Helsinki Convention Bureau

Why Helsinki?

Friendly, Scandinavian, functional, compact, easy to reach - Helsinki is all these and much more. Helsinki is a smart and compact city, which ambitious aim is to become world’s most functional city in the near future. Helsinki is also one of Europe’s fastest growing and developing cities. Pure nature, greenness and proximity to the sea are assets of Helsinki. Helsinki is also a city of fascinating contrasts. You can find extreme of pulse and peace just around the corner from each other. Helsinki is filled with surprises and contrasts, with light summers and dark winters, urban nature and science & arts. Helsinki is a modern city, with 650 000 residents, nicely situated on the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is the centre of Finland’s administrative, educational and cultural life. It is also the finance and business centre of the country. Together with its neighbouring cities of Helsinki forms the metropolitan area with more than one million inhabitants. Helsinki is large enough to provide all the services that a major congress may require, yet small enough to make delegates feel at home during their stay. Helsinki is easy to reach from anywhere in the world. Around 180 international flights arrive at Helsinki Airport each day: there are direct connections to Helsinki from more than 140 destinations globally. Major venues like Finlandia Hall, Helsinki Congress Paasitorni, Scandic Marina Congress Center and Messukeskus Helsinki are all situated within the city centre, making it easy for congress visitors to enjoy the social programme, the city’s cultural offerings, sights and shopping. All of these venues can be reached by foot or by public transport from all hotels in the city centre. Helsinki metropolitan area boasts about 19,000 rooms, ranging from first-class hotels to hostels for those on tighter budgets. Most are within 1.5 kilometres of the city centre and usually breakfast and vat is included in the room rate.