There really is nothing more magical than the holiday season in the snowy landscape of Helsinki. But bundle up!
First stop, the Christmas Market at Senate Square. Row and rows of small cabins are decorated with lights, evergreen branches – and of course, snow! Warm smiles and tantalizing aromas greet you. The sounds of laughter and music from the colorful carousel embrace you- and perhaps you will even hear a ho-ho-ho and Hyvää Joulua from a familiar figure. Joulupukki (AKA Santa Claus) happily and merrily poses with visitors for selfies and family photos as he wanders the market. Magical!
Then walk down to the harbour and take the ferry to Soumenlinna, an old fortress with incredible views and interesting history. When tired of wandering the small island, jump on the ferry back to the main harbour. Treat yourself to salmon soup at the Old City Market, or grab a grilled specialty (like reindeer, but shhh! Don’t tell the kids!) in one of the bright orange tents in the Market Square. While there, check out the tents with local crafts – perhaps an ornament for your own Christmas tree?
Or take a walk through the Helsinki Cemetery (Yes, I hear you….WHAT???) Trust me. It is peacefully beautiful, especially in the winter. Snow covered trees grace the wide pathways and one can spend hours strolling past statues and monuments, from section to section. You will share the paths with locals riding bikes or pushing strollers, others getting in a daily run or simply there to enjoy the silence. Lanterns softly glow with lit candles, sharing the season with loved ones gone but not forgotten. Even here, the holiday spirit reigns.
From there, take a short walk along the harbor to The Regatta for the best hot chocolate, smothered in whipped cream and a korvapusti (the Finnish version of a cinnamon bun – and I wonder why my jeans are tight. Sigh) Or grab a bench by one of the fires, select a stick and roast sausages – just watch out for the thieving sparrows. Cute but sneaky. While there, take a pit stop in one of the most interesting bathrooms you may ever experience, set into its own little cottage by the sea. You will be tempted to take your time to look and take photos. Please don’t take TOO long! Others may be waiting.
Not to be missed are the windows at Stockmann’s Department Store at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie (Yes, the names are long, but Katu and Tie are equivalent to street and road). The scenes of penguins and trolls, fairies and forest animals frolicking in the snow are a personal favorite and always make me smile. And with each visit, I see something I had missed before.
Tired of walking ? Jump on one of the green and yellow trams that run the rails within the city. A single ticket is good for 80 minutes, so feel free to jump on and off to see the holiday sites along the routes. Tickets for the transit system can be easily purchased on-line and I downloaded the HSL App to buy them as needed.
Now, at the beginning, I advised to bundle up. Take a tip from this old broad – use the bathroom before doing so. It doesn’t matter if you are three years old or seventy three years old. Unbundling is still time consuming! More so as you don’t have your mom helping you while you dance around in urgency.
Now get out and enjoy!