Helsinki Travel Forum

My daughter and I will be flying into Helsinki on 2 June and arrive at approximately 9am, our next flight does not leave until the mid-evening hours, so we hoped it might be possible to meet for lunch at a restaurant or cafe within reasonable distance from the airport. We are unfamiliar with the city, so any suggestions would be very welcome even if the member won't be able to attend. Anybody care to meet up?

From the airport there is frequent buslinks to the center of Helsinki. Buses are clean, cheap and nice way to get to Helsinki from airport. Taxis are available too if cost is not so important. It could be from 40 to 60 euros to the center. The airport is a bit away from the center.
In the center I strongly recommend cafe Fazer http://www.fazergroup.com/templates/Fazer_CountryStartPage.aspx?id=33083&epslanguage=FI
It is cafe with traditions and that is in the prices too.

Local Harrods, Stockmann is worth visiting. There is one of the best cafes too, inside the shop, with delecate and delicious offerings to choose from http://www.stockmann.fi/portal/en/

As resteurant I recommend cafe, resteurant Kappeli (Chapel) in the small park in the very center of the town, http://www.kappeli.fi/english_chapel.html.

Very near is too the Senate Square http://www.senaatintori.fi/
Not far is National Museum of Finland too, http://www.nba.fi/en/nmf

In the center of Helsinki there is nice to just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. Local people are helpful and friendly, but very busy. During daytime it is safe to go anywhere in the center. And if you happen to forget your items or luggage somewhere, they will be in the same place for days before someone takes them to local Police. Honesty is in the bloods in Finnish people. Mind you that there are few exeptions of course.

No tips are needeed in the cafes ro resteurants, or anywhere in Finland. I personally am not available to help you get around in the town, sorry, but if you want to get around fast, safe and secure, then I recommend taxi in both directions, from and to the airport. It is a bit expensive, yes, but it is the easiest way. Taxi will be happy to take you straight to cafe Kappeli, which will open at 10am, if you wish. Near kappeli is the Senate Square too. And Havis Amanda, statue of mermaid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havis_Amanda

Do have a nice visit and I hope my advice was helpful.

Yours
Jukka Laitinen

Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate you taking the time to give me the advice you did. I have heard very nice things about Finland, and I look forward to spending whatever time we can there. Thanks again!

There is also the zoo island of Korkeasaari. I think ferrys go there near the food market square (Kauppatori).

Thanks for this also. If we don't get to do so in June, then we will perhaps try to do so when we return in July.