When one thinks of the far north of Europe, very often one's mind is directed to the great cold, rather gray and unlively cities, a significant degree of secrecy, and extremely limited tourist interest.
This is not the case in Helsinki, the Finnish capital that is known for a very busy social life: despite the fact that the temperatures are really extreme at certain times of the year, the inhabitants nevertheless remain very active socially, thanks in part to the many events held in the city.
For this reason, Helsinki is quite a popular destination for wealthier tourists who choose to charter a private jet to land in Finland: it is a travel solution that guarantees them privacy, flexibility and above all comfort starting as early as the airport, for a relaxing and luxurious experience.
But what are the most famous sights in Helsinki and what about more info on private flights to get there?
We analyze that and more in this guide!
Historical and geographical background on Helsinki
The ultra-modern and technologically advanced Helsinki overlooks the Baltic Sea, a sea that bathes the vast majority of Scandinavian nations and on which about one-tenth of the total population of Finland's capital city lives. The town is spread over a main peninsula and other small patches of land only partially washed by the sea that go to define what are the boundaries of the town itself. The region in which Helsinki is located is Uusimaa, a small geographical area located in the south of the country and on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, exactly opposite Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Although Scandinavia is a portion of Europe with roots going back a long way, the founding of Helsinki dates back only to the mid-sixteenth century when King Vasa of Sweden built his first settlement. For about 300 years, until the nineteenth century, Helsinki remained a peasant town permeated by a kind of almost magical atmosphere that prevented it from coming into contact with the ugliness of the world around it. In later years, however, the city was the scene of bloody wars between Sweden and Russia, nations fighting each other and aiming to become even more established powers. Unfortunately, since it was still Swedish-dominated territory and exactly on the border between the two kingdoms, Finland had to make its portions of land available for the wars; not only that, a great many peasants in Helsinki and neighboring towns had to enlist among the Swedes, receiving in return new plots of land promised by the king. In the early nineteenth century, Napoleon and Tsar Alexander divided Europe equally, and Finland came under the possession of Russia; despite assiduous attempts by the Swedes to take back their territory, the entire nation became part of the Tsarist empire in 1809. Despite Russian hegemony, Helsinki and all of Finland developed quite a bit, managing to build a certain political, linguistic, cultural and social autonomy. The rather rough domination of the Russians ended in 1917 at the outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution; from then on, Finland became independent, with the exception of the Nazi period during World War II, and Helsinki became the driving force behind the nation's economy to this day.
What to see and do in Helsinki
The Esplanadi shopping area
Whether it is a business trip or purely for pleasure, Helsinki really has a lot to offer the tourists who visit, especially the wealthier ones. Obviously, businessmen who travel to the Finnish capital to conduct their business cannot fail to pass by the financial district located in the beating heart of the city and home to major companies and banks, as well as the Finnish Stock Exchange. However, in close proximity to the historic center is the Esplanadi shopping area, 2 major city arteries that run parallel to each other and are the perfect place to indulge in luxury shopping. The boulevard to the north, known as Pohjoisesplanadi, is overlooked by some of the world's most renowned fashion and clothing houses such as Gucci, Armani, Klein, Dior, Bulgari, and Dolce & Gabbana, to name a few. In between the two streets are the Esplanadi Gardens, a green area where you can relax between shopping.
The trade fairs at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
As a multicultural and cosmopolitan city, Helsinki offers a wealth of exhibition events throughout the year thanks to its Expo and Convention Centre. These are fairs that take place annually in different areas attended by various businessmen and technology trend enthusiasts. Regular organized occasions include conferences, conventions, congresses and meetings, as well as exclusive meetings, seminars and banquets held in the more than 6 exhibition halls and 40 meeting areas of varying sizes. Also near the exhibition complex is the Holiday Inn Helsinki hotel, a luxury hotel where event participants can stay, as well as as as many as 11 restaurants where they can have lunch or dinner experiencing typical local dishes.
Culture and leisure in Helsinki
One of the most unique activities to do in Helsinki is to take time off for total relaxation by visiting one of the city's many spa complexes. According to some estimates, in Finland there is one sauna for every 5 inhabitants of the country, and in Helsinki there is an embarrassment of riches; the available spas are equipped with a variety of extra services and options to relax and soak in the Finnish atmosphere even if only for a few hours. Culture lovers can go to the Swedish Theater, the city's historic opera house where multiple plays, operas and performances take place during the pre season that attract international stars and celebrities.
