Rail route of the month: gliding past Finland’s pristine forests and lakes
Our slow travel expert explores Finland’s borderlands with Russia as she embarks on a 300-mile journey from Helsinki to North Karelia
April 2022
A local's guide
A local’s guide to Helsinki, Finland: delicious seafood, islands to explore and a dash of Arctic cool
Former tour guide Heidi Johansson leads us to great local food, unisex saunas and fab cocktails in the Finnish capital
May 2020
Helsinki's huge VR gig hints at the potential of virtual tourism
Finland’s biggest online event – a gig by JVG – was ‘attended’ by over half a million but Helsinki has even more ambitious plans to become the virtual capital of the world
November 2019
Six of Europe’s best cities for vintage and retro shopping
Locals share their go-to shops and markets for great-value items with bags of style and a tale to tell. Scroll down to see collectors’ favourite finds
September 2019
A local's guide
A local’s guide to Helsinki, Finland: 10 top tips
The Finnish capital, which has committed to being carbon neutral by 2035, is great for island-hopping, nightlife, cool design and steaming saunas
November 2018
Seasonal city breaks: 10 of the best pre-Christmas European getaways
From a bedecked Zagreb to twinkling Turin, here are the best places to spark your festive spirit
March 2017
Cities on Instagram
Fetish for facades: the symmetry of Helsinki's architecture – in pictures
Helsinki photographer Kristo Vedenoja captures the colourful mix of architectural styles in Finland’s capital on Instagram, one square at a time
September 2016
Move over Barcelona: four great alternative city breaks
For weekends away, we tend to stick to the same old places. Why not dodge crowds and high prices at these less high-profile – but no less interesting – cities: Parma, Cadiz, Helsinki or Hamburg
June 2016
Finland’s sauna scene as hot as ever
Helsinki’s public saunas refused to throw in the towel to developers and are flourishing. Paul Hirons visits trendy spas and tiny shacks, and makes a dash to Lapland
May 2016
World view
The ultimate eco campsite? Swinging from the trees, Finland
Truly green camping near Helsinki means barely crushing so much as a blade of grass – thanks to tents suspended from tree trunks
September 2015
Ai Weiwei the star attraction at Helsinki Art Museum reopening
Following a 14-month redevelopment, Helsinki Art Museum reopens with an exhibition by the Chinese artist – part of a wider plan to make the city a design destination
June 2015
Winning Helsinki Guggenheim design 'a wake-up call to architecture'
Paris-based architects Moreau Kusunoki win controversial competition with design praised for restoring idea of public space to museums
April 2015
Cities in motion
End of the car age: how cities are outgrowing the automobile
Cities around the world are coming to the same conclusion: they’d be better off with far fewer cars. So what’s behind this seismic shift in our urban lifestyles? Stephen Moss investigates
November 2014
Anna Peuckert on Kampin kappeli, Helsinki
The co-founder of 12hrs Travel Guides finds tranquility at the stunning, modern Chapel of Silence in Helsinki
September 2014
Joanne O'Connor's great escapes
Travel tips: Helsinki city break and the week’s best deals
Architecture and design blog
Helsinki v Guggenheim: the backlash against the global megabrand is on
June 2014
Blogger of the week
The urbanist’s guide to Helsinki: ‘an epicentre for spontaneous urban events’
Helsinki is fast growing, but promising city with all the potential to become a 21st century cosmopolitan hotspot, says Timo Hämäläinen of Urban Finland
March 2013
Six Easter holiday ideas
Fancy religious festivities in Italy, a cottage in the British countryside or a cool Nordic city break? There is still time to book a late March getaway, writes Christopher Hack
October 2012
Experts' and readers' tips
Autumn city breaks: readers' travel tips
In Scotland, Sweden or much further afield, readers suggest the best cities for an autumn getaway
June 2012
Walking tour of Helsinki's architecture
It's this year's World Design Capital, and few cities can match the Finnish metropolis for the craftsmanship of its buildings. Justin McGuirk sets out on foot
