Places to go in/near Helsinki: When it's cold/raining/Sunday.
Helsinki is a gorgeous city.
But like everything beautiful, there are some hidden monsters. Helsinki's monster is that it lives in Finland, and is often freezing or raining for most of the year.
(The other part of the year is gorgeous, but then airfare isn't...)
But I find it odd because if you google the top things to do in Helsinki year round, a majority of them are outside.
So it became quite stressful to prove how beautiful Helsinki can really be when my family decides to visit me in the "off-season". I needed to find something to do where they could experience a little bit of Helsinki, but do it inside where it was warm.
Plus, like a lot of European cities I've been in, Sundays are pretty dead. Things aren't really open that much and people aren't out. They take the "day of rest" pretty serious here (which is strange because they really aren't religious people...)
BUT anyway, I came up with this go-to list and I decided to share it with you all, in case your trip to Helsinki is interrupted by weather or a Sunday.
1. Hotel Sokos Torni (Atelijee Bar)
This bar/cafe is located right behind the Forum shopping center and is on top of the Hotel Sokos Torni. It says "bar" in the title, but serves coffee in addition to cocktails so it can also double as a cafe.
What makes this place so cool is that it offers an amazing panoramic view of the city.
Now if you read reviews, you might come across a few referring to using the womens restroom as something you MUST do. And in all honesty, I agree. The restroom is situated down a spiral staircase on the corner of the building. Because of it's location, two walls have been removed and replaced with windows. This makes for an amazing view of the city (and some great mirror selfie lighting...).
But don't worry, no one can see you using the restroom.
Opening Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 14:00-01:00
Friday: 14:00-02:00
Saturday: 12:00-02:00
Sunday: 14:00-24:00
Location: Yrjönkatu 26 on top of the Hotel Sokos Torni
How to get there: Walk from the train station/city.
Price: 5+ depending on what you get.
2. The Best Museum on Earth (Heureka)
The first time I went to Heureka was on my birthday a few years ago. It was too cold to go outside, but it was also Sunday, so not much was open. I spent about 4 hours in that place and my poor boyfriend spent the WHOLE time with me.
So pretty much, Heureka is a science museum that has various exhibitions throughout the year. It is very hands-on and it's adult friendly. This means that the fun stuff isn't just for kids... Adults can participate in just about anything at the museum, which is nice because I'm tired of kids getting to do all the fun stuff.
There is a planetarium, and imax screen and a few times a day they have a show where they teach rats to play basketball.
Opening Hours:
Everyday: Opens at 10:00 and closes anytime between 17:00-20:00 (really it depends on the day and week you go).
Location: Kuninkaalantie 7 (Vantaa-right next to the Tikkurila train station.)
How to get there:
TRAIN: The trains D, I, K, N, T, R and Z from the Helsinki Railway Station will stop at Tikkurila/Dickursby.
BUS: From Helsinki centrum take bus No. 611 to Tikkurila.
Price: Adults (16+)- 22 euros
Kids (6-15) -15 euros
Under 6- free
(There are group, student and senior discounts, so check the website to see if you apply for those.)
3. Visit the Art Museums
There are different museums all over the city, but when it comes to art, I highly recommend the Ateneum and Kiasma.
Both are located near the train station and you could easily walk between the two.
Ateneum:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday/Friday: 10:00-18:00
Wedneday/Thursday: 10:00-20:00
Saturday/Sunday: 10:00-17:00
Location: Kaivokatu 2 (Helsinki)
How to get there: Walk from main train station
Price:
15 € Normal admission
14 € S Privilege Card holders
13 € Discount admission
0 € Under 18 year-olds
Free admission also for veterans, therapy groups, assistants for the disabled, ICOM card holders, and members of the Friends of Ateneum, and with Helsinki Card and Museum Card.
Kiasma:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00-17:00
Wednesday-Friday: 10:00-20:30
Saturday: 10:00-18:00
Sunday: 10:00-17:00
Location: Mannerheiminaukio 2 (Helsinki)
How to get there: Walk from the railway station
Adults: 12 euros
Students: 8 euros
Under 18 year-olds free
Free admission on the first Friday of the month
4. Get naked (Sauna)
What's better in the freezing cold than a hot room?
If you are staying in a hotel, chances are that they have a sauna facility, but if you somehow managed to book a hotel that obviously doesn't belong in Finland, then there are other alternatives.
One is Sauna Arla.
I've never been because I'm lucky enough to have a sauna in my apartment complex, but I have heard amazing things about Arla and hope to try it eventually. It was featured on Anthony Bordain's No Reservations and is one of the oldest public saunas in Helsinki and provides a great atmosphere to check "authentic sauna visit" off your bucket list!
Check out this video from a fellow Helsinki blogger for more information:
Opening Hours:
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Friday: 15:00-21:30
Saturday-Sunday: 14:00-21:30
Location: Kaarlenkatu 15
How to get there: Take the 3 tram towards Nordenskiöldinkatu and get off at Kaarlenkatu.
Price: 12 euros
5. Salmisaari
Salmisaari is a sports hall that contains a lot of fun, indoor activities that you can so to stay active.
They offer putt-putt golf, bowling, rock climbing, lazer-tag, indoor sand volleyball, billiards, and have a gym and ice hockey rinks.
I can't seem to find an english translation on their website. There are facebook groups for each individual activity though and some posts are in English, so check them out there!
Price: varies depending on the activity
Location: Energiakatu 3 (Helsinki)
How to get there: Take buses 20, 21 or 65 from the main railway station and get off at Salmisaari.