Oslo or Helsinki in August?
 

My daughter is visiting family friends in Europe for a couple months this summer. Near the end of her trip a family will take her from Nibe to Copenhagen for a few days on August 7th and then I need to find a way for her to get back and forth to Oslo or Helsinki from August 10-17. She flies back to the U.S. from Copenhagen on Sunday, August 17th. We know people in both Oslo or Helsinki but she doesn't have time or money to do both.

I have never been to Helsinki and it has been 15 years since I went to Oslo so I am torn over which place to send her. Both families tout their own locales! Anyone been to both and have reasons to prefer one over the other?

Help is appreciated! I have purchased her RT ticket to Copenhagen but no other legs of her trip.

I like both cities but being in August, I would vote for Helsinki. This city will stay light most of the night and you can view the mid-night's sun.

Helsinki has a good market with the boats each day. You can buy about 200 different types of pickled herring.

Unless things have changed, there's a ladies day where the women can ask the men to dance.

Oslo is nice too but again, I would keep my vote in Helsinki.

Blackduff

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Somebody must have some ideas about this trip.

Blackduff

Well, I might, but it would be very biased because I live next to Helsinki and have only briefly visited Oslo. OK, a couple of good words for August Helsinki thinking of a young person: There are many beaches and little islands for sun bathing and swimming, a sandy beach also right in the center of town (called Hietsu). August is traditionally a Helsinki Festival month with hundreds of music and art happenings every day, all over the town. This August´s crown is Berlin Philharmonics, but that is just for me, lots of other kinds of music, too. Street cafes everywhere, also good picnic parks and islands. All the fashion shops have sales. (But I guess so do those in Oslo).

And Linnanmäki amusement park´s old wooden rollercoaster is a MUST.

I've been to Oslo and Helsinki several times. For a first visit I would choose Oslo. Some of its sites are truly unique -- the Kon Tiki museum and the Viking Ships museum.

Bring plenty of money to both cities.

Helsinki unless you want to see three viking long ships

Thanks to all who replied. I am leaning toward Helsinki due not only to the comments given but to the fact that the family we know in Helsinki has a child very close in age to my daughter. That would probably make it better for her all around.

Thanks again!
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<i>Helsinki unless you want to see three viking long ships</i>

The Vikings went to open sea with minimal navigation aids in those boats, and discovered America. Awesome. Thor Heyerdahl's museum with the Kon-Tiki and Ra II is even more amazing.