Helsinki Itinerary

My final weekend in Europe will be spent doing something that a matter of weeks ago I wouldn't have thought possible. Coming from Finish heritage, its always been somewhere that I knew I had to visit someday, I just didn't think I'd have the opportunity to do it so soon. Luckily, I have friends who did an exchange program at MTU two years ago who are moving from the nearby suburb of Espoo, Finland to Helsinki about a week before I arrive that have offered to host me while i'm there...so it should be excellent. Also, the fact that they will also be relatively new to the City of Helsinki will make it even better. We can explore it together! 

Now, from what I've both heard and seen in photographs, Finland's scenery is much like the upper midwest where I live, but the architecture and attention to design is like no where else in the world. So much that Helsinki was named the World Design Capital for 2012...making it a nice place to end my European travels. 

Anyways, my four day stay in Helsinki is going to be packed with seeing a ton of different sights... even so, its not even close to enough time to fully experience Finland, but it'll suffice for now. I'm sure I'll make a return someday!

Here's what my itinerary has so far:

Friday August 24, 2012

06:20 Depart HAJ (KL1900)

07:20 Arrive AMS              

09:40 Depart AMS (KL1167)

13:05 Arrive HEL

15:00 Visit Finnish Parliament House??

16:30 Visit the Finnish National Museum

18:00 Visit the Helsinki Art Museum, Tennis Palace

19:00 Dinner 

20:00 Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma

Saturday August 25, 2012

10:30 Guided Sightseeing Tour

13:00 Mannerheim Museum

16:00 Finish Architecture Museum

18:00 Dinner

19:00 Explore Downtown Helsinki 

Sunday August 26, 2012

10:00 Ferry to Suomenlinna

11:00 Guided tour of Suomenlinna in English

15:00 Helsinki City Museum

17:00 Seaside Restaurant Dinner

18:00 Walking Tour of Helsinki

Monday August 27, 2012

06:35 Depart Helsinki (KL1164)

08:05 Arrive Amsterdam

13:00 Depart Amsterdam (KL1909)

14:00 Arrive Hannover

If you have any suggestions for places to visit in Helsinki, please let me know!