For the European holiday makers, Finland was long ignored as a cold and mysterious place with "strange" rituals such as sauna, vodka and food that even Silvio Berlusconi sneered at. With urban myths including polar bears roaming the streets, the capital Helsinki, was often passed as a second choice to other major European cities.  

All of a sudden all the hip travellers seem to be flocking to Finland. Last year Helsinki, the capital, was rated the most modern and trendy city-break destination in Northern Europe. Newsweek chose Finland as "the best country in the world".

What Helsinki might lack in size and grandeur it will make up in personality. Located in a kind of cultural and geographic limbo between Russia, Sweden and Norway, Helsinki is a mixture of both east and west.

An efficient way to see Helsinki on a weekend trip is to jump into a local tram from the central railway station.  Number 3T and 3B go around the city in a circular number eight shape. The tram heads via Kamppi shopping center towards Töölö, a Jugend style 'middle class' neighbourhood where the ex-president and Nobel price winner, Martti Ahtisaari also owns a penthouse.

On the way you will have the opportunity to visit Temppelinaukio kirkko, a church built entirely under rock. In Töölö market square it's worth stopping for a quick bite in locals' favorite restaurant, Mamma Rosa (www.mammarosa.fi). They serve some of Helsinki's best pizzas and antipastos as well as more traditional Finnish dishes such as fresh salmon. 

From the Töölö neighbourhood the tram continues via Linnanmäki amusement park (www.linnanmaki.fi) to Kallio, an area favored by students, artists and the 'bohemian' folk. The Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki has shot many of his films in this working class neighborhood. Located in the Kallio, you also find some great bars such as the hip but laid back Kuudeslinja club, located in an old warehouse (www.kuudeslinja.com).

The tram 3B will take you to the some of the most prestigious areas of Helsinki. It first passes via Senate Square, a grand location for weddings, summer festivals and events.  The architecture in the Russian Imperial style was encouraged by Russian Tsar Alexander I after Finland was annexed by Russia from Sweden in 1809. The square was designed by German architectCarl Ludvig Engel.

The journey will next pass by the main market square, Kauppatori, where you can taste Finnish delicacies, as well as shop for souvenirs.  A boat from the market square, will take you to the Helsinki Fortress Island, Suomenlinna (www.suomenlinna.fi/). It was built during the Swedish era, the buildings dating back to the mid-18th century. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage list. Suomenlinna island is now home to about 850 inhabitants.

The tram continues to Kaivopuisto Park, which is the largest park in Helsinki. At the entrance of the park you find legendary Kaivohuone -restaurant, favored by Helsinki's 20-somethings and NHL ice hockey players.

A short walk away are Ullanlinna-, and Punavuori districts with Art Nouveau style buildings dated back to early 1900s. If you get peckish on the way, you should stop by in Cafe Carusel, a restaurant and a terrace in one of the best locations in Helsinki, just by the sea. (www.carusel.fi) 

Punavuori - 'designer district' has got some of the best bars in Helsinki such as the laid back and hip Beatroot (www.beatroot.fi), A21 (www.A21.fi) which was chosen on the world's best bars list, and super stylish Ahjo (www.ahjoclub.fi). In Punavuori you will also find Helsinki's popular, 'hetero friendly' gay clubs such as Don't Tell Mama (www.dtm.fi) and Lost & Found (www.lostandfound.fi) which are also favored by many  Finnish celebrities such as the rocker Ville Valo from HIM. 

Ullanlinna and Punavuori host an array of trendy boutiques selling international and Scandinavian designer clothing for both men and women; for example Lumi on 14 (www.lumion14.com), My o My (www.myomy.fi) and IvanaHelsinki (www.ivanahelsinki.com). IvanaHelsinki was just recently featured in New York Fashion week.  You will also find several interior design boutiques and galleries in Punavuori.

The perfect way to end the tram 3B journey is to drop off at the heart of Helsinki's shopping center, on Aleksanterinkatu. There you will find Stockman, one of the oldest department stores in Finland (www.stockman.fi). Built in the 1930's this building not only represent some grand architecture, but hosts many famous Finnish designer goods under one roof such as Marimekko (www.marimekko.fi), Iittala ( www.iittala.com) and Hackman (www.hackman.com/hackman/index.htm).

 

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Accommodation

Splurge
Kamp (www.hotelkamp.fi)
If it's good enough for world class stars such as the rapper Snoop Dog, it's probably good enough for almost anyone else too. 

Party
Klaus K
A cool, boutiques style hotel with top class service. (www.klauskhotel.com)

Glo
Modern urban life style hotel with "studio" -like open plan rooms and luxurious finnish. The service is top notch and they even give your dog it's own bowl and a bone! (www.palacekamp.fi/in_english/hotels/hotel_glo/)

Save
Omena
Value for money "self service" hotels in the heart of Helsinki. (www.omenahotels.com)

Eat

Teatteri
Stylish designer venue (bar, restaurant, two terraces and a club) which could easily rival the Sanderson hotel in London. Business people and celebrities. (www.royalravintolat.com/teatteri)
Vespa
A popular Italian restaurant serving tasty homely food, located next to the Esplanad Park. (www.ravintolavespa.fi)
Sipuli
Finnish fine dining in a stunning location by the sea. For the more grown up atmosphere (and price). (www.royalravintolat.com/sipuli)
Mamma Rosa
A locals' 'secret', with some of Helsinki's tastiest pizzas and antipastos as well as more traditional Finnish dishes such as seasonal fish, lamb and steak. (www.mammarosa.fi)
Torni
Drinks with the very best view over Helsinki from the 14th floor.
(www.ravintolatorni.fi/ateljeebar.html)
Tamarin
Well priced Thai restaurant, well seasoned food and pleasant atmosphere in the trendy neighbourhood of Punavuori.
(www.tamarin.fi)
Siltanen
Easily the best brunch in Helsinki. (www.siltanen.org)


Party
Ahjo
Popular DJ's playing lounge, dance and latin music for the Nordic jet-set in a sleek and very Scandinavian atmosphere. 
Ahjo’s age limit is 24, but the average age is around 30.
(www.ahjoclub.fi)
Beatroot
Furnished with 50's style sofas and lamps, it's dark cosy sells some of the cheapest beer in this trendy Helsinki neighborhood. Popular for under 30's growd.
(www.beatroot.fi)
Kuudeslinja
A laid back music club, located in an old warehouse in the bohemian Kallio area.  (www.kuudeslinja.com)


Galleries and museums

www.ateneum.fi
www.kajstenvall.com
www.kiasma.fi
www.taidehalli.fi

Fly:

From Malta via major capitals such as Paris and London by Easyjet (www.easyjet.com). Finnair (www.finnair.com), Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com) and Air Malta (www.airmalta.com) fly via Frankfurt.

 

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Annika Väisänen is originally from the nordic wilderness, close to Lapland in Finland. She grew up as a teenager in Malta and moved backto the island  in 2010 to study law at the University of Malta. Annika has written for  several magazines and newspapers around the world, such as Elle, ArtReview and Helsingin Sanomat.  http://www.facebook.com/annika.vaisanen

Mona Farrugia would like to declare that since Annika is now one of her writers, she has forgiven her for attempting to dye her hair black in Mona's antique bath as well as throwing cotton-wool disks in her toilet daily while staying with her.