New Year in Helsinki: a guide to the best things to do. Feedback: New Year in Helsinki reviews of tourists (Finland, Helsinki) How to celebrate the New Year in Helsinki

Not the most serious story about the New Year holidays in Helsinki with a one-day visit to Stockholm. This is not going to be a travel article in its classic form, it will not contain any advice, except for one thing - do not do it! Never agree to celebrate the New Year in Helsinki. Yes, Finland is an amazing country with amazing nature. But honestly, just standing in an empty room for a week would be more exciting. Why? Just scroll down and find out...

How to get to Helsinki

In general, a trip to Helsinki is like alcoholism: at first it looks attractive and exciting, it promises a lot of pleasure. Judge for yourself:

Plane tickets are quite inexpensive. Direct flights from Moscow to Helsinki cost us 17,000 round-trip for two. And we flew with S7;
Finland gives visas for at least 6 months without exception;
If you fly on the 31st of December, champagne is poured on board. This does not apply directly to Finland, of course, but combined with the two previous points, it can tip the scales towards a trip to Helsinki.

A shuttle bus runs from the airport to the city center. Nothing unusual.

Okay, let's imagine that you did get to the center of Helsinki. You are standing on the street, your luggage is nearby, you are standing and, looking at the faces of passers-by, at the buildings, you vaguely begin to suspect that there is nothing around at all. world capital entertainment, but simply the capital of Finland.

Where to stay

All hotels in Helsinki are normal. And again: nothing out of the ordinary. We decided to split our trip a bit and chose and booked two hotels. The average cost per day is 92 Euro. But all my memories of hotels come down to the fact that in front of one of them there was a small market where they sold pants, cookies and something else. Unbridled fun, right?

What to do in Helsinki

Walk and admire gazing at the sights ... did you believe it? Ha! Exploring the sights - all two monuments and one cathedral - will take a couple of hours. And these couple of hours will definitely be very windy, humid and cold. Then you will go for a walk to the port, where it will be even more windy and humid.

OK, OK, of course it's not that bad. Honestly, the city is quite pleasant and very comfortable to live in. With festive illuminations and trams, the city looks very nice. But seriously, there are practically no sights here, there are no interesting and tourist places.

By the way, a small addition about walking: keep in mind that all sidewalks are covered with small stone chips to resist slipping. Smart and effective, and no chemistry. But rolling a suitcase on wheels is simply impossible. Be prepared to carry luggage.

If you still decide to come to the capital of Finland, it is better to use the services of local guides. At least they will be able to show you unusual and intoxicating places. And, perhaps, the rest will not seem so dull to you.

eat moose

Yes, here in some restaurants you can officially order elk meat. And, frankly, it's delicious. In addition, you will be able to tell everyone that you have tried elk, and that its meat is similar to beef. Just don't tell the moose, they don't like it.

Instead of eating elk, you can buy this elk. Not alive, of course, but soft toy. They are sold everywhere and are a great souvenir. A plush moose can be bought, for example, at a small market in the port.

Drink alcohol

There are two main reasons to drink a lot of alcohol in Helsinki:

It is tasty. Having ordered a dish with elk meat, I also highly recommend ordering a glass or, say, six glasses of local fortified wine. Very, very bad, I'm telling the truth.
Sometimes it's so dreary and dreary in Helsinki that even your liver, your conscience and your doctor will tell you that it's time to hit something hot. In addition, in the wake of emerging alcoholism, you will soon stop shaving and pass for a local.

Traveling to Sweden from Finland

Now this is a good idea. There are many ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm. For example, from the VikingLine company, which we rode. Flights take place at night, it is very convenient, you do not need to think about accommodation for the night, you do not waste time on the road. Tickets are sold directly at the port.

Ferries, by the way, are very large and comfortable. I strongly recommend not to take a cabin with a window, because all you will see is darkness. What's the point of paying extra for it? A cute landscape on a fake porthole is much nicer.

Typical evening on the ferry to Stockholm

So just for the record: the fact that you are in international waters does not mean that all the laws have remained on the coast and you can pirate. This may seem obvious to some, but it came as a surprise to me...

