Hanna Reder, Helsinki & Lappeenranta 12.-19.7.2025

8:25-11:15 Flight to Helsinki Airport (AY1422)

Exploring Helsinki
Please find attached the Helsinki Tip List, a curated selection of favourite spots and fresh finds by Helsinki Partners.

Breakfast at hotel and check-out

Free time

13:00 Lunch at Restaurant Elm
Address: Puistokatu 4, 00140 Helsinki 

Meet Hanna Krootila from Helsinki Partners and Adeline Sutter form Visit Finland for lunch at the restaurant. Carlos Henriques, one of the three owners, will join you as well.

Elm is an all-day neighbourhood restaurant located in the beautiful Kaivopuisto. ’’In our kitchen we trust in simplicity, find joy in seasonality, and are inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.’’ @elm.puistokatu4

Check in to Scandic Grand Central Helsinki
Address: Vilhonkatu 13, 00100 Helsinki

Scandic Grand Central Helsinki is a completely unique, magnificent hotel in an art nouveau building of historical value, designed by Eliel Saarinen, and completed in 1909, centrally located at Helsinki Railway Station. The hotel has a magnificent selection of almost 500 rooms offering a first-class hotel experience. In addition to the charming restaurant ambiance, the covered terrace in the hotel's courtyard provides space for spending time in the best spot of the city. The spacious conference and event facilities of the hotel create a unique setting for both small team meetings and large gatherings of up to 180 people. The Grand Ballroom, the hotel's thrilling banquet hall, provides timeless elegance and glamour for unforgettable events for up to 500 people. @scandicgrandcentralhelsinki

19:00 Dinner at Restaurant Skörd
Address: Fredrikinkatu 37, 00120 Helsinki 

One of the owners, Janne Kylmämaa, will be at the restaurant and will take great care of you.

Restaurant Skörd is local food and beverages at its best. The kitchen offers tasty experiences cooked from locally produced ingredients, wild herbs and berries picked by hand, as well as game, fish, and ecologically farmed lamb. All ingredients and beverages come from Finnish producers. There are also beers and ciders, berry wines and liqueurs, and cocktails made with ingredients of the season to go with the food. @restaurantskord

Breakfast at hotel

9:45 Lobby-call with Hanna Krootila from Helsinki Partners

Travel by public transportation to Hakaniemen Kauppahalli

10:00 Meeting with chef Linnea Vihonen and morning coffee

10:30 Visit to Hakaniemen Kauppahalli and shopping ingredients for lunch

11:30 Visiting Teurastamo and preparing a three-course lunch together with Linnea at her working space, @teurastamo

~13:30 Return to the hotel by public transportation

Free time

18:00 Dinner at Lippakioski Brera
Address: Laivurinkatu, 00150 Helsinki

Hanna from Helsinki Partners will join you for dinner. 

Lippakioski stalls have been part of Helsinki's cityscape since the 1920s. Many of them are used as restaurants, cafés and cultural venues. It's known to be summer in Helsinki when the Lippakioski stalls open. Lippakioski Brera is now open for the second summer and has gained immense popularity among the local neighbourhood. @brera.thekiosk

Breakfast at hotel and check-out

10:00 Morning swim and sauna at Allas Pool
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 2 A, 00160 Helsinki 

The Allas Pool offers new ways to enjoy the Baltic Sea in Helsinki, right in the most central spot in the city! The pool is open all year round and offers experiences and refreshment next to the Market Square, both to the people of Helsinki and to travellers.

The Allas Pool is a spa with both fresh and sea water complete with three saunas. The saunas are heated from morning to evening. They include a women’s sauna, men’s sauna and a sauna for special reservations. It is also used as a communal sauna. @allaspool

NB! Bring your own swimsuit with you. Tickets and towels for two will be available at the entrance/cashier under the name Hanna Reder.

13:49-16:05 Train to Lappeenranta

Transfer by taxi to Original Sokos Hotel Lappee
Address: Brahenkatu 1, 53100 Lappeenranta

Located in the heart of Lappeenranta, the Original Sokos Hotel Lappee offers comfortable accommodation in an authentic South Karelian atmosphere. The hotel underwent extensive renovations in spring 2023, combining modern comfort with regional charm. Hotel own also Sustainable Travel Finland -label. @originalsokoshotellappee 

18:00 Dinner at Restaurant Sumu (~10-15 min walk from the hotel )
Address: Snellmaninkatu 8, 53100 Lappeenranta

Restaurant Sumu serves delicious, handcrafted food made with skill, care, and heart. Located in Lappeenranta, it offers a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. The cuisine blends classic Scandinavian flavors with a fresh, modern twist. @sumudining

Breakfast at hotel and free time

12:30 Lobby-call with goSaimaa host Riina who will take you to Makea Coffee roastery

13:00 Visit to Makea Coffee roastery
Makea Coffee is an award-winning specialty roastery from Lappeenranta, Finland, known for bold flavors and ethical sourcing. Voted Roaster of the Year 2022, they bring “a party in your mouth” with vibrant, high-quality beans roasted sustainably. From fruity to full-bodied, every cup is crafted with transparency, passion, and zero compromise. @makea.coffee

15:00 Cooking with chef at Restaurant Wolkoff
Address: Kauppakatu 26, 53100 Lappeenranta, restaurant is located just a 10 min walk from the hotel

Restaurant Wolkoff, cosy and elegant restaurant in the heart of Lappeenranta. Located in one of the city’s oldest wooden buildings, Wolkoff has served seasonal, Scandinavian-inspired cuisine since 1998. Now run by the second generation – Chef Karo Sintonen and Sommelier Sirja Ojala – the restaurant offers carefully crafted dishes and a thoughtfully selected wine list. @ravintolawolkoff

Sightseeing flight
Imatra Aviation Club, Janne tel. +358 400 613 884

NB! The scenic flight lasts about 30 minutes and is weather-dependent. The timetable for the sightseeing flight will be confirmed on Wednesday, July 16th. Riina (goSaimaa host) will connect with you and send you detailed instructions. If the weather requires the flight to be moved to Friday, you are warmly welcome to visit the Fortress on Thursday instead.

After cooking and lunch, if the weather permits, you'll enjoy a memorable experience: a 30-minute sightseeing flight in a small motor plane with the local aviation club. Soar above the lace-like archipelago of Lake Saimaa and take in the breathtaking beauty of Finland’s largest lake from above. The flight will depart from Lappeenranta Airport, located just 3 km from the restaurant. You can, for example, borrow bicycles from the hotel and enjoy a short ride to the airfield. @imatranilmailukerho

20:00 Dinner at Restaurant Wolkoff
Address: Kauppakatu 26, 53100 Lappeenranta
Enjoy dinner at Restaurant Wolkoff, where you earlier had the cooking session and lunch.

Breakfast at hotel 

11:15 Lobby-call with goSaimaa host Riina and chef Arja Ylä-Outinen

Arja Ylä-Outinen has been running Café Majurska (charming café in the historical Lappeenranta Fortress) since 2015, continuing her family’s long tradition in entrepreneurship. She’s passionate about local history, good food, and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through the café´s door. Whether hosting cultural events or chatting with regulars, Arja brings heart and personality to everything she does. 

First, you’ll visit a local market to pick up some ingredients for an outdoor lunch. After that, you’ll continue your journey to the municipality of Taipalsaari, where you will cook traditional Finnish salmon soup with Arja. Outdoor, in a lean-to shelter by the lake in Sarviniemi.

After the outdoor lunch, return to town. Take a walk-through Lappeenranta Harbor, the Sandcastle, and the historic Lappeenranta Fortress. 

Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the scenic Lappeenranta Harbor and visit the famous Sandcastle – don’t miss the nearby Fazer shop for a sweet treat. Continue to the historic Lappeenranta Fortress, home to three museums: the Cavalry Museum, the Art Museum, and the South Karelian Museum (free admission in July). Within the Fortress area, you'll also find Finland’s oldest Orthodox church, along with other charming and historically significant buildings. 

During your visit, you can also experience one of the summer’s most anticipated events on Lake Saimaa: the “Wanhojen Laiwojen Regatta,” taking place in Lappeenranta Harbor from July 18-20, 2025. This unique event offers a chance to admire beautiful historic ships and soak in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

19:00 Dinner at Prinsessa Armaada Ship Restaurant
Location: Ruuma is located in the Harbor 

It’s a popular spot where both locals and visitors gather, offering a great chance to experience the local summer vibe. Restaurant also own Sustainable Travel Finland -label. @prinsessaarmaada

Breakfast at hotel and free time before departure

11:00 Transfer by taxi from the hotel to the Lappeenranta Train Station

11:31-13:39 Train to Helsinki Airport (IC 6) via Tikkurila (Commuter train I)

16:20-17:20 Flight to Berlin (AY1437)