Frommer's Favorite Experiences in Helsinki

Enjoying a Finnish Sauna -- You haven't been cleansed to the core until you've experienced a Finnish sauna. The sauna is often looked upon with almost religious awe, and an enormously high percentage of private Finnish homes and apartments have one.

Hearing a Sibelius Concert -- To listen to the work of Finland's greatest composer, Jean Sibelius, is a moving experience. This sensitive, vulnerable artist achieved a universal melodic language. In his lifetime, Sibelius and his music became the symbol of Finland.

Cruising the Archipelago -- Since Helsinki is the capital of a country of 188,000 lakes, it, too, is best seen from the water. On a warm summer day, take a cruise through the archipelago; you'll pass innumerable little islands and navigate around many peninsulas.

Taking an Overnight Cruise to Tallinn, Capital of Nearby Estonia -- Arranging a visa for a visit to Estonia, across the water, is time-consuming and requires planning prior to your arrival in Helsinki. But once you're there, the rich, once-forbidden majesty of this capital of the Baltic republic opens before you, at prices, at least for souvenir goods, that you'll find surprisingly low.