Helsinki Half Marathon 2024

Commonly referred to as the White City of the North, it has a keen taste for sustainable design and Art Nouveau 🎨, consists of 330 islands that shape its elegant profile 🏖, and many find it reminiscent of its Russian neighbor, Saint Petersburg. So, any guesses ? ➡️ It’s a big yes for Helsinki! 🇫🇮

Perched by the Baltic Sea 🌊, the vibrant Finnish capital beautifully blends urbanism 🏙 with nature 🏞. As the water expands the horizon, numerous parks dot the cityscape with patches of green, seamlessly integrating among the calm buildings and wide avenues of the city. Here, all elements harmonize to surprise you at every turn 😍.

And when spring 🌸 sheds the city's snowy coat ❄️, and the dark winter days give way to the midnight sun of summer ☀️, the Helsinki Half Marathon awakens from its long hibernation 😴. In June, in the Töölö district, the Finnish capital comes alive each year with the footsteps of runners challenging themselves over 21.0975 km 🏃‍♀️. The race's course paints a faithful portrait of Helsinki: a land of contrasts living in true harmony with the nature surrounding it. Whether in the city, by the seaside, or in the heart of public parks, all amidst an electrifying atmosphere with several cheering stations. That's the Helsinki Half Marathon for you 🏁!

Let's dive a bit deeper into what you'll see along your journey 👀. Promised, step by step the various southern districts of the capital will open up to you, revealing their little secrets 😉. In Kluuvi, the Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum and the neoclassical styled Finnish Parliament will kick things off. A few kilometers down, the ports along the Hietalahdenranta bay will take over, soothing your soul with their blue aura 💙. Then, the Merikatu street and its traditional colored houses will take your breath away 🌈. The Katajanokka district and its stunning Uspenski Cathedral will be admired between breaths. Lastly, to add a touch of adventure to your 21.095 km, you'll explore, much like Robinson Crusoe, the Island of Tervasaari. Indeed, surprises await you throughout this beautiful loop in the southern part of the Finnish capital. And for the little ones 🐥, worry not, the organizers have everything planned: two races of 500 m and 1000 m are scheduled for this exceptional sporting event.

Because fatigue is no excuse, after indulging fully heartily in the Pasta Party 😋, your stamina will (still) be tested to keep up with the hourly pace of the long Finnish summer nights ⏰. Indeed, in the summer season, when nature generously bestows nearly 20 hours of daylight from June to July on this part of the world, the capital's philosophy can be summed up in a few words: don't bother going to bed, go out and fully enjoy the fleeting joys of the midnight sun ! The choice is yours: you can venture out to the Suomenlinna islands 🚣, wander around the market square 🥕 and the small port, marvel at the buildings decorated with Finnish fauna and flora motifs, or even relax in a seaside sauna 🔥. Guaranteed, Helsinki promises a night like no other ! 🌙