Let's welcome 2014

Today is the last day of 2013. Do you already have plans where to welcome the new year?

If not that come to the big city celebration on Senaatintori in the heart of Helsinki. Again there will be lots of live music and thousands of people are expected to come. Celebrating New Years Eve at the Senat Square has a long tradition and dates back to 1932.

At midnight big fireworks will ring in the new year.  The entrance is of course free.

Have a great start into 2014!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve. I met Joulupukki before he got dressed up and started his long journey to bring all the presents to children all over the world.

He wishes you all a very merry Christmas and happy holidays! And I of course wish you the same.

HelsinkiIn will also be on a break during the next days and will be back for you on December 31.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Tomorrow evening Joulupukki (Santa Claus) will put the presents under the Christmas tree.

But Joulupukki is a busy men. And so he will already be there for the children in the morning on his Joulupukki Kuumalinja (Hotline) on Yle 2. The show starts already at 8.00 and is one of the most loved and watched in Finland.

Kids can call Joulupukki, talk and sing with him. And in between short Christmas films are shown. As every year the show ends with the beautiful BBC production of The Snowmen from 1982.

No kid should miss it.

Italian cribs in Helsinki

If you are not too busy with Christmas shopping today you might want to visit the crypt of the Helsinki Cathedral (White Church) and see the "In those days..." exhibition.

It is all about cribs from Italy. Many beautiful exhibits are on display. At the same time you can take a look at the magnificent Crypt of the Lutheran Cathedral of Helsinki.

The entrance to the exhibition is for free. It is still open till January 6. More information can be found on the official website.

Lantern men coming back

The four stone men at the main entrance of Rautatieasema (Central Railway Station) in Helsinki are one of the landmarks of the city. Since summer they have undergone some huge restoration now. Still they are not visible but should apparently be put back in place pretty soon.

So keep your eyes open when you pass the main station and leave a comment if you have seen them or have an idea when they will be unveiled again.

Time for the Christmas tree

Do you already have a Christmas tree? If not maybe you should get one during the weekend. Otherwise all the good ones might be gone already.

Christmas trees are sold in many different locations throughout the city. To find the closest to your home check out the sales points of one of the biggest seller Havunen.

International Christmas

Part of the Joulumaalima Christmas market in the city center is the international Christmas market. Right in front of Stockmann you find Christmas delights from many different countries such as Italy, France and the UK.

Try e.g. some delicious fresh fudge or some Italian chocolate bites.

Joulumaalima is still open until Sunday and reopens after Christmas from Dec 26 till Jan 6.

Ullanlinnanmäki in December

And again one month is over. It's December and still there is no snow to see. It seems like we'll have a green Christmas this year.

To see how the view from Ullanlinnanmäki changed during one year you can see the pictures of the previous months here.

the returning ticket

There is something special about car parks in Finland. When you return your payed ticket at the exit you will receive it back. As long as you don't take the ticket back the bar won't open.

Especially tourists regularly get confused with this and wonder why they don't get out. In some cases you will even find a small trash bin next to the ticket machine for the used tickets.

At the end of the laser beam

During the winter a long blue laser beam shines all the way from Observatory Hill along Kopernikuksentie, Unioninkatu and Siltasaarenkatu.

Here you see the blue beam after travelling through Helsinki arriving at Kallion Kirkko.

The beam is can be seen every night between 18 and 02:00.