One of the most annoying things when traveling these days is finding an open wireless Internet access. You’re in a foreign town, wanting to check your email, see what’s worth a visit and check out what’s on tonight, but you can’t find the net access anywhere.

Alternative to looking for open wi-fi signs, which are rarely posted or barely visible, is to fire up your notebook and walk around. It works, but it is both incredibly inefficient and a bit dorky.

I was exhilarated when I learned about a year ago that Helsinki city center is quite efficiently covered with free wireless Internet spots courtesy of the city of Helsinki. So next time before you visit Helsinki make sure you make a screen-grab of the Helsinki WLAN hotspots map.

I’ve heard that the cities of Vantaa and Espoo, which together with Helsinki make the Helsinki metropolitan area, have started planning a similar free Internet access too. But don’t hold your breath as it might take a couple of years before it materializes.

Alternatively you can also check the Omakaupunki service provided by Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. Yes, the service does sort of resemble Steven Johnson’s fantastic Outside.in, but is not just yet as valuable and user-friendly. (By the way, it would be nice if guys and gals at Outside.in would expand their service to Europe at some point, wouldn’t it.) Unfortunately the Omakupunki page is only in Finnish, but you should be able to find your way around by following this link displaying the free WLAN spots around town.

However, I must also mention a couple of favorite spots that I frequent when in Helsinki: Kiasma and Sanomatalo. Both are smack in the center, just a stone throw away from the railway station and both stunning pieces of architecture absolutely impossible to miss. But what I like best about them is that both are semi-public covered places, which is perfect when it’s raining or cold (which in Helsinki is often).

Internet being the new TV in terms of how easily you can spend time (waste, really), make sure you actually go out and explore Helsinki too.

Mladen