Okay, to be honest, there are quite a few things to do on the ferry:

duty free shops;
several restaurants;
casino;
concerts and show programs;
several decks for leisurely walks.

As you can see, there is much more entertainment on the ferry than in Helsinki itself. Below I wrote small recommendations on how to behave on the ferry:

Don't play at the casino. Maybe I'm spoiled by Las Vegas, but there are very specific "Nordic Rules" on the ferry. Simply put, the casino always wins.
Go to shows only if you are over 50. Still, local shows are not a sample of drive.
Buy a voucher for buffet dinner in advance. It costs about 32 Euros, but it's worth it: very tasty, satisfying, a wide variety of dishes, and most importantly - the wine flows straight from the tap. An amazing innovation. And the wine is pretty good, by the way. I really like the faucet idea.
Show off as best you can, walk with cocktails, put down your little finger, imagine that you are on the Titanic (only without an iceberg and everything fatal). You don't get on ships that often, but everyone around you should know that you're a regular on Caribbean cruises. Otherwise, what is all this for?
Spend the morning on deck. The ferry will no longer move along the open sea, but along the local coastal waters, and in good weather it is very pleasant to be on deck, and the view is simply wonderful.

A typical evening on the ferry in case of seasickness

My condolences…

In general, the ferry is large enough so that the pitching on it is not felt. And in good weather everything will be fine. But in the event of a storm (as we had), this will definitely not be your best evening in your life. Your goal will be to be as close to the toilet as possible, and also try to speed up time in order to be on solid ground as soon as possible. On the other hand, there are also some fun things to do in a storm, like watching people walk down the hallways and get thrown from wall to wall.

Stockholm

Oooh, it's a beautiful city. Stockholm is very clean, cozy and pretty...but also expensive. So expensive that if you give up food for a couple of days, you will probably save up money for tickets to the museum. For example, in the Vasa Museum. This is a museum dedicated to a 17th century ship that sank and was brought to the surface in excellent condition. This museum is worth the money, seriously. The ship is simply amazing. You will surely spend a couple of hours looking at all its details. Also, you will surely meet the living Garik Sukachev in the museum. At least I was there once and in 100% of cases I met Garik.

We didn't visit other museums because we prefer to eat sometimes: in Sweden the prices are so high that you have to choose, unfortunately. But I must admit that some museums look very attractive and, if you have time and money, visiting them can be a pleasant pastime.

And in Stockholm there are very cool swans ... and the old city ... but the swans are still cooler.

After a very productive day in Stockholm, you will return to the ferry, satisfied and tired with souvenirs and gifts. In the end, it will be a very good trip with a quiet celebration of the New Year. Oh, right, a few words about the celebration of the New Year itself: 2-3 thousand people in the central square, some kind of sluggish concert, and fireworks. And again: pretty boring, nothing special.

Total costs for two people for 6 days:

Plane tickets: 239 Euro;
Hotels: 584 Euro;
Food + drinks + restaurants: 231 Euro;
Tickets to Stockholm and back: 108 Euro;
Dinner on the ferry 2 times: 128 Euro;
Museums in Stockholm: 40 Euro;
Visa: 35 Euro + 35 Euro;
Public transport: 12 Euro;
Airport transfer: 32 Euro

Total: 1444 EUR

More photos per page

The anticipation and celebration of Christmas begins in Helsinki at the end of November with the traditional opening of the Christmas season on Aleksanterinkatu Street. From the very beginning of the holidays, the streets of the city are crowded with people attracted by Christmas charity markets. The Christmas atmosphere can also be enjoyed at numerous concerts and singing events. The Christmas season ends with the meeting of the New Year on the Senate Square and the LuxHelsinki light festivals in early January.

Christmas street opening

The festive lighting of Aleksanterinkatu will be switched on for the 66th time on 23.11.2014 and will bring life to one of Helsinki's main streets. For the first time, the lights were lit in 1949 by merchants who have shops here and strive to bring light and hope to the residents of the city, who were just recovering from the war. As the years passed, it became an important tradition to begin preparations for Christmas this way. In honor of the opening of the season, Joulupukki, the Finnish Santa Claus, comes to Helsinki with his retinue to greet all the children, as well as adults who remain children at heart.

The holiday starts at 14.30 on the Senate Square, and the lights are lit at 16.00. The youngest members of the family are delighted by the Stockmann store's Christmas window opening at the same time, which has remained in people's childhood memories for more than 60 years.

Christmas gift ideas and delicacies from the fair

Numerous Christmas markets and charity markets throughout the city provide gift ideas and Christmas delicacies. The most famous of them are Tuomaan markkinat on the Senate Square (Senaatintori), Naisten Joulumessut in the Old Port (Wanha Satama) and Ornamon joulumyyjäiset.

Modern design, innovative ideas and images created by young artists can be seen and bought at the Christmas market in Korjaamo (December 13-14 and 20-21) and at Christmas events in the neighborhoods around Senate Square.

World of Christmas

Joulumaailma ("Christmas World") with its own special atmosphere appears in the very center of Helsinki. Here, in a cheerful crowd, it is easy to stumble upon a Finnish Santa Claus, a snowman or another funny character in Christmas stories.

While enjoying smoking mulled wine, you can watch performances of artists and listen to Christmas music. World of Christmas kiosks sell high-quality and warm textiles, sweet and savory goodies and gifts for yourself and friends.

The World of Christmas event covers the center of Helsinki up to Kolmen Sepän aukio square, Kaivopiha district and the Old Student House (Vanha ylioppilastalo) and takes place 11/29–12/22. and 26.12.–6.1.2015.

Christmas festivities in Suomenlinna

The traditional two-day event in Suomenlinna takes place on the first Advent 29.-30.11. At this time, the whole family can get to know Suomenlinna, for example, by walking along the path of the gnomes.

Cafes, restaurants and workshops are also open on weekends, where you can find traditional Christmas delicacies and beautiful gifts for the holiday.

Procession on the day of St. Lucia will make the city brighter

On December 13, Lucia disperses the darkness of winter and a procession in her honor. In the Helsinki Cathedral on the head of the virgin Lucia 13.12. put on a crown with candles, after which she descends the steps to the Senate Square.

The procession leaves the square at 18.00 and goes along Aleksanterinkatu. Just here is the best place from where you can admire Lucia, gnomes, horses and beautiful museum cars.

Christmas on Seurasaari

The Dwarf Trail on Seurasaari is free event for children and families with children, offering visitors on December 14, 2014 to look into a fairy tale, to see how Christmas was celebrated in ancient times, and to hear the first Christmas message.

For the 19th year, just before Christmas, on the Seurasaari dwarf trail you can meet friendly forest animals, and have fun in the festivities different ways From horseback riding to fun face painting to a fire show.

January 2013

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For the first time in my life I met this New Year not at home and I liked it. The idea to go to Finland came about after I managed to buy tickets for the notorious home New Year's festival Helldone, the founders and one of the participants of which is the HIM group. The festival traditionally takes place in the oldest rock club in Helsinki - Tavastia. Tickets for this event sold out in four minutes. I had already been in Helsinki for a whole day before, all that day I sat with a wild hangover in a pizzeria not far from the central station. Even then I decided that I would definitely return here in full health, and this day has come.

1. Russian Railways began to compete with the festival itself in terms of excitement and demand: tickets for December 29 for the branded train "Leo Tolstoy" Moscow-Helsinki ran out in the same four minutes from the start of sales. We decided to get to Finland in two stages, first by train to St. Petersburg, and from there by high-speed train "Allegro" to Helsinki. high-speed trains run quite often from the Finlyandsky railway station, they picked up a convenient option at 11:30 in the morning, costing about 3500 rubles. from the nose. The journey takes 3.5 hours, the speed is 200 km/h. The train itself has a restaurant, Finnish and Russian border guards and free Wi-Fi, which worked every other time.

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2. Helsinki met us with rain, sleet and tram 3B, which took us to an apartment in the southern part of the city.

