Associated Press June 10-14

2pm Arrival in Helsinki

Taxi transfer to hotel

Your driver Margo (+358409402781) will wait for you at the arrivals hall with a sign mentioning your name.

Check in to NH Collection Grand Hansa

A five-star hotel in the very heart of Helsinki, on Mannerheimintie next to the Central Railway Station, with the city's top sights, restaurants and shopping (including the legendary Stockmann department store) all within walking distance. The hotel combines two protected heritage buildings, the New Student House and Seurahuone, designed in the early 1900s by architect Armas Lindgren. The New Student House was co-designed by Wivi Lönn, the foremost female architect of her era. Its domed tower remains one of central Helsinki's landmarks, and Seurahuone was a hub of Finnish cultural and social life in the early 20th century. 

Free time

4:20pm Lobby Call  
Meet Oona Laitinen (Tel. +358 40 564 6775), Coordinator at Helsinki Partners at the hotel lobby 

5pm Sauna at Löyly

The Finnish sauna culture is enjoying a revival in Helsinki. The impressive Löyly design sauna opened in spring 2016 on the southern tip of the Helsinki peninsula. In addition to a smoke sauna, traditional sauna and private sauna for groups, visitors will be able to enjoy Finnish food culture while admiring the stunning views from the large terrace that stretches out over the sea. Enjoy the sauna and refreshing drink on the Löyly terraces!

You will be hosted by Oona and My Helsinki Host Jaana Woll.

7:30pm Dinner at Laivakoira

Restaurant Laivakoira, affectionately known as Laivis, is a relaxed neighborhood restaurant in Helsinki's Eira district. Inspired by classic cooking with a modern and boldly flavored twist, the restaurant offers both an à la carte menu and a seasonal tasting menu. 

9:30am Lobby call 
Meet My Helsinki Host Katja Pantzar (Tel.+358 400 514 585) for sauna and lunch.

10am Departure from Meritullintori on M/Y Fortune Sauna boat  

M/Y Fortune is a renovated sauna vessel offering private cruises through the Helsinki archipelago for up to 12 guests. Originally built in 1966 as a school ship, the boat features a wood-heated sauna for ten and a cozy lounge. Guests can swim in the Baltic Sea, fish, and enjoy drinks at anchor, surrounded by the Finnish island landscape.  

12pm Arrival in Kalasatama parrulaituri pier

12:15pm Exploring Sompasauna

Sompasauna is a free, community-run sauna in Helsinki, open to everyone around the clock with no staff on site. The mixed-gender sauna welcomes guests clothed or unclothed, and anyone is free to come and fire it up themselves. There are no showers or running water, so visitors should bring their own towel and drinking water. Acoustic music and singing are welcome, and there is even a piano on site. 

1pm Lunch at Restaurant Lippa

Ravintola Lippa is a newly opened restaurant on Mustikkamaa, a green recreational island just a short walk from central Helsinki. Its laid-back menu offers casual favorites such as bouillabaisse, club sandwiches, caesar salads and fresh doughnuts. Surrounded by nature yet close to the city, Lippa is an inviting spot to pause and enjoy a relaxed meal while exploring the island. 

2:15pm Back to the hotel

4pm Visit to Usva Spa

Drawing inspiration from ancient Finnish healing traditions, sauna culture, and the country's pure nature, the spa offers a range of treatments, massages and seasonal experiences that change with the rhythm of the Nordic seasons. Many of its signature treatments use Finnish natural cosmetics and are designed to be enjoyed alongside a traditional sauna session. USVA also welcomes companies, teams and private groups for tailored wellness experiences. 

4:30pm Birch Whisking Treatment

One of USVA's most distinctive offerings is the Healing Birch Whisking treatment, rooted in age-old Finnish sauna tradition. A spa therapist gently warms and whisks the body with bundles of fresh birch (vihta) in the sauna, releasing the herb's clean, soothing aroma. The ritual stimulates circulation, relaxes the muscles, and leaves guests perfectly unwound, making it an ideal prelude to other spa experiences.

7pm Dinner at Strindberg

Strindberg is a classic restaurant and café in the heart of Helsinki, at Pohjoisesplanadi 33, overlooking the Esplanadi park. It opened in 1992 in the premises of a former art gallery and has two distinct spaces: a street-level café and a second-floor restaurant, both with views over the park. In summer the café spills out onto a terrace, while the second floor's timeless library bar serves drinks and small bites year-round. The kitchen pairs much-loved Nordic "husmanskost" with contemporary international flavors, and one of its long-standing signature dishes is the Toast Skagen.  

10:45am Lobby Call

Meet your My Helsinki Host Jaana Woll (Tel. +358 40 5707792) for lunch.

