• Helsinki Biennial 2025 Brings Art to the Heart of the City

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    Helsinki Biennial returns in summer 2025, stronger than ever. In its third edition, this major contemporary art event brings together 37 international artists and artist groups from around the world and unfolds uniquely across Vallisaari Island, Esplanadi Park, and HAM Helsinki Art Museum. The Biennial will be open to the public from June 8 to September 21, 2025.

    The Theme of Shelter Invites Us to See, Listen, and Experience

    This year’s Biennial carries the theme Shelter: Beneath and Beyond the Surface, Becoming Something and Belonging Somewhere. The theme invites us to reflect on the concept of shelter in its many forms – physical, ecological, and societal. Curators Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen found inspiration particularly in Vallisaari island’s preserved nature and biodiversity.

    The artworks explore shelter not only from a human perspective but also from that of other species. Plants, animals, insects, minerals, and even the holistic well-being of our planet come to the fore.

    A bit rainy and foggy day gives a nice mysterious perspective to the Vallisaari island art and Helsinki Biennial 2025
    A bit rainy and foggy day gives a nice mysterious perspective to the Vallisaari island art

    A Global Line-up of Acclaimed Artists

    The list of participating artists is impressive. Among them are Maria Thereza Alves (BR/DE), Band of Weeds (FI), Olafur Eliasson (DK/IS), Ernesto Neto (BR), Yayoi Kusama (JP), Nomeda Urbonas & Gediminas Urbonas, Giuseppe Penone, Hans Rosenström and numerous leading Finnish contemporary artists. In total, 57 works will be presented throughout Helsinki, half of which are newly commissioned pieces.

    Three Unique Locations – Thousands of Experiences

    Vallisaari offers an unforgettable setting where nature and art meet. The island is accessible by ferry operated by FRS Finland from the Market Square, with regular service throughout the summer. Esplanadi Park transforms into an open-air art stage, where artworks are freely accessible to all. At HAM Helsinki Art Museum in Tennispalatsi, exhibitions provide a deeper context to the theme.

    Free Ferry Rides to Vallisaari on Three Fridays

    While HAM charges an entrance fee, all other Biennial locations are free to visit – since there are free ferry rides on three Fridays: on 27 of June, 25th of July, and 29th of August.

    Helsinki Invites Students to Participate

    The Biennial emphasizes accessibility, including for school groups. The City of Helsinki invites up to 10,000 students to visit Vallisaari in August and September. The goal is to offer young people memorable art experiences that go beyond textbooks!

    A Lasting Artistic Legacy

    The City of Helsinki aims for each Biennial to leave a permanent mark on the cityscape. Previous Biennials introduced lasting artworks such as Alicja Kwade’s Big Be-Hide and Laura Könönen’s Ei talvista rajaa tunne.

    Discover, Experience, and Participate

    Helsinki Biennial 2025 is a full urban experience. It unites the sea, forest, and city, invites visitors of all ages, and encourages everyone to pause and engage with art in everyday life.

    Opening Hours and Practical Info:

    • Helsinki Biennial: June 8 – September 21, 2025
    • Esplanadi Park exhibitions: open daily
    • HAM Helsinki: Tue–Sun 11am–6pm (Wed 11am–7pm)
    • Vallisaari: Tue–Sun 11am–6pm (also open during Midsummer)

    Ferry to Vallisaari:

    • Departs from Market Square with FRS Finland, journey approx. 20 minutes
    • Regular round-trip ticket €10.90
    • Free ferry days: June 27, July 25, August 29

    More Information and Schedules:
    www.helsinkibiennaali.fi

    Helsinki Biennial is also good way to spend Helsinki’s 475 years birthday today, on 12th June, 2025. Congratulations Helsinki!

    This article is part of my
    → Trip to Helsinki – Visual Travel Guide.

    You can find all my Helsinki travel videos
    → here.

    Discover more Helsinki content

  • A Michelin-Level Breakfast in the Heart of Helsinki

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    Located in the heart of Helsinki, NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa is currently offering something truly special at its breakfast table – and I went to test and photograph it myself. The hotel is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the NH Collection hotel chain by serving an exclusive celebratory breakfast, created in collaboration with Michelin-starred Finnjävel restaurant’s head chef, Mikael von Lüders.

    Aesthetics meet Finnish tradition

    The highlight of the breakfast is a modern and elegant take on a Finnish classic – röpörieska flatbread. This refined dish features a slightly thicker baked barley flatbread topped with cold-smoked salmon, a delicately poached egg cooked to 64 degrees Celsius, sour cream, and bursts of salmon roe. The flavor combination is both visually stunning and a delight for the taste buds – a perfect way to start the day in Helsinki’s atmospheric city center. The lovely terrace in the centre of Helsinki is also open.

    Finnjävel’s Signature Touch Adds Depth to the Dish

    Finnjävel is renowned for its strong dedication to Finnish culinary heritage and its modern interpretation. Mikael von Lüders’ skillful approach is clearly present in this special anniversary breakfast, which combines Finnish roots with a refined fine dining experience.

