Why this Nordic gem should be your next city break
As the nights start to lengthen, celebrate the end of summer in Finland.
Go now
The Finnish capital (myhelsinki.fi) is currently saluting the last vestiges of summer via the Helsinki Festival (helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi/en until Sept 2) – two weeks of music, drama, dance and film, spread around venues across the city. Flights are available with BA (ba.com) from Heathrow, Finnair (finnair.com) from Edinburgh, Heathrow and Manchester – and Norwegian (norwegian.com) from Gatwick.
Helsinki - City map
Stay here
Hotel F6 (1) (telegraph.co.uk/tt-hotel-f6/) is a stylish boutique option set just in from the harbour front. Doubles from €168 (￡150), with breakfast. The five-star Hotel Kamp (2) (telegraph.co.uk/tt-helsinki-kamp) has been decorating Pohjoisesplanadi since 1887. Doubles for €306, room only.
Walk here
Gain a snapshot of the city by standing at the west end of Pohjoisesplanadi and admiring the Swedish Theatre (3) (svenskateatern.fi). Stroll east, through Esplanadi park (4), as far as Kauppatori (5) (Market Square) – the focal point of the waterside. Here, a left turn up Unioninkatu brings you to Senaatintori square (6), and Tuomiokirkko (7), a neoclassical cathedral (helsinkicathedral.fi).
See this
The Ateneum (8) (ateneum.fi) is the classical component of the Finnish National Gallery (€15), hosting works by national icons Eero Jarnefelt and Akseli Gallen-Kallela, and by Van Gogh and Cézanne.
Try this
Kiasma (9) (kiasma.fi; €14), the national gallery’s contemporary wing, requires a love of more modern creativity. Its collection spans 8,000 artists, including Marita Liulia, who deals in interactive multimedia. An exhibition on Grayson Perry finishes on Sept 2.
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Shop here
For stately Finland, try Stockmann (10) (stockmann.com), a department store that has crowned the main retail drag, Aleksanterinkatu, since 1862. For 21st-century flair, Mia Design (11) (miadesign.fi) revels in bright cushions and chichi home décor in Punavuori.
Drink here
Punavuori, due west of the core of the centre, is Helsinki’s design district. Its trendy ethos extends to bars. Tommyknocker Craft Beer Bar (12) (tommyknocker.fi) sells Finnish ale.
Eat here
Stay in Punavuori for sapas – Finnish tapas – at Juuri (13) (juuri.fi), where small plates include rainbow trout with horseradish, and beef with beetroot (both €8.20). Or return to the waterfront, where Nokka (14) (ravintolanokka.fi) is steered by chef Ari Ruoho. Dishes include lamb fried with cabbage and fermented garlic, for €35.
Off the map
Catch the ferry (€5 return, hsl.fi/en) from Kauppatori (5) to Suomenlinna – the fortress, two-and-a-half miles (3.9km) south of the city, built in 1748 when Finland was under Swedish rule. Unesco-listed since 1991, its walls still exude military might (suomenlinna.fi; general entry free).
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