Finland

Midsummer empties Helsinki as visitors find closed shops and restaurants

The city slows down when residents leave for the holiday and many businesses shut their doors. Some tourists arrive with a basic idea of Midsummer, but many are still caught off guard. Hero image idea: empty city centre or closed storefront

Midsummer celebration at Raadi Park in 2023 (3).jpg
Midsummer celebration at Raadi Park in 2023 with attendees enjoying the festivities. Ivo Kruusamägi · Wikimedia Commons

Midsummer leaves Helsinki unusually quiet as residents head out of town and many shops and restaurants close for the holiday. For visitors arriving during the weekend, the capital can feel very different from the busy city they expected.

According to HBL, most tourists who come to Helsinki at Midsummer have at least some idea of what the holiday means in Finland. Even so, many are completely unprepared for how much of the city’s everyday service disappears over the holiday period.

Sources

Story based on reporting from the outlets above. Päivän Sanomat editorial rewrite.

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