Experience in Helsinki, Finland, by Kamabudha

What is it like to live in Helsinki? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Helsinki is quite big city in the finish scale. Everything for everyone at least if one finds the right sometimes small cultural circles.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Helsinki?

Student lifestyle is relaxed and tolerant but if you like to find more some special, seek some special hobbies.

How much does it cost to live in Helsinki?

Helsinki is relatively expensive to live in as is Sweden also, at least the housing unless you find some flat sharing alternatives or living communities.

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Food is also expensive but if you stay longer as one year in Helsinki, seek some ruokapiiri "food circle" and join it: Ruokapiiri groups.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Helsinki? Is there any advice you can give?

It may be quite difficult at least on the semester seasons. One should seek good accommodation in good time before one needs it.

One good place for starting searching accommodation is Eco Hostel Inspiral (relaxed but only for sober people).

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I recommend some ethnic restaurants like New bamboo center as the best ones, or then finish food in places where the cooks are not too conservative with spices as Raffaello is.

Look the interior decorating of the restaurants. If it is tasteful, simple and not kitch, then the odds are that the food is also good.

Here is one good rating site for restaurants in Helsinki. Just do a search by almost any restaurant name and you will find customer ratings of it. Search here: Tripadvisor.

What places would you recommend visiting in Helsinki?

Suomenlinna, Kumpula, Arabian factories, Museum modern art: Kiasma, Kauppatori and Hakaniemi market squares.

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All outdoor flea markets as the one in Hietalahti market square, also for meeting interesting people.

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Hakaniemi kauppahalli (large market hall) for all kind of food and delicacies: Hakaniemen kauppahalli.

Is it good to eat out in Helsinki? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes it is, Kallio, Punavuori, Hakaniemi, Sörnäinen, Iso Roobertinkatu... Where are many interesting places for eating also outdoors.

Is the nightlife good in Helsinki? Where is good to go?

Yes, it is very good but it depends what kind of nightlife you seek.

Somewhat alternative nightlife hints can be found by visiting, for example, the also by many foreigners visited Mbar internet cafe and looking leaflets distributed there. Check: Discover Helsinki.

Other place for starting seeking alternative nightlife is DTM "don't tell mama", that is worth of it's name and making friends there.

And then there are many different student parties in the Uusi ylioppilastalo. Just drop in if you have first figured out what kind of party is held and if your habitus is similar kind as the habitus of people partying there.

What advice would you give future students heading to Helsinki?

Try to make some finish friends in any cultural-hobby groups that you have similar king of interests with. Otherwise many finns may be more difficult to socialize with as more personal friends.

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