Helsinki is the 2nd northernmost capital city in the world (behind only Rekjavik). I spent a short time in Helsinki but my experience was that it was a boring and cold city. The Finns have a choice of going outdoors into the cold or staying indoors, which explains a lot about why saunas are popular (heating!) and why Nordic interior design has a lot of thought put into it. But interior design and saunas aside, I don’t see myself returning to Finland unless I decide to opt in to their healthcare system later in life (which is apparently not an uncommon path taken by other Schengen passport holders).
Travel thought: What went wrong in these polls that list Finland as the happiest country? The weather alone is likely a major factor for why some refugees want to leave (point 6).
Math is simple. Pay high taxes, get cool library!
Faced with going outside in September or going surfing, some Finns choose surfing
There’s volleyball too
Surfing and volleyball is located in the basement of your nearest mall. Obviously.
Mandatory photo of the famous Lutheran cathedral in Helsinki
Religion 101: This is what an Orthodox cathedral looks like inside
Religion 102: This is what a Lutheran cathedral looks like inside
