Helsinki

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See. The Fire Captain's Stone Visit the rough-hewn granite cube in the courtyard of The Burgher's Home, linked to a ghostly fire captain. The Burgher's Home Explore central Helsinki's oldest surviving wooden house, now a small museum with resident paranormal activity. Kauppatori Head to the waterfront Market Square for fresh cloudberries and pickled herring. Helsinki Cathedral Stop at this iconic cathedral on Senaatintori, watched over by apostle statues. Saunasaari×2 pubs Experience a traditional Finnish smoke sauna and wood-fired hot tubs on a private island.

Eat. Vanha Kauppahalli Find fresh cloudberries and pickled herring at this historic market hall.

Stay. Hotel Katajanokka Stay in this former county prison, now a hotel that embraces its unique history. Hobo Hotel A hip hotel in the cool neighborhood of Kallio, offering family-friendly amenities.

Atlas ObscuraSep 2, 2026

The Fire Captain's Stone in Helsinki, Finland

In the courtyard of central Helsinki's oldest surviving wooden house, a rough-hewn cube of reddish granite sits low in the gravel, flat-topped enough to double as a seat. For decades it was the favorite perch of Alexander Wickholm, the fire captain ( ruiskumestari , literally "hose master"), who liked to smoke his pipe there while keeping an eye on the yard. Wickholm died in 1896. Nearly three…

2 things in this storyRead the full piece at Atlas Obscura →

Lonely PlanetAug 28

The Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Get planning your festive season with this guide to this year

25 things in this storyRead the full piece at Lonely Planet →

Lonely PlanetAug 14

20 things to do in Helsinki and the best way to do them

Explore Finland

25 things in this story
  • LöylySightUrban sauna and restaurant complex beside the Baltic.
  • KauppatoriMarketFresh cloudberries and pickled herring available.
  • Vanha KauppahalliMarketSample cloudberry jam and pickled herring.
  • Helsinki CathedralPlace of worshipDominates the city skyline on Senaatintori.
  • SenaatintoriNeighborhoodSquare where Helsinki Cathedral is located.
  • EsplanadiParkLeafy strip lined with cafes and shops.
  • KappeliRestaurantChandelier-decked pavilion in Esplanadi.
  • Temppeliaukion KirkkoPlace of worshipUnusual Lutheran chapel carved out of solid rock.
  • Design DistrictNeighborhoodArea with about 200 shops selling design products.
  • MarimekkoSightInternational symbol of Finnish style.
  • LokalSightBoutique focusing on handcrafted furniture and ceramics.
  • OodiMuseumAward-winning modernist central library.
  • Parliament HouseAttractionImposing building with views from Oodi's terrace.
  • MusiikkitaloArts centreGlassy concert hall near the library.
  • Fuga MusiikkiRestaurantShop selling classical music recordings.
  • KäpyläNeighborhoodResidential area of affordable homes built in 1925.
  • SuomenlinnaSightSea fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Suomenlinna-MuseoMuseumExplores the fortress' long history.
  • VesikkoMuseumWorld War II submarine on Suomenlinna island.
  • TähtitorninvuoriParkObservatory Hill with views toward the cathedral.
  • AteneumGalleryPart of the Finnish National Gallery.
  • KiasmaGalleryContemporary international and Finnish exhibitions.
  • TavastiaNightclubPrestigious rock music venue, one of Europe's oldest.
  • HuvilakatuNeighborhoodStreet with colorful art nouveau architecture.
  • KaivopuistoNeighborhood
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

BBC TravelAug 13

Why travellers are obsessed with foreign supermarkets

From Tokyo egg sandwiches to Greek dairy aisles, supermarket aisles are becoming one of travel's most revealing and beloved experiences. It's 10:00 in a Tokyo 7-Eleven, and I am standing shoulder to ...

