The majority of our time was spend in Helsinki, with day tours to surrounding towns.
“A true winter wonderland. With 2 million+ saunas, reindeers, and the northern lights...there really is something for everyone"
What to Budget
Finland can be pricey depending on what kind of experiences you desire - thinking of visiting the Lapland region in an igloo, be prepared to budget some $$$$. While hotels are relatively inexpensive, food costs can quickly eat into your budget. Estimates provided below are inclusive of two people spending 1-week in Helsinki.
Low: $1,500 USD - Hostel or 2-star hotel will be around $50 USD per night, walking/public transit, fast foot/street food.
Medium: $2,500 3-star hotel will be about $100 USD per night, public transit/taxis, local restaurants/street food.
High: $4,000 - 5-star hotel will be about $250+ per night, taxis/private rental car, fine dining.
How to Get There
There are several direct flights from the U.S.A (JFK, ORD, DFW, LAX, SEA) to Helsinki (HEL). We booked flights in September for our annual New Years trip in December/January. The total cost of the flights for two people on KLM from Birmingham, AL to Helsinki, Finland was $695.50 USD ($347.75 each). This flight included a layover in Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Where to Stay:
If you are planning to catch the fireworks display in City Centre, the best hotel to book is the:
Elielinaukio 5
Helsinki Finland 100
This hotel is directly next to the train station, tram stops and the City Centre shopping. Using my Chase IHG Premier card, I booked my annual free night in this hotel for New Years Eve. We stayed at the Hotel Indigo upon our return from Estonia:
Bulevardi 26, 00120
Helsinki, Finland
Hotel Indigo is a short walk from the tram stop. If you opt to take the ferry over to Estonia, the tram station is directly outside the ferry station.
Things to Do
Reindeers, saunas, and islands, oh my!
Finland is an explorers destination. The country has over 76,000 islands and more than 2 million saunas. Helsinki boasts world-class shopping and cuisine (try some fish stew!). The Helsinki Art Museum has wonderful exhibits, some of which are interactive. The Amos Rex museum boasts an exterior design that is other worldly. Helsinki is filled with amazing outdoor sculptures (Sibelius Monument pictured right). The Temppeliaukion Church has impeccable design and serves as a sanctuary within the hustle of bustle of the city.
Final Thoughts
I was amazed by all that Finland had to offer and I can't wait to go back!
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