I simply loved everything about Finland……….maybe it was the fresh air, the sea, or the fact that I no longer felt I was being watched all the time after being in Russia. I just felt free! I loved the wide streets, the cleanliness and the no graffiti look! I loved the chatter of the tour guide, who had moved here from Spain……… I had a smile on my face the entire time I was here and I definitely would go back. I toured Helsinki in my own way and hubby took another tour and did his thing. So, I will share lots of different things to see here. I even went out in the country to the village of Porvoo, which I will share in another post to follow this one! Let’s get a move on, we’re in Helsinki!
We’ll start down by the harbor looking at the different boats……..
You can get around by boat……or bike……and it’s a fabulous place to walk!
Or go by streetcar………and look, not one smudge of graffiti anywhere!
One of our favorite things to do is visit a food market. I am always interested in what people eat! This is Vanha Kauppahalli Market …… a genuine Finnish Market Hall. Designed by architect Karl Hård af Segerstad, who was the city architect for Helsinki by 1907, Hakaniemi Market Hall was opened in 1914. The charming, 100-year-old building has many shops on two floors. His architectural inspiration came from Swedish and German designs.
and this is how the Hall looks inside………where you could get a reindeer plate with potato, or reindeer soup, or a reindeer sandwich, a reindeer kabab, a reindeer wrap, or a reindeer meat pie! Oh my!
Maybe the fresh fish is more to your liking………
or the fresh honey, or plain ‘ol reindeer, elk or bear meat………in giant tins.
This was more to my liking, the BERRIES! The blueberries were huge……..the guide told us that in most Scandinavian countries one can forage or camp anywhere up to 500 feet of a house! In Finland nature is not only wild, it’s free for everyone to enjoy, respectfully. The general public’s rights allows an access to anyone living in or visiting Finland, the freedom to roam the countryside, fish with a line and rod, forage for berries, nuts or mushrooms, and enjoy the recreational use of the natural areas. This is called, “The Everyman’s Rights.”
Look at all the nuts!
The old market is located next door to the huge, orange-tented outdoor market, right on the water’s edge.
Very fresh-looking vegetables were here!
Now, let’s follow the street car and move along…….. oh look, it’s the Helsinki Cathedral!
which gets its own marker in the square…….
Before we go up the steps we should look closer at the statue while we’re here. This a commemorative to Alexander II of Russia, who was Emperor of Russia from March 2, 1855 until his assassination on March 13, 1881 on the streets of St Petersburg. Remember I posted about that on our visit there. Alexander was also the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland, so that would get you a statue here up front and highlighting the square!
Going up the steps, up and up and up…………..
I need a breather, so here’s a good photo of the top of the cathedral!
and this is what it looks like inside!
Looking down you can see how big this square is and how wide the streets are, even the side streets.
Back in the square I think I need some refreshment. It is early morning and we have a lot planned for today.
Hubby and I are going separate ways now. He is setting off on a walking tour of the city and I am headed to Porvoo, Finland. What will we discover in these stops? See you soon for more of Finland!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
I’ve been here, and share your sentiments! We took a street car tour of the city and a ferry out to an island. Did you happen to try the pear ice cream?
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No, I did’t get to try any ice cream, but when I got to tiny, tiny, Porvoo, there was a chocolate factory and shop that was waiting room only filled to the edges with the town folks and tourists alike! I bought sacks of different chocolates and then got to carry them around for the rest of the day! I decided after a sampling of many of them at the shop it would be worth the trouble of the bags! Ha ha! I wish I would have tried that Pear ice cream! If I liked cold weather and short summers, Finland would definitely be on my radar as a homeplace!
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Your captures give a roomy feeling in this city! The white cathedral is so beautiful! A happy 2020 to your, with many pleasant travels:) Jesh
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Thank you! Helsinki had to be one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest city, we have ever visited. It is rated #9 in “best urban living” in the world! I can’t imagine where the first 8 cities could be! We have another full year ahead of us!
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Haha, you are right – I wonder too which cities would be rated cleaner! Thank you for getting back to me:)
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Forget the ice cream varieties. I love the displays of fish and other seafoods. So delectable! And you managed to climb all those steps to the Cathedral? Wow!
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Jo, I walk at least 5 miles a day and sometimes many more! But, I HATE STEPS! I have to really want to see something to go up that many steps! Ha Ha! Finland was definitely my cup of tea! Wait until you see my Porvoo Photos!
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I can see why you loved Finland, especially after Russia. I love the Fish Market and that coffee cart. Looking forward to the next post, although I was confused because I thought I was going to a Thursday Doors post. Wasn’t paying attention to the fact that I was in the Reader, not Norm’s site.
janet
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Russia was gloomy, and unhappy to me. And then we got to Finland and what a different vibe! Out tour guide moved from Spain to Finland because he was so enamored with the city! Many folks shuttle from Tallinn, Estonia everyday to Helsinki for work. The pay is much better in Finland.Their number one industry is Information Technology.
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In Russia, there’s also always the unseen but likely omnipresent feeling of government oversight, in the worst sense of the word, and then of course there’s the world-famous Russian mafia, etc.
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Hello.
Well-made post and lovely photos. Someday, if you have possibilities, then visit Finland and not only Helsinki. They differ like night and day! My country offers wonders, which you have never heard!
Happy and safe travels!
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Thank you, we absolutely loved Finland! I would like to know more about the island you live on!
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Hello.
I do not know, how you noticed that I love on island. We just moved way from there due to tempters in our neighboring. The island is called Laajasalo and it can be visited easily. Because no official pages do not tell about it, there no tourists – sigh.
It is the biggest island of Helsinki, it is beautiful, flowers, gorgeous rock and waling on paths in small forest. Its untouchable nature fascinates the visitors. From the Herttoniemi metro station taking a bus, anywhere on the island is easy. hopping off anywhere and leaving roads, you can start exploring the island by taking nearby path. There is no fear to get lost, because paths always end to roads and on roads busses go.
In 2026, Laajasalo gets a long bridge connecting Helsinki center! I have made four posts by name “Unknown Helsinki” and one by name “Search for ghost houses”. In the post number three, we did find dinosaur! Can you imagine it? If interested, then here are those posts:
Unknown Helsinki 1
Unknown Helsinki 2
Unknown Helsinki 3
Search for ghost houses
Happy and safe travels!
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Matti, Thank you for sending me all these great posts of Helsinki! This really gives me a much more in depth view of Helsinki in all Seasons! It also shows the contrast between the city and the country, the modern and the old. The natural ares are fantastic! I would definitely like to spend a great deal more time there! Thank you again for sharing!
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Oh, thank you reading all of them. In the middle of Helsinki is also wooden house area! I am very glad that you read them! Here:
Lesser-known Helsinki
Have a wonderful day!
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Helsinki is a really nice city – so many things to see and do as well.
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