Travel & Accomodation
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| Welcome to Finland - Experience Helsinki |
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For more cool information about Finland and Helsinki check Cool Links Latest news: According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's liveability survey February 2009 Helsinki is one of the most liveable cities in the world. Read more about the survey and check the rankings (8 Jun 2009, Economist) Latest news: Six of the best romantic city breaks: "Helsinki, the Finnish capital, is full of surprises. Some bits feel like Rome, as you idle over coffee at pavement cafes; others feel like St Petersburg, as you stroll by its powder-blue and primrose-yellow Neo-Classical buildings.Times online (27 Jan 2009, Times) Four seasons - Four reasons Finland is perhaps best known for its peaceful and beautiful nature. Vast forests, a unique archipelago and thousands of lakes present a striking mixture of wooded hills and waters. In addition to its mystical northern nature, Finland is also a modern Nordic country with a high standard of living and advanced economy and technology. Finland is full of interesting contrasts, such as the four seasons, the midnight sun and the long winter nights not to mention the different cultural heritages of the Eastern and Western parts of the country. Finnish people come in all shapes and sizes, like the rest of humanity, and their official languages are Finnish and Swedish. If there's one characteristic that applies to almost all Finns, it's extreme modesty. Finns don't boast about their own achievements; often they don't even mention them. You might spend an entire evening at a dinner party socialising with someone – only to find out later that they hold a world championship title for downhill skiing, invented the mobile phone, or some such other "minor" achievement. From Helsinki with love Helsinki, the Pearl of Baltics and Finnish capital since 1809, thrives amid a number of clear contrasts. Here, on its wide and elegant streets, Nordic cool combines with a distinct taste of the exotic east. Old meets new, land meets sea. Urban development and unspoilt countryside co-exist like nowhere else. Since 1997, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (20 kilometers from the Conference Venue) has been considered to be one of Europe’s finest airports. There are boutique hotels, designer hotels, grand hotels and private apartments to suit all budgets. Most hotels have saunas of course – part of Finnish culture. For a taste of something different, choose a harbourside Hotel Katajanokka that was formerly a prison. But don’t worry, there was extensive renovation in the process of opening it as a hotel! As for eating and drinking, Helsinki’s selection continues to grow and grow. Choose from traditional to modern, budget to gourmet, Russian to Mexican and a great deal more. You’ll even find a tempting array of Michelin stars, shared among four Helsinki restaurants. Chez Dominique has two stars, while Carma, Demo and Postres all have one. There is more to the Finnish cuisine than Finnish easter pudding Mämmi and salted fish. Have a look at the Finnish food culture and get the flavour of northern nature. A tip for food lovers: It might be useful to buy the Helsinki Card that entitles the card holder to get special discounts in several downtown restaurants. Helsinki's bar and café culture is very active in the wintertime, especially during the run-up to Christmas. This dark time of the year is brightened by countless parties, and friends and families gather for hot chocolate and glögg in cosy cafés throughout the city. The Arctic Ice Bar in the city centre is an experience. Indoors it is - 5 degrees throughout the year and the walls are built of thick ice blocks. Upon entry to the Icebar guests are given a warm cape and gloves to wear. Design and department stores  Minimalistic, functional and clean Finnish design has enjoyed an enviable international reputation for decades. In recent years young Finnish clothing designers, such as Paola Suhonen and Hanna Sarén, have followed in the footsteps of design icon Marimekko and wowed audiences the world over with their bold new creations. Helsinki is the perfect city for both design shopping and discovering Finland’s unique design culture. Helsinki even has very own Design District, an area that is home to a wide range of designer shops, interior decorating studios, antique dealers, clothing and jewellery boutiques, artist workshops, galleries, museums, restaurants and lots more. Nearly all of the major malls, department stores and little boutiques are within walking distance of each other in down town. The Kiseleff Bazaar is probably the most fascinating of the shopping centres from the visitor's point of view, because many of the shops there specialize in handicrafts and souvenirs. A lot of city residents go there in the run up to Christmas to buy seasonal decorations and gifts. Anyone permanently residing outside the European Union and Norway can shop tax free in Finland. For shopping hours click here. City Walks - Design District
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