Helsinki: A Baltic Sea Adventure

Helsinki, the White City of the North, was the enchanting destination of my 2025 Autumn Adventure. This unique city, with its blend of modernity and tradition, marked the culmination of my Nordic Capitals Adventures, which also included the vibrant cities of Copenhagen and Oslo.

While it might seem like I saved the best for last, each of these three cities, including Helsinki, holds a special place in my heart. They are all unique and charming in their own ways, and I can’t wait to revisit them.

GETTING HERE: FLIGHT TO FANTASY LAND

Flying to Helsinki was the obvious choice, but choosing the flight was tricky. As a seasoned traveler, I absolutely detest connecting flights — it’s like adding unnecessary drama to an already terrible plot.

I opted for Finnair since their direct flights were cheaper. Sure, the first flight left in the afternoon — cue the dramatic sigh — but I saved about €250 ($300). Plus, I saved my wallet from having a heart attack. 🙃

The burning desire to savor their famous blueberry juice also played a role in my decision. I’d heard it’s a must-try.

Spoiler Alert: Blueberry juice wasn’t all that!

Finnair’s service was smooth sailing! Well, until we hit a tiny hiccup — a 30-minute delay caused by a weight miscalculation. Kudos to the captain, though — honesty is the best policy. Better to correct the problem on the ground than face a mid-air crisis.

The flight arrived 40 minutes late, but no issues afterwards. Helsinki Airport is one of the cleanest airport I’ve been too, and very efficient. It was easy to navigate from the arrivals terminal to baggage claim, where I collected my luggage and met my Welcome Pickups driver in less than 30 minutes.

By comparison, the same process can take up to 90 minutes at Frankfurt Main Airport.

Unfortunately, my route didn’t require me to take the famous Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 800 meter (2624.67 foot) long outdoor covered escalator and walkway system. That is something I plan to experience on my next Helsinki adventure.

Helsinki has a great public transport system, with Bus #600 or I/P trains both costing €4.40 (about $5.08) and taking around 30 minutes to my hotel.

However, I opted for the Welcome Pickups ride, which was free with my reward points. Also, since I had an early morning return flight, I preferred not to wait at a bus station at 0300, even in a safe city like Helsinki.

HILTON HELSINKI STRAND: WHERE NAPS MEET NORDIC STYLE

The Hilton Helsinki Strand was my home for three nights.

Confession time: I chose Hilton over my beloved Marriott purely for the moolah savings — €120 cheaper per night! I even used the Hilton Honors app to check in and select my room, which should absolutely be a thing at other hotels — Marriott, take note!

ROOM AND BOARD

My standard king room was cozy, with a comfortable bed and clean accommodations. The bathroom was also clean and functional, and I appreciated having a bathtub to soak my legs in after a long day of walking on cobblestones.

The room was showing normal wear and tear, but nothing too egregious. The location was decent, as it was close to public transport, making it easy to get around the city.

Breakfast, which was included in my room rate, offered a wide variety of choices, and the service was great.

And as tempting as it was, I did not try the reindeer meatballs. I don’t need any problems with Santa this year. 🙃 🎅🏽 🎄🦌

HOLY CRAB: A DINING DIVINE INTERVENTION

I arrived early in the evening, which meant my usual ‘City Life’ photo safari would have to wait. Yet another reason I prefer early morning flights.

Instead, I decided to indulge in a delightful dinner to kick off my visit. My first stop was a Korean Barbecue place where I had high hopes, but alas, they refused to accommodate solo diners.

It never ceases to baffle me how many restaurants cling to this ‘two or more’ policy. They justify it by claiming that solo diners don’t spend as much as couples or groups, which I find utterly ridiculous. So, I promptly took my appetite, and my money, to a place that was more welcoming.

Enter the Holy Crab restaurant, where I was treated like royalty — like a majestic seafood queen in a kingdom of crab and butter.

And Holy Crab! What a great dining experience!

I dove into the Holy Special, and let me tell you, it was scrumdillyumptious!

Check out the video if you dare. Don’t blame me if it leaves you hungry like a wolf.

Let me set the scene: imagine snow crab legs gleaming like jewels, plump tiger prawns, briny clams, and juicy green mussels lounging in a show-stopping spread, while corn and potatoes lounged nearby, radiating comfort and warmth.

Every bite dripped with scrumptiousness, and the heavenly lemon butter sauce was to die for. It was like a Broadway musical for my taste buds!

And the herb bread? It was an unsung hero — warm, crusty, and ready to soak up all that divine sauce like a champ. The customer service was so phenomenal, I wanted to write them all thank-you notes!

It’s safe to say that Holy Crab stole my heart (and perhaps a few taste buds). I’m already envisioning coming back for more. I definitely plan to return the next time I find myself in Helsinki.

REFLECTION

Following the delectable dinner, I happily walked the 10 minutes back to the hotel. The city had transformed into a cozy scene under the night sky, but I felt completely safe and at ease during my walk. I made sure to stick to the well-lit paths and avoided any deserted alleys, of course! It was such a relaxing experience that I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos along the way.

Despite losing an entire day due to travel, my first evening in Helsinki was magnificent. I have a feeling this adventure is just going to get better!

Until next time …