Helsinki

Nordic Daughter of the Baltic

Scratch beneath the small-town surface of Helsinki and you will find a cosmopolitan metropolis buzzing with a lively attitude and plenty of excitement. The relatively short-lived summer offers the best chance to appreciate the outdoors and sit on one of the popular café terraces, or even hit the Hietaniemi Beach, all of which can be enjoyed during the 20 hours of daylight.

Strolling around the streets of Helsinki will reveal an Empire-style of architecture, comparable to St. Petersburg. The greatest example of this is the green-domed Lutheran Cathedral which rises proudly out of the center of Senate Square.

From here the main shopping street of Aleksanterinkatu, affectionately known as Aleksi, runs towards Mannerheimintie and contains the largest department store in Scandanavia, called Stockmann. The up-market boulevard of Esplanadi runs alongside and is packed with exclusive boutiques.

Lovers of Nordic design will be thrilled by the Design Museum and the Ateneum Art Museum. Nature is in abundance on the beautiful archipelago which lies along the coast. A must-see is the Baltic fortress of Suomenlinna, where you just might forget you’re in a big city.

Whether you head to a sauna or amusement park when you disembark from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, with over 65 hotels, apartments and hostels, Booking.com has the perfect place for your Scandinavian stay.