36 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Helsinki, Finland

Hey guys, I'm Camden. I hope you're doing well. I just got back from Helsinki and gosh, so much of what I read online before my trip was just wrong. So I'm going to share everything that I wish I would have known ahead of time with you today, starting with some common mistakes that people make. The first is buying into the hype online that this place is boring and is the worst of the Scandinavian countries. Guys, that's just not necessarily true. This place has a ton to offer and I find that a lot of tourists are making the same mistakes and getting trapped in a certain area, and that's what's giving them that perspective. But this city is incredible if you give it the proper time that it deserves. And that leads us into the second mistake, which is not dedicating enough time here. So many tourists just do this as a one-day city or maybe even a day trip from Tallinn, and I think that's the wrong approach. I'd try to spend at least three, four, maybe five days a week if you have the opportunity. There's so much nature around, so much to explore, and I promise you, if you choose to spend more time here, you're not going to be disappointed. I think by the end of this video, you're going to be saying, holy cow, I didn't realize this city had so much to offer. And note that what I'm showing you is just a sliver. I barely scratched the surface because I did make that mistake. So hopefully you won't make that same mistake I did. Give this city the time that it's worth. And another mistake that I think a lot of visitors make is not appreciating the library culture and really exploring it. And it is so ingrained in the culture and it's such a special part of the culture. So don't make the mistake of just visiting that main library. Go and embrace it. There's so much to explore, and I'll help you with that later. I think the biggest mistake that tourists make is they get trapped in this little area right here. And look, I understand why. It's a spot that is catering to the tourist. It's where a lot of spots online will tell you to go and hang out. And I'm not saying that you shouldn't, but I'm saying it is not representative of this city and of this country. So there's so much more to push out and see, and I think you'll enjoy your vacation so much more if you give yourself that opportunity to explore. And later on, I'll show you which areas of town I think you might enjoy a bit more. But I think another mistake is not utilizing the public transit here. And it is a phenomenal system, super easy to use. I highly recommend it. One tip here, though, is when you're going to buy your tickets, do note that you can just use your mobile wallet or physical card and just tap right in and out. Most tourists, anywhere you're going is likely going to be in zone A or B, and it's a super simple system. But I do want to warn you, when I tried using my mobile wallet, for some reason, it wasn't working. When I used my physical card, no problem. So if you want to play it safe, maybe just make sure to have that physical card on you so you can use the transit. I totally understand that it can be intimidating using public transit when you're abroad. But the best way that I kind of keep peace of mind is making sure that my phone works and that I can rely on my maps and navigating. So the way that I do that is I pre-purchase an eSIM from a company named Aerolo. So Aerolo is an app that you can download on your phone, and before you ever arrive, you can pre-purchase data so when you land in Finland, your phone just works, and you can navigate, and you don't have to worry about that at all. Now, do note that I have partnered up with these guys because I move to a new country every month. I'm constantly using eSIMs, and I've tested like 10 or 15 different companies. I think they're just the most user-friendly, and it has always worked the best, never steered me wrong. So I'll leave a link down below. Hopefully, it helps you on your trip. And I think there's a discount code as well, so you can check that out. And also note that scooter culture is really prevalent here, especially in the summer. It's a great way to get around the city, and it's a fun way to do it. So don't be afraid to use those as a tourist, but one of the other big mistakes that I see tourists make is when they're trying to get out to some of the islands, they get upsold on private boats, private taxis, rather than just using the ferry, as the ferry is always going to be the cheapest option. So don't let anybody convince you that you need to spend more money. But let's talk about food because there are some wonderful options in this city, and I'm just going to give you a couple of my absolute favorites. But if you want all of my recommendations, I put them in a digital guide for you. You can download it, and it's completely free, so I hope it helps you on your trip. But starting with coffee. Coffee Roastery is probably the top option in town if you're chasing that high