Finnair Plus - Layover in HEL, suggestions on activities?

I'll have a 6 hrs layover in HEL from JFK heading to BRU, and then an over night stay again going back the other way. Any recommendation on things to do that would allow me to get back in time for the flight? And, is passport control/security time consuming? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'll have only 1 carry on. No checked bags.

I'll have a 6 hrs layover in HEL from JFK heading to BRU, and then an over night stay again going back the other way. Any recommendation on things to do that would allow me to get back in time for the flight? And, is passport control/security time consuming? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'll have only 1 carry on. No checked bags.

Well, I guess it depends what you want to do. It takes some 30+ minutes to get to the center by taxi, so you have maybe three hours to play around with in the city. Temppeliaukio Church (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_Church)(aka Church in the Rock) might be worth a visit (despite your moniker :p ) National Gallery (http://www.ateneum.fi/default.asp?docId=12532)is good, if you are into art from 19th and early 20th century art, Kiasma (http://www.kiasma.fi/kiasma_en)can be interesting for friends of more modern art offerings. If you had more time (and the weather is good), I'd recommend Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.

Passport control is not very time consuming, unless there are several planes from Asia at the same time, and -- if they are on time -- HKG and SIN flights will arrive so early they won't affect you. Coming back to the airport, usually the security is pretty quick. If the main checkpoint is busy, you can use the smaller one at the west end of T2. (I don't know if you are flying biz, in which case you can use the priority line.)

One option is to stay indoors, especially if the weather isn't good. There is a big shopping mall Jumbo close (5-10 min taxi drive) to the airport, the mall is linked to the large Flamingo leisure center and Spa.

Information in English:

http://www.jumbo.fi/en

http://www.flamingospa.fi/index.php/English/Etusivu/flamingo-spa.html

When are you travelling and what weekday is your arrival to HEL?
It all depends on that.... And are you in HEL for the first time?

And your overnight, are you arriving early from BRU, in which case it might be a good idea to stay overnight in Helsinki, as JFk flight only leaves around 2PM

Hand luggage you can leave with luggage storage at HEL Airport, is you so wish.

If you are an aviation buff, a pretty good option is the aviation museum near the airport.

Cheers,
T.

If the main checkpoint is busy, you can use the smaller one at the west end of T2. (I don't know if you are flying biz, in which case you can use the priority line.)

I would not recommend wasting your time to check the T2 checkpoint at the very far end. This works (or at least looks like it) as a Delhi train station at rush hour should you hit security at the wrong time. This is where my usual airline has its check-in :td:

The main security check point is actually very clever (the best non fast track anywhere IMO) as there is no "real" queue as the "preperations" to remove this and that is before you get in line for the actual check if it makes sense. This means the line through screening is never (well almost) held up because people have removed everything before entering ^^^ <- Yes the seldom used triple thumbs up

The main security check point is actually very clever (the best non fast track anywhere IMO) as there is no "real" queue as the "preperations" to remove this and that is before you get in line for the actual check if it makes sense. This means the line through screening is never (well almost) held up because people have removed everything before entering ^^^ <- Yes the seldom used triple thumbs up

Hmmm. I personally find the system rather terrible. It's probably all fine if you can travel really light (wrt hand luggage). But, once you've got a laptop, some liquids, a winter coat, and a maximum sized hand luggage bag, getting all those from the "preparations area" to the security screening belt can be quite stressful even with minor congestion. And there often still is a line to the check point, meaning that you may have to hold those baskets, bags and other stuff in your hands for a few minutes before you can put them down.