Experience in Helsinki, Finland by Sandra

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

I am currently studying at the University of Helsinki. The city is nice and small, but expensive. I would definitely recommend living in the city centre.

What is the student lifestyle like in Helsinki?

There is a student society/club for each subject, which organizes parties, outings, etc. and each of them has a Facebook group. There it's possible to meet other Finns. ESN Helsinki is the student network for Erasmus students in Helsinki and they organize parties, excursions to Lapland and much more. If you really want to meet the locals, a good idea is to sign up to the ESN Buddy Project, to which you have to apply but usually everyone gets a place. Your tutor will know what the Buddy Project is! That said, Finns like to drink a lot, and I think their drinking habits are comparable to the British.

How much does it cost to live in Helsinki?

Helsinki is expensive, but not as expensive as big cities like London or New York. If you want to compare the cost of living in your city with Helsinki, try this website

It costs 2. 6 euros to have lunch in the Unicafes, which are found on every campus, but otherwise basic lunch costs around 10 euros. A portion from an A la Carte menu in a restaurant can cost anything between 12 to 25 euros.

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

Domus Academica in Kamppi (city centre) is the place where most of the Erasmus students live, and I've heard that a studio apartment with your own kitchenette and bathroom costs around 600e/month. If you're fine with sharing your bathroom and kitchen with a few people, the rent is cheaper. According to a friend of mine, Domus can be quite noisy though, especially on the weekends, so if you have to study a lot it's not perhaps the best place to live in. If you want peace and quiet, try renting via HOAS or privately.

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

Helsinki has many ethnic restaurants, like Indian, Nepalese, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Italian etc., but there are not many Finnish restaurants. For cheaper eats, try Splitzeria, a pizzeria, or Vapiano in Helsinki.

What places would you recommend visiting in Helsinki?

The museums, many of which have free entrance always on the first Friday of the month. The Botanical garden in Kaisaniemi, Suomenlinna sea fortress, Seurasaari open air park, to name but a few.

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

Good but expensive!

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

In addition to the student parties, Tiger is a popular night club. Kaisla in Kaisaniemi is close to a British pub and has a huge selection of beers/drinks from Europe. It is nearly always full though so go early!

What advice would you give future students heading to Helsinki?

Save some extra money, so you can enjoy all that Helsinki has to offer. Avoid living in eastern parts of Helsinki, since some places there are pretty deprived. Otherwise I consider Helsinki to be quite a safe city. The winters are long, and from November to January the length of day is only 5-7 hours, meaning it gets dark at 3 p. m. in December. The winter can last from November to the end of March, and spring starts in April. January and February are usually the coldest months, when it can be -10 to -20 degrees in Helsinki. Due to climate change, autumns in Finland are getting warmer though, meaning that the first snow doesn't necessarily fall before Christmas and the Christmas in Helsinki isn't always white. If you want to experience the winter wonderland in December, visit northern Lapland. I hope this helps!

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