Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +358 4030 62800. Open from 6am-midnight Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm Saturday and 9am-midnight Sunday.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Taxi: The journey to the centre of town costs €30 and takes 30 minutes.

Bus: Number 615 picks up from Helsinki-Vantaa every 15 minutes and stops at Rautatientori (the square by Central train station). Tickets: €3.80 (€5 from 2am-4.30am).

Everest
( 12 Luotsikatu. Tel. 09 622 1996 )
Among the best dishes at Everest are the excellent tandoori options. With fast and friendly service, this is a good choice for lunch.

Kruo Thai
( 17 Mechelininkatu. Tel. 09 454 4245 )
Perfect for those who don’t feel comfortable surrounded by fancy décor, but respect good, ethnic food served with a smile.

Troikka
( 3 Caloniuksenkatu. Tel. 09 445 229 )
A key player on the city’s culinary scene since the 1920s, low-lit Troikka has a colourful history and serves traditional Russian food—while not for those on a diet, the borscht followed by shashlyk will certainly keep you warm.

Chez Dominique
( 4 Rikhardinkatu. Tel. 09 612 7393 )
The menu at the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in Helsinki will delight you. Opinions at Chez Dominique vary greatly, but you simply have to dine within its minimalist interior at least once to know what everyone is talking about.

Erottaja Bar
( 15-17 Erottajankatu . Tel. 09 611 196 )
Small and funky Erottaja Baari is a buzzing, pre-party venue that's popular with Helsinki’s intellectual types.

Bar Loose
( 34 Fredrikinkatu. Tel. 09 586 1819 )
Laid-back and liberal, Bar Loose is a place to enjoy rock 'n' roll either from a record, on the jukebox or played by the bands that grace the stage.

DTM
( 28 Iso Roobertinkatu. Tel. 010 841 6996 )
Dance the night away in the most popular (and straight-friendly) gay club in the country.

Ruutu-Rouva is a great secondhand shop for those in the know, offering vintage clothing from top international designers. Don't miss its fantastic handbag collection (16 Fredrikinkatu. Tel. 09 174 726).

The Helsinki Card will save you time, money and energy, offering free entry to the city's main museums and free public transport, along with a wide variety of discounts. See www.helsinkicard.fi up-to-date offers.

Your Helsinki experience won’t be complete without having a spin in the Helsinki Ice Park. Right in the city centre, this is the hottest skating rink in town. It's a great way to meet new people and spend some time outdoors.

Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere in the fully packed Hartwall Areena during the prestigious ISU European Figure Skating Championships (20-26 January).

Vantaa – Visit the Finnish Science Centre at Heureka—just 20 minutes from Helsinki in Vantaa. Housed in an internationally acclaimed futuristic building—an exhibit in itself—Heureka has plenty to offer, including interactive exhibitions and a planetarium screening 360-degree IMAX films. Fun for all the family (www.heureka.fi).

In Helsinki the number of mobile phones is greater than the number of residents, with 103 phones per 100 people.

Compiled by Evgenia Ivanova