Lady’s Guide to a Layover in Helsinki

Today I want to share my guide to spending a long layover in Helsinki with you. The capital of Finland is a great place to explore if you have time between flights.

Layover in Helsinki

I didn’t think I would travel back to Helsinki so soon. I was there just two summers ago. In fact, I didn’t even plan to go to Helsinki; it was Beijing I was aiming for.

Here’s how it happened: I recently realized that I’ve racked up enough credit card points to buy myself a long-haul flight, and I ended up with a ticket from London to Beijing with a six-hour layover in Helsinki en route.

Things to Do in Helsinki

Not wanting to sit in the lounge and drink champagne all day (well, it’s not that I didn’t want to…), I threw my bag in a locker, hopped on a Finnair bus, and rode into the city for the afternoon.

And what an afternoon it was. The mercury read 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius), but it felt even warmer. All of Helsinki was out enjoying the sunshine.

I alighted at the train station, a gorgeous Eliel Saarinen building in the Helsinki city center. I didn’t have a set plan for my layover in Helsinki, so I did what I do best: let my stomach lead the way.

Gastric juices gurgling, it led me right across the street to a food shop. Inside was a plethora of culinary wonders including fine Finnish chocolates and local cheeses and meats.

I was tempted to buy half the store and have myself a picnic in Kaivopuisto, a waterfront park I loved on my last trip to Helsinki.

I refrained, though, if only because my stomach was holding out for another Helsinki market. This was the famous outdoor market on the waterfront, Kauppatori.

I continued my layover in Helsinki by walking down the beautiful cafe-lined esplanade to the sea. I soon spotted the famous orange market stalls, and my stomach gave a little squeeze of excitement.

The market sells both food and souvenirs, and there’s no need to guess which one I was there for.

The summer strawberries and cherries called to me with their sweet red ripeness, and I worked my way down the aisles to taste their succulent nectar.

When my berry appetite was sated, I tucked in for an amazing ham-and-cheese crepe at a small open-air market cafe.

After I finished eating I convinced my stomach to give the souvenir side of the Kauppatori market a chance. I was happy to see that the vendor from whom I bought a beautiful silver tray two years ago was still there.

They had the same amazing designs, and if I hadn’t been en route to Beijing, I would have bought more of them.

By the time I finished meandering through the market, my layover in Helsinki was running out. I walked along another few streets to enjoy the sun and the city, then headed back to the airport to travel to Beijing.

Helsinki Layover

It had been a great day in Finland, and I’m glad I got a bonus trip to Helsinki with my flight to Beijing. I can’t wait to see what my next adventures bring.

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