11am Lunch at Superterassi 

Superterassi is a large summer restaurant terrace and urban food hub at Kasarmitori Square in central Helsinki, bringing together a curated selection of top restaurants and exciting food concepts in one vibrant outdoor setting.

If you have time, experience Helsinki Day at your leisure

Helsinki Day celebrates the city's birthday. The whole city comes alive with free, open-to-all events around the clock, from live music and dance to circus performances and cultural happenings staged across neighborhoods and cultural centers. A perfect way to experience Finnish sauna culture in the heart of the city is Superterassi at Kasarmitori, an open-air summer terrace that opens for the season on Helsinki Day itself. Entry to the terrace is free, and at its heart is the Kyrö Sauna Bar, a modern Finnish mixed-gender sauna offering a relaxed, contemporary take on sauna in a central setting. The Kyrö Sauna Bar is free of charge from Helsinki Day all the way until Midsummer. Alongside the sauna, there will also be a small cold pool for a refreshing dip. Sessions last around an hour, and guests can even enjoy drinks from the bar on the sauna side. 

If you are looking for a refreshing dip in true Finnish style, the open-air Uimastadion Swimming Stadium is a wonderful option, and it also welcomes visitors with free entry on Helsinki Day. Set in the heart of the city, this classic 1950s outdoor pool is a much-loved summer institution among locals. Helsinki Day is the perfect moment to wander, explore and feel the city at its most festive, with something happening on practically every corner.

1:20pm-2:58pm Train to Tampere (Intercity 37)

You will meet Tuomas Palomäki from Visit Tampere in front of the railway station.

Tram from the train station to the hotel

Check-in to Hotel H28  
Hämeenkatu 28, Tampere 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @hotelh28

Hotel H28 is the newest hotel in the city. H28 is located at the main street of Tampere, so the hotel offers effortless access to the city. Step outside and hop on the tram right in front of the entrance to enjoy everything beautiful and vibrant Tampere has to offer, around the clock.  

The hotel operates conveniently with a personal door code; the code is sent to you before your stay begins. A delicious breakfast is served on the top floor of the hotel, above the rooftops of Tampere.  

4:15pm Walk from the hotel to the sauna 

Please take your swimsuit & flip-flops / sandals with you, a towel will be provided for you at the sauna.  

4:30pm-> Sauna & mocktails at Sauna Restaurant Kuuma  
Laukontori (Laukontori Market Square) Laukontori 21, Tampere. 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @saunaravintolakuuma

Saunaravintola Kuuma is a public sauna but also an idyllic restaurant, right in the middle of the city. Kuuma offers a social, cozy “living room for everybody” in a New-Nordic style. There are three mixed saunas – two wood-heated saunas and a modern smoke sauna. The wood-heated sauna might be more of a traditional type of experience for the first-time sauna-goers, whereas the smoke sauna can give the experienced sauna enthusiasts a chance to step up a notch.

In Tampere, public sauna culture is a natural part of everyday life and something special. Public saunas are not just occasional treats, but places people return to regularly, whether after work, with friends, or simply to unwind. Many of these saunas have a long history, carrying traditions that have been passed down for generations, yet the atmosphere is anything but formal. Instead, the vibe is relaxed, welcoming, and easygoing. In Tampere’s public saunas, locals and visitors sit side by side, share conversations, and enjoy the simple pleasure of heat, steam, and a moment of calm together.

6pm Dinner at Restaurant Periscope 
Vuolteenkatu 1, Tampere. The elevator to the restaurant can be found on the 1st floor of the shopping center, at the entrance of Olympia Square. Restaurant is located on the 6th floor. 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @ravintolaperiscope

Today’s dinner is at Restaurant Periscope. Always made from the best ingredients, a constantly updated menu and ready-made tasting menus are a mix of local delicacies and flavors from around the world that have strongly inspired the restaurant’s food philosophy. The Periscope terrace area has saunas and jacuzzis. 

7:30pm Visit to Kaupinoja sauna & Sauna Temple 
Kaupinpuistonkatu 1A, Tampere 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @saunatemppeli

About seven years ago, Juha Kumara and his friend Matti Kemi cycled over 700 kilometers around Finland, exploring different saunas and meeting interesting people. This journey led to a podcast and the founding of their company, Saunakonkeli, a name that combines their beloved mode of transportation, the bicycle. Lessons learned from Finland and around the world come together in various sauna guidances, where one can get to know Finnish sauna traditions. Sauna Temple is a wood-fired public sauna, built in a traditional yurt, owned by Juha, Matti & their business partner.  

Tonight, we will also experience the legendary Kaupinoja sauna, located on the lakefront, and well-known among the ice-swimming enthusiasts.  

