Blogger Spotlight

large_356_596_h.jpg

medium_356_596_h.jpg

small_356_596_h.jpg

thumbnail_356_596_h.jpg

356_596_h.jpg

Badge - Google Play.png

Banner Bkg.png

Badge - App Store.png

Download the hoppa app now

Arrive 'appy with hoppa

<p><a href='https://www.hoppa.com/en/finland/helsinkivantaa-airport'><strong>Helsinki</strong></a> is known for being one of the coldest cities in Europe during winter. For this reason a lot of people don't make the trip there, however we recently visited in the depths of winter and fell in love with this cold, wintery and beautiful city!</p><p>The days are short, with the sun only rising for a few hours meaning you'll likely see both sunrise and sunset! The Baltic Sea freezes over and the whole city is covered in powdery white snow!</p><p>There's lots of beautiful things to see and do and you can do like the Finn's do and drink coffee and have saunas! Here are our top five things to do in Helsinki in winter.</p><hr /><h2>Have a traditional Finnish Sauna</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Loyly_Sauna_Helsinki.JPG' /></p><p>Saunas are a massive part of Finnish culture. Finland has 5 million people and 3 million saunas, isn't that amazing! Helsinki has some incredible public saunas so visitors to the city can experience the culture for themselves.</p><p>We booked into Löyly, Helsinki's newest public sauna which offers two sauna rooms, a lounge, terrace, bar, restaurant and outdoor access to the icy sea (for swimming)! We think saunas are so much more appropriate in winter and anyone who isn't already a Finnish sauna fan, will be converted once they leave Helsinki!</p><hr /><h2>Take a dip in the icy Baltic Sea</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Ice_Swimming_Helsinki.JPG' /></p><p>After your sauna, do as the locals do and try your hand at ice swimming! The Finnish way to end a sauna experience is by taking an icy dip in the Baltic Sea!</p><p>Löyly has an outdoor path to the sea (which is freezing) and stairs down into the icy sea! To us, it was more painful than refreshing however it was a big tick off the bucket list and we quickly ran back into the sauna to get feeling back into our limbs!</p><p>It was freezing but something we would definitely do again - and definitely a good story to share!</p><hr /><h2>Visit Helsinki Cathedral</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Helsinki_Cathedral.JPG' /></p><p>Helsinki Cathedral is located in the centre of the city and is one of the most iconic landmarks in Helsinki.</p><p>This white and blue cathedral looks even more magical in winter surrounded by snow. Entrance to the Cathedral is free (and gives you an opportunity to warm up too)!</p><hr /><h2>Drink glögi at the Christmas Markets and Enjoy the Festive Lights</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Christmas_Lights_Helsinki.JPG' /></p><p>The Helsinki Christmas Markets are held in the Senate Square, in front of the beautiful Helsinki Cathedral.</p><p>There are food courts that focus on regional specialties, hundreds of vendors selling traditional handicrafts, a traditional merry go-round and of course vendors selling glögi (Finnish mulled wine).</p><p>Glögi will help you keep warm as you stroll the beautiful markets. The markets run from the 1st until 23rd December every year.</p><p>Helsinki itself also decks itself out with festive lights throughout the city! We loved strolling through the park admiring the lit-up reindeers, trees and beautiful lights! The lights stay up well into January - bringing some beautiful warmth to the snowy, dark days!</p><hr /><h2>Take a day trip to frosty Suommelina Fortress</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Islands_off_Helsinki.JPG' /></p><p>Suomenlinna is a sea fortress located on a group of islands near the entrance to Helsinki harbour.</p><p>This UNESCO World Hertitage site is easily accessed, with regular ferries departing from Market Square. It is a wonderful place to spend a day or a few hours exploring!</p><p>In winter the boat goes through the icy Baltic Sea which is an experience in itself.</p><hr /><h2>About The Aussie Flashpacker</h2><p><img alt='' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2019/02/Simone_and_Dan_The_Aussie_Flashpacker.JPG' /></p><p>This article was written by Simone and Dan from <a href='https://www.theaussieflashpacker.com/'><strong>The Aussie Flashpacker</strong></a>. They've have travelled extensively across six continents, lived on three continents and share the best in travel to inspire you to see the world.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Related posts:</strong></p><ul> <li><a href='https://www.hoppa.com/en/discover/top-6-winter-getaways-for-every-taste'>Top 6 winter getaways for every taste</a></li> <li><a href='https://www.hoppa.com/en/discover/why-you-should-travel-to-venice-in-winter'>Why you should travel to Venice in winter</a></li> <li><a href='https://www.hoppa.com/en/discover/the-travellers-cure-for-those-winter-blues'>The traveller's cure for those winter blues</a></li></ul>

green

Sign up & save! Enter your email below to receive the latest offers, promotions & hoppa discount codes

Vehicles available

to our most popular destination of [tolocation]

Vehicles available at this location

hoppa uses cookies to help improve your browsing experience. To accept cookies continue browsing as normal, or go to our cookie tool for more information and preferences.

Necessary Cookies are essential to the operation of our website, supporting functions such as logging in and payment transactions. These cookies can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.

Performance Cookies collect information about how you use our website, for example how efficiently you are able to navigate. All information these cookies collect is anonymous and is only used to improve how our website works.

Functionality Cookies allow us to remember your saved preferences, such as your username, language or region, and tailor our website to provide enhanced features and content for you.

Targeting Cookies gather information about your browsing habits and help us to make our website and advertising more relevant to your interests. They remember that you've visited our website and share this information with other organisations such as advertisers.

This website uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential, while some are used to help improve your browsing experience. For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our <a href="/en/privacypolicy">privacy policy</a>.

5 Things To Do In Helsinki In The Winter