As a part of my two-month internship in Turku, I decided to take a one-day trip to Helsinki. The trip began at the new Turku train station, a place I found both beautiful and interesting. The ride itself lasted about Two hours, everything went smoothly I must mention that public transport in Finland is on time and  well organized, and I never had a problem with getting on and off the train. Upon arrival in Helsinki, the first thing that Caught my attention was the central train station. Coming from Slovenia, where public transport is ranked among the worst in Europe due to outdated infrastructure, infrequent schedules, and a lack of investment in rail systems, I was truly impressed by Finland’s well-developed railway system.

Before heading to Helsinki, I carefully planned my trip, making sure to visit as many attractions as possible. One of the things I appreciated most about the city was how well structured it is, most of the key locations are within 15-minute walking distance of each other. My first stop was the Helsinki central library Oodi, a place I had heard so much about and was eager to see for myself

The moment I stepped inside, I was blown away. I had never seen a library so massive and well-equipped. Unlike libraries in Slovenia, witch typically only have books, tables and chairs, Oodi offers so much more. It has restaurants, bars, a chess area, gaming spaces with huge TVs, sewing machines, 3D printers, quiet study areas, and various offices where people were doing all kinds of seminars. Despite the large number of visitors, the space still felt open and peaceful.

From the outside, Oodi is equally impressive. Its architecture is a perfect blend of futuristic, modern, and unique elements, making it one of the most stunning buildings I have ever seen. I am truly glad I took the time to explore this incredible library, as it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip.

After my visit to the Helsinki central Library, I continued my exploration of the city by heading to the Museum of Contemporary art Kiasma. I had that luck that I visited it on a day when admission was free due to a special museum event.

At Kiasma I explored two exhibitions “Milky Way Tour” and “Pauline Curnier Jardin” showcasing the works by artist. As someone who is more used to traditional art forms, I found the modern pieces at Kaisma to be quite different from what I’m used to. Artworks were more open to interpretation and seemed to push boundaries of conventional art. It was fascinating to see unique perspectives of Finnish modern artists, even if some pieces felt abstract to me.

After visiting Kiasma, I made my way to the spectacular Temppeliaukio Church also known as Rock church. I hadn’t expected much from it, but I decided to pay the 8€ and step inside I was amazed surrounded by natural rock formations, the atmosphere felt incredibly peaceful. The calming music playing inside was a nice touch.

As I sat there, I started exploring the differences between Catholic and Lutheran churches. This one was Lutheran, without realizing it, I ended up sitting there for almost an hour, just taking in the peaceful atmosphere. Something about the place felt right. If you ever visit Helsinki, Temppeliaukio Church is a must-see place, not just to look at, but to truly feel.

One of the most thrilling moments of the trip was riding the Ferris wheel for the first time. It was both awesome and terrifying, especially when I got stuck at the highest point for five minutes on the third rotation! Another highlight was the breathtaking Uspenski Cathedral.

For a taste of traditional Finnish cuisine, I went to Restaurant Zetor, where I tried deer with mashed potatoes and cranberries. There, I had an unexpected surprise—I met two Slovenians sitting right next to me! We spent the rest of the day together, and it turned into an unforgettable experience. After an incredible day, I returned to Turku around 22:00, wrapping up an unforgettable trip to Helsinki.