A 2 day itinerary exploring the christmas markets in Helsinki
Things to do in advance:
Book your ferry tickets if you are travelling from Tallinn or to Tallinn
Or
Book flights from UK. Direct flights from London and Manchester
Book accommodation to avoid disappointment but hostels available
Book a table at Stefan’s Steakhouse upon arrival
Book ferry tickets to Suomenlina upon arrival
Day 1
11am/12pm - Arrive in Helsinki either via ferry from Tallinn or flight from UK
12pm-1pm - Lunch at Gran Delicato
1pm-1:30pm - Visit the Stockmann Holiday Window
1:30pm-3:30pm - Explore the Christmas Markets
3:30pm-4:30pm - Visit the Helsinki Cathedral
4:30pm-6:30pm - Ice skating at Railway Square
6:30pm-7:30pm - Drinks at 8-bit Brewing
7:30pm-9pm - Dinner at Stefan’s Steakhouse
9pm onwards - Drinks at Hemingways
Day 2
9am-9:40am - Breakfast at Cafe Regatta
9:40am-1pm - Ferry trip to Suomenlinna
1pm-2pm - Lunch at Ravintola Manala
2pm-3pm - Visit the Temppeliaukio Church
3pm-4pm - Visit the Kampli Church
4pm-6pm - Buy your souvenirs from the Christmas Markets before it’s time to leave
Other recommendations
Ice Skating A perfect activity for a winter holiday. There are a number of different locations you can ice skate in Helsinki but the Railway Square was added to the itinerary as it is one of the most central locations. Prices range from between 3.50-6 eurospp. Click here for more information: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/activities/ice-skating-in-helsinki. Stefan’s Steakhouse My partner spent 3-4 months working in Lapland and raved about Stefan’s Steakhouse. This is a high end chain of restaurants across Finland and specialise in quality beef, reindeer and other meats. Each restaurant has a slightly different menu but at every restaurant you will be sure to find a juicy, melt in the mouth steak. Tasting menus are also available for those who wish to indulge in the fine dining experience. Budget prevented us from visiting in Helsinki but if you can spare the cash or you are celebrating something special, Stefan’s Steakhouse is the place to be. Location: Korkeavuorenkatu 34, 00130 Helsinki, Finland Suomenlinna Suomenlinna is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is an inhabited sea fortress with around 800 people living here. You can visit the museums here, take the blue route and see the sights along the way or take a guided tour. Suomenlinna is one of the most popular attractions of visitors in Helsinki and very easily accessible via a short ferry ride. The ferry tickets are around 5 eurospp and the site is free to enter. You should be able to get a good feel for Suomenlinna in around 3-4 hours however your ferry ticket will be valid for 12 hours if you wish to stay here longer. Suomenlinna is very exposed so make sure you wrap up warm before jumping on the ferry. Click here to find out more: https://www.suomenlinna.fi/en. Ravintola Manala Offering a variety of options from pizzas, salads and burgers, this restaurant makes for an ideal lunch spot. There are also traditional Finnish dishes on offer including reindeer and fried liver as well as a lunch menu with reasonable prices. Location: Dagmarinkatu 2, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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