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Urban summer highlights in Espoo and Helsinki

Credits: Michael Matti

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Welcome to the happiest country in the world

Fam trip to Espoo and Helsinki in July 2023
Credits: Michael Matti

Thursday, July 6, 2023 - Welcome to Finland

10.50-14.50 Paris DCG - Helsinki, Finnair AY1572

Meet with your Visit Finland and Visit Espoo hosts at Helsinki Airport
Transfer to Espoo, about 30 minutes by Åbergin Linja. The company was the first transportation company in Finland to receive Sustainable Travel Finland label. 

Check in at Hotel Hanaholmen 
Hanaholmen offers visitors top modern hotel rooms and conference facilities. Located a stone´s throw away from Helsinki with the beautiful Finnish archipelago just outside the window, Hanaholmen also arranges fascinating seminars about present-day science, politics and economics. The hotel pays attention to the environmental impact of our choices, from the big picture to the most minute details.

17.30-18.30 Tour of Hanaholmen - Art and Culture 
Art has a special meaning and history at Hanaholmen. Already at the time of the establishment it was clear that there would be art in the building. In addition to the fine art collection consisting of Finnish and Swedish contemporary art, you can see many temporary exhibitions in the Hanaholmen Gallery.  The art has also spread to Hanaholmen’s surroundings and nature.

19.15 Dinner at Lucy in the Sky 
Lucy in the Sky is a rooftop restaurant and bar. Lucy serves contemporary bistro food along with an unique view on top of Accountor Tower, the historical landmark building towering over the area of Keilaniemi in Espoo.

Lucy in the Sky
Credits: Visit Espoo, Lucy in the Sky

Friday, July 7 - Day outdoors at the sea

Good morning – for the early birds, there is a chance for morning sauna and swim at the hotel. Are you ready to join in? 

7.45 Breakfast at the hotel 

9.00-10.15 Meeting with local travel companies offering services for meetings and incentives (each company will do app. 10-minute presentation of their services)

10.45-15.00 
Time for a speed boat ride with Sea Adventures Finland.
Our first stop is at Laguuni Watersport Center, which is Finland's largest water sports centre and floating restaurant located in the urban environment of Keilaniemi.
After the visit to Laguuni we’ll continue to explore the Espoo archipelago. Rather than a classic cruise on a pleasure steamer, this excursion takes place in open-deck rigid inflatable boats, in close contact with nature. The bench seating is near the water's surface, giving you a 360° view that makes you feel at one with your surroundings.
On the island of Pentala, a 3-course lunch awaits us at restaurant Paven
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Paven's sailing pavilion has served as a maritime base for all who enjoy sailing, archipelago experiences and stunning seascapes. And today, Hiiohoi Oy, the company behind Paven’s concept, continues these traditions and organises high-quality and atmospheric corporate and private events in unique seaside destinations with years of experience.

15.15 Return to the hotel, snacks & relaxation 

17.00 Pick-up from the hotel 

17.15 Visit to the Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA
EMMA is Finland’s largest art museum and is in the Espoo district of Tapiola in the former Weilin & Göös printing house designed by Professor Aarno Ruusuvuori (1925–1992). EMMA showcases topical contemporary issues by displaying curated picks of international art and design in a unique architectural setting. 

19.00 Site visit and dinner at Radisson Blu Espoo
The Radisson Blu in Espoo is the perfect destination for hosting meetings and events, with its surrounding scenery by the Baltic Sea, location in the middle of Northern Europe's largest research and high-tech hub and proximity to Helsinki. Just around the corner you will also find Espoo's largest congress facilities, Dipoli and other Aalto University facilities.
 

Paven Restaurant
Credits: Hiiohoi Oy

Saturday, July 8 - Explore Helsinki

8.00 Breakfast at the hotel

9.00-10.30 Boat transfer from Hanasaari to Helsinki Market Square
Almost 100 kilometres of coast and over 300 islands offer an endless number of opportunities to enjoy the maritime atmosphere of Helsinki in the summer. 

10.30-12.00 Guided City Walk - make sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking! 
Getting acquainted with the compact city center. We’ll start from the Market Square and explore the Senate Square. The Senate Square and its surroundings form a unique and cohesive example of Neoclassical architecture.

12.00-14.00 Lunch at Brasserie Kämp followed by a site visit at Hotel Kämp or St. George 

14.00-15.30 Guided City Walk continues 
Introduction to Helsinki architecture and design & Oodi Central Library
Oodi is Helsinki's new Central Library and a living meeting place in the city centre on the Kansalaistori Square. Oodi is a venue for events, a house of reading and a diverse urban experience. It will provide its users with knowledge, new skills and stories, and will be an easy place to access for learning, story immersion, work and relaxation. 

15.30 Traditional afternoon coffee at Little Finlandia

Free time: optional site visits / shopping / visit to Allas Sea Pool 
If you want to experience the Finnish sauna and/or take a swim, remember to bring your bathing suits! 

18.30 Get together in front of Hotel Kämp and a short walk to dinner venue

18.45 Dinner at Savotta, followed by drinks at a summer terrace
Savotta is a Finnish restaurant which offers genuine Finnish food and atmosphere, just off the Senate Square in the heart of Helsinki. The name Savotta means a logging site. Therefore the interior decoration and dishes has got inspiration of the Finnish forests and thousands of lakes, with a dash of Finnish nostalgy from the past decades and logging traditions. 

22.00 Transfer back to Hanasaari
 

Credits: Kari Ylitalo

Sunday, July 9 - Finding happiness

8.00 Breakfast at the hotel 

9.00 Check out at the hotel (luggage onboard) 

9.30 Transfer to Nuuksio National Park (45 minutes)
Within easy reach of the Finnish capital, you can escape into wild natural settings and enjoy typically Finnish scenery, with lovely lakes, green forests and rugged crags. Nuuksio is also the home to lynxes, flying squirrels, badgers and moose. Nuuksio is at its best right now - the national park is always at its best. 

10.15 A visit to Nuuksio Reindeer Park
Experience a touch of northern magic in Finland's southernmost reindeer park in Nuuksio. Together with visiting the reindeers we will have a chance to hear about the services for the groups that Sea and Mountain Adventures have in Nuuksio area. 

11.00 Site visit to Haltia Lake Lodge
At the heart of the Nuuksio National Park, Haltia Lake Lodge is the place to nest up in a nature boutique lodge and enjoy the good life. The privately owned facility offers 20 hotel rooms and five glamping tents accompanied with facilities for smaller meetings. The hotel was named as the “Best sustainable hotel: Europe” in 2022 Boutique Hotel Awards.

11.45 A short walk to visit Finnish Nature Centre Haltia and enjoy the locally produced lunch 
The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia brings the crown jewels of the Finnish wilderness together under a single roof. It is the gateway to all of Finland's national parks, treating visitors to the pleasures of nature through all five senses. Through exhibitions and events, Haltia takes a stand on current issues such as climate change and the positive impact of nature on well-being. 
Haltia is also a high-quality venue for a business event any time of the year. For instance, the multi-functional auditorium with a panoramic window is a venue for up to 200 persons, whereas the high class meeting cabinet with a sauna is the elegant and perfect choice for a group of the selected few.
Restaurant Haltia offers food made from domestic, fresh ingredients and seasonally changing flavours. 

13.00 Transfer to Helsinki Airport 

16.05-18.10 Helsinki - Paris CDG, Finnair AY1577

 

Nuuksio National Park
Credits: Joonas Vinnari

Please note, the programme is subject to change. 
Weather in Espoo. 

Tori Quarters, Helsinki
Credits: Jussi Hellsten