Helsinki Leisure

All types of sporting activities are available in Helsinki year-round, with major sporting events held at the Olympic Stadium on Paavo Nurmi tie 1 and outdoor activities held at the beaches and various city parks.

Beaches

Helsinkis best beaches are at Hietaniemi, Mustikkamaa, Pihlajasaari, Sevrasaari and Uunisaari, where some water sports activities are available in the summertime. The waters of the Baltic are chilly even in the summer and some visitors may find water temperatures uncomfortable, although a wetsuit may solve this problem. Available sports include: waterskiing, surfing, windsurfing, jet-skiing and sailing.

Saunas

Most established city hotels in Helsinki will have a sauna where visitors can sit for a nominal fee. There are also saunas which are open to the general public in the city and the Kothiharjun Sauna, near Srnien Metro Station, is a traditional Finnish wood-heated sauna that has recently been renovated. The Kothiharjun Sauna is the only traditional sauna left in Helsinki.

Shopping

There are two main shopping avenues in Helsinki; Pohjoisesplanadi and Etelesplenadi. Shops here are known for their abundance of quality items including: jewellery, leather goods, knitwear, designer clothing, glassware, antiques, art and a whole host of electronics goods.

Tennis

There are several tennis clubs in and around Helsinki where visitors can enjoy a knock about, and the best of these is the Tali Tennis Centre, which is located just to the northwest of the railway station in the Pitjmki district. This well-established tennis centre has been open since the 1960s and is the largest and most popular tennis complex in Helsinki, with 19 indoor courts and six outdoor courts.

Other Popular Activities

Inline skating is also a very popular pastime in Helsinki and visitors can hire skates from a kiosk on Merisatamanranta, near Kaivopuisto Park. In addition, Kaivopuisto Park also rents out boats and canoes, as do operators on Tlnlahti Lake.