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Thread: Helsinki

  1. #1
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    Helsinki

    Anyone been?

    Thinking about a stopover for a few days there enroute to Thailand in August, hopefully it won't be too cold.

    Is it worth the effort?

    What's there to see and do for a few days?

  2. #2
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    I have been many times. I like the place. Worth a stopover. Weather will be good
    Outside of the museums the harbour and its market is worth a stroll around as is the rock church in the centre of town.
    The city is quite small so good for walking around and viewing the important buildings and architecture.
    Visit the fortress on the island in the harbour. Take in a concert in Finlandia Hall.
    There is day ferry service to Talinn in Estonia with sightseeing included.
    Also the 'ferrry' to Stockholm is good fun. I often took it instead of flying. You can take special weekend return trips.
    Nightlife is OK. Finns enjoy a good drink

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    Crikey! Googled "Finnish women". Impressive.

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    I worked in Finland great people and serious drinkers.
    Local food bland but Italian Turkish American stuff at every price range, Irish pubs off course and liquor in bars or government fixed price stores handlily called ALKO ( closed Sunday if I recal )

    Local heavy drinkers Cider and Vodka local faves but anything available at a price, tho not as expensive as Scandanavia.Probably similar to UK prices much lower than Denmark or Norway.
    Language agglutinative and impenetrably Finni-Ugric , only word you need is KITOS, cheers, ta , thank you very much etc

    Helsinki certainly worth a night or too and short hop to the naval Museum fortrees in the harbour great.Local trams trains everywhere and metred cabs who don't expect a top.Spotless airport everything works even at minus 20.

    Do check the weather stats it can be v cold and if also windy need proper clothing!!!

    If a gourmet some smoked reindeer is the finest meat I have ever tasted and its sold in top quality shops cooked and sliced like smoked salmon.
    SOKOS brand have store hotels a bit like Robinsons.
    Do a sauna your hotel will likley have a public one one, if you go over 100 quid probably in the room.

    https://www.arcticshop.se/en/reindee...-reindeer-meat

    If more than a few days, Hamenleena, Tampere, Turku or even Lapland via cheap overnight sleeper tain to the Arctic circle.A side trip by boat to St Petersburg used to be visa free check or teh overnight boats to Taliin and St Pete

    If you have kids there's touristy Santa stuff and real lapps with real reindeer on the hoof !!

    Oh and the Northern Lights, won't see em in Helsinki need to go north at least to Jahrminkipohlia where I worked about half way up on the map. The Lakes morains and animals bears, deer are great.
    If you vist Nokia town theres a big Thai royal statue on the causeway S of Town which may impress Thai ladies.

    https://www.arcticshop.se/en/reindee...-reindeer-meat

    Which even if you've glimpsed in N Scotland more vivid the nearer the Pole.

    Like LSD without the inspiral carpets...



    Unless a pro rallly driver my hint don't rent a car , I used to drive at the speed limit 120km in the slush on the highway and buses would overtake ............
    Last edited by david44; 17-11-2018 at 09:59 AM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    I just want the chance to use a bigger porridge bowl.

  5. #5
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    Good advice on this thread. If you want to get out of the city, Savonlinna is whole different world and not far to go. I spent 3 months in Finland a while back and I loved the lake country. Weather is superb in August.

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    Agree
    NB

    July temperatures in Finland average 13 to 17°C. February is usually Finland'scoldest month, with temperatures averaging from - 22 to -3°C. In northern Finland, winter temperatures often drop as low as -30°C or even down to -50°C, sometimes with strong, cold easterly or northeasterly winds.

  7. #7
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    ok for a couple of nights, second the ferry to Tallinn, very nice
    the chlamidiya cruise to Stockholm is good if you are in your 20's

    helsinkin in jan and feb, the weather is brutal, and curtails a lot

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    Quote Originally Posted by reinvented View Post
    helsinkin in jan and feb, the weather is brutal, and curtails a lot
    Correctoundo , why so many locals dwink vodka , being thrashed by big strong naked drunk redheads in cosy steamy sauna sessions, this might be over stimulating for some, and tea and tiddlywanks is also available n a DIY basis

    Many happy weekends here and great value still

    https://www.google.com/search?q=soko...E,lf:1,lf_ui:7

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    A good 4 star is at c $100 v central and key issue walking distance of grog shop supermarkets
    Excellent rooms on 4th flooe v good restaurant 4 star


    https://www.booking.com/hotel/fi/hel...s=1&#hotelTmpl

    At $150 the Radisson Blu has similar rooms and superior facilites
    https://www.radissonblu.com/reservat...ailableRates))

    I didnt pay to stay but using my own money the Hotel Helka 200m North better value

    If money no object I would need a better room than either of these and use my sporran for the nightlife and taxis, public transport good and cheap, but if snow/rain leaving the bar taxi way to go.

    In Tampere a beautiful Lakeside city 2 hrs in the Inter City "Bar train north"
    When I was there day return was less than lunch, despite -35 degrees always on time unlike Thai/grman or UK trains

    also the Sokos , near Thai sisters cafe cannot be beat around $120, many other hotels at half this outside the cities.

    Forgot the Spy, Labour and Lenin museums
    Lenin met Trotsky on ynikki Hill where I lved in my Nokia days, theres a Thai memorail ,The Moomin Mueum if your sprogs are troll fans

    More here

    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...Pirkanmaa.html
    Last edited by david44; 17-11-2018 at 03:43 PM.

  10. #10
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    Don't forget to bring a rake.

  11. #11
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    Ahhh, just saw that Finn Air flight with a 15 hour stopover.

    Fuck that for a laugh. Fly from Brum.

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  13. #13
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    I'm getting quoted £602 for the same flight, wronguns..

  14. #14
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    Give us your credit card details and I'll book it for you,

    Or use a VPN

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