    Breakfast at NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa hotel
    Breakfast at NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa hotel

    Röpörieska Available for a Limited Time – Until October 2025

    Röpörieska is a traditional Finnish flatbread, especially popular in Eastern Finland, such as in the Savo region. It is made from barley and buttermilk, resulting in a soft and moist texture. Röpörieska is often served during Midsummer and other festive occasions, typically accompanied by butter or egg butter.

    Now, this celebratory version of röpörieska is available at NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa until October 2025. Similar Michelin-level breakfast experiences are also offered at selected NH Collection hotels in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico, Argentina, and Finland.

    So, if you want to combine aesthetic pleasure, Finnish food culture, and the atmosphere of an international premium hotel, this breakfast is a must-try. It is an experience to savor – and one you won’t soon forget.

    A Celebration with International Scope and a Local Heart

    NH Collection is known for its high-quality hotels in major cities around the world – and now also in Helsinki. The new hotel has opened in a historically significant building and it blends Finnish cultural heritage with an international hotel concept. NH Collection Helsinki is part of a network of 10 hotels in Europe and Latin America participating in the Signature Breakfast Constellation Edition campaign, where celebratory breakfasts are being served.

    Participating Hotels and Chefs:

    • NH Collection A Coruña Finisterre: Culler de Pau (2 stars), Javier Olleros
    • NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa: Paco Roncero Restaurante (2 stars), Paco Roncero
    • NH Collection Cáceres Palacio de Oquendo: Versátil (1 star), Alejandro Hernández
    • NH Collection Milano CityLife: La Parolina (1 star), Iside de Cesare
    • NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento: Pipero (1 star), Ciro Scamardella
    • NH Collection Eindhoven Centre: Wiesen (1 star), Yuri Wiesen
    • NH Collection Copenhagen: Kadeau (2 stars), Nicolai Nørregaard
    • NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa: Finnjävel (1 star), Mikael von Lüders
    • NH Collection Mexico City Reforma: Biko, Mikel Alonso
    • NH Collection Buenos Aires Crillon: García, Luciano García

    35 Million Guests, 20 Million Breakfasts – and Now, Michelin-Level Quality

    The NH Collection hotel chain is part of the international Minor Hotels family, with over 100 hotels and 15,000 rooms across Europe and Latin America. Over the past decade, the hotels have served more than 35 million breakfasts – 20 million of them in buffet style. Now, this breakfast experience is reaching a new pinnacle: the Signature Breakfastseries, featuring 11 Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants.

    I’ve stayed in two NH Collection hotels in Europe myself, though neither of them is part of the Signature Breakfast Constellation Edition campaign. However, both stays were excellent – especially in Budapest. In Rome, the buffet breakfast was particularly memorable.

    Finnjävel’s Signature Dish Available by Request

    If you wish to elevate your hotel breakfast with a touch of luxury, this celebratory Röpörieska dish is available upon request during the breakfast service at Hansa Café Brasserie, priced at €40 including the breakfast, until October. Hansa Café’s breakfast is a near-perfect experience for both hotel guests and local food lovers – and a wonderful introduction to the world of Michelin stars.

    And best of all: breakfast is served until 1 PM on weekends!

    Short video of the breakfast in NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa hotel

    But Why Exactly 64 °C?

    Cooking an egg to precisely 64 degrees Celsius is a refined culinary technique aimed at achieving the perfect balance in texture between the egg white and yolk. This temperature is often referred to as the “64-degree egg” or, in English, the “onsen egg” – a nod to the traditional Japanese method of gently cooking eggs in natural hot springs.

    The Science Behind the Temperature Choice

    Different parts of the egg coagulate at different temperatures:

    • The egg white begins to set at around 62–63 °C but remains soft and tender at 64 °C.
    • The yolk starts to thicken around 65–70 °C, so at 64 °C it remains runny but slightly thickened.

    The Result: A Perfect Texture

    When the egg is gently cooked for a prolonged time at a stable 64 °C – typically between 45 to 60 minutes – the result is:

    • A soft, custard-like white that is smooth and not rubbery, unlike a hard-boiled egg.
    • A yolk that is rich, creamy, and luxuriously silky in texture.

    Fine Dining Elegance

    This technique is a hallmark of modern fine dining, as it showcases the egg’s subtle structure and flavor profile. It’s often used in:

    • Soup garnishes
    • Warm gourmet salads
    • Toasts or brioche dishes
    • Japanese ramen bowls

    Cooking an egg to 64 °C is not intended for everyday breakfast, but for a carefully curated culinary experience where texture and flavor are elevated to a new level. It’s ideal for visually refined dishes and indulgent breakfasts that aim to impress.

    Read more about travel, dining, and artistic experiences –

    This article is part of my
    → Trip to Helsinki – Visual Travel Guide.

    You can find all my Helsinki travel videos
    → here.

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