Helsinki 23
In something of a change from the usual Netherlands, in 2023 we arranged a two leg trip to the Finnish and German capitals for our summer holiday. We chose Helsinki as we have friends who moved there a couple of years before, and we were keen to visit them.
So at the end of July, we embarked on our first ever visit to Finland, staying not far from the city centre. I got about using the City Bikes bike share, riding some of the best examples of cycling infrastructure in the city, including Baana, and also got to sample most of the city’s other modes of transport.
Away from the bikes, we took a boat trip to Suomenlinna, had a guided tour of Alvar Aalto’s National Pensions Institute and visited the fantastic Oodi Helsinki Central Library. From Helsinki, we moved on to the second leg of the trip, Berlin 23.
Cycling in Helsinki
In something of a change from the usual Netherlands, in 2023 we arranged a two leg trip to to the Finnish and German capitals, Helsinki and Berlin for our summer holiday. We chose Helsinki as we have friends who moved there a couple of years ago and we were keen to visit them.
Riding Baana, the start of a 150 km planned cycle network
While in Helsinki during our 2023 visit, I was keen to try some of the best examples of cycling infrastructure in the city, making use of the City Bikes bike share to get about. One such example is Baana, an old railway cutting that was once part of the harbour railway, since converted into a 1.3 km walking and cycling path, back in 2012.
Boat trip to Suomenlinna
During our visit to Helsinki in 2023, like many tourists, we arranged to do a boat trip over to Suomenlinna (named Viapori in Finnish up until 1918, or Sveaborg in Swedish), the sea fortress off the coast of Helsinki.
Alvar Aalto's National Pensions Institute
During our 2023 trip to Helsinki, we were lucky enough to get a guided tour of the fantastic Alvar Aalto designed National Pensions Institute. Guided tours happen every Monday at 2pm. These are free, but you do have to book in advance. Our friends had planned ahead and booked us on the tour during our visit, which I was very pleased about.
Oodi Helsinki Central Library
Once we arranged our trip to Helsinki, being as my partner is a librarian, a visit to Helsinki’s fantastic Central Library, Oodi was high on the itinerary. Opened in 2018 and located in Kluuvi district near Helsinki Central Station, Oodi has become a landmark building in the city.
Public Transport in Helsinki
While for most of our Helsinki trip, I was getting about using City Bike bike share, I did get opportunity to sample most of the city’s other modes of transport while we were there.