Jussi Hellsten, creative parent of the Helsinki365 project, posted a new photograph of the Finnish capital every day for a year.
With Finland as our Destination of the month, we’ve asked Jussi to share his thoughts and tips on the best of Helsinki – with a little visual aid!
1. Tell us about Helsinki. What can people expect?
The summer Beer Floating event on Vantaa River. © Jussi Hellsten
I think younger people especially are putting a great deal of effort into making Helsinki the city they want to live in – which means there’s usually plenty going on. The hip and vintage-loving crowds gather in the Kallio district, the Berlin-esque part of the city. Central Park is 10 kilometres long and good hiking material. And there’s always the cool sea breeze to enjoy.
Flow Festival 2014. © Jussi Hellsten
I warmly recommend exploring the new and thriving food culture. A visit to Abattoir is a must. There are some great spots to grab lunch (the ribs at B-Smokery are incredible!), along with local food markets, an ice-cream factory, a coffee roastery, and a whiskey distillery to explore. Serious foodies should keep an eye out for Restaurant Day, a worldwide initiative where people open up their homes and set up makeshift restaurants for the day.
Another event I’m very fond of is Flow Festival. It has become synonymous with bringing together the music of old school legends and topical newcomers. Beyond the music, it warmly embraces the arts and has an exceptional array of world-spanning cuisine. It’s only a short walk away from the city centre and perfect for a few days of blissed-out festival escapism.
2. The most important thing to remember when visiting is…
Hietalahti, Helsinki’s most popular flea market. © Jussi Hellsten
When I am travelling myself, I seek out what the locals like. The most important thing, I’d say, would be to keep an open mind and ask for people’s recommendations. Chat with a barista while they’re making a cup of coffee. Ask them what they would do, where they’d go. You’ll definitely get some great insider tips!
Visiting Helsinki’s Hel Yeah! website is also a good starting point.
3. Finns love their coffee. Where do you go to get your fix?
View over Helsinki. © Jussi Hellsten
Yes, coffee is definitely a big part of Finnish culture and it’s good to know your cafés. My personal favourites are Good Life Coffee in Kallio, Kaffa Roastery in Punavuori and Fratello in the city centre.
A former colleague of mine recently opened a roastery called Kaffe Obscura, with its own little café. If you pop in at the right time, you can see the roasting process.
4. If Helsinki were an ice-cream, what flavour would it be?
The Night of the Arts at Helsinki Festival 2014. © Jussi Hellsten
I’d say avocado peanut ice-cream. It might not sound very appealing at first but eccentric combinations can often surprise you. Once you’ve tasted it, you might find it addictive!
5. If you could go anywhere in the world with your camera, where would you go?
I’ll be travelling to Venice this summer with my wife. It’s lengthy history and the romantic mental image it invokes appeals to me. It’s also possible that the entire city will one day disappear into the sea, and I, of course, want to see it – and photograph it – before that happens.
I also hope to visit Japan in the near future. I find Japanese culture very exciting. I particularly like the contrast between the country’s ancient history and the present day ultra-modern look of cities like Tokyo. My imagination has no doubt been coloured by what I have seen in movies and TV series’, but I would love to capture Tokyo in the rain, when all the bright neon lights are reflected on the wet ground.
6. Your idea of travel happiness?
Midsummer in Helsinki. © Jussi Hellsten
When I manage to strike the perfect balance between relaxing and seeking out new experiences. I don’t want to burden myself with too tight a schedule when travelling. When you are under stress you become less attentive and that’s when you might actually miss those real moments.
8. Your idea of travel misery?
Forgetting my camera at home!
9. What is your travel philosophy?
Sunset in Helsinki. © Jussi Hellsten
Even if there are things I know in advance I want to see, it is just as important to put some time aside for getting lost – and finding something I wasn’t looking for.
For more on Finland visit the momondo blog.
