The city has captured Nicole Bittger's heart because for her, Helsinki is one of those cities that has so much more to offer than you thought. It’s not only is it difficult to say goodbye, but you get the feeling “I would like to live here”.
German traveling foodie Nicole Bittger was swept away by Helsinki twice and in two completely different seasons: foraging in the midst of the autumn colours, and getting cosy while trying outdoor swimming in winter. Her background is in travel writing, food and photography, so she eats her way around – and at least in this regard, Helsinki was no exception!
1. Tickle your senses
You really want to tickle your senses and be surprised both visually and tastefully? Then Grön is the perfect address. This fine dining restaurant uses regional and seasonal ingredients, many even harvested by the chef himself. Nicole doesn‘t want to reveal more, so let yourself be surprised! (Or read a bit more here.)
2. Feast with a very clear conscience
In the catering industry, there is often an incredible amount of waste – not only food that is left over, but also by-products from ingredients. At the Nolla “zero-waste restaurant”, everything is used, including the by-products. Anything that is really no longer usable is composted. Here you can feast with a very clear conscience and let yourself be inspired by the micro-seasonal cuisine. Check out other sustainable restaurant options here.
3. Immerse yourself in slow archipelago life
If, like Nicole, you like minimalist style and at the same time wonderfully designed accommodation, you will love Majamaja. For her, the small wooden cabins right on the water are truly unique spaces. Standing by the window for hours and watching the waves – simply magical. For other seaside accommodation options, see this story.
4. Find your inner Finn and go foraging!
When you see people disappearing into the woods of Helsinki with baskets and knives, you know it's foraging time. In summer, the Nordic nature offers vitamin-rich berries, and in autumn up to 200 edible varieties of mushrooms sprout. On a guided tour, for example with foraging professional Anna Nyman, you can learn a lot about the Finnish nature and are guaranteed to find one or the other tasty treasures of the forest! If you want to venture out on a solo mushroom hunt, these tips may come in handy.
5. See the city from the water that surrounds it by joining an active adventure
Helsinki is a city whose DNA is linked to the water that surrounds it. One of the best ways to get to know this side of town is to take a kayak tour. Many activity providers offer paddling tours, for example Natura Viva. For Nicole, this was the perfect little active adventure. If you want to read about paddling destinations on the Helsinki shoreline, head here.
Curious to find out what Nicole has to say about Helsinki?
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This story is part of Helsinki Partners' Ambassador Program called Represent Sustainably. Helsinki Partners, which runs MyHelsinki.fi, teams up with ambassadors from diverse backgrounds, including visitors and talents. These ambassadorships are value-based and long-term, and the ambassadors spend longer or shorter periods of time in Helsinki, and share their personal perspectives on the city based on their experiences.