10:15am Lobby call 
Meet Tuomas outside the hotel

Please take your swimsuit & flip-flops / sandals with you, towels will be provided for you at the sauna venues.  

10:30am-11:30am Exploring Working-Class Life: Guided Tour of the Amuri Museum of Historic Housing and Historic Sauna 
Satakunnankatu 49, Tampere 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @amurinmuseokortteli

Tampere is known as the Sauna Capital of the World, but its sauna culture is rooted in the everyday lives of working-class people. During the city’s rapid industrial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of factory workers moved to Tampere. Many lived in small apartments without private washing facilities, which led to the rise of public saunas. These communal saunas were not only places for washing but also important social spaces where people met friends, exchanged news, and relaxed after long working days. At their peak, Tampere had nearly one hundred public saunas, with at least one found in almost every neighborhood.  

One of the best places to experience this history is the Amuri Museum of Historic Housing, located in the former working-class district of Amuri. The museum preserves an entire block of original wooden workers’ houses built from the 1860s onwards to accommodate Tampere’s growing industrial population. Through restored homes, courtyards, workshops, shops, and a traditional public sauna, visitors can explore how ordinary working-class families lived between the 1880s and the 1970s. Today, Amuri is the best-preserved example of Tampere’s historic workers’ housing and offers a unique insight into the everyday life, community spirit, and sauna culture that helped shape the city. In the summer of 2026, the museum reopened its historic public sauna for visitors, allowing guests to experience a traditional communal sauna in an authentic working-class setting.

12pm-1:30pm Pereensaaren sauna 
Pereensaarentie 43, Pirkkala 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @pereensaarensauna

Pereensaaren Sauna is one of the newest saunas in Tampere region. It has breathtaking lake views. Adjacent to the mixed sauna is a versatile swimming pier, accessible for both summer swims and, with the help of an ice hole, winter dips. The sauna offers an authentic Finnish sauna experience, where you can unwind, recover after exercise, and enjoy the surrounding nature.

2pm-5pm Finnish sauna day celebrations at Rajaportti 
Pispalan valtatie 9, Tampere 
IG: @visittampereofficial; @rajaportinsauna 
Meeting with Alex Lembke & Siiri Koski

Finnish Sauna Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June, which in 2026 falls on 13 June. The day honors Finland’s sauna heritage, one of the country’s most cherished cultural traditions and a key part of everyday life. Across Finland, people gather in private and public saunas to enjoy löyly, relaxation, and togetherness.  

Our historic gem in the city is the Rajaportti sauna – the oldest still operating public sauna in Finland. The sauna is located in the area of Pispala, and its roots date back to 1906. In this 120-year old sauna there are separate departments for men and women. Rajaportti Sauna has remained more or less unchanged through decades.  

Rajaportti Sauna has celebrated Finnish Sauna Day for many years as a cherished annual tradition. The festivities begin at 4pm with the traditional Declaration of Sauna Peace. The program also includes live music, and during the evening Rajaportti will unveil its special 120th Anniversary Beer in celebration of the sauna’s 120-year milestone.

Before the celebrations, you will meet sauna heater Alexander Lembke from Rajaportti. He knows all about the Sauna Capital & the Rajaportti sauna itself. After that, you will be guided through a short sauna whisking session by a traditional sauna healer Siiri Koski. You will feel the gentle warmth of the sauna, discover Finnish healing plants, experience various whisking techniques, and be carried by the ancient chants. It’s a journey that is both exciting and deeply relaxing.

Traditional sauna bathing is an intangible sauna culture rooted in Finnish folk traditions. It brings to life the diversity of the Finnish sauna experience. One of the central elements of traditional sauna bathing is the use of birch whisks, “vihta” in Finnish. Sauna spells and songs are also integral components of traditional sauna bathing. The effects of birch whisking include stress relief, improved sleep quality, increased metabolism, and enhanced surface blood circulation. It improves joint mobility and aids muscle recovery.  

Today, we will also enjoy light refreshments for lunch and experience the warmth of Rajaportti.

A break at the hotel 

6pm Dinner at Bistro Henriks 
Satamakatu 7, Tampere.  
IG: @visittampereofficial; @bistrohenriks

Bistro Henriks offers bistro-style cuisine and delightful beverages crafted from carefully selected ingredients, all served with a relaxed approach. The food is based on seasonal ingredients, and the drinks are curated with a good vibe in mind. You will enjoy the dinner on your own. 

Check out

5:40am Menevä Taxi transfer from the hotel to the Railway station 
The taxi will pick you up from the hotel. You will get a text message before the taxi arrives. The transfer is 
organized by Visit Tampere.  

6:08am-8:53am Train to Helsinki Airport (Night train 274 + commuter train I, transfer in Tikkurila)

10:10am-10:10am Flight to Stockholm (AY807)