Not the most serious story New Year holidays in Helsinki with a one-day visit to Stockholm. This is not going to be a travel article in its classic form, it will not contain any advice, except for one thing - do not do it! Never agree to celebrate the New Year in Helsinki. Yes, Finland is an amazing country with amazing nature. But honestly, just standing in an empty room for a week would be more exciting. Why? Just scroll down and find out...

How to get to Helsinki

In general, a trip to Helsinki is like alcoholism: at first it looks attractive and exciting, it promises a lot of pleasure. Judge for yourself:

• Plane tickets are quite inexpensive. Direct flights from Moscow to Helsinki cost us 17,000 round-trip for two. And we flew with S7;
• Finland gives visas for at least 6 months without exception;
• If you fly on the 31st of December, champagne is poured on board. This does not apply directly to Finland, of course, but combined with the two previous points, it can tip the scales towards a trip to Helsinki.

A shuttle bus runs from the airport to the city center. Nothing unusual.

Okay, let's imagine that you did get to the center of Helsinki. You are standing on the street, your luggage is nearby, you are standing and, looking at the faces of passers-by, at the buildings, you vaguely begin to suspect that it is not the entertainment capital of the world around you, but simply the capital of Finland.

Where to stay

All hotels in Helsinki are normal. And again: nothing out of the ordinary. We decided to split our trip a bit and chose and booked two hotels. The average cost per day is 92 Euro. But all my memories of hotels come down to the fact that in front of one of them there was a small market where they sold pants, cookies and something else. Unbridled fun, right?

What to do in Helsinki

Walk and admire gazing at the sights ... did you believe it? Ha! Exploring the sights - all two monuments and one cathedral - will take a couple of hours. And these couple of hours will definitely be very windy, humid and cold. Then you will go for a walk to the port, where it will be even more windy and humid.

OK, OK, of course it's not that bad. Honestly, the city is quite pleasant and very comfortable to live in. With festive illuminations and trams, the city looks very nice. But seriously, there are practically no sights here, there are no interesting and tourist places.

By the way, a small addition about walking: keep in mind that all sidewalks are covered with small stone chips to resist slipping. Smart and effective, and no chemistry. But rolling a suitcase on wheels is simply impossible. Be prepared to carry luggage.

If you still decide to come to the capital of Finland, it is better to use the services of local guides. At least they will be able to show you unusual and intoxicating places. And, perhaps, the rest will not seem so dull to you.

eat moose

Yes, here in some restaurants you can officially order elk meat. And, frankly, it's delicious. In addition, you will be able to tell everyone that you have tried elk, and that its meat is similar to beef. Just don't tell the moose, they don't like it.

Instead of eating elk, you can buy this elk. Not alive, of course, but soft toy. They are sold everywhere and are a great souvenir. A plush moose can be bought, for example, at a small market in the port.

Drink alcohol

There are two main reasons to drink a lot of alcohol in Helsinki:

• It is tasty. Having ordered a dish with elk meat, I also highly recommend ordering a glass or, say, six glasses of local fortified wine. Very, very bad, I'm telling the truth.
• Sometimes it's so dreary and dreary in Helsinki that even your liver, your conscience and your doctor will tell you that it's time to roll something intoxicating. In addition, in the wake of emerging alcoholism, you will soon stop shaving and pass for a local.

Traveling to Sweden from Finland

Now this is a good idea. There are many ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm. For example, from the VikingLine company, which we rode. Flights take place at night, it is very convenient, you do not need to think about accommodation for the night, you do not waste time on the road. Tickets are sold directly at the port.

Ferries, by the way, are very large and comfortable. I strongly recommend not to take a cabin with a window, because all you will see is darkness. What's the point of paying extra for it? A cute landscape on a fake porthole is much nicer.

Typical evening on the ferry to Stockholm

So just for the record: the fact that you are in international waters does not mean that all the laws have remained on the coast and you can pirate. This may seem obvious to some, but it came as a surprise to me...

