STOPOVER – What the Helsinki metropolitan area has to offer

Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa offer tourists lots to see and experience. The three cities complement one another: the metropolitan area offers you wild nature, living urban culture and interesting events. For transfer passengers, the metropolitan area translates into an endless number of possibilities, as well as an easy way to make first contact with Finland, especially if you are pressed for time. Furthermore, the means of communication between the airport and the three cities are excellent.

Espoo captivates with its diverse nature

Espoo indulges nature-lovers with myriad options. The city offers both forests and lakes, as well as dozens of kilometers of seashore. In the summer, you can take the waterbus to visit the recreational islands. Jump onboard and let the sea wind blow your hair!

If you are craving for the peace and quiet of the wilderness forests, head for Nuuksio National Park, which lies just 40 minutes from downtown Helsinki. Nuuksio spreads over an area of valleys, ravines, rocks, swamps, as well as more than 80 lakes and ponds. The clearly marked recreation trails will relax and invigorate you; take a break at the campfire and look at the flare of the flames. You can also fish, collect mushrooms and berries, and ski: Nuuksio is a true treasure house for nature-lovers.

In addition, Nuuksio introduces the rest of Finnish nature to the traveler as well. The wooden exhibition and event center, Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, presents all the national parks and camping sites of Finland. Furthermore, if you wish to admire and feed reindeer or to canoe, Haltia’s partners arrange trips that will fulfill those wishes.

Shop in Vantaa and visit the world of chocolate

Only a few kilometers from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, visitors are treated to a versatile offering of shops. Whether you wish to window-shop in the shopping mall or benefit from affordable findings at outlet stores, Vantaa provides the perfect setting for it. The most popular shopping mall is the Jumbo Shopping Centre, which lies right next to the Flamingo Leisure World. In other words: you can take a break from shopping and go bowling or pamper yourself at the spa.

Fazer Visitor Centre is filled with the fragrances of chocolate, cookies, and baked bread. The brand new visitor center opened its doors this fall, even though visitors have been inducted into the secrets of delicacies for more than six decades. At Fazer, you can taste, among other goodies, the Finnish favorite of all times: Fazer Blue, Fazer's most valued chocolate brand. Acquiring presents cannot get any easier than this!

Friends of science and technology are sure to find Vantaa to their liking: the city's most significant attraction is Finnish Science Centre Heureka, right next to Tikkurila Railway Station. At Heureka, doing and testing by oneself are key: Heureka's interactive exhibitions and planetarium offer guaranteed entertainment to both adults and the smallest members of the family.

Urban culture blossoms in Helsinki

The hectic life of the capital offers something for everybody: Helsinki annually hosts more than 3 000 events. Lux Helsinki Light Festival radiates in the mid-winter darkness, May Day embraces visitors with its carnival, while Midsummer in Seurasaari introduces traditional Finnish mid-summer. August- September are filled with culture: Flow Festival, Helsinki Festival, The Night of the Arts, as well as Helsinki International Film Festival - Love & Anarchy, fill the city with music, theater, the visual arts, and movies.

Helsinki is an excellent venue for everybody interested in design. In 2014, Helsinki was the UNESCO City of Design. Helsinki offers, among other things, an entire district focused on design. Design District Helsinki consists of almost 200 sites: there are shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels. When in Helsinki, it is worth your while to visit the Design Museum whose high-quality permanent exhibition acts as an outstanding introduction to Finnish design. In addition, be sure to remember Helsinki Design Week, which takes place every fall.

If you are a gourmet, Helsinki is the place to go. Hakaniemi and Hietalahti market halls are home to numerous small producers’ shops as well as tons of the “good old days’” atmosphere. Those who are interested in good restaurants have a lot of options to choose from, ranging from Finnish cuisine to international kitchens. There are restaurants with Michelin stars, even though you can enjoy delicious food on the grass-root level as well.

Now you can enjoy Finnish sauna culture in the middle of the fall: the new Löyly and Allas Sea Pool provide unforgettable sauna experiences to both residents and tourists. The Helsinki City Museum opened in the summer and offers lots to see and experience for the entire family, while HAM – Helsinki Art Museum is a must-see for art-lovers.

Together, Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa offer a most versatile place to visit. Come and try, do and enjoy!

Read more: www.visithelsinki/en www.visitespoo.fi/en www.visitvantaa.fi/en