Welcome the new year

It is the last day of the year. Time to celebrate the a hopefully successful 2015 and the beginning of an even better 2016 for all of you.

If you want to welcome the new year together with lots of other Helsinkians then come to Senaatintori tonight. It is the biggest party in town and as every year a full program is awaiting. The celebration will be kicked off at 22:00 with the We Love Helsinki DJ. Later Finnish pop star Maija Vilkkumaa will sing live on stage. The celebrations will culminate with a musical fireworks display at midnight.

There is of course no entry fee. Check out the whole program on VisitHelsinki. And don't miss out on the great deals offered by many restaurants in the city center that are only valid today on the bottom of the page.

Have a great start into the new year!

Hyvää joulua!

HelsinkiIn wishes all of you a merry and cheerful Christmas! Have a wonderful time with your family and friends!

As always HelsinkiIn will be on a small break during the Christmas days and will be back shortly before the end of the year.

Walk through Christmassy Helsinki

Christmas Eve is only one day away. Most of you hopefully started their Christmas vacation already. A great way to get into the Christmas mood and leave all the work and present buying stress from the last days and weeks behind is a walk through the streets of the city. Now everything is enlightened with thousands of small Christmas lights.

Especially Esplanadi and Aleksanterintie are worth a stroll. Have a nice walk!

As dark as it gets

Yes, it is quite dark these days in Finland. You probably also go to work when it is still dark and come back long after sunset. But good news, it doesn't get darker than this anymore. Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year and then we'll get a bit more daylight every day.

So hang in there and put up a few candles to at least make it bright inside. Have a nice week!

Christmas World in the heart of the city

The Joulumaailma is the probably most prominently positioned Christmas market in Helsinki. It is located on Mannerheimintie around the old Vanha ylioppilastalo.

Many small stalls offer handicraft as well as delicious Christmas treats and snacks from around the world. The market is open daily until December 23 and will then close for Christmas. What is special though is that the stalls will open again for another few days between December 27 and January 6. So you can still enjoy some Christmas feeling in the city center after the holidays.

You can find more information on opening times and vendors on the official website.

Christmas at Teurastamo

Are you still looking for some last presents for Christmas? Then try your luck at Teurastamo this Saturday and Sunday. The old abattoir that is famous for its excellent and modern food and urban culture turns into a Christmas market for one weekend.

by Mirri Creative

You can find beautiful products from the region. The list of participating vendors is extensive and can be viewed on the event's Facebook page. But of course you also don't have to miss out on what Teuramasto is known for. All of Teurastamo's bistros and restaurants will be open as well.

Teurastamon Joulumarkkinat is open both days from 10:00 to 16:00.

Christmas market in the Cable Factory

Helsinki is a real Christmas city. During this December there are countless possibilities to spend a nice afternoon and get into the Christmas mood.

One of them is the Kaapelin Joulu. At Kaapelitehdas in Ruoholahti you find beautiful and unique handmade products from Helsinki and around Finland. This market has a more alternative approach and presents much more than just traditional Christmas products and decoration. It's the perfect spot to get your last presents. And of course you also find delicious treats here to keep the hunger away.

The market is open every day until Sunday. For more information on opening hours, vendors and program visit the website.

Ice skating in the city

The ice rink at Rautatientori is open again. So how about a skate right in the city center this week? And afterwards you can warm up with a hot cup of coffee, tea or glöggi.

The Jääpuisto is open daily until at least February next year. Tickets are 6 € for adults, 4 € for students and 3 € for children under 18 and are valid all day. If you don't have skates yourself, you can rent some as well.

For more information on prices and opening times check their website.

Seurasaari Christmas Path

You and our family had so much to do during the last days and weeks that you didn't really have time to get into the Christmas mood? Then you should keep Sunday free for a trip to Seurasaari.

Picture: Kimmo Brandt

Starting from 12:00 Seurasaari opens its Christmas Path for children and families for the 20th time. The path includes play and sing-song, a Christmas play, face painting, horse cart driving, a whipsled and a straw labyrinth, a candle path, a fire exhibition, a slow-burning log fire and bun roasting over a campfire as well as Christmas porridge for the children. Animals of the forest walk around the Christmas Path handing out gingerbread and cinnamon buns to the children while Father Christmas and Old Lady Christmas listen to the children’s gift wishes.

And the entrance is free. Make sure not to miss this and have a wonderful weekend!

We Jazz 2015

The jazz festival We Jazz 2015 is on. And if you don't have any plans for the weekend yet, you shouldn't miss out on the amazing jazz gigs coming up during the next three days. 

In venues all around town you can enjoy finest jazz. Unfortunately many events are already sold out. But have a look at the website and grab some of the last tickets.

Have a nice weekend and a jazzy Christmas time!

Singing to Sibelius' honor

Yesterday the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius would have celebrated his 150th birthday. To his honor hundreds of Helsinkians came to the Senat Square to sing his piece Finlandia together.

And just in time the sun even came out. Watch the impressive video on Yle.

Christmas City Helsinki

Helsinki is a true Christmas City. Let this video get you into the Christmas mood.

And for more information on what to do in Helsinki during the Christmas time go to VisitHelsinki's website.

Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää!

Excatly 98 years ago Finland got its independence from Russia. December 6 is the most imporant holyday in Finland and all stores and shops are closed.

One thing you should not to miss today is the live broadcast the big celebration at the president's palace. Finland's most important and glamorous people are invited to shake the president's hand and join the big party.

The event will be shown live on Yle 1 starting from 18:15. You can watch it on tv or in the online live stream.

Off to the Christmas market

Helsinki's biggest and most beautiful Christmas market opens today. On the city's most prestigeous square, on Senaatintori, many small huts are waiting for Christmas fans to drop by.

You can find beautiful hand-made handicraft, delicious treats, warm drinks and a whole lot of Christmas atmosphere here.

The Tuomas Christmas market is open every day from 11:00 to 20:00 until December 22. Come and have a look!

VisitHelsinki Christmas Calendar

December has started. To make the time until Christmas go by faster VisitHelsinki has made a Facebook Christmas Calendar.

 

Every day a new Helsinki picture will be uploaded together with some interesting information about the city and especially its history and Christmas traditions.

Make sure to not miss any of them. Have a nice Christmas time!