Helsinki Hotels

A high-tech metropolis with the charm of a village, quirky Helsinki is a Nordic gem. See world-class architecture, spectacular scenery and island hideaways by day - try buzzing restaurants and the coolest bars by night.

Helsinki's two main churches - the Lutheran Helsinki Cathedral and the Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral - stand in stark contrast to each other and set the scene for this unique city. Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen's Temppeliaukio Church, carved straight out of the rock, reveals the Finnish creative touch, while the lamp-bearing sculpted statues that guard the Eliel Saarinen-designed train station shine the lights for the unique Finnish take on architecture.

The Finns are big on one-stop shops like Stockmann, Sokos and Forum, all located in the centre of Helsinki and connected to each other through a series of tunnels. Central shopping streets include Esplanadi and Aleksanterinkatu, where you can find Stockmann. For more cutting-edge design, check out the Design District, which is concentrated around Uudenmaankatu. It's a great place to shop for art – there are plenty of galleries showcasing local artists.

Sit on the steps in Senate Square, or Senaatintori to the Finns, and marvel at the neo-classical surroundings. Helsinki is gloriously unclaustrophobic, with broad tree-lined avenues, and leafy areas even in the city's downtown. At heart, Helsinki is a sea-faring city, so take off by boat to explore the rugged coastline and Helsinki's 315 islands.

Even in those rare moments when there is no arts festival on in Helsinki, culture is everywhere. The city is a veritable hotbed of creativity - the source of arty films, oddball alternative rock and head-spinning architecture. The Cable Factory, which did indeed once make plain old sea cable, is now a cool converted arts complex – come to see everything from dance to photography, modern art to architecture.

This is your chance to enjoy one of the world's least explored cuisines. Finnish restaurants specialise in the freshest of local ingredients. Wild mushrooms, sweet potatoes, crunchy asparagus, and forest fruits are all on Helsinki menus. And there's plenty of fresh salmon and herring to go with it. Try fatty Baltic eel - it's particularly sumptuous smoked. International restaurants are widespread, and an exciting new dining scene is developing on the islands. Drinking could be said to be the Finnish pastime. Smooth Finlandia is a benchmark for all neutral-tasting vodkas, while Lapin Kulta beer is there to be lapped up, sometimes even in the sauna!

The Helsinki dining scene is changing at breakneck speed as eating out becomes very much the in thing. Restaurants are opening up all the time in Finland's capital. Join the Finnish smart set at hidden island restaurants during the summer.