Aysha Tengiz

Karaoke taxi was on your wishlish, wasn't it Aysha? If you want to start your journey from a real karaoke joint, you could try out Restroom. Urban activist Aleksi Pahkala has a story to tell about this particular place: "The public toilet, designed by O. Moberg and P. Aalto for the Olympics on Tehtaankatu 23 in the bustling Punavuori, is now a popular karaoke bar. The original toilet signs for "men" and "women" can still be found as fine detail at the Restroom." 

For anyone who wants to gaze at the sea, Helsinki seashore and rug washing places are easy ways to start. Restaurateur Viviane Daaboul-Kallio likes to walk along the coastline all year round. "Every single time by the water at Ullanlinna I have the same thought: Oh my God, how lucky I am. I make several stops to admire the sea, it gives me my beauty vitamins. Even at night, I tend to post pictures on Facebook of my favourite spots: the pier at Ullanlinna, the Mattolaituri café, the NJK sailing club, the old carpet washing spots, geese and the little boats taking people back and forth to the islands. When I post pictures, my Lebanese friends often exclaim wow and ask me if this is real."

The author and artist Rosa Liksom loves all saunas, so we can easily leave this topic in her hands. "The neighbourhood sauna in Jätkäsaari is placed in a nice way in between apartment buildings. The visitors are regular people and there's a wide age range, from very old to very young. The yard is often full of bicycles, and I enjoy the lovely atmosphere, bar and the sauna itself. Uusi Sauna is a genuine neighbourhood experience."

Many associate Seurasaari with sightseeing but for entrepreneur Salma Jama it gives off a lovely homely feeling where one can enjoy the beautiful scenery and peace it offers. The island is also home for numerous squirrels. "I loved and still love to visit Seurasaari for walks. The architecture on the island gives an old world feel, which in turn helps you to connect with the memories of people associated with the island long before you. It is one of the best spots in Helsinki, and definitely worth heading to, especially for a spot of ice cream and a walk on sunny Sundays or to partake in other outdoor activities."

If you want to meet Helsinki's coffee lovers, the choices are endless. Entrepreneur Atte Heiskanen's go-to place is Café Succès. "Café Succès is a classic café on Korkeavuorenkatu with a lovely interior. It has a great customer base, a slightly older crowd, and I often go there myself. Succès serves good coffee and perhaps the biggest cinnamon buns in Helsinki. Nothing beats a sunny Sunday sitting on the terrace with an espresso and giant cinnamon bun!"

Content creator Jenni Rotonen has a tip that takes you very close to different tones of colour and light. "Puu-Vallila, or Wooden Vallila, is a dear place for me. Beautiful and idyllic, it feels like stepping into another world with its tiny streets and wooden houses. I love to just walk and wander around, look at the lace curtains in the windows, the blooming lilacs. It is a special part of history, and it's lovely that it has been preserved."

HAM is home to a Tove Jansson gallery, concentrating on her life and other works of art but also featuring a couple of Moomin pieces. Not to mention that the main entrance of the museum is guarded by a giant seagull sculpture. The museum director Maija Tanninen-Mattila sees the whole area from a very special perspective: "I can see the tower of the Natural History Museum from my office. It's lit up in the wintertime, and I often think about how it would feel to be inside that tower and see all the amazing museums around! The Kunsthalle, the National Museum, HAM, the Hakasalmi Villa, Kiasma, Amos Rex, all right by each other! Little pearls as well as big, international museums. It is amazing, and that together, they are far more than the sum of their parts." 

Hietaniemi cemetery is singer-songwriter Mikko Kuustonen's favourite place in the city. He even named an album and song after it. Tove Jansson's grave is here, and if you time your visit to dusk or dawn, you're most likely to meet many animals from foxes to rabbits. "It makes you feel alive among the dead. I have often enjoyed walks and talks on its beautiful grounds. I like to visit the hill of artists and especially the little path along which the author Mika Waltari is buried."

Töölönlahti bay is one of the most colourful spots in the city centre in the autumn. The bright yellow foliage against the blue sky and water are something worth seeing. Business Manager Noora Al-Ani has been going for walks around the bay since she first moved to Helsinki. "It offers a complete overview of the city, and the view really changes a lot in two kilometres. I am quite a romantic, and there are many good places for kissing around Töölönlahti! It also changes with the seasons: in winter you can walk across the ice, and in summer you can go swimming. You can really smell the nature when you get to the wooden bridge, and suddenly you find yourself among lovely cafés – and the trees around the restaurant Töölönranta are beautiful!"

Last but not least, the seagulls. We can't guarantee it but you're most like to meet them at the market squares, or by the sea. Actress and stand-up comedian Krisse Salminen likes to visit markets and market coffees everywhere - that's how she actually remembers which towns she's been to. "I lived right next to Hakaniemi Market when I was twenty. These days I often visit the Kahvisiskot coffee tent with a friend. I usually purchase the same things from the market stalls. Markets are homely places where you find yourself chatting with strangers!"