Lots of students, this is a popular evening meeting point. More on nightlife in the Rough Guide to Helsinki Overview Helsinki has, arguably a more diverse number of ways to spend the evening than any other Scandinavian country. There's always an opportunity to hear Finnish rock bands, though due to the awkward metre of their native language it's not always restful on the ear to do so, but there's no denying they are cheap. Summer is the only time to expect life outside, but it certainly buzzes in the parks - try heading on a Sunday to Kaivopuisto, the biggest events are there. There are plenty of alternative clubs, and dives dedicated to Dixieland, funk, blues even humpa , a purely Finnish dance.
Indie bands do the rounds too.
The gay nightlife scene in Helsinki is growing rapidly, and the cafes and clubs around Eerinkatu attract a mixed, hip crowd. For all nightlife, its worth picking up the free, fortnightly paper called City , or glancing at the weekend entertainment page of Helsingin Sanomat , though the English can be sketchy. All rights reserved.