Midsummer tourists unprepared for largely deserted Helsinki as locals flock to countryside

Major traffic problems avoided at end of holiday weekend, better weather in store this week

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Foreign summer tourists stood out more than usual in Helsinki during the Midsummer weekend, a time when local residents generally prefer to go to the countryside.
      The number of visitors was about the same as in a normal weekend, and there was no lack of tourists needing advice and assistance, says Mikko Tolsa, director of the Helsinki Help tourist advisors programme of the Helsinki Tourist Information Office.
     
On Friday, the green-clad Helsinki Help guides assisted 897 foreign visitors, and on Saturday the total was 836. “These are typical figures for an early summer weekend”, Tolsa said.
      There were also plenty of foreign guests at the city’s hotels.
     
Not all foreign visitors were aware that the city would be largely empty and that most businesses would be closed at midsummer.
      Helsinki Help guides Kirsi Kalliomäki and Maaria Laurila said that the holiday weekend, and the way that Midsummer is celebrated came as a surprise to many.
      “Many have wondered where all the people are”, Kalliomäki said. “People have also asked if the holiday is celebrated indoors”, she added.
      Both said that they ended up explaining the celebration of Midsummer to many foreigners. “We have mentioned summer cabins quite a few times”, Kalliomäki laughed.
     
Many were displeased at the apparent shut-down of much of the city.
      “When people have planned to to specific places, naturally the failure of the plans is disappointing”, Laurila said.
      The unseasonably cool weather was also a disappointment: on Friday, Midsummer Eve, the high temperature in Helsinki was less than 15 degrees.
     
Return traffic on Sunday at the end of the holiday weekend proceeded in good weather conditions, with no major problems.
      Although traffic on most highways was quite busy from about noon, serious backups were avoided.
      No major traffic accidents were reported on Sunday. There were four highway fatalities over the entire weekend.
     
After a fairly cool weekend, the coming week is expected to be closer to what a Finnish summer is supposed to be.
      Temperatures are expected to rise to near 20 degrees Celsius in Southern and Central Finland, and by Wednesday, temperatures could exceed 25 degrees.
      However, the record temperatures that prevailed during the early heat wave in late May are unlikely to be reached this week.


Links:
  City of Helsinki Tourist Information Office

Helsingin Sanomat