Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Helsinki
09 / Pop 1.09 million (total urban area)
Why Go?
It's fitting that harbourside Helsinki, capital of a country with such watery geography,
melds so graciously into the Baltic. Half the city seems liquid, and the writhings of the
complex coastline include any number of bays, inlets and islands.
Though Helsinki can seem a younger sibling to other Scandinavian capitals, it's the one
that went to art school, scorns pop music and works in a cutting-edge studio. The design
scene here is legendary, whether you're browsing showroom brands or taking the back-
street hipster trail. The city's gourmet side is also flourishing, with new gastro eateries of-
fering locally sourced tasting menus popping up at dizzying speed.
Nevertheless, much of what is lovable in Helsinki is older. Its understated yet glorious
art-nouveau buildings, the spacious elegance of its centenarian cafes, dozens of museums
carefully preserving Finnish heritage, restaurants that have changed neither menu nor fur-
nishings since the 1930s: all part of the city's quirky charm.
