Another lovely outdoor recreation is Seurasaari Island. I enjoy walking around the island, but The Open-Air Museum of Seurasaari also displays the traditional Finnish way of life. You can't help running into some badass squirrels and mellow swans. The photo is taken in January.

They have huge cinnamon buns here, a nice thing to split with your friends. A really finnish treat. Owed by café esplanad (where you get the same sort of bakeries), but I prefer Success for it's smaller space.

An isolated, forest area by the sea, about 40 km from the city center. This is where I like to go when I feel like taking a break from civilization…

Orion is one of the nicest cinemas in Helsinki. It is run by National Audiovisual Archive so they are showing a great variety of films from art house to modern classics and everything in between. Last time I went to see Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

Architect Tuomas Toivonen´s and Nene Tsuboi´s ecological design -sauna in the shadow of sculptural Merihaka district. Wood pellet heated saunas for men and women. Seat covers included in admission, towels can be rented. Open all year round, ice swimming in winter. NB! No own drinks allowed, no reservations, limited entry for groups (max. 3persons).