Fishing for everyone

You like herring and would love to catch some yourself right here in Helsinki? You don’t know how it works and where to go? Well, it’s quite easy. One really good spot is at Salmisaari next to the bridge to Lauttasaari. Basically all you need is a fishing line with three to six hooks and a heavy weight at the end. You can get all that at any fishing shop or places like Clas Ohlson for a reasonable price. Of course a fishing rod makes it easier but it’s not necessary. Also don’t forget to bring a bag or box for the fish. Since you fish at the open sea and not a lake you don’t need a fishing license.

You don’t need any bait. Just lower the line into the water till the weight hits the ground, let it hang there, move it a bit from time to time and wait. Pretty soon the first fish will bite. Since they confuse it with their food and they just bite the plain hook. As soon as you feel something is on the hook, pull the line up and collect your catch. 

In no time you can catch quite a big amount of herring there. Consider to disembowel it right away since it is quite a mess and smelly to do that at home. The seagulls will also appreciate it.

The fresh fish makes a great dinner if you fry it and eat it together with some potatoes. Here you find a nice recipe. If you want to go through the trouble you can also make pickled herring.

During the next days and weeks is the best time to catch herring. So don't wait too long!

Good fishing!

Caution! For pregnant women it is not recommended to eat Baltic herring more than once per month.

History and nature at Seurasaari

Another really nice walk is along the coastline of the small island Seurasaari. Through a bridge it is connected to the mainland all year long. At Seurasaari you can see old Finnish wooden houses from the 17th till the 20thcentury. 

But it’s not just historically interesting there. Also the nature is worth seeing. You find the typical Finnish landscape even though you are just a short bus ride away from the center of Helsinki. Small beaches and flat rocks invite you especially in spring and summer to spend some time and look over the water and maybe even go for a swim. In summer this year the old nudist beach on Seurasaari and the only one in Helsinki reopens.  

 

Have a break at the café or the recently renovated restaurant if you like. Both provide scenic view over the island and the sea. You easily get to Seurasaari by car or with bus line 24.

Seurasaari is the perfect place for a walk or just sitting on the rocks and relaxing – or for watching animals. Seurasaari is famous for its squirrels. So keep your eyes open.

Beach walk in Espoo

The ice is gone and the sea is open again. It’s time to go to the beach again. Even though it might still be quite cold for a swim and sunbathing in shorts or bikini it’s already wonderful to walk along the weather when the sun is shining. Then you get the feeling that summer can’t be that far away anymore.

There are hundreds of beautiful beaches in the capital region. Why not make a trip to Espoo and visit the beach at Haukilahti? You get there either by car or by bus (line 111 and 112).

Stop for a coffee or maybe an ice cream at the small café. The terrace is already open. Or watch the first sailing boats enter and leave the harbor.

Nature in the city

One of the amazing things about Helsinki is that you can be surrounded by nature without even leaving the city. The southern part of Lauttasaari for example is a wonderful place for a walk through the woods along the coast. Some people even have their summer cottage (mökki) here. Especially in summer it’s beautiful there but already at this time of the year it’s worth a visit.