Last Updated on September 16, 2020
After a week of Euro-tripping with my family across Belgium and the Netherlands, JC & I flew the 2 hours from Amsterdam to Helsinki to meet up with my best friend who was in town from the US for a conference in Tallin, Estonia. We were a bit worried because a friend had told us the week prior that Helsinki was the “most boring” city he had ever been to. Nevertheless, we persevered and actually really enjoyed our time in Helsinki minus the weather. We went the second to last weekend in September and it was already winter in Finland! We were completely underdressed for the single digit Celsius weather. So if you are going to Helsinki in September be sure to bring your winter coat! Read below our tips for how to spend 48 hours in Helsinki:
Day 1 in Helsinki
9:00 AM – Breakfast at Early Bird
We were staying in an Airbnb in the neighborhood of Kallio, which is like the Brooklyn of Helsinki. Bars and restaurants are quite hip here (and expensive! Beware). For breakfast we really fell in love with Early Bird and their amazing grilled cheese dipped in egg sauce. The grilled cheese is 10EUR plus coffee will set you back 13EUR, which is quite reasonable for Helsinki.
10:30 AM – Nuuksio National Park
Finland is renowned for its beautiful natural landscapes, so we knew that we wanted to escape the city for awhile and breathe some fresh Finnish air, even if we only had 48 hours in Helsinki. I read online about Nuuksio, which is located in Espoo, about 1 hour and 45 minutes outside of Helsinki. There are a few different entrances to the park. We started at Haukkalammentie 32, 02820 Espoo, which is the main one. You can read more about the trail options and starting locations here. We did the 2 km Circle Trail because we were a bit rushed for time. But there is quite a variety of trails with differing lengths and steepness, so there really is something for everyone. Be sure to buy an ABC zone bus pass, as it will cover you for both Helsinki and your journey to Espoo.
7:00 PM – Dinner at Ravintola Nokka
I will first and foremost warn you that restaurants in Finland, and the rest of Scandinavia, are expensive. Especially when compared to the rest of Europe. For Americans, the pricing may seem somewhat ‘normal’ for a nice restaurant and good or very good meal. But for us coming from Berlin, it was a bit of a shock. That being said, Ravintola Nokka is a very good restaurant. But it will set you back at least 60EUR a person, not including drinks.
Day 2 in Helsinki
9:00 AM – Breakfast at the Ferry Port of Helsinki
The next day, we headed to the ferry port bright and early to check out the market. There are small vendor stalls selling crafts, jams, and other souvenirs to bring home. The real highlight, though, was the food stalls for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ordered the salmon plate as well as the salmon soup. It was the most delicious meal we had in all of Helsinki. It is much more reasonably priced than anything you’ll find in a restaurant (around 9 EUR for the soup and 14 EUR for the salmon). The fish was so fresh and it literally melted in your mouth with each flaky bite. Especially on a cold day by the sea, there really is nothing better! We even came back to the market after visiting the Suomenlinna Fortress for lunch to eat the same thing again — that’s how good it was!
11:00 AM – Ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress
From the market you can easily jump on the ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress. If you bought the 48 hour ABC bus ticket for Nuuksio, it also works for the ferry. Suomenlinna is an 18th century sea fortress spread across six islands. The fortress was built when Finland was a part of Sweden. You can explore the island and its walls and cannons free of charge. For sure it makes an even nicer outing in the summer, but we still enjoyed our time there. There is even a submarine from the 1930s that has been converted into a mini museum.
4:00 PM – Hot chocolate and blueberry pie at Cafe Regatta
After spending the afternoon at Suomenlinna, we made our way back to the city. We decided to make our way to Cafe Regatta for some authentic Finnish sweets. The cafe is right next to the sea with plenty of outdoor seating and even a fire grill. Unfortunately, they were sold out of cinnamon buns, so we opted for the blueberry pie accompanied by hot chocolate. Definitely a must visit for a sugar high while in Helsinki.
We hope that this post helps you to plan your own 48 hours in Helsinki. If you have more favorite spots, please be sure to comment below!
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