Party at the harbor

The weekend is here and it's time to make some plans for the next days if you don't have any so far. If you don't mind about the weather and still want to be outside to enjoy the bright summer nights then you should head to Allas this weekend.

The pop-up terrace right below the Finnair Skywheel is the ideal spot to hang out with a drink in your hand and a wonderful view over the sun slowly setting over the city. And Allas has more to offer. On most nights such as today and tomorrow DJs will take care of the music.

So give it a try if you dare and have a great weekend!

Lookout over the harbor

You are not in Helsinki right now but want to have a look at what's going on in and around the city? The port of Helsinki has live webcams that update every couple of seconds.

Switch between South Harbour, West Harbour, West Harbour parking area, Makasiini Terminal, Vuosaari Harbour and Vuosaari Harbour Gate Area.

The best view over Helsinki

Helsinki doesn't have many very high buildings. One of the highest ones is Hotel Torni. And on the very top of it you find Ateljee Bar.

Coming up here is a must for every tourist visiting Helsinki. From both their terraces you have a great view over the whole city and can get a good overview of what is where in Helsinki. You can see all of Helsinki's main sights and neighborhoods from Linnanmäki to Kaivopuist, from Katajanokka to Lauttasaari.

But Ateljee is not only a place for tourists. Also for locals it's a great place to come from time to time to see their beautiful city from above and enjoy the view with a glass of wine or an outstanding cocktail.

To get to Ateljee Bar you have to enter from the main entrance of Hotel Torni and take the small evelator to the 12th floor. You have to climb the last steps yourself. And if you are at Ateljee don't forget to go to the bathroom. The toilets here are the most impressive in whole Helsinki.

Check it out!

Lonna, the new island

This summer Helsinki opened a new island to the public. Lonna might be small but is a wonderful place to go on a sunny day. The former military island is still undergoing some mayor rennovation but most buildings and the rocks surounding the island.

To get to Lonna you need to take a boat from Kauppatori. The JT Line brings you there. You get a ticket from their small blue ticket office. You might be surprised that Lonna is not mentioned on any of the signs and timetable but their ferry going to Suomenlinna (not the from HSL) makes a stop at Lonna as well. Return tickets are 7 €.

On the island you can visit both the new cafe and restaurant that are residing in one of the old storrage buildings now. In the big yard you can also sit outside if you like. On the summer weekends they have quite often have parties in the yard with DJs and delicious bbq snacks.

But you don't have to visit them to enjoy Lonna. Head to the rocks facing Helsinki. This is just the perfect picnic place and it has an amazing view towards the city. Stay till the evening to see the sun slowly go down over the city.

Don't miss it!

Wheel in the sky

The Finnair SkyWheel is one of the new main attractions and charakteristic landmark of Helsinki. And a ride on it is definitely worth it.

For 12 € (9 € for children) you board one of the blue cabin that brings you around 40 meters up in the air. 

From up there you have the probably best view over the city and the harbour. And that is because best thing about the Skywheel is most likely its location. From the seaside in Katajanokka just behind Kauppatori you can see most of Helsinkis important sights like the Tuomiokirkko, Uspenski Cathedral, Torni, Esplanadi and more.

The cabin has a capacity of up to eight persons. Depending on the day you might even have one just for yourself though. 

If you want to enjoy real luxury while enjoying the view over the city then you should book the VIP cabine (the blax one). It includes a champagne welcoming and a longer ride of 25 instead of just 15 minutes. The VIP cabine is for a maximum of four people and costs 195 € per ride.

Turn the wheel

You have probably already spotted the big ferris wheel in Katajanokka. As has been built already a few weeks ago. Well, good news. If everything goes well and the wheel passes today's inspection it will open in the evening at 19.00 for the first time.

The Finnair Skywheel will then be open for visitors on weekdays from 10 to 22.00, on Fridays and Saturdays till 23.00 and on Sundays till 20.00.

The entrance to the 40 meter high ferries wheel that offers an amazing view over the whole city is 12 € (9€ for children between 3 and 11). The operating company leased the area in Katajanokka till fall 2018.

Enjoy the ride!

A drink over the rooftops

Loiste is has a wonderful terrace in the summertime. But also during this time of year it's worth a visit. Also from inside you have a beautiful view over the city. From up here you can see Mannerheimintie, Kamppi Kauppakeskus, Narinkka and more. And if you come here in the evening you have the nice asset of seeing the city's lights (something that doesn't have the same effect in summer).