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3. Central Helsinki 19-way railway station - a recognized monument of architecture, built in 1904-1914 by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen.

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4. A wonderful example of Northern Art Nouveau - my favorite style of architecture.

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6. All the streets of Helsinki are covered with granite chips, the ice is not chipped off the sidewalks, it’s hard to walk. In the spring, the crumbs are collected and reused.

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7. The city is sleepy and quiet, we lived fifteen minutes walk from the central station. Probably still moving away from Christmas.

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8. Next to our apartment is a church built in the same northern modern style. On the first floor of the church there is a tavern...

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9. Beauty.

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10. The sky is always leaden, only sometimes the sun peeps through.

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11. There are shoe brushes near each residential entrance. Many are chained so as not to rest.

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12. We lived near the port area, loading cranes were seen every now and then.

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14. The streets began to be diligently cleaned only after the new year, everywhere heaps of dirty snow, just like ours.

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15. The local McDonald's is very expensive and slow, if your burgers are not ready, then they give you a special thing that starts to glow and vibrate when the order is ready.

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16. Everyone hand over the container. Every supermarket has a special receiver for bottles, a 0.33 aluminum can costs 15 cents, you can already get 40 cents for a two-liter plastic can, aluminum is more expensive than glass bottles. After receiving the container, the device issues a check that can be cashed at the store's cash desk. After new year's eve we handed over cans and bottles for 5.5 euros.

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18. Metropolitan tram of a new model.

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19. Mannerheim Avenue.

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20. There are also beggars here.

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21. The square in front of the shopping center "Kampi", in the center of the square they piled a huge pile of snow.

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23. A paid toilet in a shopping center, you put a coin in door handle and you enter, there is a convenient machine for exchanging banknotes for coins.

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24. On the very first day of our arrival, a festival was planned for us, the club opened at eight o'clock in the evening, people were homeless at the door from two o'clock. Tavastia is the oldest rock club in the heart of Helsinki. In the club itself, the wardrobe costs 3 euros, when we asked to put the purchased merch in the pocket of the jacket in the wardrobe, they demanded another euro from us =)

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25. At the concert itself, I did not film, but only drank and listened to music. The opening act was the chic the skreppers, whose vocalist is now producing a new album by HIM themselves, Ville Valo and his comrades come out traditionally at midnight, Helldone has not been held for the last two years, this is generally the first HIM concert in the last two years, which I am incredibly happy about. Valo was clearly drunk, they played the one and a half hour program for four, it seems to be hard to perform four days in a row out of habit. For those interested, there is a virtual panorama from the event http://www.virtualfinland.fi/Kaupungit/H elsinki/Tapahtumat/HIM-Helldone-Fest-i-val/ Photo below: Mika Jussila.

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Video for review

27. Cyclists are extremely rare in the winter season, but there are many pedestrians with ski poles, such a national pastime. Bicycles rest peacefully in snowdrifts.

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28. Budget version of the anti-theft system.

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33. Upgrade.

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34. An older version of the metropolitan tram. A single trip on the tram costs about 2.8 euros.

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35. Enchantingly huge "stockman" in the heart of Helsinki. The store is full of Russians, eight floors of hell, got to the second floor only because there was no toilet on the first floor. In general, there are a huge number of Russians in Helsinki for the New Year holidays.

People who like to celebrate New Year's holidays abroad begin to think in autumn which country to choose this time. New Year holidays in Finland will leave an indelible impression on the whole family. There will be a lot of snow, which is so often lacking in Russia. But where in Finland to meet New Year to make the trip memorable for a long time? The answer is simple: no matter what Finnish city a vacationer goes to, entertainment and a lot of positive emotions await him.

You can rent a house and enjoy nature, visit a ski resort and go skiing, or you can book a hotel room, go on excursions and take a steam bath in a Finnish sauna. If you correctly draw up a program, then during the New Year holidays you can go around not only all the sights of the country of the "Northern Lights", but also get acquainted with Finnish culture.

Should I go to Finland for the New Year holidays?

