Winging It On Location – Days 4-6 - Helsinki: Our First Sauna, Trendy Coffees and Dancing On The Street
In this on-location episode of Winging It, I continue the Estonia-to-Finland road trip and spend three packed days exploring Helsinki — a city that quickly became one of my favourite capital cities in Europe.
From the ferry across the Gulf of Finland to trendy speciality coffee shops, a free walking tour, and our first proper Finnish sauna experience, this episode captures the atmosphere of Helsinki in real time. I share practical travel tips, food recommendations, transport advice, and the honest reactions that make these live-location episodes feel like you’re travelling alongside us.
We start with the Viking Line ferry from Tallinn, settle into central Helsinki, and dive straight into the city’s café culture. After a crash course in Finnish history on a free walking tour, the trip becomes increasingly local: a Saturday morning ParkRun, doing laundry in a quirky neighbourhood café, and then the highlight of the weekend — a two-hour waterfront sauna session at Löyly.
The evening turns into an unexpected night out filled with live music, dancing in a closed-off bar street, and one very unusual encounter involving a stranger with a glass of wine.
On the final day, we slow things down with outstanding coffee and brunch before taking the ferry to Suomenlinna, Helsinki’s UNESCO-listed sea fortress, for coastal views, cannons, history, and gelato by the water.
If you’re planning a Helsinki weekend trip, looking for sauna recommendations, or want a mix of food, coffee, nightlife, and history, this episode is packed with ideas and real-world travel insights.
Places & Activities Mentioned
- Viking Line ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki
- Hotel Finn (central Helsinki)
- La Torrefazione specialty coffee café
- Green Cap Tours free walking tour
- Helsinki Central Library Oodi
- Restaurant Khao Tip (Thai food)
- Tokoinranta ParkRun
- Café Tin Tin Tango (laundry + café stop)
- Löyly waterfront sauna
- Pute’s Bar & Pizza
- Mummotunneli nightlife area
- St George’s Café
- Lazy Fox brunch
- Ferry to Suomenlinna
- Esplanadi Park
- Helsinki Cathedral
- Senate Square
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro and Tallinn toilet update
01:38 Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki
02:35 Hotel Finn and arrival in the city
03:10 First Helsinki coffee stop: La Torrefazione
04:05 Free walking tour and Finnish history
04:40 Oodi Library and evening Thai food
05:45 Saturday morning ParkRun in Helsinki
06:35 Coffee, croissants, and ParkRun refuel
07:15 Laundry stop at Café Tin Tin Tango
08:05 First Finnish sauna experience at Löyly
09:25 Pizza, reindeer toppings, and tiramisu
09:50 Night out at Mummotunneli
11:15 Sunday coffee at St George’s Café
11:45 Brunch at Lazy Fox
12:20 Ferry to Suomenlinna
13:05 Exploring the fortress and island views
13:50 Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral
14:10 Why Helsinki became one of my favourite European capitals
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Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
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Winging It Travel Podcast - Website
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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