I guess we were fortunate to be in Helsinki at the end of December, because there still were some post-Christmas celebrations at the city center, buildings were so lightly illuminated (bright?), however the biggest Christmas market that was in front of Helsinki Cathedral at Senate Square was nearly removed when we got there before the New Year’s Eve. So below read about what to do in Helsinki in two days in December.
1) Go to Helsinki Cathedral on Senate square. It was built in the mid of 19th century, and initially was called St. Nicholas Cathedral after the Russian Tsar Nicolas I who was Grand Duke of Finland. In 1917 after Finnish independence the cathedral was renamed to Helsinki Cathedral. This neoclassical cathedral is worth to see!
2) If you follow the street towards the sea, you come across with Finnish sauna and pool with ice water near the seaside, where you can see the bravest Finnish people and tourists entering cold pool after the hot sauna. And the temperature outside was only 1-2⁰C.
3) Right after Sauna, we found ourselves in the Market Square. If you are looking for souvenirs you must come here. Even if the prices are a bit higher than in small shops in other parts of Helsinki.
4) The next sightseeing that you must see during December is Esplanadi Park. It is an urban park in downtown and green heart of Helsinki. It was so bright and colorful everywhere in this park.
5) Stockman is the famous shopping mall in Helsinki, where you can find simply everything from buttons till furniture.
6) Helsinki Central Station is another #mustsee place. This is the main station for long-distance trains departing from Finland to other countries.
7) There is ice-skating beside the railway station. Entrance fee + renting the ice skates cost 12 euro.
8) The last step in our trip was to jump on ‘ferry’ and go to Tallinn/Estonia. The trip takes 2.5 hours.
What’s magical about this ferry and how we spent New Year in Tallinn will be in WHERE TO SPEND NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TALLINN? post.
