Natasha

Mid May, I have one full day and evening on my own in Helsinki . What can I do knowing that my main interests when I am abroad are : taking pictures of modern building, watching contemporary art, trying food specialities and buy some to take back home, drink coffee, experience things that the local people do, buy art-, architecture- and culinary recipe books, walk around at flee markets... <BR>Thank you for your good advice. <BR>

s.fowler

I'll write more later if you don't get better advice than I know <BR> <BR>I LOVED Helsinki [this was in '85 I think] -- and everything is either IN a rock ON a rock or NEXT TO a rock. The city has been used as the set for many movies set in Russia, including, I think, Gorky Park. The main square with the parliament and the cathedral is fairly impressive. I shopped at some small stores just off of there as well as the maind epartmebt store -- I needed a sweater. It was COLD! I hope others can be more specific about restaurants etc... I don't remember myseums particularly, but I do remember the Sibelius monument outside the city and the church in the rock.

Katja

Hi Natasha! <BR> <BR>Since you like modern architecture, you can easily find many beautiful (or not?) buildings right in the center of Helsinki. You can for example start at the Museum of Contemporary art - Kiasma, which was designed by Steven Holl (?). Both inside and outside of the building should be interesting to you. Right next to Kiasma there is a new building for the biggest media group in Finland. This one is a hideous (IMHO) glass cube that does not fit there at all. <BR> <BR>Next to Kiasma there are also these old stable buildings where in the summer time large flee markets are held in the weekends. I am not sure if they are held this summer since there has been a lot of discussion about tearing these buildings down. <BR> <BR>From there you can walk to Töölönlahti bay and see Finlandia-Hall (music hall designed by Alvar Aalto) and after that continue your walk to the new Opera house (which has kind of bathroom tiles on it ;o) ). <BR> <BR>Some older but beautiful buildings include the Temppeliaukio Church (build inside a hard rock), the Great (Lutheran) Church at Senate Square, and the orthodox cathedral quite next to it. <BR> <BR>For traditional Finnish food, I suggest to go to Market Square and try the fresh stuff. There are quite a many restaurants also which serve Finnish food. You could chech the restaurant reviews and also calendar for current events from these pages: http://www.aktivist.fi/inenglish/ <BR> <BR>If the day is sunny you can see a lot of people just enjoying themselves by the Esplanad park or Kaivopuisto park. <BR> <BR>Well, I think I have covered a little bit about everything. If you have more questions, feel free. I live right next to Helsinki myself (in Espoo), so I think I have first hand info.. <BR> <BR>Katja <BR> <BR>P.S. I am glad that you were considerate enough to mention your interests in advance. This made the answering a lot easier. <BR> <BR>

Dave

The "rock church" and the Sibelius monument are interesting. Have coffee by the Esplanad. We walked all over the place. Get a walking tour brochure in your hotel or at the "I" by Esplanad park.

Roy

We were in Helsinki a couple of weeks ago. With only one day there, I think the person from Espoo has suggested more than enough for you to do. For a Finnish restaurant I would recommend the Kosmos - in the center of the city. <BR>It's an old, established place with a history and wonderful, honest food. For a less structured meal, the covered market right on the water has some beautiful food shops with prepared sandwiches and salads - and an area with a few tables and chairs. Also, in that area, Strindbergs is a nice, self service cafe. Don't miss the Lutheran cathedral and the interior of the Russian Orthodox cathedral is very interesting too. Both are very central.

e

I was there last year for two days. <BR>I also suggest the Rock church and the market place. They had a lamb kind of calzone that was delicious in one of the tents there. I also went to the Olympic Stadium and Finnish Sports Museum next door that was great. <BR>One last thing go to Stockman's Department Store the best in Scandanavia <BR>and bring home some great Finnish Chocolate called Fazier. Have Fun <BR>

kalena

Kiitos Katja for the wonderful suggestions which make me want to return to the beautiful city of my birth When we were there last there was a herring festival, and polka was being danced on the market square.

kalena

Oh, I forgot. Although not contemporary, I love the Gallen-Kallala museum.