Helsinki - the metal capital of the world

Helsinki – the metal capital of the world

That’s right. For many — myself included — Helsinki is indeed the metal capital of the world. But in its essence, it’s a lot more than that.

Helsinki is a wonderful city full of culture, beautiful architecture, great music, legendary bars, introverted but genuinely kind people, delicious food, and, of course, saunas.

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A long‑standing fascination

I’ve always been attracted to Finland, and Helsinki in particular, for reasons I still can’t fully explain. As far back as I can remember, it started during my childhood when I read a book by a Finnish author — Sinuhe the Egyptian by Mika Waltari.

My interest in the country, its people, and its culture grew exponentially in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the rise of some of the most influential Finnish metal bands: Stratovarius, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, and many others.

I still remember those days when music was shared illegally and downloaded via P2P platforms like AudioGalaxy and SoulSeek over a 56 kbps dial‑up connection, then compressed and split across multiple 1.44 MB floppy disks just to be transferred to home PCs with no internet access.

Those were the days.

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First encounter with Finland

Travel wasn’t exactly easy back then, so I didn’t get the chance to visit Finland and satisfy my curiosity until March 2017. It was a work trip — and one I had to fight for — but it was absolutely worth it.

I was in awe from the moment I stepped on Finnish soil.

From the first sip of Lapin Kulta, to the first breath of löyly in a proper Finnish sauna, the first visit to the legendary Tavastia Klubi, and the first dip into freezing lake water — Finland didn’t disappoint for a second.

Ever since then, I’ve been visiting Finland at least once a year. For me, it’s the best place in the world to experience nature, relax, and truly recharge — from the deep north all the way down to the Gulf of Finland.

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Why Helsinki keeps calling me back

Helsinki is, to me, the most picturesque city in the world. It’s culturally rich, visually striking, and — despite the common stereotype — its people are open‑minded, thoughtful, and quietly welcoming.

There’s something about the city that feels calm without being boring, vibrant without being loud, and inspiring without trying too hard.

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Final thoughts

I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Helsinki — and Finland as a whole — and experiencing everything it has to offer.

You won’t be disappointed.

• A bit of Helsinki — from the air.

Note: Official TrafiCom permission was granted in advance for this flight. I flew above water only and adhered to all local laws, regulations and restrictions.