rieger.fi travel in FIN

Since you plan to make your way up here, you might as well have a look around and check out what Finland (plus neighbours) have to offer. We would like to give you a here a brief list of sights and places that we think are worth having a look at.

Yeah, we know, this is a no-brainer, no way to get around it! There's lots to check out here: the white church, the temppeliaukio church built into a rock, the island Suomenlinna, department store Stockmann, Esplanadi alley with its cafes and restaurants, the harbour market, Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, Kiasma Contemp. Art Museum, etc. There might be one or another event or concert that might be of interest, Tavastia is Finland's finest Rock club and always to be checked out. And yes, if you come from the US, check out our really cool Nokia phones (which you might see in your shops 2 years down the road or perhaps never).

The Finnish EU presidency (starting July 1st '06) will affect the availability of hotel rooms in Helsinki, so if you need a room in Helsinki, we recommend that you book it as soon as possible. For obvious reasons we have never stayed at a hotel in Helsinki ourselves, but the following hotels should offer an option for all tastes (and budgets):

Eurohostel: a hostel within short walking distance from the sea and the city center in a beautiful old neighborhood

Hotel Cumulus Kaisaniemi: this hotel is centrally located but the busy Kaisanieni street might make the rooms a bit noisy

Hotel Helka: this hotel offers simple rooms with a pretty much central location on a somewhat busy street. The building is nicer than Cumulus, at least from the outside.

Scandic: this nice hotel chain has four fairly central locations and it's worth checking out offers online for Scandic Simonkenttä, Scandic Marski, Scandic Grand Marina and Scandic Continental. Simonkenttä and Marski are the most central ones, the other two are in nice neighborhoods within walking distance from the city center and also served by a tram line.

Hotel Torni: this traditional (and pricey) hotel is situated in the only "skyscraper" in Helsinki. The view from the women's restroom in the top floor Atelje Bar is the best in the city. We recommend that you have a drink in the small bar even if you don't stay at Torni.

Outside Helsinki...

...to be continued soon, currently collecting infos...