Snow Leopards and Sledging
Helsinki really embraces the winter months. The people are friendly, polite and welcoming and the atmosphere is alive with busy Christmas Markets, ice rinks and tram rides through the snowy streets. Everyone speaks English, so you never need feel shy of asking someone for directions or help. The flight to Helsinki is relatively short and there are bargains to be had, if you check out airline tickets to Finlands key airports. Here are a few examples of what’s on offer in Heksinki.
The Great Outdoors
Helsinki Zoo has a good animal welfare programme – and a trip to see the beautiful snow leopards is well worth the entrance fee.
For something a little more active, you could try your hand at a Husky Safari. Trained guides will help you get the best out of the experience, so you learn how to control your dog team and get to the see the countryside from a vertical position.
Further afield there’s excellent ski-ing in Kitlila and Levi and ice-skating too – lots of places hire skates, so you can go for a turn around the icy ponds, surrounded by lantern lit trees. For the really adventurous you might want to try an outdoor sauna!
When its time to recharge your batteries, you might want to try a meal in a Sami Tent – the tents are made of animal hide, so they are very cosy inside. These can be found in the countryside. Reindeer is on the menu during winter, together with sausages, smoked herrings and other speciality fish dishes. Food is simple, flavoursome and filling. Glogi is a winter time drink, comprising red wine, blackcurrant juice, spices and raisins. You often get given a little spoon to dredge up the alcohol laden raisins at the bottom of the glass!
Take a day or two out of your itinerary and visit the World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna Island in Lapland – where the largest sea fortress in the world still sits. A train will take you approximately 11 hours – or it’s a short flight from Vantaa Airport.
Culture
Finnish style is clever, colourful, and streamlined – to see the best of Finnish design, a trip to the Museum of Design is a must. The Museum of Finnish Architecture shows how the Finnish have used materials to the best advantage, in what is often, a harsh climate. It’s easy to get around the city by tram, so think about buying a Helsinki Card, to gain you discounts at key tourist sites, and it will also save you scrambling for change for the tram. If being outside is beginning to feel a little chilly, explore the miles of underground passages in Helsinki which link together transport stops, department stores and shopping malls.
Nightlife in most Scandanavian countries is lively – Helsinki has fantastic Ice Bars, theatres, art installations and clubs which are at the fore front of the music scene. You’ve also got the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights in all their glory – they don’t just occur in Lapland!
What to Take Home
You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to gifts; wood carvings, woolly hats and mittens, hand made toys and puzzles are great for youngsters. For the adults, there are glistening lingonberry preserves, a dazzling number of vodka products, together with unique art work and chunky knit coats. Finnish people are very proud of their culture and it’s evident in the quality of the items they sell to visitors.
To see wintertime enjoyed by people who really know how to work with the cold, Helsinki is a wonderful place to visit. Have a look at what flights are available this Winter and experience the snowy wonders of Helsinki for yourself.