Social Programme
NUF2022 Social programme
Welcome Reception at the Helsinki City Hall – Hosted by the City of Helsinki
Date: Wednesday 8 June at 19.00-20.30
Requires advance registration
Congress Dinner at Little Finlandia
Date: Friday 10 June at 19.00-23.00
Requires advance registration
What to do in Helsinki?
Getting around
Bus/tram tickets
www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/hsl-app
The easiest way to buy public transport tickets is to usethe HSL app. With the HSL app you can buy single tickets or 1–14 day tickets and pay with your credit card. HSL app also helps you to find your route around the city.
City bikes
A convenient way to go around are the city bikes. Again, you need to load the HSL app. Instead of buying a ticket for the transportation, you may buy a pass for one day (5€/day) or for a whole week (10€/week). Then you just locate the nearest bike with the app, ride and return the bike to any City bike station.
Electric scooters
For shorter trips you may use rentable electric scooters. In Helsinki, Lime, Teir, VOI and Hoop scooters are available.
Helsinki Card
www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/activities/helsinki-card
A comprehensive city card for 1–3 days, which includes public transport in Helsinki, a panoramic sightseeing bus tour, entrance to the top attractions and museums, among other extras. 51–74 € per person.
Todo in Helsinki
The website www.myhelsinki.fi is maintained by City of Helsinki and there is a comprehensive list of sights, events, shopping, and activities. Information on the site is offered in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, Russian, and Japanese.
On top the official pages, we wanted to share our own favorite things to do in Helsinki. This list is designed especially for you by our urology colleagues.
Extremely nice cafes/bars
Kappeli café/bar/restaurant
www.raflaamo.fi/en/helsinki/kappeli
This newly renovated 150 years old unique glass veranda restaurant is located inEsplanade Park. It’s just a perfect place for an afternoon coffee or glass of sparkling wine. Get together party is very close to this beautiful place. Maybe you should reserve some time to stop by on your way.
13 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Hietalahden kauppahalli
www.hietalahdenkauppahalli.fi/en
The cozy 115-year-old Hietalahti Market Hall serves as a café and restaurant. International kitchens offer delicious flavor experiences from around the world. If the weather is not in favor of us, this place offers very nice interior with warm little restaurants and nice places for a drink.
23 min walk from the Main Railway station or 15 min by tram number 6.
Torni roof top bar
www.raflaamo.fi/en/restaurant/helsinki/ateljee-bar
The Ateljee Bar is located on top of the Sokos Hotel Torni and the views are just amazing. The bar is open to everybody even though you need to go across the hotel lobby to reach the elevator that takes you to the bar. The restaurant’s view over Helsinki has become its trademark from every window. Don’t forget to visit a toilet there.
8 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Mattolaituri café/bar
Located in Kaivopuisto, this popular outdoor terrace restaurant offers summer drinks and snacks. Here you can enjoy the hopefully warm, summer evenings and admire the sea views.
30 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Café Regatta
An outdoor café, located by the sea in Töölö. There have been summer cafes in the spot since 1952. The café is especially famous for their fresh cinnamon buns or if you prefer you may grill your own sausage outdoors over an open fire. There is also rental for stand-up paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, and a rowing boats.
There is a 2,3 km walk from the Main Railway station or several public transportation possibilities including city bikes.
Public saunas
Löyly-sauna
After a long day of scientific content, one of the best places to relax is Löyly. It’s a combination of a restaurant, bar and sauna. You may go and enjoy a traditional smoke sauna or wood-burning sauna combined with a nice cooling time on their outdoor terrace. A towel is included in the price (21€/2 hours) but take your own swimsuit along (or rent one).
If you think that sauna is too much, you can just enjoy a nice drink or good food in their warmly spirited but modern bar or restaurant.
If you want to make sure there is room for you, make a reservation in advance. There is a 2,6 km walk from the Main Railway station or you may use tram nro 6.
Kotiharjun sauna
This wood-burning sauna has been keeping its neighborhood’s residents clean and bathed since 1928 and it’s the last of its kind in Helsinki.Separate sides for men and women, up to a dozen inside at a time. Don’t expect anything fancy; the atmosphere is strictly no-frills and utilitarian, but you’ll be guaranteed an authentic urban sauna experience.