5 things in this story
  • K-SupermarketMarketThere are over 250 stores in Finland.
  • Elsewhere
  • 7-ElevenNeighborhoodTokyo, JapanConvenience store in Tokyo known for egg mayo sandwiches.
  • MercadonaMarketBarcelona, SpainA supermarket in Barcelona known for pistachio cream.
  • Trader Joe'sMarketMiami, United StatesMiami location known for Everything But the Bagel seasoning.
  • LawsonMarketKawaguchiko, JapanConvenience store in Kawaguchiko with Mount Fuji views.
Read the full piece at BBC Travel →

SkiftAug 4

Hoshino’s Nara Prison Leans Into the Heritage — a Test Case for Japan’s Historic Buildings

Japan’s Hoshino Resorts makes a bold move that blends cultural preservation, tourism strategy, and a new “cycle of heritage” model that blends government ownership with private operation. If it works, the rest of Japan will take notice, with its hard-to-maintain civic architecture.

4 hotels in this storyRead the full piece at Skift →

AfarJul 31

UNESCO Just Named 25 New World Heritage Sites—Including America’s First Since 2023

The newly added D-Day Beaches World Heritage site spans about 50 miles along the Normandy coastline, including Gold Beach (pictured), Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, Sword Beach, and Pointe du ...

22 things in this storyRead the full piece at Afar →

AfarJul 29

You Can Now Sauna Like a Finn—Smoke and All—Just Off Helsinki’s Coast

The new Saunasaari island retreat gives visitors a chance to try a traditional Finnish smoke sauna, plus wood-fired hot tubs and open-fire dining. Bathers at Saunasaari can take in views of the city ...

4 things in this story
  • SaunasaariSightIsland with Helsinki's only public smoke saunas.
  • VasikkasaariSightPart of Helsinki's archipelago, home to Saunasaari.
  • RÖKRestaurantWood-fired kitchen on Saunasaari island.
  • Market SquareMarket
Read the full piece at Afar →

Condé Nast TravelerJul 28

UNESCO Just Added 26 Sites to the World Heritage List for 2026—Including 1 in the US

We can’t wait to visit these lush wildlife reserves, dreamy seaside villages, and fairytale French castles.

23 things in this storyRead the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

Lonely PlanetJul 23

Finland has a new Sauna Island. Here's where to sweat (and freeze) across the Nordics

Nothing gives you that inner glow like a sauna followed by a cold plunge. Here are the best sauna experiences in the Nordics.

20 things in this story
  • Allas Sea Pool and SaunaSightSeafront bathhouse with floating saunas and sea views.
  • SaunasaariSightNew island sauna with smoke sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub.
  • VasikkasaariSightIsland with smoke sauna, cold plunge, and open-fire cooking.
  • UunisaariSightAtmospheric island sauna with sea dips after steaming.
  • KulttuurisaunaSightMinimalist bathhouse with ecological heating and bay views.
  • LöylySightModern sauna powered by wind and water, with Baltic swims.
  • Allas PoolSightCentral bathhouse for steam, sea dips, and waterfront views.
  • SkySaunaSightGondola sauna gliding above Helsinki's skyline.
  • RÖKRestaurant
  • Panorama SaunaSight
  • Corner SaunaSight
  • Sea GrillRestaurant
  • Sky BarBar
  • Sauna LauttaSight
  • Elsewhere
  • Wild Sauna BakkaSightAurland, NorwayBarrel sauna on shores of Nærøyfjord, Norway.
  • HvammsvíkSightHvalfjörður, IcelandGeothermal hot springs on shores of Hvalfjörður, Iceland.
  • Arctic BathHotelHarads, SwedenSpa hotel resembling a beaver's logjam on Lule River.
  • DueoddeSightBornholm, DenmarkBeach with soft sand and crystal clear sea on Bornholm.
  • West Coast Hasle HavnebadSightBornholm, DenmarkFloating harbor bath with pools, sauna, and sunsets.
  • SvalbadSightLongyearbyen, NorwayArchitect-designed floating sauna in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

AfarJul 20

4 Trips Where Expert Planning Makes All the Difference

From Borneo to the Amalfi Coast, these USTOA tour operators handle the logistics, planning, and local connections so travelers can focus on the experience. Some trips only come around once in a ...

