The Nordic Aesthetics

Private transfer from the airport to Kotka with a simple lunch in town sets a calm start. Settle into Sunila, Alvar and Aino Aalto’s seaside community, where renovated apartments keep original layouts, pale timber and quiet views under the pines. There is time to unpack, breathe and walk a short loop through the neighborhood to understand the plan of the place.

The afternoon gathers at Kantola, the former mill manager’s residence, where the seaside sauna stands beside the main house and the day moves into bathing. Steam rises steadily, the fireplace offers pauses between rounds, and the sea air carries through the changing rooms. The rhythm stays unhurried.

Dinner is served next door in the main house. We invite you to sit down and enjoy a unique combination of quality and refinement, complemented by the surrounding architecture and history. The Mill Manager's Dinner is a multi-course catered evening where the chef prepares the dishes on the spot, just for you. Please allow approximately four hours for the dinner.
The evening returns to Sunila for rest, with time for a short night stroll if you like, and a clear plan for the morning.

A local homemade breakfast in Sunila is delivered to your apartment and an unhurried check‑out lead into the private transfer to Helsinki. Check in at Hotel F6 near Esplanadi Park, where wooden floors, soft textiles and a sheltered courtyard make a reliable base.

Midday brings a guided visit inside the Aalto House in Munkkiniemi, where a measured walk through the studio and home of the Alto´s shows the couple’s working methods and daily life.
The guide sets context for materials, light and proportion, tying yesterday’s Sunila to today’s address.

Later, the day turns to the shoreline for a public session at Löyly Sauna (2016) in Helsinki is designed by Avanto Architects, International Architecture Award winner and listed in TIME’s “World’s 100 Greatest Places.”

This building consists of a black “core” with saunas and a restaurant, enclosed by a low, faceted shell of heat-treated pine, which forms wide, stepped roof terraces and allows the house to blend naturally into the coastline. The wooden slats act as both a climate shield, sun protection and a filter for views of the sea, while walkways and decks lead guests from urban spaces to the water’s edge. Access to the sea is direct year‑round, and there is space to sit between rounds with wide views over the water.

Dinner follows on site with seasonal plates and easy flow from the changing rooms to the table is created.
The return to F6 is short by car or on foot, and the night stays open. 

Hotel breakfast sets a steady start before a morning visit to the Design Museum, where the collection sketches Finland’s design story in clear lines. From there, the route continues to Iittala and the Marimekko outlet for a focused look at glass, ceramics and textiles that have shaped everyday life. Lunch is casual and at your own pace in the centre, with our best suggestions.

Afternoon is reserved for a short hands‑on hour at Paja Design on Eerikinkatu, a compact jewellery studio where you sit at the bench and form a simple silver piece to take home.

We start the evening by the Market Square for public bathing at Allas Sea Pool, an urban deck with multiple saunas, a heated pool and a seawater basin used for cold dips. Ferries cross the harbour as you pause between rounds, and cafés on site make it easy to linger. Rest of the evening plans are open, with the hotel an easy walk away and the city centre at the doorstep.

After breakfast at F6, the morning traces a guided line through Helsinki’s Design District. The District brings together the city's design heritage and contemporary ideas in a compact, walkable area spanning 25 streets and nearly 200 addresses—from iconic names to small studios and workshops. At its core are Finnish design values: clean lines, natural materials, function, and sustainability—with time to delve into the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture side by side.

Lunch is simple and self‑hosted in the area or the centre, with options to suit appetite and schedule.

The afternoon turns to Kallio for Kotiharjun Sauna, the city’s oldest continuously wood‑heated public bath from 1928. Inside, the rooms are sturdy and unadorned, benches climb high, and regulars mix with visitors in a relaxed, neighbourly flow that often spills onto the street to cool down.

Evening gathers at Ravintola Kosmos on Kalevankatu, a fourth‑generation dining room from 1924 where white tablecloths, wood panelling and long‑tenured staff hold the room steady. The menu runs to enduring Finnish‑European staples such as vorschmack, herring and schnitzel, served without fuss.
Return to Hotel F6 for the last night in the city.

Breakfast at the hotel sets the final morning. There is a little free time for a short walk around Esplanadi or a quick coffee nearby, depending on flight timing. The private transfer collects you at the arranged time from the hotel door.

You leave with usable sauna skills: how to pace rounds, cool safely and recover, and how to set up a simple routine at home.
Your understanding of Finnish design is sharper; materials, proportion and light are easier to read and understand in a Finnish context.
You have explored the hidden gem of Nordic Design.
Have a safe flight back.