Blog : Brand New Helsinki

Draft Helsinki stories

People have a million opinions on Helsinki – or do they? Almost five months of broad qualitative research have been completed as part of the Helsinki brand project. This included a survey of Helsinki’s strengths and weaknesses and its near-term prospects. A large number of studies, personal interviews, experience mapping with focus groups, competitor analyses…

Helena Hautamäki almost made the trip to Nuuksio

What a wonderful day to pick lingonberries in Nuuksio! The sun is sure to be shining on the autumn heath by the Suomen Latu cottage in Vaakkoi. On the other hand, a return bus ride to Nuuksio costs 20 euros, compared to 19 for a carton of lingonberries from the Hakaniemi market. I decided to…

Loujaïn Guiga on a metro ride

I came here for an exchange year from Paris. Right after my arrival, I got lost on the one-line metro of Helsinki. Simple as that! Getting lost was fun though, because people around me were very helpful. They all advised me to take different directions. Beforehand, my dad who is from Syria, was a little…

Elias Gould on the Linnanmäki rock

I grew up in Kumpula in Helsinki – an idyllic, green district far from the troubles of the world. As an upper secondary student, I moved to Kallio, the home of Helsinki’s chattering classes. I used to view Helsinki as a backwater, but when I visit major European cities such as Berlin or Barcelona I…

Clarice Atleno-Omondi and Natasha at the University

I have been doing my Masters Degree in English Philology at the University of Helsinki for a year now. My husband along with my 3 year old daughter Natasha just arrived here from Kenya. Natasha will go to “Päiväkoti” and he will join the same master programme with me. I am excited about Helsinki. The staff…

Jussi Pajunen at the Market Square

I was born in Helsinki. When I was a child I played with the local kids, often at sports. I’ve been running along the city shoreline for years. In my old age, I want to continue watching the city develop. For me Helsinki is home, a certain frame of mind. Helsinki is a maritime, throbbing,…

Pyry at the Children’s Design Fair in Suvilahti

The best thing about Helsinki is the toy shop, with its swamp police and fire brigade police. The worst thing was the long walks. I came for the lego event and am building an aeroplane. I was on the express train in Linnanmäki during the summer. Mum was really scared. To me, Helsinki tastes of…

Vivian Li visits Helsinki for the first time

I knew Helsinki long time before starting my job at the Finnish Embassy in Beijing eight years ago. Coffee was the first smell to meet me in Helsinki. It reaches me from every corner, due to the hundreds of cafés in the city. In the market place, I found a huge range of fresh fruit…