Just choose out of the following range according to your preference:
Music: Concert halls for national and international acts include Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13e (tel: (09) 40241), home to the Finnish Philharmonic Orchestra; and the House of Culture, Sturenkatu 4 (tel: (09) 774 0270), tickets start from FIM20. There are other concerts, including those from the students at the Sibelius Academy of All Music, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 9 (tel: (09) 405 441). Details of the times of performances and programmes are available from the customer service desk at the City Tourist Office (tel: (09) 169 3757). The works of Jean Sibelius are popular with Helsinki audiences, but the works of rising stars such as Magnus Lindberg, are also widely performed.
The Finnish National Opera (Suomen Kansallisoopera) has its residence at Helsinginkatu 58, with tickets starting from FIM50 (tel: (09) 4030 2211; fax: (09) 4030 2305; e-mail: liput@operafi.fi; website: www.operafin.fi).
Current Helsinkian rock groups include Ultra Bra, Nylon Beat, HIM, Darude, Bomfund MC, J. Karjalainen, Heikki Silennoinen Soul-special and Sami Saari. Other favourite singers include Karita Mattila, Arja Koriseva (the queen of Tango music) and Soile Isokoski.
Theatre: There are two main venues, both showing mainly classical productions (such as Ibsen) in Finnish: the Finnish National Theatre (Suomen Kansallisteatteri), Laantinen Teatterikuja 1b (tel: (09) 1733 1331), and Helsinki City Theatre (Kaupunginteatteri), Elaaintarhantie 5 (tel: (09) 394 0422 (tickets) or 39401 (information line); fax: (09) 394 0244; website: www.hel.fi/citytheatre); prices are FIM40-250.
If you want to keep up with movie-culture the following info will be useful:
Film: Helsinki has many cinemas; each week a programme showing times and venues is published by the tourist office. Box offices open an hour before the first show of the day. The Finnish Film Archive, Eerikinkatu 15 (tel: (09) 6154 0201), requires membership (FIM20) and allows one ticket to all performances; it shows classic and cult films. Mainstream films can be seen at one of the city's multiplexes: Kinopalatsisti, Kaisaniemenkatu 2 B (tel: (0600) 944 944), and Tennispalatsisti, Salomonkatu 15(tel: (0600) 007 007) tickets for each cost FIM 3.90. Virtually all films are screened in their original soundtracks, with subtitles in Finnish and Swedish. The Helsinki Film Festival is held in September each year (tel: (09) 6843 5230; fax: (09) 6843 5232; e-mail: office@hiff.fi; website: www.hiff.fi).
Cultural events: cultural highlights include: Juhannusvalkeat (Midsummer bonfire festival associated with the Feast of St John), held on Seurasaari Island, and the city rock festival, Hietsu, a three-day extravaganza at the end of July. One of the busiest stages in Helsinki, with live acts all day throughout the summer, including folk dancers and string quartets, is the Esplanadi bandstand.
In February, J L Runeberg (one of Finland's best-loved poets) is commemorated with Runeberg Day, a day of cake eating. May Day marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated with vast quantities of alcohol. The beginning of July sees the Jazz and Tango Festival. The Storyville Jazz Club hosts jazz events in July, and for contemporary music lovers, there is the off-beat Helsinki Music Nova. From the end of August, for three weeks, the Helsinki Festival, a huge arts festival celebrating dance, art and music, heralds the end of the summer.
Sport
Golf: Helsingin golfklubi, Talin kartano (tel: (09) 550 235; fax: (09) 565 3596), offers 27 holes to visitors until 1400 (cost: FIM140). Keimola Golf Club, Kirkantie 32, 01750 Vantaa (tel: (09) 276 6650; fax: (09) 896 790), is located near the airport and offers 18 holes (cost: Monday to Friday FIM200; weekend FIM220). Both courses have a restaurant, pro shop and other facilities and require players to have a registered handicap.
Swimming: There are numerous places to swim in and around Helsinki. One of the best is the summer open-air pool, Hammarskjoldintie, near the Olympic Stadium (tel: (09) 3108 77854). Otherwise the Olympic Stadium, Stadium Tower, Paavo Nurmentie 1 (tel: (09) 440 363), and the Serena Leisure Centre, Tornimaaentie 10, Espoo (tel: (09) 613 8411), all have pools. Other places to bathe in summer include Hietaranta Beach, Seurasaari and Pihlajasaari islands.
Roller-blading: Blading gear can be hired from Cat Sport Oy, Toolonlahti, a kiosk on the Finlandia Hall shore. Prices start at FIM25 for 30 minutes.
Tennis: Helsinki has 31 tennis clubs and eight tennis centres. Outdoor courts cost FIM60-120 for an hour, rackets can be hired for about FIM50 per day. The Finnish Tennis Association, Varikkotie 4 (tel: (09) 341 7130, fax: (09) 331 105), can provide a list of clubs.
For the latest events, pick up a copy of Helsinki Happens (website: www.helsinkihappens.com
