Helsinki Off The Beaten Path Tips by Pomska Top 5 Page for this destination

Töölönlahti

It's nice to walk or jog around the bay. It's approximately 2,2 kilometres.

You can easily walk from Railwaystation (10 minutes maximum) or Stockmann to the bay. If you don't want to walk then use trams 4, 7A, 7B or 10 and get off Hesperia park stop.

Heureka

There's the Finnish Science Centre Heureka in Tikkurila, Vantaa. It's easy to go there for example by local trains from Helsinki city centre to Tikkurila station.

Nice thing is that Heureka's exhibitions are interactive, so you can push the buttons etc yourself. Really intresting!

Other Contact: Fax +358 9 873 4142

Phone: +358 9 85 799

Seurasaari Island

The island offers peace and quiet amongst nature and it's situated just few kilometres from city centre. The island is filled with walking tarils and authentic and old Finnish houses collected from all over the country.

There is nudist beaches separate for men and women.

The best way to get to Seurasaari is by bus number 24, leaving from Erottaja in front of Svenska Teatern (Swedish Theatre). It will take approximately 20-30 minutes to get there.

Other Contact: Fax (09) 4050 9665

Phone: +358 9 4050 9660 in summer

Embassies in Finland

Check Itainen puistokatu which is the location for the many embassies in Finland. There are big and beautiful houses.

Urho Kekkonen Memorial

Quite extraordinary memorial. Especially young children are very intrested to put their hands on the water.

Kaisaniemi Park

This is not the best or the second best park in Helsinki but if you are visiting Hakaniemi by foor, you can go to Hakaniemi through this park. It's situated at the back of National Theatre so if you are visiting the theatre you can also check this park.

The park is very near Rautatieasema (the Railwaystation).

Nuuksio National Park

The national park is situated close to Helsinki at the outskirts of Espoo.

Actually you almost have to have a car to get there because there are no direct connections from Helsinki by public transport. But you can try these two alternatives: 1) take the train from Helsinki to Leppävaara and transfer there to Espoo bus number 85 or 88, or 2) take the train to Espoon keskus and then take the bus number 82. I think it will take over an hour to get there by public transportation.

There are a number of well-signposted trails which you can choose from.

Serena water park

It's situated outside Helsinki but it's still quite near and easily reachable.

It's the largest heated water park in Europe and it is open year-round. Inside under the roof is a 2000m2 pool area. There are several pools, water slides and hot tubs plus regular saunas and Turkish steam rooms. The place is best experienced in winter when you can lay back in a jacuzzi and watch people skiing on the other side of the glass windows.

In the summertimes the pool area is 1000 m2 larger as the outside part is opened.
It's open 11am-8pm daily. All day pass €17, evening pass (from 4 pm) €13.

By bus from Helsinki: Bus station, platform 19, bus 339.

Adress: Tornimäentie 10, 02970 ESPOO

Other Contact: Telefax + 358 9 88705 560

Phone: +358 9 88705 557

Website: http://www.serena.fi

Design Museum

The Design Museum is located in Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Ullanlinna. You could find exhibitions of modern commercial and industrial design and also modern art. There are a permanent exhibit in the basement floor which shows the history of consumer-goods design over the course of the 20th century. It's focused on Finnish designers.

Entrance fee is 7 € for adults and 3 € for students and free for children.

It's open Tuesday 11am to 8pm, Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 6pm, and closed Monday.

Best toilet view

Definitely try Hotel Torni's toilet which is one of the most unique toilet. You have tremendous views over Helsinki from the toilet.

You can find it in Yrjönkatu 26