Once again, the NHL Global Series is coming to Finland. And what’s more, the event will be held in Helsinki again rather than Tampere. That is purely a good thing, as two official NHL games will be played at Veikkaus Arena. The arena is located just 10 kilometers from my home.

This year, the Stanley Cup winners Carolina Hurricanes will face off against the Seattle Kraken. We’ll see at least a few Finnish players, with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi playing for Carolina, and Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen for Seattle. Tolvanen’s contract is still up in the air, but we trust he’ll sign a deal with Seattle.

Usually, the teams arrive in Finland about a week in advance. So one could assume that this November as well, the teams will arrive on Monday, November 9th, and head back to North America on Sunday, November 15th. A lot of people arrive along with the teams, including management, support staff, and fans. It’s quite the circus when the NHL comes to Finland!

Helsinki is a typical Nordic city. It’s much smaller than Stockholm or Copenhagen. However, you can find really high-quality restaurants, saunas, shops, and architecture here. Since it’s November, we might get the first snowfall, but the weather will most likely be windy and gray. Because of that, going to a sauna is probably the best thing you can do at that time of year! With almost 100% certainty, both teams will also go to the sauna.

Pst. I’m a sauna enthusiast. I actually know dozens of other saunas, so feel free to ask if you’d like any recommendations!

Pst. The city is located by the sea, so the weather can be very windy. If the weather is clear, it can still be warm enough to sit outside at cafes.

Pst. Helsinki is the food capital of Europe. * The ones with a star are my personal favorites. The rest are from lists of top-rated restaurants. Finland also has lots of local grill spots, and chicken wing restaurants are a total favorite for hockey players. Hook is the best one for that—a proper sports bar!

Pst. If the weather is nice, you can take a ferry to Suomenlinna Island. Located near the city center, this is a historic UNESCO World Heritage site. You can spend time outdoors walking around, but if the weather turns bad, head inside the restaurants and indoor spaces. NOTE: It’s not a single castle, but a sea fortress spread across islands.

Shopping locations are almost all found along Aleksanterinkatu. You can start your tour at the Stockmann department store and walk down Aleksanterinkatu. For example, Stockmann Herkku, located in the basement, sells chocolates and other Finnish souvenirs. 

Pst. You should buy some chocolate, salty liquorice, rye bread, and various candies to take back home with you from Finland. When you go to a regular grocery store or supermarket, you'll get to see high-quality, local products.

Helsinki has a lot to offer when it comes to sports, with various disciplines played here at the top national level. Ice hockey is visible everywhere in the city, as both Helsingin IFK and Helsingin Jokerit play here. Before the Global Series games, there will be a local derby match between these two teams. That game is definitely worth watching, either live at the arena or in a sports bar.

Besides ice hockey, basketball is also played in the city. On Friday, right between the NHL Global Series games, you’ll have plenty of time to catch a Helsinki Seagulls match. At the same time, you can visit the Olympic Stadium or the Sports Museum of Finland. They are located right next to all the sports venues. In Helsinki, distances are short and almost everything is within walking distance.

Pst. Helsinki has so much more to see, but I can't list everything here. It's also worth checking the City of Helsinki's official website to see what's happening during that week. I’m also happy to help you with more tips on things to see and do.

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