HELSINKI, FINLAND
A strong Finnish
Spring is a fine time to take the plunge in Helsinki, with the last of the snow clouds disappearing over the horizon and the ice that clad the Finnish capital’s shores over winter thawing for the year. Start by taking the ferry to Suomenlinna, a former island fortress a 15-minute chug away that’s now home to cafés, museums, restaurants and a brewery. Once you’ve finished ambling its cannon-lined perimeter, return to the city to indulge in that most Finnish of activities: the sauna. Löyly, the ultimate study in the use of pine, is a striking addition to the waterfront. After stints in its dry and smoke rooms, make like a local and leap into the brisk waters of the Baltic outside. You can recover with elk meatballs and a Finnish lager in the adjoining restaurant.