With its frigid temperatures and short daylight hours, Finland’s capital city of Helsinki is a tough sell for tourists once winter sets in. But if you’re willing to brave the weather, Helsinki will appreciate your mettle.
The organizers of a European startup festival, Slush, hung up a rather amusing banner to welcome attendees to a tech conference they were hosting.
“Nobody in their right mind would come to Helsinki in November,” reads a sign greeting visitors to the land of the Vikings. “Except you, you badass. Welcome.”
Slush CEO Marianne Vikkula told British news site indy100 that, “Helsinki in November is weather-wise probably the worst possible place you can imagine.” She added that the days are short and cold, and the city streets are full of “muddy slush,” but it looks like there’s a lot to enjoy if you don’t mind being wet, cold and caressed by darkness.
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Some Finns would probably advise you to wait until summer, however, when the daylight can last up to 18 hours and the beaches are warm and welcoming.
The badass banner struck a prideful chord for those who know the city’s seasons and appreciate its culture. The Finnish Embassy in Washington, D.C. tweeted this note of praise:
Helsinki has the best tourism posters: @SlushHQ congratulated brave tourists who traveled to the snowy city. https://t.co/UbNVpV3OAypic.twitter.com/WfWb9I4Dyd
— Embassy of Finland in the US 🇫🇮 (@FinlandinUSA) December 7, 2016
This story has been corrected to reflect the banner’s location.
