My family and I hopped on a flight and traveled to Helsinki, Finland! It had been a place that was on my bucket list for a long time, because years ago when I used to sell vintage full-time I noticed that a lot of my customers lived here. It got me into googling, and I saw how great the vintage scene was, so it was an instant LOVE for me, but it was actually even better than I imagined. I was excited to travel here during the Fall months, which is the way I always pictured it in my head – gorgeous fall leaves, overcast foggy crisp days, peaceful walks. I never wanted to leave.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to fly here with Finnair pop up at the last minute, and it was like all of the stars aligned for us to come. Matt didn’t have work booked yet, we didn’t have any weddings or engagement parties (which we’ve had so many of lately) and it just worked out, which to me means it was meant to be. We flew a direct flight from JFK airport to Helsinki, and the entire flight was about 8 hours long. It went by really quickly because every seat has a TV, and there were free kids shows for Hudson (score!) It was also the first flight since he’s turned two, so he had his own seat which made this mama’s life a whole lot easier. There were two meals during the flight, and we each got a blankie and a pillow, so it was cozy town. THE BEST PART? On the way home we flew business class! It was our first time ever, and to say we were excited is an understatement. We stopped in to the Finnair lounge, and they had the most adorable play spot for Hudson while Matt and I drank coffee and ate. Finnair is the sixth oldest airline in operation, and they definitely have the experience down to a science – from making the trip easy to book, to giving the best in-flight service! The flight home was literally like a dream, mostly because Hudson slept a lot of it, and I was able to watch free movies, drink champagne and coffee and eat as many ice cream desserts as my heart desired. Plus the seat reclined all the way down to a bed!!!
WHERE WE STAYED
During our trip, we were lucky enough to stay in the Marimekko-designed #MyHelsinkiResidence, which is located in the heart of Hesinki, super close to the train station. It’s a residence for influencers, opinion leaders, podcasters and new media journalists, and they allowed us to create our own schedule, but guided us on what to do and see! They left us a Helsinki Survival Kit with information on how to get around, passes for public transportation and restaurant vouchers to try out some fun hip spots around town. It was so nice to have that guidance walking off the plane, but also to have the freedom to create a schedule that worked for our family! The apartment was so cute, and they even left us some scarves and coats to use if we got too chilly.
Now on to what we did & where we stayed! I did a ton of research before this trip, and also made it kid friendly, so here’s our itinerary! Enjoy!
THINGS WE DID
Suomenlinna Fortress
The fortress is only a 15 minute ferry ride from the market square, and it is for sure worth the journey. It’s also stroller friendly, and was very fun to let Hudson run around! It’s SO scenic, and there’s a cute cafe you can grab coffee at while you’re there.
Walked around Kallio
Kallio is the more hipster neighborhood around here
Day trip to Porvoo
We took a bus about an hour outside of the city to Porvoo on one of our days of the trip. It cost about 19 euro each way for us to go. The reason we opted to visit Porvoo was because the journey to Estonia is about 2 hours each way, which felt a bit too long with Hudson. We also contemplated visiting Nuuksio state park, but it would have required us to bring Hudson’s hiking backpack, and we felt it was a bit too much to pack. Porvoo is one of the oldest cities in Finland, and it was well worth the journey, we felt. The cobblestone streets and gorgeous colored wood buildings were unlike anything we’d seen before. The roads were a bit rough with the stroller, but we made it happen!
Skywheel
We went on the sky wheel because it intrigued us! It has a VERY blue tint, but offers some amazing views!
Leikkiola indoor playground
This childrens play spot is a MUST if you are visiting with kids. It was unlike any play cafe I’d been to in NY, and I’ve been to a ton. There were giant trampolines, a ball pit, giant slides, and it was very empty when we went in the evening on a weekday. Hudson was having the best time!!
Childrens Town
We stopped in here because it was right around where we were eating dinner one night. It’s free to enter, and theres trains, make believe ships, and so many fun toys for younger kids.
Seurasaari Island
We took a bus to this island to walk around, the bus ride was very quick, and the nature trails were beautiful. Because it was the winter months, the open air museum was closed, but we were still able to see the old wooden homes that dated back to the 1800s! If you have an extra day I’d say make the trip, but if you’re tight on time, maybe skip it!
PLACES WE ATE
The Regatta
This little coffee shop is a MUST SEE. I know some places grow because of instagram, but this one has a vibe that translates in person, plus the coffee and pastries were delicious!
Old Market Hall
This is a great spot to grab lunch – there’s tons of stalls filled with smoothies, pho, pastries, or basically anything you may have a taste for!
IPI Kulmakuppila
This coffee shop is SO cool inside, and the latte was yummy!
Green Hippo Cafe
This was one of our favorite meals of the trip. We started our day off here, and I ate some chia pudding, Matt had eggs, and Hudson had nutella pancakes. The coffee was delicious, and it’s located in a beautiful square!
The Cock
We ate dinner here on Hudson’s birthday, and it was so yummy – Matt ate local lobster, and I had a tofu bowl, and it was just a great meal for everyone, plus we sang happy birthday to Hudson at the end!
Ultima
We ate dinner here on our last night, because it was the fanciest of all the places. We had an a la cart four course meal, and it was so cute seeing Hudson at a fancy dinner. The food was interesting (more Matt’s style than mine, I am a plain eater) but it was a great experience.
Good Life Coffee
This little hip coffee shop is in Kallio, and we stopped in for some espresso.
Kitchen & Bar By Mannos
We ate here on our second night, and they had tons of vegetarian friendly dishes. Hudson loved the bread and cheese plate, and Matt and I enjoyed sharing a ton of smaller dishes.
I hope this guide was super helpful, and that you make your way over to Helsinki! It is such a beautiful place!
*This trip was provided by Finnair but all opinions are my own, as always!