Okay, to be honest, there are quite a few things to do on the ferry:

• duty free shops;
• several restaurants;
• casino;
• concerts and show programs;
• several decks for leisurely walks.

As you can see, there is much more entertainment on the ferry than in Helsinki itself. Below I wrote small recommendations on how to behave on the ferry:

1. Don't play at the casino. Maybe I'm spoiled by Las Vegas, but there are very specific "Nordic Rules" on the ferry. Simply put, the casino always wins.
2. Go to shows only if you are over 50. Still, local shows are not a sample of drive.
3. Buy a voucher for buffet dinner in advance. It costs about 32 Euros, but it's worth it: very tasty, satisfying, a wide variety of dishes, and most importantly - the wine flows straight from the tap. An amazing innovation. And the wine is pretty good, by the way. I really like the faucet idea.
4. Show off as best you can, walk with cocktails, put down your little finger, imagine that you are on the Titanic (only without an iceberg and everything fatal). You don't get on ships that often, but everyone around you should know that you're a regular on Caribbean cruises. Otherwise, what is all this for?
5. Spend the morning on deck. The ferry will no longer move along the open sea, but along the local coastal waters, and in good weather it is very pleasant to be on deck, and the view is simply wonderful.

A typical evening on the ferry in case of seasickness

My condolences…

In general, the ferry is large enough so that the pitching on it is not felt. And in good weather everything will be fine. But in the event of a storm (as we had), this will definitely not be your best evening in your life. Your goal will be to be as close to the toilet as possible, and also try to speed up time in order to be on solid ground as soon as possible. On the other hand, there are also some fun things to do in a storm, like watching people walk down the hallways and get thrown from wall to wall.

Stockholm

Oooh, it's a beautiful city. Stockholm is very clean, cozy and pretty...but also expensive. So expensive that if you give up food for a couple of days, you will probably save up money for tickets to the museum. For example, in the Vasa Museum. This is a museum dedicated to a 17th century ship that sank and was brought to the surface in excellent condition. This museum is worth the money, seriously. The ship is simply amazing. You will surely spend a couple of hours looking at all its details. Also, you will surely meet the living Garik Sukachev in the museum. At least I was there once and in 100% of cases I met Garik.

We didn't visit other museums because we prefer to eat sometimes: in Sweden the prices are so high that you have to choose, unfortunately. But I must admit that some museums look very attractive and, if you have time and money, visiting them can be a pleasant pastime.

And in Stockholm there are very cool swans ... and the old city ... but the swans are still cooler.

After a very productive day in Stockholm, you will return to the ferry, satisfied and tired with souvenirs and gifts. In the end, it will be very good trip with a quiet celebration of the New Year. Oh, right, a few words about the celebration of the New Year itself: 2-3 thousand people in the central square, some kind of sluggish concert, and fireworks. And again: pretty boring, nothing special.

Total costs for two people for 6 days:

• Plane tickets: 239 Euro;
• Hotels: 584 Euro;
• Food + drinks + restaurants: 231 Euro;
• Tickets to Stockholm and back: 108 Euro;
• Dinner on the ferry 2 times: 128 Euro;
• Museums in Stockholm: 40 Euro;
• Visa: 35 Euro + 35 Euro;
• Public transport: 12 Euro;
• Airport transfer: 32 Euro

Total: 1444 EUR

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Hi all!

Last year, my husband and I decided to celebrate the New Year 2017 abroad. And the choice fell on Finland. It was a wonderful trip. In this review I will write only about the city Helsinki. There will be two more comments. There I will tell you about how we sailed on the ferry to Sweden and walked around Stockholm. And in the third about Lapland and the village of Santa Claus. I will try to describe everything as informative as possible and perhaps inspire someone to the same trip.

The first thing I want to say is see what the weather will be like there. Snow does not happen there every winter, but there is an opportunity to get under a nasty drizzling rain. Also, the proximity to the Baltic Sea makes itself felt, therefore still dress warmly. I advise you to wear a winter parka, leather boots Take a hat and scarf too.

