams Christmas in Helsinki more than strolling down Kesäkatu Street, with its twinkling lights, colorful buildings and boutique shops selling festive sweets, or taking the ferry to Suomenlinna, both a fortified archipelago and UNESCO World Heritage Site.-
Other than the cultural charm––this is a sea fortress built across eight islands that has remained virtually untouched since its construction in the 18th-century––Suomenlinna offers nature walks, snowshoeing, and even sledding for the thrill seekers.
Quirky Museums And The Most Incredible Public Library In The World
Winters in Helsinki is also the perfect time to explore the city’s wealth of museums and cultural landmarks, especially when it’s a tad too chilly out, and there is no Espresso House in sight––a little side note, you might end up getting addicted to their hot chocolate.
Just saying.
Anyways, we digress. The museums.
For innovative art, quirky exhibits, and, you know, just cool stuff in general, make sure you pay the Atheneum a visit: it is Finland’s national art museum and it has big enough an exhibition to keep you entertained for more than a couple of hours.
Sinebrychoff is your go-to spot for iconic art, housing names like Rembrandt, Rubens and El Greco, and if you’re into photography––especially of the kind that serves as a time capsule––the Museum of Photography depicting Helsinki over the decades is a must.
Don’t miss Temppeliaukio Church, either, a Lutheran church built straight into a rock, and if you’re looking to get your mind blown, put Oodi on your to-do list: we’ve always wondered why Finland ranks time and again as the happiest country in the world, but this public library gives us a bit of an idea.
It is not only a place where locals go to study and borrow books; it is an entire creative ecosystem: there are gaming rooms you can rent to play with friends for free, 3D printers for public usage, cafeterias, and even recording studios for independent artists!
Easy to see how Finns don’t actually mind there’s a snow blizzard raging on outside.
Saunas, Saunas Everywhere!
You didn’t think we’d leave the best part out, right?
I know we’ve been banging on about Helsinki being cooold in winter, but is it, really?
Part of the reason why Helsinki is such an incredible wintertime city break is its thriving public sauna and spa culture: in case you didn’t know, sauna as a concept originated in Finland, and believe it or not, most households in the country have their own!
Finland has more saunas per capita than any other country in the world, with 3.3 million of them for a population of only 5.4 million, and as you might have guessed, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Helsinki––lucky for you, we’ve been to enough of them to find the absolute best:
The most incredible sauna experience in Helsinki is, without question, the laid-back Löyly: costing only $27 to enter, it is extremely popular for its open Baltic Sea access––going back and forth from a scalding environment to icy waters, one is meant to be relaxing, apparently.
We won’t lie to you, we were resistant to the idea at first, especially after seeing the thick ice sheets forming in the sea lining the sauna complex, but after a while dipping in the Baltic, only to rush straight after to the warmth of a wood-fired sauna feels amazing.
The restaurant at Löyly is not to be missed, either, especially their Finnish meatballs and creamy salmon soup.
Then of course, there’s Allas Sea Pool, in the center of Helsinki, commanding a breathtaking panorama of the cathedral-dominated waterfront, with a pool heated to a pleasant 80.6° year-round, and a no-frills, eco-friendly Kulttuurisauna, perfect for spa treatments and ice swimming.
Fly To Helsinki From 6 U.S. Cities This Winter From $433
Believe it or not, this winter, Americans can fly nonstop to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) from as many as six U.S. departure points! It seems we’re not the only ones crazy enough to go somewhere colder than the average American city.
Go figure, ha!
Without further ado, here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, all the nonstop routes from the States to Helsinki, all with Finnair, Finland’s national carrier:
- Chicago (ORD)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- New York (JFK)
- Seattle (SEA)
From New York, one-way fares start from only $433, whereas from Los Angeles, it’s an equally-affordable $568––Nordic culture, saunas, and reasonably-priced flights?
What more can you ask for from a trip across the pond at the minute?
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