It’s August: hot and dry, or wet and muggy— either way, step one to resurrecting your summer is to book it to Helsinki, Finland, where the fashion is hopping, music hubs are bopping, and harbor views are among the most idyllic in the world. You’ve got to hand it to the Finnish; they have culture and class down pat. Whether you’re lusting after architecture, oil pastels, the perfect dress, or intellectual fulfillment, Finland’s capital and most metropolitan city will float your twelve-story nightclub-aboard boat (more on that later).

Feeling royal? Stay at the Palace Hotel, which entails sitting atop the roof, watching hot air balloons rise while sipping a cloudberry flavored drink of choice. Modernity and quiet elegance define the minimalist décor. Think the Jil Sander of accommodations, where strong, bold shapes, neutral tones, and wood embossed surfaces surround fashionable furniture and gastronomic ventures at Palace Gourmet’s first “surprise menu” in town. If seven courses of surprise satisfaction aren’t enough, a few steps down the street are orange tents, harboring fried donuts underneath for purposes of your culinary bliss.

Next, get cruising on the queen of the Baltic Sea: the Silja Ferry line, which navigates a Scandinavian course between Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. Enjoy a buffet of enormous choice and food to cry for, views to die for, and of course, nightclubs that bustle with the sounds of Northern European beats the globe is rocking to. Don’t drop it like it’s too hot, though, because duty-free shopping is a must (including a delicious candy store— try the raspberry boats).

Traveling bonus for jet-lagged, tongue-tied stragglers: the maître d’, the shoe salesman, and the bus driver all speak English, so you won’t have to practice those extra vowels (though taking part in the culture is appreciated and met with enthusiasm). P.S. Don’t be surprised if your taxi is a Mercedes.

Source:
PalaceKamp.fi

Photos:
Wikimedia.org
edu.Helsinki.fi