Finland is beautiful in winter, and it’s not difficult to choose where to go. You can organize a train to the Åland Islands and spend time there or choose from 75 ski resorts. You can celebrate the New Year alone with nature if you rent a hut in a wooded area.

Where to relax in Finland for the New Year: EVERYWHERE! This snowy country can offer a lot of entertainment for a group of friends, a couple in love or a family with small children. Consider the most interesting options.

Leisure options

You can stay in the capital of Finland. Helsinki is a beautiful city at any time of the year, but especially in winter. Sightseeing will leave a lot of impressions, and the capital boasts many architectural buildings, museums and theme parks.
A trip to Tampere is worth at least because of the famous museum contemporary art and the legendary Police Museum. It is in this Finnish city that the Moomin Museum is located, because the author of this popular fairy tale comes from Finland.
What is the new year without the Finnish Santa Claus. Travel to Lapland, considered the birthplace of Santa Claus. There you can visit the village where the magic grandfather lives and see the northern lights. Those who love active sports can go skiing and sledding in reindeer or dog sledding.
Savonlinna is famous for its huge number of lakes and rivers. In winter, they freeze, so there is an opportunity to go ice skating or go ice fishing. Be sure to visit the opera festival, which is famous all over the world.
Turku is considered the oldest city in Finland, and a trip there will remain in memory for a lifetime. Be sure to visit the famous Cathedral and the New Year's Bazaar, which attracts all the locals of the country. It is in Turku that the government installs the largest spruce.

Visit one of the national parks, and rent a small cottage next to it, where you will relax after a busy day.

Book a room in any of the ski resorts where you will not be bored, or retire to a hut in the middle of nature, where you can hunt, fish and steam in the sauna.

Tours and attractions

What to do in Finland for the New Year? Of course, go on excursions. Finland is a small country and if you wish, you can have time to visit all the most beautiful places this northern state.

Let's define the most "tourist" routes, where you should go:

Lapland and the village of Finnish Santa Claus.
The Siida Museum will tell about the history of the Finnish people.
Restaurant Anaar will treat you to traditional Finnish dishes.
Olafsborg will show the grandeur of its fortresses, where historical battles took place several centuries ago.
Visit the zoo, of which there are 13 in Finland, or the aquarium.
Go to the Laspivaara mine, where you can get yourself a real mountain amethyst.
Visit national and theme parks, attractions and nature centers. It will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.
Arrange shopping in the best stores in Finland. On New Year's holidays, from December 26, crazy discounts just begin. Finland has a quality product that can be bought for ridiculous money during this period. Just before buying, carefully familiarize yourself with the restrictions at customs, what you can take with you and what you can’t.
Visit the waterfall in Imatra.
Explore Turku Castle and many other places in this ancient city.

This list is only a small part of the places that the Finnish territory has to offer.

For convenience, download several useful applications that will not only prevent you from getting lost, but will also want to focus on places worth attention.

Ski resorts and entertainment

If there is a passion for outdoor activities, then where to go in Finland for the New Year is very clear.

Despite the fact that there are 75 ski resorts in the country of the Northern Lights, we will consider the most popular ones and highlight their advantages:

Kuusamo-Hand.
Vuokatti.
Tahko.
Kuopio.
Yllas.
Himos.
Levy.

Here are the best resorts of the northern country, compiled according to the popular rating of vacationers.

Each of these resorts can offer wonderful ski and snowboard trails, frozen lakes for ice skating, snowmobile and sledding, snowmobile trips, ice fishing and a real Finnish sauna.

Cottage rentals and nature

New Year's Eve in Finland promises to make the New Year holidays special. You can rent a cottage and enjoy the virgin nature of this country. Any village located in the bosom of nature will offer a lot of entertainment. Remember that it is better to book houses in advance, so you can not only save money, but also choose the best places.

Consider the most popular regions where you should think about renting a cottage:

Suomi.
Yulyass.
Levy.
Rovaniemi.
If.
Hyakia.
Tahko.
Hand.
Vuokatti.
Lapland.

Remember that most Finns are used to celebrating the New Year on native land and also rent cottages in ski resorts and natural parks, in addition to this, many people from Europe go there, so it’s better to start thinking about renting a cottage in the fall.

