Winging It On Location – Days 4 to 6 - Helsinki: Our First Sauna, Trendy Coffees and Dancing On The Street
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Winging It On Location – Days 4-6 - Helsinki: Our First Sauna, Trendy Coffees and Dancing On The StreetIn this on-location episode of Winging It, I continue the Estonia-to-Finland road trip and spend three packed days exploring Helsinki — a city that quickly became one of my favourite capital cities in Europe.
From the ferry across the Gulf of Finland to trendy speciality coffee shops, a free walking tour, and our first proper Finnish sauna experience, this episode captures the atmosphere of Helsinki in real time. I share practical travel tips, food recommendations, transport advice, and the honest reactions that make these live-location episodes feel like you’re travelling alongside us.
We start with the Viking Line ferry from Tallinn, settle into central Helsinki, and dive straight into the city’s café culture. After a crash course in Finnish history on a free walking tour, the trip becomes increasingly local: a Saturday morning ParkRun, doing laundry in a quirky neighbourhood café, and then the highlight of the weekend — a two-hour waterfront sauna session at Löyly.
The evening turns into an unexpected night out filled with live music, dancing in a closed-off bar street, and one very unusual encounter involving a stranger with a glass of wine.
On the final day, we slow things down with outstanding coffee and brunch before taking the ferry to Suomenlinna, Helsinki’s UNESCO-listed sea fortress, for coastal views, cannons, history, and gelato by the water.
If you’re planning a Helsinki weekend trip, looking for sauna recommendations, or want a mix of food, coffee, nightlife, and history, this episode is packed with ideas and real-world travel insights.
Places & Activities MentionedViking Line ferry from Tallinn to HelsinkiHotel Finn (central Helsinki)La Torrefazione specialty coffee caféGreen Cap Tours free walking tourHelsinki Central Library OodiRestaurant Khao Tip (Thai food)Tokoinranta ParkRunCafé Tin Tin Tango (laundry + café stop)Löyly waterfront saunaPutte’s Bar & PizzaMummotunneli nightlife areaSt George’s CaféLazy Fox brunchFerry to SuomenlinnaEsplanadi ParkHelsinki CathedralSenate Square
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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Intro and Tallinn toilet update
01:38 Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki
02:35 Hotel Finn and arrival in the city
03:10 First Helsinki coffee stop: La Torrefazione
04:05 Free walking tour and Finnish history
04:40 Oodi Library and evening Thai food
05:45 Saturday morning ParkRun in Helsinki
06:35 Coffee, croissants, and ParkRun refuel
07:15 Laundry stop at Café Tin Tin Tango
08:05 First Finnish sauna experience at Löyly
09:25 Pizza, reindeer toppings, and tiramisu
09:50 Night out at Mummotunneli
11:15 Sunday coffee at St George’s Café
11:45 Brunch at Lazy Fox
12:20 Ferry to Suomenlinna
13:05 Exploring the fortress and island views
13:50 Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral
14:10 Why Helsinki became one of my favourite European capitals
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Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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