Taipei to Helsinki Flights (TPE-HEL)

The capital of Finland, beautiful Helsinki is a trendy city with plenty of culture, great shopping, restaurants that offer world-class food and much, much more. From the picturesque heart of the city, attractive green areas, perfect for relaxation, are within easy walking distance.

EXPERIENCE THE CHARM OF FINLAND’S CAPITAL CITY

A lively city of culture and design, Helsinki is surrounded by pure nature. The white steeple of Helsinki Cathedral against the blue sky welcomes visitors to Senate Square, where locals gather to celebrate the New Year, Finnish Independence Day (6 December) and to soak up the sun on the steps of the cathedral. The adjacent Market Square is where boats depart for city tours, the island fortress of Suomenlinna and the Korkeasaari Zoo. Here, you'll also enjoy tempting aromas of traditional delicacies, such as rainbow trout cooked on an open fire and sautéed reindeer sauce.

The Ateneum Art Museum features Finnish art classics, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma is worth seeing simply due to its unique architecture. Be sure to also check out the many cultural events held in the city, such as the Helsinki festival of culture in August. During the Night of the Arts at the end of August, stores, museums and galleries stay open until late at night, and free cultural events take place all over the city.

You'll find great souvenirs in the small boutiques of the Helsinki Design District, the Hietalahti summer flea market and Stockmann's department store. You can admire Art Nouveau architecture at its most beautiful in the Ullanlinna and Katajanokka districts of the city. The trendy Punavuori and Kallio areas, popular among students, are known for their restaurants and nightlife.

SIGHTS IN HELSINKI

• Senaatintori (Helsinki Senate Square) – The Senate Square and its surroundings form a unique and cohesive architectural entity. The square is dominated by four buildings: Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland.
• Helsingin Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral) – Arguably Finland's most famous and photographed building, it celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002.
• Temppeliaukio Church (Church of the Rock) – The acoustics inside this Lutheran church hewn out of the rock make it an excellent concert venue. Located in the heart of Helsinki, the church is visited by half a million people every year.
• Sightseeing cruises – You can explore Helsinki's jewel-like archipelago via a number of cruise operators.
• Suomenlinna – This sea fortress and its island home is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers tourists a real adventure with its tunnels, museums, submarine and fortress. Apart from exploring the area, you can also visit one of the museums, and during summer time, there are several cafes and pleasant areas to enjoy a picnic.
• Esplanadi Park – A green area in the heart of Helsinki, it often plays host to various events.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO NEAR HELSINKI

• Porvoo – Dating from the 14th century, the second-oldest city in Finland lies just 40 minutes from Helsinki.
• Nuuksio National Park – Unspoilt Finnish nature makes this national park worth exploring. With its marked trails, cooking shelters and camping sites, it is ideal for short hiking trips and sits only 90 minutes by public transport from the city centre.

SHOPPING IN HELSINKI

Helsinki offers visitors excellent shopping in both large malls and small boutiques with unique items. The central district contains the most stores with several famous designers, such as Marimekko and Iittala, having their flagship stores here.

• Stockmann – a classic department store spread over several floors in the heart of Helsinki with groceries, electronic goods, and the latest trends in fashion, as well as exhibitions, restaurants and interior decoration.
• Galleria Esplanad, Forum and Kamppi - other popular shopping malls in Helsinki.
• Market Square – a popular place in Helsinki for tourists to buy souvenirs and take a coffee break.
• Design District Helsinki – You will find an entire area of 25 streets featuring galleries and interesting boutiques selling Finnish-designed products. Stretching from Kamppi to the core of the Punavuori area, it is still for many the only real Design District.
• Verkkokauppa.com – Situated in Helsinki’s Länsisatama, it is a paradise for those interested in consumer electronics.

FINNISH FOOD & DRINK IN HELSINKI 

Helsinki is famous for its restaurants and top-quality food. The city offers both international fare and traditional Finnish dishes. Here's some recommendations for those keen to try Finnish food.

• Karelian pastry (karjalanpiirakka) – pasty with a rice or potato filling.
• Kalakukko – a traditional Finnish fish dish placed inside a loaf of rye bread and baked in the oven for several hours.
• Reindeer fillet – ender and juicy, it almost melts in your mouth.
• Smoked fish – has a pleasant smoky flavour and scent, as well as a beautiful colour.
• Berries – Finnish berries are not only healthy, but they also taste incredibly delicious. How about trying some strawberry sorbet, cloudberry parfait, blueberry tart, or lingonberry crème brûlé?
• Beer – try local beers when visiting Helsinki.
• Long drinks – Cocktail culture is growing rapidly and offers plenty of options.
• Salmari – a popular shot that tastes of salt liquorice.

TRANSPORT IN HELSINKI

• Helsinki tram – 13 lines runs through the city. If you stay for more than a day, it's worth buying a multi-day ticket.
• Metro – Same price as the tram or bus, the subway runs east to west.
• Bus – a good alternative to get around Helsinki.
• Taxi – quite expensive but readily available.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT HELSINKI

• Currency in Finland – euro (€)
• Electricity in Finland – 230 volts
• Payment – foreign cards are well accepted everywhere
• Tips – not necessary in Finland, as service charges and VAT are added to the check in restaurants and hotels.
• Time zone – Helsinki (Finland) UTC/GMT +2:00.
• Water – Finnish tap water is safe to drink, not to mention delicious.