Helsinki Travel Answers

Yes, there will be bus, but les frequent, it will be like Sunday schedule, maybe every half an hour, no need for taxi. Take bus 615 instead of the Finnair bus and you can save extra two euro or so.

Thanks for the advice... Would you tell me where the buses go from? Is it the central station? (Our hotel is Sokos Hotel, Helsinki) Is the station far from there? Many thanks for your help Kind regards

You mean The Sokos Hotel Helsinki in Kluuvikatu 8? If yes, it is about 300 meter from the main railway station and bus no 615 leaves from there, will be no problem to find it. There is also Sokos hotel in front of the station, but this one called: Sokos Hotel Vaakuna

Yes that is the address of the Hotel. So its not very far from the Station then. I will be flying on business class with Finnair, and I know they have a airport bus, do you know if its free for business class passengers, or are we still required to pay the bus fare ( sorry I am not sure if you will know that) Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

Not sure as I never go from the airport to the centre (my office or home are other direction from the airport) I think you might find this info on the Finnair site.

Thanks anyway for your info... Can you suggest any traditional foods or drinks to have whilst visiting?

One special drink we have here is Gin Long drink (Lonkero), which is very popular. It is a kind of grapefruit juice with lime and Gin. Not too strong, just like beer. Food? There are many possibilities as Salmon, Elk, Reindeer, local pastries, pies etc. Check some members pages.

You know John, I got to taste first time Lonkero by mistake, the waiter did not understood my order and served it to me, now, try to explain back then in the 80 that you did not order it. Anyhow I found Lonkero very refreshing when you do not want to get too heavy with the beer, especially on the hot summer days or after a night of drinking heavily, good cure for krapula (hangover) he he. The vodka salmiaki is certainly poison to me, same as jagermeister. I found in Germany product similar to Koskenkorva Salmiaki, they called it there: Dirty Harry LOL

As you had it in 1975 last I can just imagine that its either very potent and will knock my sox off, or just not very nice... but hey as they say, when in rome... I will have to give it a try and I will let you guys know... thanks for the advice... Are there any good local beers/ciders?

My God I must sounds like an alcoholic, hahaha... I really am not.. just like trying out different drinks when I visit countries where I have never been before... I have made a note of all the drinks so I shall order them when I see what nice bars Helsinki has to offer.

Yeah, you have mentioned it before, and I have noted it, so if I get round to it, I probably will. I have got a new credit limit increase so that I can afford to go to all these bars, cos I just imagine that it will be quite expensive...

But alcohol is a strong part of social culture here. :-) Anyhow, like John wrote, local beers are basic lagers, not much different from each other. There are few bars and places that brewing their own brands, one place special is Teerenpeli in the centre (3 minutes walking from your hotel) that have few very good dark beer, smoked, weizen etc. http://www.teerenpeli.fi/

Great stuff, I now have a cool list of places to visit, so it seems that I will not even get round to seeing any of the sites... hehehehe.... gosh I have an idea that I will be very broke by the time I get back to England...

No one travel in the nordic countries to save money LOL

OH I know... I have visited Norway several times and every time had to get a mortgage to spend on a few beers... That is what I like about my country (South Africa) its very very cheap... a beer is about €1.

Don't worry Gareth - the beer in Finland is nowhere near as expensive as Norway! In fact, it is hardly much more than central London prices these days. I recall that there is a bar by the ferry pier on Suomenlinna where they brew their own beer. A nice place to wait for the next ferry back to the city - particularly at this time of year! Andrew

Well the last time I was there... a beer cost about R6... so that is about €0.80c. Sorry my calculations were wrong there... hahaha... so its still pretty cheap... lol