Be Picky Helsinki: Selected Tips From Insiders

A second Helsinki is hidden beneath the streets of the Finnish capital: an extensive network of air-raid shelters that would be ready for use in an emergency, but are currently used quite pragmatically for leisure activities. If you want to find these places hidden below ground, look out for the orange signs with a blue triangle. They indicate that you are heading underground.

Helsinki's Underground Is Full of Action

The little ones can let off steam in the Leikkiluola playground. No daylight? No problem with all the brightly colored slides, climbing frames, and trampolines.

Itäkeskus Swimming Hall is a huge swimming pool carved deep into the granite rock. With a kids' pool and waterslides, children have also been thought of here. Adults can look forward to five saunas, the whirlpool, or the Turkish bath.

The cool crowd meets in the Luuppi Skate indoor skate park to practice tricks and let off steam underground on the kicker, rail, and halfpipe.

Visitors can experience large, immersive exhibitions at Amos Rex. Although the museum is not located in an air raid shelter, it is also underground.

About

Stefanie Sauer, Owned Media Marketing Manager at Lufthansa since 2023, has a special passion for collecting: countries. As she loves Europe's north and Finland was still missing from her collection, her wanderlust recently took her to Helsinki.

More Tips From the Lufthansa Editorial Team

1. If you don't want to take a sauna underground, visit Löyly, one of Helsinki's most beautiful public saunas. The modern wooden building is located right by the sea – and one of the owners is actor Jasper Pääkkönen, who played Halfdan (aka "The Black") in the TV series "Vikings."
2. Those with a sweet tooth will find paradise at Ekberg, Helsinki's oldest café. Be sure to try the Alexander cake!
3. Talvipuutarha (winter garden) is a greenhouse with palm trees, cacti, and a 130-year-old camellia tree. Perfect for a little break in the green – whatever the weather.