16 things in this story
  • Sibelius MonumentPublic artworkSituated in Sibelius Park within Helsinki's Töölö district, the monument was designed by sculptor Eila Hiltunen, whose…
  • Suomenlinna FortressSightguided ferry excursion from Helsinki
  • Lutheran CathedralSight
  • Elsewhere
  • Little Mermaid statueSightCopenhagen, Denmarkguided sightseeing in Copenhagen
  • Christiansborg PalaceAttractionCopenhagen, Denmarkroyal reception rooms in Copenhagen
  • Kinabatangan RiverSightKinabatangan, Malaysiawildlife cruises often spot proboscis monkeys
  • Mulu National ParkSightMulu, Malaysiaincludes one of the largest cave chambers
  • SaluhallenMarketGothenburg, Swedenindoor food market to sample local specialties
  • Vasa MuseumMuseumStockholm, SwedenLocated on the island of Djurgården, the museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship that has ever…
  • Frogner ParkParkOslo, Norwaywalk through in Oslo
  • City HallSightOslo, Norwaysite of the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
  • ColosseumSightRome, ItalyIt is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is the largest standing amphitheatre in the world.
  • Roman ForumAttractionRome, ItalyCitizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum…
  • Old Town of StockholmNeighborhoodStockholm, Sweden
  • Vatican MuseumsMuseumRome, Italy
  • Sistine ChapelSightRome, Italy
Read the full piece at Afar →

The GuardianJun 7

‘I don’t think we’ve ever felt closer’: five writers on their most memorable family holidays

Rallying the kids can be chaotic and frustrating, but from Interrailing all the way to Turkey to Vespa rides in Naples, these trips brought families together Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for nine years running, but arriving in Helsinki, dishevelled from one of my first flights with my nine-month-old baby, I was less interested in national rankings and more in having a nic…

18 things in this story
  • KallioNeighborhoodcool neighbourhood with terraces
  • Hobo HotelHotelkitted out with travel cots and highchairs
  • HolidayBarbar with paloma cocktails
  • MajamajaHoteloff-grid cabins perched on rocks
  • Lonna islandSightmilitary outpost turned summer escape with sauna
  • Elsewhere
  • Quartieri SpagnoliNeighborhoodNaples, ItalySpanish quarter
  • Lake KukuljärviSightSalo, Finlandlake reached by hiking through pine forest
  • SantalahtiSightKotka, Finlandcottages steps from the sea in Kotka
  • NeaTourPlaceNaples, ItalyVespa tour company
  • Bar NiloBarNaples, Italyhomage to Maradona, lock of his hair
  • VesuviusSightNaples, Italymountain climb in midday heat
  • Blue GrottoSightCapri, Italysea cave with azure blue water
  • Sandringham estateSightKing's Lynn, United Kingdomroyal family’s Norfolk retreat
  • Experience FreedomPlaceKing's Lynn, United Kingdomglamping arm of the Caravan and Motorhome Club
  • St Margaret’s BaySightDover, United Kingdomholiday camp near Dover
  • Old HunstantonNeighborhoodKing's Lynn, United Kingdomvillage on the north Norfolk coast
  • Sandringham HouseAttractionKing's Lynn, United Kingdomroyal family home
  • Danube deltaGardenTulcea, RomaniaOccurring where the Danube River empties into the Black Sea, most of the Danube Delta lies in Romania, with a small…
Read the full piece at The Guardian →

Condé Nast TravelerOct 24, 2025

28 Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Surrounded by snow-capped cathedrals and wooden chalets, these Christmas markets in Europe are as festive as it gets.

24 things in this storyRead the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →
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