quality. It's where the coffee nerds go, and it's phenomenal. And this one's close enough to where a lot of the tourists are going to be hanging out, so it should be relatively accessible. And it's just a really cute space, and they have a little fun market store attached as well. Another great spot is Ram's Roasters. This is a pretty small spot, and it's missed by most tourists. Really high quality coffee, exceptional cinnamon rolls, and it's a cute and cozy space. They have a nice little patio, and also in the summer months, you could take your coffee, walk into the park, and sit down by the water. It's really accessible there. And the last coffee recommendation I'll give you is Savi. And this one is going to be a little bit higher effort to get to. It's in a local area of town. It's a hot spot for digital nomads and people working. It's a cozy environment, great coffee, great scenery in general, and again, that local feel. But let's talk about a great bakery, which is Avikainen. This spot is so underrated. You've got to go. It is in a very local area of town, like quite literally in a neighborhood, but it is so worth the time. Everything on that menu is incredible. And what you'll notice is the prices are way more affordable than anything that you'll find anywhere in that touristy area. So definitely recommend going and trying these guys. But if you're looking for a spot where you Everything that they do is pretty high quality. It's pretty affordable and just a beautiful setting. It's like this wonderful house. They've got this gorgeous patio in the back, and it hugs up against the park as well. So it's a great spot. You shouldn't be disappointed. Wonderful service as well. And if you're looking for a nice spot for dinner, highly recommend Krna. This spot is wonderful for a date night, super intimate setting. I would highly recommend a reservation because they do fill up. It is a hot table around town, but everything there is phenomenal. But let's talk about some overrated and underrated spots around town that should probably be on your radar. The first is Suomenlinna. And this one, it should be on everybody's list. This is your can't miss when you're visiting Helsinki. This is an island that you'll take a ferry to, and you should dedicate some serious time to it. There's so much to explore. Yes, you have the sea fortress, which is beautiful, but on this side of the island, you have a more residential area and it's really peaceful. You can walk and you feel like you're alone in nature and it's spectacular and so beautiful. And then you can slowly make your way over to the sea fortress. And what I'd recommend here is a lot of the tour groups will be operating until about two, maybe three o'clock in the afternoon. But after that, the crowds die down a lot and you can explore at your own pace without all the crowds. And it is just stunning. Now do note that the trade off there is some of the little shops around town will be closed if you wait until the afternoon, but I think it's worth it to explore without the crowds. But one of the biggest mistakes people make is they just don't dedicate enough time here. They don't realize that, hey, this is a string of eight islands and each one has something to offer and it's so much fun to explore. So yes, go and walk the walls on the sea fortress, go and just relax and have that slow pace. You're not going to be disappointed. Next up, we have the Ospensky Cathedral and this is beautiful. Now it's not always easy to go in, but I highly recommend at least going up to it and seeing it. It is a work of art and it is close to where a lot of tourists will hang out. So I'll say it's fairly rated and beautiful views. Great spot to watch a sunset. Next up, we have Old Market Hall and this is a historic market that is close to that touristy district. And the challenge here is it's mostly serving tourists. You're not going to find great value in there. It is fun to maybe walk through, but be careful before spending your money. It's not all that impressive. A lot of better spots coming up. And that brings us to Calpatori Market. And this is another open air market that again, a lot of the tourists are going to be walking through. Look, this one is totally overrated. The prices are sky high. The quality is so low. They are just relying on tourists because it's where the ferry goes from. And look, I just would avoid it at all costs. Don't spend your money there. If you do want a more authentic market, then check out Hakkan Yemi Market. This one is in a more local area of town that shouldn't take you too long to venture out to. And you're going to have real locals here. Prices are fair. Quality is much better. And again, you're going to get an authentic experience compared to the places that are just catering to the tourists. So if you're looking for a market, this is the one. Next up, we have the Central Library. And yes, I know this is on many people's lists. I'm going to say it's fairly rated. It's a work of art. It is beautiful. And it's definitely