#TouristLife
At the start of our time here, Jon and I embraced being tourists in the city that we would soon call home. We loved walking all around the city and exploring the top tourist destinations in Helsinki. We were surprised to find the lack of crowds even in the “warm” weather of early September. Here are some of our favorites.
Helsinki Cathedral
One of the most recognizable landmarks in Helsinki is the Cathedral. I have become quite obsessed with taking photographs of it. It always looks grande and important - simultaneously standing out and blending in to the Finnish lifestyle. While I haven’t been inside yet, the outside stairs serve as a meeting place of sorts. People meet for drinks on Friday afternoons or lunch breaks during the week.
Allas Sea Pools
We knew we had to try sea swimming when we first read about how Finns swim during the winter. Jon and I both love swimming, so we gave sea swimming a try. We didn’t think it’d be cold in September. At the Allas Sea Pools, there is a pool for cold water from the Baltic Sea. Then there is a children’s pool and a heated pool for doing laps. Additionally, there is a cafe, rooftop restaurant, and of course, saunas. We went in the Baltic Sea and froze our asses off. After the shock, we quickly hobbled over to the heated pool. For some reason, we felt a pull to do it again. We made a way between warm and cold a few times, before going into the co-ed sauna. We did feel a calm and ease wash over us after the experience. My anxiety melted away…making it a great start to the day.
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Helsinki is made up of a variety of islands. This island is a short ferry ride away. The fare is covered under our public transportation cards. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts a military fortress. When walking around the island, there is so much to look at. There are tons of cool buildings and interesting nooks and crannies. If we have any visitors, we definitely plan on taking them to this site.
Tallinn, Estonia
Two hours on the ferry and you will be in Tallinn, Estonia. Many Finns travel to Estonia for the cheap alcohol. We went to experience another European city. We spent a day in Tallinn walking around and exploring the city’s side streets. We had the most delicious dinner after a full day of exploring and then headed back home on the ferry.
Oodi Central Library
One of the coolest libraries I have ever seen. It has a cafe, children’s play area, movie theater, sewing machines, 3D printers, and so much more. I spend way too much money on coffee here and spend many of my days researching on the library’s third floor. Check out Jon’s blog post for his take on the library!
Second-hand Shopping
Finns honor the idea that buying second-hand is great for the environment. You can find thrift stores in every neighborhood. Also, during the summer and early Fall, people set up marketplaces to sell their items second-hand. The marketplaces are almost like big, community thrift stores. We have found coats, mugs, blankets, and sweaters by second-hand shopping. It is one of my favorite activities to do here.
Central Park
One of the first things we wanted to do was explore all the nature that is close to Helsinki. Central Park, like the one in New York City, is a vast expanse of trees and walking trails. It was refreshing to be near the water and immersed in nature, just a bus ride outside of the city. There was also a cute farm with lots of sheep right before the trails started. We hope to go back and try out the cafe there.
Guided Walking Tour with Host Jonna
Through AirBnB, we booked a walking tour of Helsinki. We were lucky to end up having Jonna all to ourselves because the other member of the tour never showed up. Jonna, a native Finn, took us around the city while talking about the history and culture of each spot. It was a great way to gain insight into this European city.