Open 2–8 pm, you can use the sauna until 9.30 pm. 15 € per person, towel rental 3 €.
Harjutorinkatu 1, best accessed by a metro to Sörnäinen station (5 min walk from there)
Kulttuurisauna
An ecological public sauna with interesting architecture. Both by the sea and totally urban. Open on Tue-Sat mornings (last entry at 10.50 am). Pre-booking is mandatory, available time slots are open two weeks in advance. This a place for peace and relaxation; you are encouraged to visit alone and in silence!
15 € per person
Hakaniemenranta 17, 20 minutes’ walk from Hakaniemi bus and metro stops
Nearby islands
Islands are easy to visit by public ferries/boats.
Pihlajasaari
A popular summer spot is Pihlajasaari, which is an island 3 km south of the Helsinki city centre. In Pihlajasaari there are nature trails, rocky and sandy beaches (even a nude beach) and a restaurant. Ferries to Pihlajasaaridepart every hour from Kaivopuisto and Ruoholahti (www.jt-line.fi, look for Pihlajasaari at the top of the page).The ferry ride takes 10 minutes.
Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna sea fortress is a Unesco World Heritage Site full of history. The fortress was built by the swedes, taken over by the russians in 1808 and transferred under the administration of the Finnish government one year after Finland’s declaration of independence. There are beautiful parks, tunnels, walls and cannons and guided tours as well as restaurants and cafés. The fortress is easily accessed by public transport ferry from the Market Square and it takes approximately 15 minutes.
Vallisaari
This island was opened up to the public in 2016. During the construction of the Suomenlinna sea fortress in the 18th century, Vallisaari was a military logistics island and from 1918 to 2012 used as a storage area by the Finnish Defence Forces. It has been left to develop for decades in natural state and has a unique flora and fauna. Those who visit Vallisaari, must stay on designated paths (Alexander’s tour (3 km) and Kuninkaansaari Island tour (2,5 km) in order to protect the islands nature and because there might be dangerous structures and spots that are at risk of collapsing.
There are a few cafés and restaurant services.
Waterbus connections are available in summer season by Suomen Saaristokuljetus from the Market Square. You can also access Suomenlinna with the same waterbus.
Other stuff
Rhododendron Park
www.myhelsinki.fi (search for “rhododendron”)
If you’re looking to get out of the city centre, the Rhododendron Park in Haaga is a stunning sight in early June when thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas are in vibrant bloom! It’s both a public park and a botanical garden so the entrance is free. Well worth the trek for flower enthusiasts.
Laajasuontie 40, best accessed by bus nro 40 (stop Eliel Saarisen tie) or a train to Huopalahti station.
Supregatta
If the weather is warm enough, there you may find SUP boards, kayaks, canoes, and even a rowing boat next to the Café Regatta.
There is a 2,3 km walk from the Main Railway station or several public transportation possibilities including city bikes.
Hakunamatata-sup
www.hakunamatata-sup.fi/en/rent
Another SUP-kayak-canoe-rowboat rental. They welcome you to their “ultra chill relaxing oasis!”
13 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Museums
Amos Rex
The Amos Rex museum is located in the center of Helsinki. Their goal is to produce unique experiences and surprising encounters. The museum is not very extensive, but their exhibitions have been quite interesting. If you are looking for a cultural experience,a visit to that museum is highly recommended.
The name of the current exhibition is “Subterranean”, and it consists of four themes to explore how artists through the centuries have depicted the worlds beneath our feet.
Entrance fee 20 €, but for free with NUF2022 name badge!
6 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Kiasma
The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasmaorganizes exhibitions, performances, and events.The current exhibition is ARS22, which presents the latest trends in contemporary art. ARS22 is the tenth instalment in the series of major international contemporary art exhibitions originally launched in 1961.
Entrance fee 20 €.
5 min walk from the Main Railway station.
Temppeliaukio Church
www.temppeliaukionkirkko.fi/en
Also known as the “Rock church”, this church was built in 1969 inside bedrock and is Helsinki’s most popular architectural destination. The main hall is well worth seeing with its rough rock walls and beautiful copper ceiling. Besides being a popular attraction, it is also a concert venue and an active Lutheran church for its parishioners.Entrance fee 4 € / person, tickets can be purchased at the front desk or online in advance.
Lutherinkatu 3, 16 min walk from the Main Railway station