We are open for exchanges in summer 2022 from June 24 to July 28!

We are a family of five. Our children were born in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and they will travel with us. We live in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

Our home is a terraced house on two floors. On the upper lever we have a kitchen, living room and one bedroom. Downstairs there are three bedrooms and a bathroom with sauna. There is a toilet on both floors. We have a small backyard. Our four bedrooms can accommodate five adults.

Our neighborhood Pakila is in northern Helsinki, it is surrounded by nature and the Helsinki Central Park. Just a few kilometres away there is a golf course and a sport center where you can swim (indoor and outdoor pools). Within walking distance (max 1km) we have cafeterias, supermarkets (S-Market and Lidl), small restaurant, kiosk with post office services, pharmacy, gym, health center, children's playground, gas station, city bike station and a library.

Helsinki’s proximity to the sea and surrounding nature offer an ideal setting for a wide range of outdoor activities throughout the year. If you want to visit Sweden or Estonia, ferries to Stockholm and Tallinn leave daily from Finland.

Getting around in Helsinki is easy. We have a City bike station (https://www.hsl.fi/en/citybikes) on our home street. Car is not needed in Helsinki at all, public transportation (HSL, https://www.hsl.fi/en) is very efficient and takes you wherever you want to go. Tourists can buy not only single tickets but also day tickets (1-7) that gives you possibility for unlimited use in buses, trams, trains, metros and ferries in Helsinki.

Things to do in Helsinki:
Visit Helsinki: http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en
Suomenlinna fortress - Unesco World Heritage Site: https://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum: http://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/seurasaari-openairmuseum
Helsinki Central Park: http://www.hel.fi/hel2/keskuspuisto/eng/1centralpark/
Vallisaari Island - Island nature: http://www.nationalparks.fi/Vallisaari
National parks: https://www.nationalparks.fi/
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma: http://www.kiasma.fi/en/
Allas Sea Pool: https://www.allasseapool.fi/en/
Oodi, Helsinki Central Library: https://www.oodihelsinki.fi/en/
Korkeasaari Zoo: https://www.korkeasaari.fi/helsinki-zoo/
Linnanmäki amusement park: https://www.linnanmaki.fi/en
Old Market Hall for food lovers: http://vanhakauppahalli.fi/en/
The Rock Church: http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/see-and-experience/sights-and-attractions/temppeliaukio-church-rock-church
Fazer chocolate factory - Finnish chocolate: http://www.visitfazer.com/en/
Cruisin the Finnish seas: https://www.visitfinland.com/article/cruisin-the-finnish-seas/
Finland, land of the Midnight Sun: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/land-of-the-midnight-sun/

Day trips with train / bus / rental car:
Beautiful little town Porvoo, about 50km from Helsinki: http://www.visitporvoo.fi/en
Turku: https://www.visitturku.fi/en
Turku Castle: Turku Castle: https://www.turku.fi/en/turkucastle
Hämeenlinna: http://www.visithameenlinna.fi/en/
Tampere: https://visittampere.fi/en/
The birthplace of Aleksis Kivi, National author of Finland: http://www.museo-opas.fi/en/museum/aleksis-kiven-syntymäkoti
Ainola, home of the composer Jean Sibelius: http://www.museo-opas.fi/en/museum/ainola

Finnish design outlets and stores:
Marimekko: https://www.marimekko.com/fi_fi/storelocator
Iittala, Arabia and Fiskars: https://www.iittala.com/fi/fi/outlet
Artek: https://www.artek.fi/artekhelsinki/en/

Near our home:
Korkee climbing park: https://korkee.fi/
Swimming hall (indoor and outdoor pools): https://servicemap.hel.fi/unit/40774
Paloheinä Golf: www.paloheinagolf.fi/english
Local restaurant, House of Sandwiches: http://ravintola.hofs.fi/
Gym: http://www.saluspakila.fi/