something that's cool to see. Where I'll say it's maybe a bit overrated is if you're looking for like a charming library, this probably isn't the one. This is more of that grand something that's like a spectacle and special. So keep that in mind. But if you're looking for a more charming library, check this one out. This one is beautiful. No, you're not going to spend a ton of time here, but you can walk through it and it's gorgeous. I'd also recommend this one. This is a very small library, but in a very local area of town. And what you'll notice is each of these libraries has a different feel and different personality to it. It's what makes exploring these so fun. But if you're really just short on time, then I'd recommend the National Library. A lot of tourists miss this one and it is stunning. Definitely go in, look around. It is gorgeous. You're not going to be disappointed, but just be sure to embrace that library culture. It's definitely special. Next up, we have Huvilekatu, which is a street that ends up on a lot of tourists' lists. And I understand why. It is scenic. The houses are all very colorful and it's pretty. But if you're short on time, I would skip this one. It's a bit overrated. Yes, the houses are cute, but there are cute houses all over Helsinki. So I think you can skip this one. And instead, visit Kaivopuisto Park. This park is stunning. It's in that same area as that street, but this is going to give you some just raw natural beauty. This park is in kind of an upscale area of town. It's very peaceful and beautiful, and it's massive. You can take some significant time to just take a slow stroll through and really enjoy the slow pace of life here. I definitely recommend walking around it. And that brings us to Tempel Piaukio. And this is a gorgeous church. This one is on many tourists' lists. It is the rock church, and it is so special in the sense that the architecture here is just a work of art. It is kind of hidden in a residential area, and it is a spectacle to see. My tip here is that if you're going to go, try to do it later in the afternoon. Some of the tour groups do hit this spot. And yes, it is worth seeing. You're going to have to pay to get in, so decide if that's worth it. But it's definitely going to be a more enjoyable experience to do it later in the day when there's no crowds. But let's talk about some of the areas of town that you might want to explore, starting with the Design District. This one really shouldn't be missed by most tourists, especially if they're looking for something that is walkable and very comfortable. This is a beautiful area of town, a lot of art galleries, and just a beautiful space. Everything's really modern, but lots of cute boutiques and definitely some charm. You're not going to be disappointed walking around and shopping in this area of town, so definitely don't miss it. Next up, we have Kluvi and Kampi, and I'm grouping these together because they are right next to each other. And they're very central. It's where you're going to find the train station and that main library, and lots of tourists will wander through this area. I'm going to say it's a bit underwhelming. The shopping here is a bit commercialized. It doesn't have that charm. And I think if you can avoid this area, you're going to enjoy your vacation more exploring some of the other spots that I'm about to touch on. Next up, we have Krunenhaka, and this is a beautiful area of town. Very residential, pretty elegant, a bit upscale, very comfortable to walk through and just wander. It's really charming at night as well. I'd recommend an evening stroll through it. You're not going to be disappointed. Next up, we have Thule, and this is a beautiful area of town, very residential. It's quiet and it serves families. It'd be a great place for families to stay. Wonderful bakeries, some nice restaurants, and you can explore this at a slower pace without many of the tourists. It's worth your time if you have more than just a day. Next up, we have Valilla, and this is kind of a hip area of town. Now, do note, it's a bit further out than where most tourists are willing to venture. But if you do, you'll notice that you're a very local area. You have some industrial pockets, lots of residential areas, some great cafes, and just an authentic side of Helsinki to explore. But my absolute favorite is Kalio, and it just provides a great balance. You're close to where a lot of the tourists are going to want to be. It's got a young crowd, kind of bohemian, artsy. There's some great restaurants and cafes. You're going to be far enough from the tourists where the prices are reasonable and fair, and it's the area of town that I chose to stay in, and I'll probably be choosing that area during my next visit. But if you are visiting Helsinki, I imagine that you may be taking a day trip to Tallinn. So if you want a video that's just like this, but for Tallinn, you can watch it right here. I hope this was helpful. Thanks for watching, and we'll catch you guys next time.