Norway is quite a distance away from Hong Kong. At the peak summer season, I was worried it would be a costly flight even if going the long way through the Middle East. Luckily, Finnair had a very affordable fare of just over HKD$5600 with a short stopover in Helsinki. While I have visited Helsinki before, I was flexible to take a 2-day break here to head outside the city, where I wasn't able to cover last time.
Advertising themselves as a quick way to Europe, the advertised flight times are great - 10.5 hours into Finland and just 1.5 hours more into Oslo. This journey into Europe would be far less punishing than through Dubai.
After a nice walk in the city centre, it was time to head back to the airport. The P and I lines make the trip from the Art Deco-strewn main railway station in about 30 minutes.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0215.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0218.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0219.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0222.jpg)
My last connection here was quite pleasant with few people in the empty terminal. Today was a completely different story. The check-in desks had long lines but security was luckily manageable. Air-side, the hallways were full of people. A look at the departure boards gave the answer. There were several long-haul departures between 4-6pm - San Francisco, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Shanghai. Helsinki has become a victim of its own success.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0223.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0226.jpg)
At the shops, I pondered whether to get some weird and querky souvenirs. However, elk and reindeer are a bit too exotic for my taste.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0227.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0228.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0229.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0233.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0237.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0235.jpg)
Staff were around to direct the crowds through the corridors but there are nasty bottlenecks at some spots, especially at immigration.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0242.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0244.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0245.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0246.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0248.jpg)
At this airport, this international burger chain serves you alcohol!
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0249.jpg)
My gate would be 50, which they oddly subdivided into a lot of letters.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0250.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0251.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0252.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0253.jpg)
After a long walk, I found the 50s downstairs in a seemingly new pier of bus gates.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0254.jpg)
There wasn't much of a proper seating area although there is enough food available to get you full while waiting to board.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0255.jpg)
It was a busy pier as many flights were departing close to each other.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0258.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0259.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0260.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0261.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0262.jpg)
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0263.jpg)
Despite the added hassle, I enjoyed the ride out to the A350 with ssome unique views of the airport.
![](http://www.globalphotos.org/helsinki/20180719/IMG_0266.jpg)