Helsinki Vacation Rentals

If you want to experience Helsinki, the capital of Finland, up close and personal and don't want to travel too far, the best thing to do is to rent an apartment or apartment on the spot. When looking for a holiday home, however, you are spoilt for choice, because holiday apartments and flats are everywhere in the metropolitan area. Vacation rentals in Helsinki, on the other hand, are comparatively rare.

The selection is particularly large in the city centre on the peninsula, called Helsinginniemi, from where you can easily reach the picturesque harbours as well as the most important sights on foot. In addition, the centrally located apartments are not only an excellent starting point for a detour into the vibrant nightlife, but also often offer a wonderful view over Helsinki due to their location.

For those seeking peace and quiet, Helsinki has numerous holiday apartments in the city centre and directly on the inner-city bays as well as domiciles on the outskirts. Vacation rentals in the immediate vicinity are often close to parks and green areas, which invite you to let your soul dangle in the midst of locals away from the tourist streams. What also speaks for the location away from the centre is the excellent transport connections by bus and train.

Helsinki lies directly on the coast of the Gulf of Finland in the south of the country, which means that the capital of Finland is less than 100 kilometres from the Estonian capital Tallinn. Many Finns work in the neighbouring country and use both helicopter and ferry connections across the Gulf of Finland to get there. The urban area of Helsinki covers an area of over 715 km², but only 213 km² is land mass.

Characteristic for Helsinki are the more than 300 small and large islands in front of the 100 kilometres long coastline as well as in the direct city area, where you can rent a comfortable apartment. While most of these islands are considerably smaller than one hectare, some even house entire residential areas or famous sights such as the historic Suomenlinna Sea Fortress or the Seurasaari Open Air Museum. Many of the islands are connected by bridges and footbridges and are easy to reach from the centre.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city, which today comprises 59 administrative districts, was still limited to today's core city and has a long history of incorporation. The result of this merger is by far the largest city in the country, with around 630,000 inhabitants, far ahead of Espoo, Tampere and Vantaa.

The Gulf of Finland has a climate that is influenced by the continental climate and the sea climate. This is reflected in the average annual temperature of 5.9 degrees Celsius. Due to the proximity to the northern latitudes, the winters in particular are very cold. In February, at an average temperature of -4.7 degrees Celsius, even parts of the Gulf of Finland freeze over, so that icebreakers have to keep the fairways clear. The best time to travel is between June and August, when the mercury scratches the 20 degree mark and you no longer need to turn on the heating in your holiday home.

Helsinki is known for its nightlife and therefore offers a wide range of bars, clubs and cafés, which you can easily reach from your holiday home. Those who don't feel like having expensive inner city bars can also indulge in the rough charm of the former Kallio working-class district, which has a similar atmosphere to Hamburg St.Pauli. Friends of Heavy Metal can also enjoy scene clubs like the Heavy Corner.

One of the most popular excursion destinations in the country is the historic Suomenlinna sea fortress, built in 1748, which provides an impressive photo motif thanks to its location. The former symbol of Swedish rule stretches over several islands and houses a visitor centre, a bird station and an underwater museum. The complex can be reached via a ferry that leaves in the immediate vicinity of the market square.

For sports enthusiasts, a visit to the Olympic Stadium, where the Olympic Games were held in 1952, is worthwhile. The stadium is only about two kilometres from the city centre and is easy to reach from your apartment. Today, the arena is characterised not only by its 72-metre-high tower, but above all by the concert highlights that regularly take place there.

If you are interested in culture, the Finnish National Museum Suomen kansallismuseo is definitely one of the top addresses in the city. The exhibition is divided into six sections and houses countless historical pieces from Finland's history, from the Stone Age to the achievements of the 20th century.