Sunday Trading in Helsinki

February 24, 2012 4:39 AM

I'm going to be in Helsinki next month - hooray for me! However, I'll be there on a Sunday. Is the city pretty much closed, or will things be open?

I live in London, which sees the majority of shops/venues open on a Sunday, at least until 5pm (which confuses my Scots boyfriend no end as they don't close early north of the Border on the grounds that Scots were too godly to even consider shopping on the Lord's day. True fact.) unless it's Christmas or Easter Sunday. So I was surprised when i went to Paris a few years ago and almost everything closed on a Sunday. What's the situation in Finland? We planned carefully to avoid the major holy days around Easter (we are travelling to Sweden and leaving the day before Good Friday) but it seems wise to check.

We'll be spending that day and night in Helsinki, and our hotel has a small fridge and a microwave, so if needs be we can get stuff in the day before, but it would be good to know if we can get a hot meal if we want. Does the Suomenlinna ferry run on a Sunday, giving us the option to see the island if museums/markets aren't open? I've never been to Helsinki before so it would be good to find these things out in advance so we can make the most of the time there. (I'm also wondering whether we should bring over some groceries from Estonia as I've heard Finland is terrifyingly expensive, but I think that's overthinking :)

posted by mippy to travel & transportation around Helsinki, Finland (9 answers total)

Suomenlinna ferry is part of the bus/public transport network -it may be on slower sunday timings but it will run for the residents, I've spent Sundays there.

All the museums will be open, they close on Monday.

There are not so many restaurants that will be open, particularly for dinner but no need for groceries as the Nepali, Indian and Chinese places won't be closed.

You can memail me your hotel and I'll let you know what's open for dinner around there or where to buy food - Stockmann's in the Center has a great Deli and supermarket.
posted by infini at 5:08 AM on February 24

I don't find groceries particularly different in the city in London and the center of Helsinki.
posted by infini at 5:10 AM on February 24

Depending on where you are, the Old Anchor does a great hamburger (among other things) and offers Sunday night meals as well. TinTin Tango will have quiche and salads, free wifi and a sauna for customers.

It is going to be dark, cold and snowy right now so winter timings will also be in force. Be prepared for the ferry and Suomenlinna being much colder and check first to see if they've broken the ice between Helsinki and Suomenlinna.
posted by infini at 5:16 AM on February 24

Eat.fi is very good for finding places to eat and checking their opening hours.

Just remember to bring lots of alcohol on the ferry from Estonia, you will blend right in with the Finnish tourists :)
posted by baueri at 5:24 AM on February 24

infini - most Londoners don't shop in the centre for groceries on a regular basis, it is pretty expensive. Though if you're a tourist everything is more expensive anyway as you're eating out all the time and you don't necessarily know the nice cheap places. (Tons of tourists here eat at the Aberdeen Steak House - you can eat at a restaurant with a much better reputation for far less.)

It's going to be late March - should we pack the same clothes we wear in a London winter then?
posted by mippy at 6:02 AM on February 24

It's going to be late March - should we pack the same clothes we wear in a London winter then?

Yes, my friend who lives in North Yorkshire found the ferry ride a tad chilly in midsummer.

Well Stockmanns like a central London grocery then. I can't tell if that's expensive or no, I'm finding food across teh world far more expensive than it ever was in the US for example so I'm guessing its all relative.
posted by infini at 6:23 AM on February 24

Nowadays Sundays are for museums, galleries and art events, eating out and sitting in a café. The only thing they aren't for is shopping in small stores outside tourist venues or in Alko.

In big malls in the city center (Kamppi, Forum) maybe 50% of shops are open in Sundays, but most important is that Railway station metro level tunnels have three large grocery stores S-Market, Alepa and K-Market that are open 10-22 or 9-22 in Sundays. The prices are same as everywhere. Just follow 'M' sign down in any area near the center and wander around there. Stockmann is a bit more expensive, but it has special foodie stuff.

Also if you are going to Suomenlinna, the Kauppatori market square, where the boat leaves, will probably have most of the stalls open at Sunday -- there are so many tourists to cater. There are at least some places where you can and should buy coffee and munkkipossu.
posted by Free word order! at 6:32 AM on February 24

Food is much more expensive in London now. A pack of bagels and economy butter would have cost me £1.50 in 2007 - it's now £2.85. Not sure how the euro is affected on this front at the moment - the pound/euro exchange rate is still pretty poor.

Stockmanns sounds a bit like Selfridges food all or Gran Epicerie in Paris, then. Might still be worth a look :)

Glas to hear the market is open on Sunday - I really fancied a wander round there.
posted by mippy at 6:40 AM on February 24

Plan on about 10e per head even with Stockmanns and maybe a little less (15 to 20%) for the supermarkets that free word order recommends. (At the most, don't know if you'll pick up beers etc or not)
posted by infini at 7:23 AM on February 24