Preparing for Helsinki: Tips & Hints

1. Bargaining is not accepted in the majority of stores and shopping malls, but you can try to bring down the price a bit while walking in local markets.

2. It is not common to leave tips in hotels and restaurants of the city. As a rule, they are already included in the total bill. However, you can leave a reward of up to 1 EUR to doormen in restaurants and hotels.

3. The majority of hotels, regardless of their "star level", offers excellent service and well-equipped rooms. Tourists can easily choose not only hotels located in the city center, but also accommodations in more remote areas of Helsinki.

4. Travelers, who make vacation with their family, are provided with favorable discounts. This mainly concerns hotel accommodations, excursions and value-added services in hotels.

5. Smoking is prohibited in public places, so when you make a booking, it’s better to negotiate this question in advance.

6. Local residents are very concerned about the environment. Therefore, any negligence can cause large fees.

7. Tourists are recommended to carry an identity card or a hotel card as it helps avoiding many troubles.

8. Various home decorations remain the best souvenirs from Helsinki. Each mall provides a great selection of handmade carpets, as well as handicrafts made of wood and ceramics. You can also consider buying leather goods. Here this material is used for making items of different styles and trendy showy accessories.

9. Shopping fans are best to visit the city during Christmas holidays. At this time of a year all malls offer enormous seasonal sales.

10. If you plan to make a trip to woods, make sure you wear tight clothes and have a treatment against insects. Then nothing will spoil your pleasant walk.

Other articles about Helsinki:
Traditions and lifestyle
Helsinki sightseeing
Best restaurants and cuisine
Helsinki attractions and leisure
Helsinki cityguide
Photogallery of Helsinki