I also want to point out that Finland is a Catholic country. Accordingly, they have Christmas on December 25 and all the festivities mainly at this time. New Year they cause less excitement. So we were there from December 21st to January 3rd.

We checked into a hotel near the city center. called Scandic Grand Marina. I highly recommend this hotel. Good rooms, service. The hotel has a gym and sauna! We took a ticket where only breakfasts. wonderful buffet, big choice and very, very tasty! The hotel is located two or three meters from the sea, so we could see a piece of the sea from the window.

So, the first day we just decided to walk around the city. We lived five minutes walk from market square Kauppatori. In general, as far as I know, she works only on weekends and in the first half of the day. But we were lucky, because before Christmas they sell various New Year's things and souvenirs.

We passed through the market square Esplanade park.

Crossing the road, you can see many cozy restaurants, expensive boutiques, small shops with souvenirs, dishes and clothes. Cozy Starbuks and malls. The largest and most famous shopping center in Helsinki is Stokmann. I want to note that starting from December 27, New Year's sales begin.

Then we turned onto the main street of Helsinki Aleksanterinkatu(named after Alexander I) and reached Senate Square. The main attraction of this square is the snow-white Lutheran Cathedral of Tuomiokirkko or the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. By the way, if you climb the fifth step from the top, sit on it and make a wish, it will certainly come true! Also, this square is the place of all the central holidays and events. There is also a Christmas market.

Also in the very center of the city Design Quarter. It represents antique shops, galleries, museums of modern art, clothing and accessories stores from yet unknown designers. Lots of goods hand made. In general, interesting places worth visiting.

The city center itself is very beautifully decorated for the holidays.

And you can admire the shop windows for hours.

On the second day we went to the zoo Korkeasaari. You can get there by bus. It leaves the railway station from platform number 8. Animals are painted on the bus and ZOO is written in large letters. Make no mistake. In the summer there is also a ferry to the zoo. The zoo is located in a very picturesque place.

On the third day we decided to visit the fortress of Sveaborg or Suomenlinna. There is a ferry from the market square.

But after that, we wanted to try the famous Finnish soup and we went to the old covered market, which is located nearby. But, quite by accident, we reached the river port and bought a Christmas tour on a ferry to Sweden. More on this in another review.

On the 25th we already returned back to Helsinki. But they are closed for christmas. So we stayed at the hotel and went to the sauna.

We spent the next two days walking a lot.

The next day we went to the train station and got tickets to Rovaniemi. This is a city in Finland. Near which is the village of Santa Claus. This will also be a separate review.

We returned to Helsinki on December 31 in the morning. Slept until lunch. And in the evening we went down to the bar, bought a glass of champagne. We celebrated our Russian New Year. And we went to the Senate Square for a walk, to watch the fireworks. In general, it was fun.

As noted New Year in Finland: with children, prices, traditions, what to do, how to rent a cottage.

New Year in Finland

I think that all of us who were brought up on Western Christmas films, where Santa Claus and a large beautiful tree I want something special from the New Year. At this time, they make wishes and make bright plans for the coming year.

Finland for the New Year 2019 is one of those countries where the flavor of the Most Important Holiday of the Year is felt especially sharply. Firstly, the proximity of Lapland, Santa Claus and other Christmas and New Year magic. Secondly, cold weather. Which New Year's miracle without snowdrifts knee-deep?

I propose to start with the practical part, and if you want to read more about how the New Year is celebrated in Finland, get acquainted with the traditions and state entertainment program then go down below.

Where to go for the New Year in Finland?

Traditionally, tourists choose between two destinations: Helsinki and Lapland.

V Helsinki for the New Year you can mingle with the cheerful crowd and feel like a part of a big celebration. All the fun in Helsinki takes place on Senate Square. It is from here that the holiday is broadcast throughout the country. These are fireworks, concerts, and congratulations from famous figures of the country. Walks at Christmas markets, constant mulled wine and champagne.

