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Spontaneous Solo Trip to Helsinki for Working Mom-Tips and Suggestions Please!

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Hello!
My husband walked up to me yesterday and said that the stars had aligned with my work/parenting schedule and that he had seen a flash deal through United to go to Helsinki for basically free using some of our points. We love to travel as a family, but the next thing I knew, he had booked me the ticket to go! So, I have 7 days in Helsinki solo!

I would appreciate any suggestions/tips anyone has on special places they have found there. I am an experienced traveler and am comfortable navigating. Our joke is that instead of "eat, pray, love," I will be "sleep, eat, sauna!" :) I would specifically appreciate any great cafe recommendations or specific saunas that you have enjoyed. I am also planning on a day trip to Tallinn and would be interested to hear of any day trips to smaller towns within Finland.

Thank you in advance!

Posted by
866 posts

It’s been decades since I visited Helsinki so I don’t have suggestions for that. I haven’t been yet to Tallinn, but will visit the Baltic States in September, so have been doing quite a bit of research. It looks like there is a lot to see in Tallinn, so you might want to consider spending a night or two there instead of just a day trip — might be worth the inconvenience of changing accommodation.

Posted by
12 posts

What time of year are you going?

A day on Suomenlinna (a group of islands in the middle of Helsinki harbor) would be well spent if the weather is still nice. I spent a week there in college many years ago and really enjoyed the history and scenery. You could also easily do a day trip by ferry to Tallinn, about two hours each way.

Enjoy!

Posted by
124 posts

Hi Mary. I returned recently from an 18-day solo trip (Norway in a Nutshell, +) ending in Helsinki for three nights.

Oodi Library - amazing place!
Cafe Engel on Senate Square was lovely for breakfast - I was tired of hotel breakfasts! Salmon soup at the waterfront - fantastic!
I did a ferry over and back to Tallin and really enjoyed it. But note, it took longer than I expected to get to the ferry terminal (I walked from Home Hotel Jugend (which I loved and have stayed there twice). Also, getting into Tallinn and back to terminal took a bit longer than I expected. Therefore I didn't see quite as much as I would have liked, but enough and really enjoyed a lovely lunch in the main square.

Posted by
10 posts

Thank you, all, for these responses! I actually head out next week (it was really a flash deal for the flight making it basically free with our points). I will be staying in Kallio. I will definitely be going to the major sights, and plan to go out to Suomenlinna one day. I agree that spending a night in Tallinn will be worth it. I do not get a lot of free time for myself in normal life, so any particularly relaxing/calm place recommendations are appreciated!

Posted by
24 posts

Hi Mary,
In Tallinn we enjoyed lunch at Rataskaevu 16. We were able to get a table without a reservation, dinner however was completely booked. So maybe call now if you would like to have dinner there.
It had been recommended more than once here on the forum. Hope that helps.
Kevin

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