"Midsummer emptiness" Helsinki Warnings Or Dangers Tip by sabsi

When you are in Helsinki for midsummer (Juhannus) let me warn ya about some bits:

Midsummer Eve (the Friday between 20 and 26 June) shops close in the afternoon. Almost everybody living in Helsinki seems to leave the country to go to a mökki on the countryside. In the evening it'll be hard to find a restaurant or bar open. People who are still in the city go to the islands such as Seurasaari where the official Juhannus celebrations take place.

Midsummer Day (the following Saturday) there is no public transport until 11.30. No busses or trams - the only way to get from A to B is expensive taxis. Shops are mostly closed and so are restaurants. We tried to get something to eat in the evening but there was only one restaurant opened in the city centre and it would have taken ages to get a table there. The Supermarket at the main station is your better option that day, it's open until 9 or 10 in the evening.

Sunday everything is slowly back to normal. Shops are open, so are some restaurants and museums and sights. But Helsinki really wakes up on the following monday only.