Climate and best time to visit Helsinki
Helsinki has a temperate but very cold climate, with rather harsh and long winters and very short and mild summers, with steady-state maximum temperatures that do not include any particular heat spikes. The allure of the Finnish territory is raised considerably by weather phenomena such as the midnight sun or the northern lights, although these are known to be more prevalent in northern Finland. Spring in the capital is still very cold: temperatures do not go above 10°C as it is a transitional phase during which the snow slowly begins to melt, precipitation still remains frequent, and the lakes are no longer frozen over. Nature gradually begins to awaken with the very first blossoms of the trees and colors returning to populate the green areas of the city. The climate warms up further in summer, with temperatures rising well above 15°C reaching as high as 25°C on the hottest days. For 2 consecutive months, the sun hardly ever sets and will remain high in the sky until late in the evening; therefore, it is essential to be able to get sleeping masks given the midnight sun that lasts until mid-September. From October onward, the fall season begins, the time of year when the parks turn orange, red, yellow, and brown, temperatures drop to 10°C, and rainfall returns. Needless to say, how the winter in Helsinki is totally freezing: lows can reach as low as -25°C and, due to the winds blowing over the city, the perceived cold can also be more pronounced. Days shorten to about 6 hours of daylight, and in the north of the country the sun does not rise for more than a month. That said, the best time to charter a private jet to Helsinki obviously remains summer, the only segment of the year where temperatures are more pleasant and the weather allows sightseeing.
How and why to fly private to Helsinki
Helsinki International Airport (ICAO code EFHK) is the country's largest and most important hub; its roots go back to 1951, when the city hosted the Olympic Games, which led to the construction of an airport that could cope with the many flights that the then original Helsinki Airport could not support. In the following decades, the present terminal was expanded and renovated, enabling the airport to handle up to 20,000,000 passengers a year. In recent years, while offering multiple international connections, the Finnish capital's airport has specialized in routes to Asia; not only that, many of the passengers who transit through it fly on private jets and therefore can enjoy premium services designed just for them. For example, there is a 24-hour Business Flight Center open daily where you can use conference rooms, meeting areas, restaurants, stores, personal assistance with VIP coordinator, and a very capacious VIP Lounge. Not only that, the Flight Center also has a VIP President, a separate area where passengers on private flights can check in and go through the usual security checks. As many as 3 runways authorize flights even in adverse weather conditions, fulfilling the various routes in a very short time. The approximately 20 kilometers separating the airport with the city can be covered with private rental cars and cabs ready to welcome passengers and take them to the city.
How much does a jet cost to Helsinki
Helsinki's geographical location means that most flights to the Finnish capital have a considerable duration. The route from Barcelona is no exception, which has a flight time of about 3 hours and 30 minutes; it is possible to charter a Light, Medium or Large Jet at respective costs of about €20,000, €37,000 and €51,000. Departing from Nice, the flight has a very similar duration hovering around 3 hours: opting for the above 3 categories of jets implies an expense of €17,000, €32,000 and €45,000 respectively. Somewhat shorter is the flight departing from Hamburg, which takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes; chartering the 3 classes of jets involves a respective cost of approximately €11,000, €20,000 and €29,000.
The best jet for flying to Helsinki
Among the highest performing light jets cannot but include the Embraer Phenom 300, which consists of 7 seats, a top speed of 800 km/h and a range of over 3000 km. Its interior cabin is quite spacious and roomy and makes every single passenger comfortable, just like that of the Cessna Citation Sovereign, Medium Jet capable of accommodating up to 8 passengers; its top speed reaches 850 km/h with a range of as much as 4500 km. For significantly longer distances, the Falcon 5X is the perfect Large Jet given its incredible range that allows it to travel more than 7,000 km on a single tank of fuel. The aircraft can touch 950 km/h top speed thanks to its state-of-the-art engines, while the interior cabin equipped with leather sofas and reclining seats gives all the comfort passengers need!
The most frequent flights to and from Helsinki
Below of the most frequent links to Helsinki:
