Discovering Helsinki in summer
Exploring Finland's capital Helsinki and the surrounding area by rental car is definitely an adventure. Especially Helsinki's city centre is a dream. Rent a rental car and see for yourself. Helsinki with its 600.000 inhabitants is the capital of Finland and the economic, political and cultural centre of the country. Geographically Helsinki lies in the south of Finland at the Gulf of Finland, opposite the Estonian capital Tallinn. So what could be better than a trip by rental car? In this way, you are always mobile and independent of public transport. Look forward to an unforgettable time with the rental car in the far north.
Christmas market in Helsinki
Winter in Scandinavia is a cold but also magical time for a rental car trip. In Helsinki the first snow falls in early December and melts at the end of March and April. The traditional Christmas markets should not be missed at this time of year. The lights, smells and snow create a festive atmosphere. In Finland, as in other European countries, the Christmas season begins at the beginning of December. Here people celebrate pikkujoulu, which can be seen as a small Christmas. Come with a rental car, enjoy the atmosphere and a Glögi (Finnish mulled wine) and stay for a while. Do I have to install snow chains in Finland in winter? Snow chains should be put on as soon as it is necessary. This is often the case outside cities.
Please note that in Finland you should not drink either. Therefore, it is better to leave the car on an evening with Glögi. As in Germany or Austria and Switzerland, the alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille.
Find good and cheap car rentals in Helsinki with Driveboo. Just compare the offers of different providers and book a cheap rental car in the capital of Finland. You can rent a car in Helsinki upon arrival at Helsinki Airport or in the city centre.
If you want to be flexible in Helsinki from the very first minute, it is best to pick up your rental car right after your arrival at the airport. In this way you won't waste precious time waiting.
Traffic in Helsinki
Drive particularly carefully in zones with wildlife crossing warning signs! Here moose or reindeer can cross the roads unexpectedly. The danger of a wildlife accident is higher than usual at dusk and at night, especially between May and October.
In the event of a wildlife accident, call the nearest police station on 112.
Exploring Finland by rental car is the easiest way to get to know the country. This way you can tailor your trip through Helsinki and the rest of Finland to your individual needs without being dependent on public transport timetables. You will also find a very well developed road network in Finland. There are more than 78,000 km of main roads and almost 740 km of motorway. Only from November to March smaller, sometimes unpaved roads in the north of Finland may not be passable and closed. Otherwise the roads remain open in winter as well.
By the way, there are no charges for road use!
Summer in Helsinki
Helsinki is always worth a visit! Depending on your personal preferences and plans for Helsinki, different months are suitable for your holiday in the Finnish capital and its surroundings. Would you like to go for walks, shopping, picnics, ...?
In the following table you will find an overview of the respective months and what the weather will be like in Helsinki during this time.
| Months | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| March, April, May | Winter in Helsinki is still strongly felt in March. The canals and lakes are frozen and there is snow everywhere. It can take until the middle of April until it gets warmer. In May you can look forward to tulips and daffodils. Spring in Helsinki is definitely worth a trip. |
| June, July, August | Although it is often still cool and rainy in June, the Finns go to the coasts and lakes on warm days to swim. Look forward to a boat trip and enjoy the summer in Helsinki. In July you should not miss the midsummer festival. In June and July it hardly gets dark at night. Then you can spend a wonderful mild night. |
| September, October, November | In September there are still temperatures over 20 degrees. But in the evening it gets much cooler. Look forward to colourful autumn leaves in bright colours. The days become much colder, shorter and rainier from October. Autumn brings a variety of berries and mushrooms, which you will find on the menus of the restaurants. Look forward to delicious dishes in Helsinki. |
| December, January, February | From December onwards, the snow remains permanently in place. The real cold temperatures arrive in January and February with minus 8-10 degrees during the day and minus 20 degrees at night. The sun shines for a few hours a day. Often the snow on the roads is not cleared. So be particularly careful when driving your rental car. |
View of Uspenski Cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral
If you are travelling with your rental car, make sure you visit the city's two promenades, the Aleksanterinkatu and the Esplanadi. There is the Stockhaus, the largest department store in the Nordic countries. From the market square, take a boat trip to Suomenlinna Fortress, UNESCO World Heritage Site, or visit the Finnish National Theatre. Also a visit to Uspenski and Helsinki Cathedral is definitely worth a trip by rental car.
Are you ready for an unforgettable holiday in Finland? Then you should add the following activities to your Bucket List:
Staying in a glass igloo
Take a hike in a National Park
Husky sled
