I live in Toolo Towers and I LOVE IT!…read more I asked my taxi driver about the demographics of the neighborhood and he said "its not rich and it is not poor, its right in the middle." From what I read, Finland is a classless society, but to come from a finnish, that was interesting. I haven't explored much outside of Toolo, but all of the walking I have done, I felt safe and like if I wanted to go to the lake, city center or up north, everything is relatively close.

Töölö is where I live and I love it. It's exactly the perfect distance from the center and also…read moreclose to nature. Töölönlahti is one the most amzing parks in Helsinki and I live right next to it. We have the Olympic Stadium, Sonera Stadium and Jäähalli, where I can go see concert, football games etc. There are great restaurants, cafe's and bars in the Töölö area and more seem to pop up all the time. It's a very safe neighborhood with an old Helsinki charm.

Sunday market: prices high, but haggle-friendly…read more Also, let the record show: POLITE hagglers. I watched Finns use the style of "would you consider accepting?" English not all-pervasive, so can be tricky but - scored some vintage candleholders! Yelp note: bring cash.

This is a must-do in Helsinki especially if the weather is nice. We ate breakfast (delicious rice…read moreporridge and meat pies) sat in the sun and listened to polka music played on an accordion. A lovely experience. The market itself is fairly small, but in the summer includes both indoor and outdoor vendors of all varieties from crafts to antiques, baked goods, meats and farm fresh produce. It took us about an hour or so to eat breakfast and walk around. Worth checking out. Much less touristy than the South Harbor market square at the end of the esplanade.

Great swap meet. There is lots of variety and many booths. Everything I inquired about was…read morereasonably priced. It was unfortunate that the prices were not displayed. Most of the clothes looked almost new. The hours of operation are a bit confusing. I went there on Sunday from 11 to 13 and it was open. When I went on Saturday it was closed.

Amazing experience. Everyone should spend time taking a sauna and swimming in the Baltic…read more The place organized, spotless worth the price. Be sure to eat in the cafe afterwards.

This is a review for the restaurant/bar and not the sauna area. Loyly is mentioned in basically…read moreevery recent article on places to visit in Finland. The photos of Loyly from a NYT travel article were part of what prompted me to include Finland on a recent trip around Scandanavia. We went on a grey, early Fall day, so I can't speak to what it's like in the summer, but I thought it was over-hyped. From the moment you enter it is very chaotic, probably because it is on every traveler "must visit" list. The bar area is right at the entrance and it is loud and crowded. It would probably be better on a warm summer day when everyone is outside instead of in the doorway. Loyly has three separate areas: the sauna area, the bar/casual outdoor dining, and the restaurant. We opted for the outdoor dining because we did not make reservations and the restaurant was already full very early in the evening. I didn't realize in advance that there are a few items on the restaurant menu that are not on the outdoor dining menu, namely the reindeer, which is what we were mainly interested in trying. We ended up with the elk meatballs and the salmon soup, which were both delicious and probably worth the high-ish price. I can't say I would be running back, but it's worth trying once. I would opt against the sauna area though, as it looked just as crowded as the restaurant and not at all relaxing.

Hidden gem in very central, old Helsinki. Basic coffee and pastry, but the area is worth the visit…read more Located in an old, old hospital on a beautiful site that has been in a middle of controversy. Due to its prime location, developers have been eyeing the area to use for new construction projects. Luckily the history so far has been preserved and the area is developing while conserving the history and cultural values.

The weather is excellent. Time to spend your whole day outside. Movie theaters are something for…read morerainy days, right? Or you just combine those two and add a good glass of wine and maybe some delicious pastry. Then you get Kesäkino Engel. During the summer till late August Cafe Engel and Kino Engel turn their small yard into a summer cinema, combining the best those two places have to offer. Get your drink together with a small snack from the cafe and get comfortable in one of the chairs outside. Should it get to chilly then just grab one of the blankets. The movies, like in Kino Engel, are rather alternative and mainly from Europe. If you don't speak Finnish then be sure to choose one where a language you understand is spoken. You can find their program and more information on the movies on their website.

This is one of those things to do during summertime in Helsinki. The summer nights require you to…read moretest this: you sit in this cozy inner yard under a blanket with a glass of good red wine ans watch a nice movie. It one of my favourite things to do in Helsinki.

After a windy and chilly boat tour, how wonderful it is to have a bowl of warm salmon soup with rye…read morebread!! The taste is much better than any version of New England chowder. The ingredients are easy to identify and they all taste so food. Highly recommended!!

We had the pleasure of spending the day with Liisa, aka your Helsinki local, for the Midsummer eve…read morefestivities yesterday in town. She met us in our hotel lobby with a big smile and immediately gifted us with these very thoughtful travel bracelets, we already felt like fast friends. She explained what we would be doing for the day and no detail was spared, I appreciated how she always asked us if walking x distance was ok and offered use of her wifi hotspot. (I'm a writer so this was brilliant). The day was simply fantastic, we got to see the traditional bonfire on an island off Helsinki where we also had dinner (a beautiful grilled salmon with new potatoes) and Liisa was quick to provide valuable info on the history of this famous festival and points on Helsinki and the islands. She is such a wonderful person to be around, her energy is contagious. I definitely don't think we would have gotten the same experience out of our day in Helsinki without her, she was able to navigate the transportion/reservations with ease and gave us all sort of valuable insight on local culture. I've been on many guided tours but this was more like being with a good friend, who wants to show you what they live about the city where they live. We stayed with her until the wee hours and she even took the time to show us an incredible sunset at 2:30 am on a hidden area of Helsinki bay by the train station which was magical. She followed up with tips and a website she mentioned she would let us know about. I would be happy to recommend her to anyone and everyone, she made our midsummer or 'juhunnus' experience once in a lifetime!

From the owner: Day With A Local Helsinki provides personalized tours and local experiences in Helsinki area from a…read morelocal's point of view. The price is based on the length of your day, not on the size of your group (1-8 persons). Tell us about your wishes, and we will do our best that you will experience an amazing day with us! What would you like to do with a Local?