Helsinki Travel Forum

Hello

I will be in Helsinki during the week of june 16th to the 20th on business. I was planning also to spend a weekend just exploring the city, either the weekend before or the one after the aforementioned work week.

my question is: considering that I don't plan on doing any particular shopping but would like to visit some of the city's attractions and of course nightlife spots and restaurants, is the weekend before (june 14 and 15) better or should I stay arounf on the wekend of the 21st/22nd and check out the festivities?

thank you

Aren't there any midsummer celebrations over there? Just curious.

Hehehe then it's basically the same here. Especially if it's good weather!

Amen to that sister! Not me of course, I don't like drinking to get drunk :D

I was in Helsinki the Friday before Midsummer Eve last year, and was quite surprised to find that the entire town shut down at around noon! (The Finns certainly take Midsummer celebrations more seriously than we do here in Norway!;o) We had no idea the shops etc etc would close that early (so I didn't get to buy that Marimekko bag I wanted, sniff ;o) - I think I'd definitely pick the weekend before instead of Midsummer weekend.

Mette: it's the same here. Some companies have it that people work until the Thursday before at noon. How do they do it in Norway?

Pupulainen: same here. Where I come from we drink and eat, of course there's always the idiot who has more than s/he can handle.

I once spent midsummer in Aalborg, Denmark. Talk about a ghost town hehe.

Midsummer isn't such a big thing here - and people don't get the day off work. Bonfires, barbecues, but nothing too spectacular.

Hello,
I'm already thinking of where to spend the Midsummer. I'm getting ld and a little bit picky - I'd raqther have my own special quiet weekend at the countryside, but the worst scenario is my brother, including a crazy sweet dog, his grown-up children, my mother, my other brother and sister-in-law to make me DO all kinds of things..
But if I stay in Helsinki I may be a bit bored and lonely. I haven't talked with hubby about Midsummer at all as he will tell me we have to travel somewhere. And then we go to the lengthy conversation of money issues...(a deep sigh).
But I quite agree: Helsinki is empty at midsummer.
The fact is I start my holidays in three weeks' time, June 1st, but my brain isn't on holiday til Midsummer. After that I can enjoy my holiday only to find out I have to go to work in mid August.
but Midsummer is a good time of the year in Finland.
regards, Soili

Here most people start their vacation with midsummer.

Mette: oh ok, I thought they had a big weekend celebration there as well. You Norwegians always doing things your way ;) j/k.

Pretty much the same in Estonia. People go to the countryside, the most popular destination is Saaremaa island. I wouldn't imagine spending Midsummer in town. This year it's specially long, as unlike Finland, we have Midsummer day always on 24th of June and 23rd, Midsummer Eve, is also a holiday. This year these dates are Monday and Tuesday, so we have 4 free days in a row. Like in Finland, people tend to get very drunk on the Midsummer weekend, we have a bonfire and we'll grill some meat.

thank you for all your answers.
ciao

over there where?

This thread is looking rather ridiculous now, since one member had her replies deleted :o) (Not quite sure where the "over there" was :o)

OMG! What happened to her?

She's still around - but I noticed that her forum replies aren't. Don't know why..

Hope you had a great time in Iceland!!;o)

Oh we did! It was amazing! 398 pics to sort out ;)

Glad she's around.