Sales start after the Christmas holidays in Finland. End of December - the best time to go shopping in Finland. And, of course, as in any capital, Helsinki has the largest selection of shops in the country.

Lapland for the New Year more suitable for families with children and outdoor enthusiasts. Lapland is a region and it has several cities. The most popular city in Lapland new year time This is Rovaniemi. Here is the famous village of Santa Claus. And if you go on vacation with children, Rovaniemi - the best place. Here you and your whole family can truly plunge into the New Year's fairy tale.

In addition, in Lapland you can ski, sled with reindeer and husky, walk through the forest and see the Northern Lights. In winter, it can be seen almost every night.

if you need a ski resort then head to Levi.

I think, with the question "where" we figured out, now we'll figure out "how". You can relax in Finland both on your own and on a ready-made tour. I will give all the options and prices, and based on this information you can choose the most suitable option for yourself.

The main thing, take care of the trip in advance. Finland is an insanely popular destination for the New Year, and the closer to the holiday, the fewer options you have left.

Tours to Finland for the New Year 2019

See prices for tours to Finland in convenient statistics from Level Travel. And check the prices in , sometimes they can differ by several thousand.

How to organize a trip yourself?

Many people come to Finland on their own, the price is a little cheaper, but more preparatory work needs to be done: find accommodation, air tickets, plus you are obligatory, and. As a rule, they come on their own in large companies that rent a cottage in Finland for the New Year and thus save on housing.

How is New Year celebrated in Finland?

In the second half of December, life in Finland seems to slow down. Finns actively celebrate Christmas, go to visit friends and relatives, and accumulate strength for December 31st. As in many other countries, New Year's Eve claims to be the most main night in a year. Perhaps, it competes only on April 30, when the Finns, frostbitten over a long winter, rejoice at the approaching heat.

Because of the cold weather, many people celebrate the New Year in Finland behind closed walls: at home, in bars, restaurants or pubs. On the street all the action takes place until midnight. And here I cannot but mention the fireworks.

Fireworks, like ours, go on mass sale in December. You can blow up the sky with colorful lights only from 18:00 on December 31 to 02:00 on the night of January 1. Just some 8 hours. And because the Finns come off to the fullest. From 6 pm you will hear the first timid pops, which by midnight will turn into a real light show.

I celebrated the New Year in Finland several times, and all the time I watched fireworks from some roof: either a residential building or an office building. And I can say that the most best view opened to me from the bar "Atelier", which is located on the roof of the hotel "Torni", which means "tower". I had to get here early to get a better seat. I stood for a little over an hour on them large balcony but the light show was worth the effort.

The main holiday of the country takes place in Helsinki, usually on Senate Square. A huge crowd gathers here to listen to the speeches of the mayor of the city, the bishop and other dignitaries. There are also live performances of singers and dance ensembles. This event is broadcast throughout the country on major TV channels.

Every Finn knows that the mayor won't say anything special, and listens with half an ear, but listens anyway and every year turns on the TV to watch. Familiar? What a New Year without a congratulatory speech from the President!

As the clock strikes midnight, the festive excitement becomes more relaxed. People rejoice, drink wine, champagne and congratulate each other, shouting “Hyvää uutta vuotta!” - "Happy New Year!" in Finnish or "Gott nytt år!" in Swedish (another official language of Finland).

Divination

Another important part of the Finnish New Year is fortune telling. They, as a rule, are engaged immediately after the festive fireworks. One of the most popular ways of divination in Finland for the New Year is casting molten tin. Each is given a small pewter horseshoe (a traditional symbol of good luck). The horseshoe is melted, and the liquid metal is quickly poured into cold water, where it solidifies and takes on a different shape.

It is the shape and outlines of the resulting piece that are interpreted to predict the events of the coming year. Various forms means good luck, health, wealth, happiness, or vice versa grief. If the tin breaks into pieces in water, this is a sign of failure.

