Cultural Hel

In this episode Dan and Heather are trawling through the mass of things to see, experience and taste in the Ullanlinna district. Scratching the surface would be the easiest way to describe this trip, but tune in for some good ideas of things to do if you find yourself in this cultural pocket of the city. So much to explore and see, join us... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ex...

This episode is mainly about Dan's endurance (read tiredness/over-doing-it!), spending a week with his 5 year old exploring the capital, straight into his first Tuska and then off to Tallinn! Time for a well-earned cup of tea! Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

It's the turn of Meilahti in this episode. Many people just think hospital when they hear Meilahti, but there is so much more to this area. There's Seurasaari and Tamminiemi, both the President's and Prime Minsiter's houses and a bronze age village - which turned out not to be... So much to explore and see, join us... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finla...

Heather and Day explore one of the most important days in the Helsinki calendar. The 12th of June is Helsinki Day. Taking in the Town Hall, The House of the Estates, a population protection shelter and Stogis (featuring an interview with local artist Elli Maanpää), there's plenty to tell from this yearly city-wide event. And as if that wasn't enough, Dan ventured straight on to the two-d...

What an area this episode! Kluuvi is huge and has so much going on that Heather and Dan barely scraped the surface (and managed to lose the final 2 parts of the recordings, so there is definitely reason to return)! From the National Library to Esplandi Park, Oodi to shopping centres, Kluuvi has it all. Join the adventure and see what else was found in district 2... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fol...

Dan visited the latest exhibition in the Didrichsen Museum and spoke with Rowan Bain, Chief Curator of the William Morris Gallery in London who was at the gallery opening about the exhibtion and who exactly William Morris was. Heather and Dan look forward to the upcoming Helsinki day events on 12th June. Plus more gossip from the captial city (and life in general)... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fo...

This episode it's the turn of one of Helsinki favourite family areas, Haaga. Divided into 4 unequal neighbourhoods, Heather and Dan did a lot of walking to find some dark history and struggled to find coffee! A wonderful church and many parks are on the agenda this week... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Heather and Dan visited the latest HAM exhibition - Magdalena Abakanowicz: Crossing Boundaries which is amazing, but also for the duration of the exhibition there is a weaving workshop hosted by textile designer  Rosa Tolnov Clausen who we spoke to while visiting. Dan has also been off to the 2026 edition of the World Village Fair to catch some more music and as if that wasn't enough he also t...

The sporting heart of Helsinki (along with many other fascinating places and objects) are explored in this episode. Heather and Dan take a trip around Taka-Töölö and probably don’t even scratch the surface of all the wonderful things there are to see and do in area 14. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Dan (finally) talks about visiting the Helsinki Coffee Festival. Heather returns from Spain. And the pair talk about Mother's Day and some other upcoming events in the capital area. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Dan has been getting his music fix visiting the 40th April Jazz Festival and speaking to renowned Armenian pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan and new recruit to Finland, Wilfried Wilde (from the trio Quite Vivian) about playing at the festival and more. Heather is soaking up the sun in Spain (or would be if she wasn't at a work conference! And with Vappu on the doorstep, we delve a little in...

Heather got herself sick, so Taka-Töölö will have to wait unfortunately. However, the pair discuss the new, longest bridge in Finland and its opening, Dan has been to another Global Music Night in Vuotalo and exciting upcoming events are discussed... Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Exciting times ahead as a new bridge will be opening this weekend. Heather has visited Kulttuuritalo, while Dan has been to its little brother KULT. Also Dan just got back from Tallinn Music Week and has been exploring an old cultural site with a Finnish link. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠⁠follow⁠⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Dan and Heather take on one of the most vibrant areas in the city. With so much to explore from landmark buildings to sculptures, museums to churches and libraries, this is a long but fruitful trip so strap in for the ride! Join us for this latest journey into Helsinki's boroughs... Click the follow button and ⁠⁠⁠⁠follow on socials⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and all the latest from the intrepid explorer...

Dan got bored and looking into the history of April Fools Day, while Heather is not feeling the Easter mood yet. There's some suggestions of Easter events in the city too. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠⁠follow⁠⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Heather and Dan take on the 3 sub-boroughs of Suutarila this week. Dan finds lots of houses and flats and an execution site in Tapulikaupunki and Töyrynummi respectively. Heather, on the other hand, has more success with Siltamäki, finding a couple of historic landmarks and artworks for us to visit and discuss (even if it took more than one attempt because of techincal issues!). Join us for this l...

Dan's just spent the weekend at Kinopalatsi watching the latest films from Asia and Heather explored the Lapinlahden Lähte gallery opening. Give Cultural Hel a ⁠follow⁠ and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Dan's been hitting a few of the new exhibitions in the centre of the city again! This time Sinebrychoff art museum, Galerie Forsblom & Galleria Sculptor are taken in and are well worth a trip. Also Heather reveals what her brother is planning when he visitis Finland this summer... Give Cultural Hel a follow and explore Finland's capital with Dan and Heather.

Dan's been busy visiting HAM, Villa Gyllenberg and the Didrichsen Art Museum to seek out some new exhibitions, while Heather has been to the theatre. We also touch on buying 2nd hand and it being agrowing culture in the city. And Heather asks the question (again) what will her brother do when he visits Finland (a slightly unusual things)? Click the follow button and ⁠⁠⁠follow on socials⁠⁠⁠ for...

In this episode Heather and Dan take in Helsinki's most notorious area, Kontula, which is one of 5 sub-boroughs of Mellunkylä. The pair discover that there is a fair bit more to this area than the obvious, with a park we never knew existed and much more along the way. Join us for this latest journey into Helsinki's boroughs... Click the follow button and ⁠⁠follow on socials⁠⁠ for pictures...

Dan's been off to volunteer at DocPoint film festival again and Heather has a warning about ice walking. Plus a few other bits and bobs thrown in... Click the follow button and ⁠⁠follow on socials⁠⁠ for pictures and all the latest from the intrepid explorers!

Malmi is like a mini-community of it's own within the city, so Heather and Dan went to take a look around. The famous Malmi airport which closed a few years back, the massive cemetery, Malmitalo and more are the subject of discussion in this latest exploration. Click the follow button and ⁠follow on socials⁠ for pictures and all the latest from the intrepid explorers!

The explorers have been busy since the last episode! Dan has been to see the premier of the latest theatre production by the Red Nose Company and has visited Vuotalo to catch some afrojazz by Sibelius Academy students. Heather has been keeping up to date with the 2026 food awards show and managed a museum visit too! Plus a few other bits and bobs thrown in... Click the follow button and ⁠follow on...

Kulosaari is a quiet island perfect for a walk. So Heather and Dan did just that and had a wonderful history tour guided by Jouko Koppinen (the author of a book about the history of Kulosaari) and Pam White. The quartet begin their exploration at the cemetery and all the way across the island via historic buildings and wonderful stories. This is one not to miss! Click the follow button and follow...

With Heather still finishing up her recovery, the hosts talk about some exciting upcoming events in our capital city, including Yle's 100 year anniversary and DocPoint Film Festival amongst other stuff. Get all the latest on our travels and cultural experiences by following us on your social media of choice ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .