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A First-Timer’s Guide: Helsinki on a Budget

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Casey Kim

Just a little of personal story here. Back in 2022, a friend attended a summer academic programme at Aalto University which is located in Helsinki, Finland. I have been in touch with her and we have met personally at different parts of the world: Singapore and Germany.

That friend messaged me and suggested we meet in Helsinki this round. So I flew to Helsinki and met her in the center of Helsinki.

Back then both of us were on tight budget, we explored Helsinki like local students would do. In this specific post, you’ll find some budget locations we ventured in Helsinki.

I can’t promise this blog post suggest the low-cost travel at the high-cost city like Helsinki, but it’s just worth trying.



Comments

2 responses to “A First-Timer’s Guide: Helsinki on a Budget”

  1. Sam Holloway avatar
    Sam Holloway

    When you say “we explored Helsinki like local students would do”, it resonates with me as I’ve had similar experiences in other European cities. One practical tip I’d add is to consider purchasing a Helsinki Card, which grants access to public transportation and several attractions, potentially saving around 20-30 euros per day. The parallel between this budget-friendly approach and the city’s thriving tech scene is something I have been thinking about because it highlights the resourcefulness of Helsinki’s inhabitants. I’ve noticed that cities with a strong startup culture, like Helsinki, often have a unique blend of affordability and innovation, which is reflected in the way locals navigate their city. As someone who has visited over 30 countries, I’m curious to know, do you think this blend of affordability and innovation is what drew your friend to attend a summer academic programme in Helsinki in the first place?

    Reply
    1. Casey Kim avatar
      Casey Kim

      Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your practical tips on Helsinki! I will check that out for my next visit there. Oh yes, Helsinki’s strong start up culture caught my attention during my stay there as well. I’m glad that culture is still alive there. With regards to your question, my friend just mentioned her school had some exchange programme partnership signed with Aalto – so she just picked up that school to spend some time in Helsinki. So that partnership drew her to the summer programme in the first place actually. But she was very impressed with that blend of affordability and innovation in Helsinki as well and navigated the city like a local indeed.

      Reply

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