1st of January

On January 1, Finns prefer to sleep off. Many are drawn to painkillers due to a stormy night. Others, on the contrary, prefer to spend this day actively - skiing, walking in parks or putting on snowshoes and getting out into the forest. Coffee on this day is sold in record quantities.

The President's speech, the Vienna New Year's Concert and old Finnish films are watched on TV. Eating up leftovers holiday table. Someone spends this day calmly, realizing the transition to the new year and preparing for new achievements. Someone prefers to tumble into the future with a bang and fun, continuing the amusement. It's the same as ours.

A trip to Finland for the New Year will be one of the exciting trips, let's look at the cost of the holiday and find the best hotels where you can celebrate the holidays, cheap flights, find out the program of events.

Finns treat tourists with great respect and tact. In this country, you will feel care at every step. Little Finland has a whole network of resorts. You are waiting for mountain and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, reindeer and dog sledding and even all-terrain vehicle rides. Holidays in Finland for the New Year gathers a huge number of tourists from different countries. This is an indicator of the level of service as well.

In Helsinki, opposite the Market Square there is a tourist center. There you can pick up guidebooks and maps for Finland in Russian for free.

Where to go and what to do on New Year's holidays?

Holidays in Finland new year holidays not limited to winter sports. Although the Finns themselves, as a rule, go to ski resorts or rent cottages to celebrate the New Year. Even within lay up to 200 kilometers of ski slopes. It is enough to take the city bus number 66 or 66A and go to the Paloheina camp site. Museums, Spas and local attractions are at your disposal in the capital.

Food lovers should try pork, salmon, hot gleg with spices, nuts and raisins, and a special "Christmas" dark beer. For the sweet tooth - Finnish sweets with blueberries, cloudberries and lingonberries.

What to see in Finland during the holidays in the first place:

• Ice sculpture festival in Helsinki and other cities of the country.
• Stay in an ice hotel in the village of Lainio, visit an ice bar and a disco.
• Visit the world's only Moomin Museum in Tampere. The museum has gained immense popularity, both in the country itself and abroad.
• Go to the island of Seurasaari to the museum of wooden architecture.
• Visit the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, which for a long time was part of Russia.
• Settle in a village farm with deer and goats. Live in the atmosphere of a Finnish family, get acquainted with Finnish cuisine.
• Visit the fabulous Santamus restaurant in Rovaniemi.
• Ride a reindeer or dog sled.

Where to go in Helsinki for the New Year?

Where to celebrate New Year 2019 in Finland? The holiday can be met in one of the many restaurants in Helsinki. Some restaurants arrange special new year parties and a disco show. Prices will be slightly different from weekdays. Dinner in a Finnish restaurant, on average, it costs 45 euros. However, many establishments close until 12 midnight.

During the day you can visit Cathedral and rocky Temple Temppeliaukio. Must visit for New Year's Eve show on Senate Square. This is a big performance with dancing and laser effects. The show starts at 6:00 pm and continues until 2:00 am.

Almost everything is closed on the first day. Several rollers within the city and a huge ice town with a skating rink on the square near the railway station. There are rentals everywhere. There will be a ski center and a water park Serena". Their website https://www.serena.fi/?lang=en

Will work from the 2nd oceanarium"Sea Life", Museum natural sciences and the center "Eureka". You can go to Haltia Nature Center with children and spend the whole day there. At any time you can ride on a plastic sled"pulkka" in the Kaivapusto parks, in the center in the Sinebrychova park and the Ilolanpuisto park. Sledges can be bought at the store. They cost 10 euros.

In Helsinki itself, there are more than 110 attractions, museums, art galleries, quests.

New Year holidays in Finland 2019 is a certain extreme. Therefore, entertainment can be appropriate. For instance, snowkiting- walks on the ice of the Gulf of Finland. The most popular routes around the island of Seurasaari. Can visit the sauna with swimming in the hole in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. The best saunas in the Haryutori and Merihaka areas.

