Helsinki: 48 Hours in the Happiest Place in the World

This September, I had the most unexpected treat: an impromptu 48-hour trip to Helsinki!

Why Helsinki?
An impromptu September trip landed me in the capital of Finland, a country consistently ranked the #1 happiest place in the world (beat that Disney!). As I sat in the airport googling (classic), I learned fun facts: Moomin and Pippi Longstocking have Finnish roots, Kimi Räikkönen (yes, the F1 driver) calls it home and so does the Aura Ring (if you’re into tracking sleep and stress).

What I Did in 48 Hours:

1. Took a dip at the famous Löyly sauna (one of Time Magazine´s “World's 100 Greatest Places”) - it really is worth the flight alone. From heating up in the saunas you then dunk into the freezing Baltic Sea, repeating this a number of times - but making sure to 'hydrate' with a beer in between!

2. Admired design history at the works of Eero Saarinen (those iconic tulip chairs and tables) - but for me it was visiting the Helsinki Central Train Station to see his beautiful work at hand.

3. Tried local flavours: reindeer meatballs (surprisingly good), salmon soup (excellent) and the all-important korvapuusti (cinnamon buns).

4. Wandered through the Central Food Market, grazing, munching and shopping - highly recommend.

4. Sipped coffe... lots of it. Did you know Finland drinks more coffee per capita than any other country? Plus shopped for reindeer hides (wintertime Fifi will thank me).

The City Vibe:
Compact, walkable, friendly and with one of the best airports I’ve ever passed through.

As my first Baltic city, Helsinki has me hooked. I’m enamoured...Finland. See you again soon I hope.

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