They serve some nice cocktails up here and you will also find some good wines and beers from the tap.

Have a nice weekend!

Style and tradition at Strindberg

The Christmas lights on Esplanadi look wonderful in the dark and long December nights. A good way to soak in that really special atmosphere without having to freeze is to come to Café Strindberg.

It is one of the old traditional cafes in Helsinki. Even though it just recently moved a little down the street it hasn't lost any of its charm. Big windows allow a perfect view over Esplanadi while inside the cafe combines modern simplicity with classic elegance.

Sit down in one of the armchairs or sofas with a glass of hot glöggi and maybe a piece of their fabulous cakes and enjoy the Christmas time in Helsinki.

Over the rooftops

The highest level of Kamppi Kauppakeskus is now home to the new cool restaurant, bar and club Maxine. Formerly part of The Tiger it was taken over by new owners and completely renovated.

Maxine is a great place to just have a drink and look over the rooftops of the city or to party all night long. Maxine is divided into the more modern lounge style front part with a big dance floor playing club music and the library style back part that plays more golden oldies.

Maxine is mainly targeted towards a 30+ audience and that way a good addition at Kamppi the Tiger one level below. For more information visit their Facebook page.

Have a great weekend!

Summer at the sea

A ferry ride in the evening is a great way to see the city from a whole different perspective.

Ferries operate to several smaller and larger islands around Helsinki like Uunisaari, Liuskasaari, Suomenlinna and many more.

Perfect view over historic Helsinki

The new University Library is an impressive piece of architectural work. But did you know that apart from its beauty and functionality as a building it also has one of the best views over historic Helsinki?

At the back end of the 7th floor you find a long terrace with tables and chairs from where you can overlook Tuomiokirkko and many more of the so famous neoclassical buildings around and behind Senaatintori.

The terrace is open for everyone. But please pay attention not to disturb the students. 

Dinner above the roofs of Helsinki

Today is the last day for a dinner in the sky. On Rauttatientori you can enjoy a whole dinner or just a glass of champagne with a small snack in a hanging restaurant. The restaurant platform is lifted up into the air by a crane. 40 meters above the ground you have a wonderful view over the whole city while the waiters in the middle of the platform serve your food and drinks.

Depending on the package you choose you are in the air between 20 and 60 minutes. It is a pricy but at the same time unique experience.

Look up the website for more information.

Scenic view at Tokoinranta

Sunday is always a good day to try out a new café in Helsinki. Today’s suggestion is Café Piritta at Tokoinranta in Hakaniemi. The glass building from the late 1970s has been renovated and reopened lately. During the renovation lots of thoughts were given to the design and a good view.

And the view is what makes Café Piritta special. There won’t be many other places in Helsinki where you can enjoy your coffee while looking over some of the city’s most important landmarks (e.g. Helsinki Cathedral, Central Railway Station and the National Museum) and at the same time sitting in an idyllic green surrounding next to the water. You can enjoy the view either from inside through the big glass windows or from the big summer terrace. 

Be aware that even though it's not not located right in the center Café Piritta is not one of the cheapest places.

Enjoy!

The west from above

The big electronics store Verkkokauppa.com in the western harbor doesn’t just provide a wide variety of electronics. It also has a sightseeing roof terrace on its top floor. If you happen to be in the area you should check it out.

Take the elevator straight to the 7^th level. You don’t have to pay an entrance fee. It is completely for free. The terrace is surrounded by glass to make even the ones being afraid of heights feel save.

Unfortunately there is no café or such up there. If you don’t want to miss a good coffee up there though you should grab a take away at the café downstairs on the second floor and take it up with you. If you are interested you can inspect the MIG-21 that is displayed there.

The view is not as good as from Torni or Loiste but you can see the ferries leaving to Tallinn and easily spot important buildings from the center.

Fabulous view included

You want to enjoy lunch or just have a drink at one of Helsinki’s most beautiful terraces and overlook the city at the same time? Then you should go to Loiste on top of Sokos warehouse at Mannerheimintie. They just opened their terrace again for this season. Here you have one of the best views of Helsinki. While sunbathing and sipping from your sparkling wine glass you can watch people on the streets rushing from Kamppi to the tram, see the cars, busses and taxis making their way through Mannerheimintie or see the dome of Tuomiokirkko rise into the sky over the city.

Prices here are quite high but it’s definitely one of the places you should visit on a sunny day.

Enjoy!