Weather in Finland in January

Now consider the weather in Finland for the New Year holidays, what climatic conditions await us on vacation in January? Most of the country is located beyond the Arctic Circle. It dictates its terms. In January short days, in total - about 5 hours. But in the night sky you can see the aurora borealis. It is warmest in Naantali and Turku. The average temperature in January here is -1°C and -4°C.

It is cooler in the north and in the central part of the country. The average temperature is -5°C, but on some days it can drop to -20°C. The air is dry, so it feels less cold. Lots of snow. The forest becomes a fabulous decoration for your holiday.

The cost of holidays in Finland

Well, now let's move on to the prices for holidays in Finland for the New Year, calculate the cost of a flight, booking a hotel or cottage, and other aspects. It is more convenient to fly to the capital by plane, but there is also a land route from / through St. Petersburg. Helsinki separates from St. Petersburg about 400 kilometers.

How to get there:

• By car on the E18 highway from St. Petersburg. Additionally, you need to issue a Green Card.
• By train "Leo Tolstoy" and "Helsinki" from Moscow. Travel time is 13 and a half hours. The cost of a reserved seat is 2300, a coupe - 6000 rubles.
• By bus from Moscow from the VDNH and Tushinskaya bus stations. On the way - 23 hours. The cost is 2731 rubles one way.
• Minibus from St. Petersburg. Daily departure from the Oktyabrskaya Hotel. The cost is 1600 rubles round trip. In Helsinki, arrival at the railway station and Finnkino. On the way from 6 to 8 hours.
• By ferry from St. Petersburg, for those who love sea travel. The journey takes about 14 hours, and the cost is from 3180 rubles one way.

Airfare from Moscow

You can get to Finland by Aeroflot flights in less than two hours. The cost of such a round-trip flight is 8495 rubles. Departure from Sheremetyevo several times a day. You can choose a convenient time of departure and arrival.

We recommend that you search for profitable flight options through a direct link to Aviasales, it searches among all airlines in the desired direction and provides the cheapest flights.

• Find flights to Finland:

Prices for the New Year in hotels in Finland

Prices for the New Year 2019 in hotels in Finland do not differ much from those that were a year ago. Hotels in ski resorts, rooms with a fireplace and a private sauna are in particular demand. The minimum cost of a 2-star hostel or hotel for two is 40 euros. New Year's Eve in a 3 star hotel will cost from 60 euros, in a good 5 star hotel a night will cost from 120 euros.

We recommend looking for hotels now, most tourists book a room 2-3 months in advance. Find good options you can directly through RoomGuru.

Cottage rental for holidays, prices

It is worth renting a cottage in Finland for the New Year as early as possible. By the holidays it becomes unrealistic, the demand is so high. On average, you can rent a cottage for 1 week for 6-8 people from 900 to 1500 euros. The cost of the cottage will depend on its location and comfort.

Renting a cottage in Finland for the New Year holidays is not a cheap pleasure. In addition to accommodation, you will need to pay for cleaning, from 70 euros and cook your own gala dinner.

Tapio's Villas

Holidays in Finland for the New Year holidays with children

Finland is among the top three countries in terms of security. And if you remember about Lapland and Santa Claus, then the question - is it worth spending the New Year in Finland with children - will be resolved. Everything here is real; frost, deer, Yolopukka's domain, aurora borealis and fireplace fire. A story that is hard to resist.

How to celebrate the New Year in Lapland? Yolopukki lives in the town of Rovaniemi. From Helsinki you can get here by plane, bus and car. By car, the journey will take about 12 hours. It is worth planning a few days to visit the amusement park. You can visit Santa's farm, take master classes in the Yolopukka kitchen, meet gnomes and trolls and take part in their fun.

