We tackled Helsinki in 72 hours! We share budget tips for cheap SIM cards (€0.89/day unlimited data) and the best €10 buffet lunch spots. Our short itinerary included a free walking tour, the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, and visiting the unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church.
I thought I’d switch things up and keep this one city-focused. We hopped to Helsinki on a tight schedule and still managed a lot in a little time.
Touchdown on Canada Day
We landed just before midnight on July 1 (Canada Day). Nic befriended someone on the flight whose partner kindly drove us the five minutes to our airport hotel—nothing fancy, just a place to crash. Check out at noon, a short stroll, and we struck buffet gold: €10.50 with loads of options (yes, including pizza). A deal and a half.
First Forays & Ferries
Bus to our Airbnb (about an hour), a restorative nap, then a walk toward the centre—plus a quick geocache for me. With a 3-day transit pass in hand, we rode the public ferry past Suomenlinna, the sea fortress. We didn’t get off (it was late), but planned a proper visit for the next day. Even with the late start, we still clocked around 17,000 steps.
How We Got Online (Cheaply)
No Wi-Fi at the Airbnb, and our Swedish SIM was out of data, so we grabbed a Finnish SIM for €4.90. Each day, it deducted €0.89 for unlimited data—turned the phone into a hotspot, and both of us were set. Perfect for downloading Netflix for our upcoming boat trip (works only in Finland, but still fantastic).
Stories on Foot
Wednesday 11 a.m.: free walking tour. We revisited places we’d seen the night before, now with context. Favourite tidbit: Finnish began as an oral language; the written form came later. It isn’t Scandinavian—grammatically, it sits closer to Estonian. Swedish remains an official language, and older blocks use animal symbols on corners to help non-readers navigate: rat district, cat district, even a unicorn district.
Saunas, Symbols & Other Helsinki Quirks
Finns adore saunas—there are even sauna “cars” parked around the city. Also: trolls, elves, and a healthy sense of whimsy tucked into parks and alleys.
Suomenlinna, Properly
Post-tour, we embraced another heroic €10-ish buffet (verdict: day one’s was better), then ferried back to Suomenlinna for a slow wander through ramparts, tunnels, and sea views. Easy, peaceful, and well worth a couple of hours.
The Rock, the Park, the Plants
Thursday was our last day (told you—quick). Bags stayed at the Airbnb while we looped the city: Temppeliaukio (the rock church carved into bedrock—its roof coils with 22 km of copper), a sculpture park, and finally the botanical garden for Nic (no photos—each of us thought the other had the phone!). Lunch? Of course—a €10.30 Asian buffet.
Cast Off
Bags in hand, we walked to the terminal and boarded the Princess Anastasia—our ferry/ship to St. Petersburg. Helsinki was brief but bright; we’ll be back to see more of Finland beyond the capital.
