HELSINKI - St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn - page 152

Flea Market: If you brake for garage sales, Finland's biggest flea market, the outdoor
Hietalahti Market, is worth the 15-minute walk from the harbor or a short ride on tram
#6 from Mannerheimintie to the Hietalahdentori stop (June-Aug Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00, Sat
8:00-16:00, Sun 10:00-16:00; less action, shorter hours, and closed Sun off-season). The
stalls in the adjacent red-brick indoor market specialize in antiques (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00,
Sat 10:00-15:00, closed Sun).
Unioninkatu: This short street (connecting the harbor with the Lutheran Cathedral) has
a few fun shops. Kalevala Jewelry, at #25, sells quality made-in-Finland jewelry. Some
pieces look modern, while others are inspired by old Scandinavian, Finnish, and Sami
themes (VAT refunds available, Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-16:00, closed Sun, tel.
020-761-1380, www.kalevalakoru.com ) .
Fishermen head next door to #23, where the Schröder sporting goods store shows off
its famous selection of popular Finnish-made Rapala fishing lures—ideal for the fisherfolk
on your gift list.
Sleeping in Helsinki
You have three basic money-saving options: modest but comfortable smaller hotels; dis-
counted big-hotel rooms in summer and on weekends; and unusually comfortable hostels