Hakaniemi market hall and Finnish food

Itinerary

1. 1

   Welcome and sound check 10 min

   The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Helsinki before heading out.

2. 2

   Karelian pies 21 min

   Inside Hakaniemi market hall, the guide points out a stall making Karelian pies, thin rye crusts filled with rice porridge, then finished with a smear of egg butter. She explains why this simple pastry became a national staple.

3. 3

   Smoked fish counter 21 min

   At the smoked fish counter, the camera takes in whole sides of salmon and trout curing over wood smoke. The guide explains how the fishmongers source from lakes and coastal waters across the country.

4. 4

   Reindeer and rye bread 21 min

   Further along, the guide points out reindeer meat, dense rye bread and a row of Finnish cheeses. She explains how far north the reindeer comes from and why rye bread stays this dark and dense.

5. 5

   Salmiakki and a coffee break 21 min

   At a small café inside the hall, the guide shows a bag of salmiakki, the salty liquorice Finns either love or avoid, alongside coffee and a cinnamon bun. She explains why the salty version took hold here more than anywhere else in Europe.

6. 6

   Your questions 18 min

   Time to ask anything about Helsinki: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.

7. 7

   A short list to keep 8 min

   Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Rye bread and Kruununhaka, worth a slower look.