The Kotiharju Sauna, located in the trendy Kallio district, offers an authentic sauna experience right in the middle of the city. It’s the only wood-heated public sauna in Helsinki and has been around since 1928. It doesn't matter if it's a hot or cold summer, the sauna is popular among neighborhood regulars and tourists alike. Expect lots of banter both in the sauna and when cooling off outside, all the while checking out what's going on in the neighborhood.

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The area around Töölönlahti Bay is the perfect place to step outside for a bit all year round. You'll find me there a lot walking my dog. The route around the bay is popular both with people just out for a stroll as well as those out for a jog or a run. During summertime I love to stop by at a cafe or enjoy an ice cream on a park bench. For a longer trek I recommend Nuuksio National Park, which is not too far off from Helsinki city in Espoo.

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The island of Seurasaari, set on a beautiful green island just a few kilometres from the centre of Helsinki, offers lots of outdoor recreation for everyone. The Open-Air Museum there, having its 110th anniversary this year, is a must for young and old alike. It features buildings in old architectural styles that take you back in time to Finland's agrarian past. There's also a nice summer restaurant, a beach and spots where the public can do their own barbeques. The Midsummer Celebration, along with the island's own Midsummer Pyre, is particularly popular.

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I feel so lucky to live near Hietaniemi beach, or Hietsu as the locals call it. During summer it’s great to have such a wonderful beach right in the heart of the city. After work a bike ride by the shore feels like a mini vacation. The beach is beautiful throughout the year, as is the nearby Hietaniemi cemetery. During winter it’s actually hard to find a place with such ambiance and indeed it’s where I like to take my guests. It might sound a bit macabre, but not one of them has yet complained.

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The Espoo area, just adjacent to Helsinki city proper, boasts a 40-km-long waterfront trail that stretches across just about the entire coastline. There’s plenty to see and do along the trail, as well as quite a few seaside restaurants and cafes. It’s easy to get to the trail from Helsinki centre, for example by bike or metro. My favourite spots are the atelier and home of national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, now a museum, as well as seaside cafe Nokkala Lighthouse, from the terrace of which you can enjoy stunning views of the sea. From along the trail it’s also easy to jump on a boat and visit one of the nearby islands, for example Vasikkasaari or Pentala, which also houses the Archipelago Museum. The best way to get a feel for the sea is to get into the water of course, which you can do at the floating dock Laguuni, from where you can rent a paddle board or kayak.

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