As a side point, Helsinki has a 24% vat. You can get this refunded at the airport on purchases over 40 euro. Stockmann department store will give you a 10% off pass if you show your passport at customer sevice on the eighth floor.
After we dropped off our bags at the Indigo we took a short tram ride to the water. Check out the open air market but watch the sea gulls that we saw stealing people’s food right out of their hands. We took the 15 minute ferry to Suomenlinna Island. The island itself is free but the ferry, tour, and the several museums and submarine on the island cost an entrance fee. The ferry and all the activities were free with the Helsinki card. We bought it just for the day and it was well worth it. I did not think that each individual attraction was worth the cost but with the card it pays to experience each activity for free. There is a lot of individual exploring that you can do on the island and we devoted half a day to this place.
We took the ferry back and then a short tram back to the central bus station and took a train to Espoo and from there the 245 bus to Haltia nature center and reserve. Once again the trains and entrance were free with the pass. I would not pay for the meuseum but it was worth about an hour of time if you have the pass. Just outside the museum there are a dozen hiking paths from a one hour wheelchair accessible loop to full day hikes. Ask in the museum for suggestions. Since it doesn’t get dark until 11 in the summer we took the train back and explored the city by foot.
The second day we started out at the Stockmann store which opens at 9. They have eight floors of all kinds of stuff including raindeer carpets. There is a nice grocery store where you can stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. We took the 24 bus to Seurassaari open air museum. The bus drops you off right by the bridge and you walk over onto the island. There are hiking paths and houses collected from various places around the country from various time periods. You can pay to go into each house and hear an explanation but we just viewed them from the outside. Watch the squirrels. There is a sign that they are not afraid of people but they looked like they were ready to attack me. At night we went to the amusement park in town called Linnanmaki. The all ride pass was about 40 euro but all proceeds go to a children’s project. There is a huge candy store, several roller coasters and assorted games. We just went and people watched. It closes at 10.
On day three we took the free bikes from the Indigo hotel for a ride. We rode past the open air market and all the way on the bike path by the water. We passed cruise ships, joggers and people walking their dogs. We returned the bikes and took the number 3 tram to the largest park inside Helsinki called Kaivopuisto. There are places for kids to play, have a picnic or just go for a leisurely walk.
We had a 7 pm flight so we picked our bags up at the hotel and took the half hour train back to the airport. Note that the regional transportation pass includes the airport and surrounding areas. The pass cost 14 euro for the first day and only 7 euro for additional days. The flight home was aa points business on Finnair so we had lounge access. The lounge was empty, comfortable but only limited food. There was a self serve drinks station including beer, and liquor seved including glenfinnich. Nithing kosher, just oranges and pears. We had seats in the first row and the was no one else in the businees section so we had twelve rows to ourselves, our own stewardess and our own bathroom. Seats were regular seats but I dont think that I ever had an entire section to myself. Overall a great trip.