Helsinki sits by the Baltic Sea with a personality shaped by the North. Founded in 1550 and rebuilt after a major fire in the 1800s, the city is a blend of neoclassical elegance, modernist design, and quiet resilience. Senate Square remains a focal point, anchored by Helsinki Cathedral and flanked by 19th-century buildings modeled after St. Petersburg’s architecture. Just a short walk away, the harbor leads to ferries bound for Suomenlinna, a sea fortress spread across six islands and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Design is part of daily life in Helsinki. The Design District covers several blocks packed with local studios, textile shops, and concept stores where visitors can see how Finnish designers rethink everything from ceramics to furniture. Alvar Aalto, one of the country’s most influential architects, left his mark across the city, including the Finlandia Hall and his own home, which now operates as a museum. Even Helsinki’s central library, Oodi, has become a destination, not just for books, but for its open architecture and unexpected spaces, including a recording studio and a 3D-printing lab.

Nature is never far in Helsinki. Locals swim in the sea, walk forested trails, and gather mushrooms or berries all within city limits. One popular local habit is heading to the sauna, and the city offers several open-to-the-public options. Löyly, located on the waterfront, combines traditional wood-burning saunas with a sleek, modern design. In winter, visitors can even pair a sauna session with a quick dip through a hole cut in the ice for an experience both shocking and strangely calming.