Episode Details

Winging It On Location – Days 4-6 - Helsinki: Our First Sauna, Trendy Coffees and Dancing On The Street

In this on-location episode of Winging It, I continue the Estonia-to-Finland road trip and spend three packed days exploring Helsinki — a city that quickly became one of my favourite capital cities in Europe.

From the ferry across the Gulf of Finland to trendy speciality coffee shops, a free walking tour, and our first proper Finnish sauna experience, this episode captures the atmosphere of Helsinki in real time. I share practical travel tips, food recommendations, transport advice, and the honest reactions that make these live-location episodes feel like you’re travelling alongside us.

We start with the Viking Line ferry from Tallinn, settle into central Helsinki, and dive straight into the city’s café culture. After a crash course in Finnish history on a free walking tour, the trip becomes increasingly local: a Saturday morning ParkRun, doing laundry in a quirky neighbourhood café, and then the highlight of the weekend — a two-hour waterfront sauna session at Löyly.

The evening turns into an unexpected night out filled with live music, dancing in a closed-off bar street, and one very unusual encounter involving a stranger with a glass of wine.

On the final day, we slow things down with outstanding coffee and brunch before taking the ferry to Suomenlinna, Helsinki’s UNESCO-listed sea fortress, for coastal views, cannons, history, and gelato by the water.

If you’re planning a Helsinki weekend trip, looking for sauna recommendations, or want a mix of food, coffee, nightlife, and history, this episode is packed with ideas and real-world travel insights.

Places & Activities Mentioned

• Viking Line ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki
• Hotel Finn (central Helsinki)
• La Torrefazione specialty coffee café
• Green Cap Tours free walking tour
• Helsinki Central Library Oodi
• Restaurant Khao Tip (Thai food)
• Tokoinranta ParkRun
• Café Tin Tin Tango (laundry + café stop)
• Löyly waterfront sauna
• Pute’s Bar & Pizza
• Mummotunneli nightlife area
• St George’s Café
• Lazy Fox brunch
• Ferry to Suomenlinna
• Esplanadi Park
• Helsinki Cathedral
• Senate Square

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Intro and Tallinn toilet update

01:38 Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki

02:35 Hotel Finn and arrival in the city

03:10 First Helsinki coffee stop: La Torrefazione

04:05 Free walking tour and Finnish history

04:40 Oodi Library and evening Thai food

05:45 Saturday morning ParkRun in Helsinki

06:35 Coffee, croissants, and ParkRun refuel

07:15 Laundry stop at Café Tin Tin Tango

08:05 First Finnish sauna experience at Löyly

09:25 Pizza, reindeer toppings, and tiramisu

09:50 Night out at Mummotunneli

11:15 Sunday coffee at St George’s Café

11:45 Brunch at Lazy Fox

12:20 Ferry to Suomenlinna

13:05 Exploring the fortress and island views

13:50 Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral

14:10 Why