The weather for the New Year in Finland is always snowy, so if a person lives in the south of Russia, where there is very little snow, the Finnish land will delight him with abundance.

It is no secret that Russians love this country very much and the following are the most popular tips from experienced tourists who have visited Finland more than once:

Dress warmly, and if you haven't brought down jackets with you, Finnish stores will sell them at a good price and excellent quality.
Do not forget about equipment if you plan to ski, snowboard or skate.
If you decide to rent a house, then choose the one who will be closer to the lake and with a bathhouse.
Be sure to take your kids to visit Santa Claus.
Taste Finnish national dishes and famous strong drinks.

Holidays in Finland will seem like a fairy tale, the holiday is literally in the air.

If you want peace and quiet, rent a hut on the banks of a river or lake, and for people who want fun and activity, go to a ski resort.

Do not forget to bring memorable souvenirs from the land of the Northern Lights, which will remind you of a magical holiday that lasted a whole year.

Interesting video: what is interesting in Finland for the New Year

New Year is just around the corner - it's time to make a plan where to celebrate it. The coming year will be special for Finland as in 2017 it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its independence. Therefore, the country will meet him on a grand scale, and that is why it is worth celebrating the New Year with the Finns - it will not be boring. We have selected for you the most interesting Christmas and New Year events in different cities Finland.

New Year in Finland. Photo: visittampere.fi

Helsinki

Anniversary New Year in the center of the capital

The coming 2017 is a special year for Finland, because throughout the year it will celebrate the centenary of its independence. The celebrations dedicated to the anniversary will begin on New Year's Eve, from noon on December 31st. Finland invites friends to take part in this historic moment to start the year together. Finns and tourists will be congratulated by the Prime Minister, and the holiday itself will be shown live on Finnish television.

In honor of the anniversary, the New Year's concert, traditionally held on Senate Square, will move to the park on the shores of Töölönlahti Bay and Kansalaistori Square. The grandiose celebration will take place at several venues at once, for the sake of which Mannerheim Street will be partially blocked. Most of the events during the holiday are free and are designed for participants of all ages.

“I think it will be the best New Year's show,” says Pekka Timonen, General Secretary of the Finland 100 Organizing Committee.

From 12:00 to 18:00 in the vicinity of Töölönlahti you will find entertainment for the whole family. For example, you can go ice skating in the Ice Park near the Station Square, visit an unusual party at the National History Museum, or dance to golden Finnish hits. And the kids will have a holiday from the children's TV show Pikku Kakkonen and a magic show at the Parliament Visitor Center. From 18:00 to 21:00 between the National Opera House and the Finlandia Congress Palace, an incendiary pre-party will unfold with the participation of emerging talents and the cult figure of hip-hop - DJ Kridlokk.

From 22:00 until midnight, Kansalaistori Square will host the "New Age Party" - a two-hour show with songs, dances, humor and circus numbers. This includes snippets from the program for the coming year and fascinating stories about the adventures of the Finnish people. Popular artists will perform in front of the audience, including rock musician and mentor of the Finnish "Voice" Michael Monroe, young pop singer Robin, one of the best-selling Finnish artists of all time, and singer Jenny Vartiainen, who has three platinum albums and nine awards to her credit. Emma Awards.

Viewers will be taken on an incredible journey through Finland and its four seasons through outdoor screens that will be visible from all over. And at midnight, a grandiose fireworks show will thunder over Töölönlahti Bay, which will be the culmination of the holiday and officially open the anniversary year of independence.

Thousands of lights at the festival of light

One of the brightest winter events is the Lux Helsinki Light Festival, which will be held in the Finnish capital for the ninth time, from 5 to 9 January. Lux Helsinki is a fascinating video projections on the walls of buildings, animated installations, interactive works and amazing metamorphoses of light.

This year the festival has a new route - it starts at the Market Square and stretches along the city center, from Mariankatu Street to the Kruununhaka district, passes through the Topelias courtyard in the university quarters and the courtyard of the National Library, and ends at the Shopping districts. The lights of 15 art objects and light installations are lit from 17:00 to 22:00, they are available free of charge to everyone. The festival colors the most photographed skylines, including the Cathedral, the City Hall, the Presidential Palace, the Palace of the Supreme Court and the Swedish Embassy. A special platform will be erected on the Torgovaya Square, from which it will be convenient to capture all the exhibits.

Walk along the path of the gnomes

From December 26 until January 6, don't miss the chance to walk along the "Dwarf's Path" in Suomenlinna Fortress. Thanks to an interactive adventure that is interesting for both children and adults, you will be able to explore the fortress island on your own. Take the map from the tourist office at the pier and hit the road - complete the tasks of the gnomes, who are also preparing to celebrate the holidays. If you manage to complete the tasks before 16:00, you will receive a prize.

Winter circus, ballet and exhibitions

Dance theater "Khuryaruut" presents the traditional Winter Circus. Performances will run until January 8 at the Cable Factory (Tallberginkatu 1P). The performance "Memory", which combines dance, modern circus and live music, will send you back to a childhood full of memories and revive forgotten emotions. Even if you don't know Finnish, it's all right, because there are no language barriers for dancing. The cost of an adult ticket is 27-32 €, a child ticket is 16-21 €.

The ballet The Nutcracker and the Mouse King has returned to the stage of the Finnish National Opera (Helsinginkatu 58) by popular demand. Performances will take place on 4, 6 and 7 January. The scenery depicting the old city, the magical music of Tchaikovsky and magnificent artists will take you to a real Christmas fairy tale. Ticket price - from 46 €.

At the Helsinki City Museum (Aleksanterinkatu 16) until December 31, have time to admire the light sculptures that light up at dusk. In combination with the background music, they form an original historical installation, immersing viewers in the echoes of a bygone era. Entrance to the museum is free.

Until January 15, be sure to check out the experimental exhibition "Smell" at the City Museum to find out what Helsinki smells like. Throughout the year, a survey of museum visitors was conducted, and such an unusual exposition was created based on their answers. For example, this is the smell of coffee in the Vallila roastery, asphalt in the summer heat, a park after a spring rain, the smell of street sand. There are some very unexpected for the exhibition, although familiar to everyone smells.

Where to try New Year's mulled wine and buy souvenirs

Some fairs continue to delight visitors after the Christmas holidays. From December 27 to January 7, the Christmas World Fair (Mannerheimintie 3) will continue its work. If you miss Christmas in Helsinki, be sure to check it out during the New Year holidays: you will find not only a festive atmosphere with music and performances of street artists, but also mulled wine, cheese, chocolate, organic jam, warm hats and mittens.

During the New Year holidays, the Amanda Fair will also be open on the Market Square, near the Havis Amanda fountain. Until January 8, dozens of counters with hot drinks, fresh pastries, pancakes, delicacies and souvenirs will be open self made.

Tampere

Designer Christmas Market Design-tori

Here you can buy a unique handmade gift from young Finnish designers for your family and friends. The only negative is the high prices, although if you try, you can find nice and high-quality little things at a price of 5-10 euros apiece.

Free admission. Address: Tullikamarin aukio 2, Tampere

Santa Claus holiday

On January 3, from 11.00 to 16.00, Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka will congratulate the children on the New Year and give them sweets. And here you can also warm yourself by the fire, look into the Lapland tent and, of course, buy Christmas and New Year souvenirs.

Address: Tallipiha stable yard, Kuninkaankatu, 4. Tampere.

If you didn’t manage to take the children to Joulupukki far away this year, don’t be discouraged. The fairy-tale Christmas village of Koiramäki, located in Särkanniemi amusement park, has a full range of Finnish New Year's entertainment. Here you can decorate gingerbread cookies with icing, sing Christmas carols loudly, fry sausages on a real fire, take pictures hugging elves and ride a friendly furry pony.

The price of a ticket to Koiramaki is 16.90 euros, children up to 100 cm tall are free of charge.

Address: Särkänniemi Adventure Park, Laiturikatu 1, Tampere.

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Coronation of Saint Lucia

This holiday did not pass by and. There is a beautiful and sad legend in Scandinavia. One day, when the fisherman went to sea, devilry extinguished the lighthouse so that he could not return. Then his wife Lucia went out to the rock with a lantern so that her husband could find his way home. The devils got angry and threw the girl into the raging sea. Since then, Sweden and Finland have celebrated Saint Lucia's Day on December 13, when the city's most beautiful teenage girl is crowned with a wreath of burning candles, while other children sing Christmas carols.

The coronation of Saint Lucia will take place on December 13, 2016 at 18:00 on the balcony of the Town Hall in the central square of Loviisa.

Savonlinna

Active and educational holidays in Punkaharju and Kerimäki

Savonlinna only seems like a small town, but places like Punkaharju and Kerimäki are part of the city and are no less interesting to visit.

In the suburbs of Kerimäki, it is worth seeing the world's largest wooden church, which can accommodate up to 5,000 people. You will pass it in any case, therefore, despite the fact that the church is usually closed in winter, it is still worth slowing down and admiring it from the outside. Enter the address into the navigator: Hälväntie 1, 58200 Kerimäki.

In the suburb of Punkaharju, in addition to the famous ridge that has been preserved here since the Ice Age, there is an interesting huge museum for the whole family. The Lusto Museum is dedicated to forestry and forestry, the most important and relevant topic for any Finn, so even the smallest ones will not get bored here.

Opening hours of the museum on holidays:

23.-26.12.2016 the museum is closed

Open daily 27.12.2016-8.1.2017

9.1.-30.1.2017 the museum closes its doors for a technical break and a change of temporary exhibitions.

Address: Lustontie 1, 58450 Punkaharju.

The region of South Savo is famous for winter skating on the lakes on special skates with long blades - it turns out something like skiing on ice. Perhaps the most popular and closest routes to the city are laid in the center of Harjun Portti.

On February 24, from 18:00 to 23:00, one of the tracks will be illuminated with torches at night. In recent years, this type of skiing has become especially fond of the locals. In the rest of the winter, in the center you can rent not only skates, but also snowshoes, skis, sleds, as well as ice fishing equipment and even a curling set.

New this winter is Porokylä, which literally means “Reindeer Village”. It is located in the small village of Porosalmi at the recreation center Järvisydän (50 kilometers from the center of Savonlinna). Reindeer will come to visit here directly from the Lapland hills, after which they will go back. A warm hut will be open on the territory, where you can have a bite to eat and keep warm. Sausage (fin. makkara) will be traditionally fried on a fire.

Such a space will work on 23.12.-10.1 and 18.2.-31.3 daily 10-15

Address: Hakotuvantie 15, 58900 Rantasalmi.

Entrance fees: 20€/child; 15€/adult.

*The price includes transfer from Järvisydän (approx. 1 km) and a children's playground open sky with slides, sleds, snowshoes and even mini snowmobiles. Organized excursions and safaris in the park are paid separately if desired and pre-registration is required.

New Year's swim by candlelight

Savonlinna initially gained its popularity as a resort town, when nobles from the Russian Empire came to rest in St. Olav's hydropathic bath (now the Casino Spa Hotel).

During Christmas and new year holidays Casino Hotel & Spa organizes a candlelit swim. The Finns believe that the light of candles helps to drive away stress, relax deeply and gather all new forces into a fist. Swim by candlelight can be done now every evening 16:00 - 20:00 until 8.1.2017. All visitors to the bath will be given the opportunity to swim in the hole. The bath is open daily from 14-20, and only on Christmas Eve will the spa be open only for hotel guests.

Similar swims are also organized in the baths of the Kruunupuisto health center (Vaahersalontie 44, 58450 Punkaharju) on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 19-20. In the same place, on December 3, 7 and 14, from 15-20, an unusual Christmas shop will be opened in the Inkeritalo house.

Well, the most important thing is New Year's fireworks. Almost every commune in Finland sends its own fireworks into the sky. In Savonlinna, fireworks will be visible in the city center as well as in Punkaharju and Oravi.