The entrance ticket to Santa's residence is 33 euros, 27.5 euros for a child. Reindeer sleigh ride costs 25 euros. Entrance ticket to the ice bar costs 12 euros. It is better to book hotels in the town in advance. New Year's Eve in Finland with a child can be a fabulous adventure for the whole family.

For children and adults in Helsinki, the zoo, Botanical and Winter Garden, Tropicario - the world of tropical animals.

So, you decided to go to the capital of Finland during the festive period to celebrate the New Year in Helsinki, and also see how Christmas is celebrated in this country. In one of the most beautiful northern capitals, you will find plenty to do. Numerous fairs and festive events take place here.

Fair "Christmas World", 30.11–22.12 and 26.12–6.1

The longest-running Christmas market in Helsinki, Christmas World (Joulumaailma), takes place opposite the Stockmann department store, on the Three Blacksmiths Square (Kolmen Sepän aukio) and in the Kaivopiha passage. It traditionally sells warming mulled wine, sweet and savory delicacies, and handmade Christmas gifts.

Here you will certainly meet snowmen and other funny Christmas characters. Chief among them, Joulupukki, is on duty every day in his house and accepts Christmas wishes.

Stable Gnome Trail

Every winter at Korkeasaari Zoo, the whole family can take a trip along the path of the stable gnome. The stable gnome has lived in the zoo since its foundation, that is, for almost 125 years: in 2014, the Helsinki Zoo celebrated its anniversary!

Traveling along the path, you can get acquainted with the life and habits of this fairy-tale character, visit his house, sauna and workshop, and, of course, see all the animals and even watch them feed. Move carefully, listen and look closely, and then you may be able to see the familiar world through the eyes of a gnome.

Fair of St. Tuomas, 7 - 22.12

During the Christmas Market, St. Tuomaan markkinat Senate Square (Senaatintori) fills with red-painted wooden tents selling Christmas delicacies, ceramics, leather goods, fur and wool, ornaments and Christmas toys. Everything is Finnish production, most of it is handmade.

For the third year the fair takes place on Senate Square, before that it was located on Esplanade Boulevard.

Fair in the Old Student House, 11 – 22.12

The Christmas Market at the Old Student House (Vanha ylioppilastalo) at Mannerheimintie 3 has a long tradition, having been held annually since the early 1980s. This is a real review of the achievements of Finnish needlework!

About a hundred craftsmen will sell their products here: clothes, jewelry, paintings, postcards, candles and, of course, pastries and other Christmas treats. The fair is open on the second floor of the building from 11.00 to 18.00.

St. Lucia's Day, 13.12

Saint Lucia's Day (Lucian päivä) is one of the main holidays for Swedish-speaking Finns, who make up about 6% of the population of Finland.

On the darkest day of the year, Lucia traditionally brings a precious gift - a light that gives people joy and inspires hope. The solemn procession with chants led by the blond Lucia will leave at 18.00 from the Senate Square and will pass along the Aleksanterinkatu.

New Year's Eve at the Senate Square

New Year's Eve will again gather thousands of people on the main square of Helsinki.

The program will begin with a speech by Mayor Jussi Pajunen, after which bright musical and dance numbers will replace each other on the stage. Countdown - five, four, three, two, one - and the sky will light up with festive fireworks in honor of the coming year!

Light Festival Lux Helsinki, 4 – 8.1.2014

Light installations of the festival can be seen at 12 different venues in the city center from 17.00 to 22.00, and some of them during the entire dark time of the day. The Senate Square will be decorated with a heart-shaped construction pulsing with many colors to the beat of the music.

The FYR lighthouse, assembled from two hundred storm lanterns and light bulbs, will appear in the courtyard of the National Museum of Finland. Its light will be projected onto the walls of the museum. The Hespria Park will once again become the beloved Latern Park: its trees will be decorated with about 150 lanterns created by students of Helsinki art universities and professional authors.

If you do not have a visa or are too lazy to apply for it, no worse than in Finland, you can relax with us. For example, a great choice -