Modern Finland, Finnish Flavours and Living History in Youth Exchange Programme
16.7.2026
After exploring Helsinki's sea fortress on Wednesday, Thursday introduced the Youth Exchange participants to three very different sides of Finland: one of the world's most modern libraries, Finland's favourite burger chain and a journey back in time at an open-air museum.
Creating Memories at Oodi
The morning began at Oodi Helsinki Central Library, where the participants discovered that Finnish libraries are much more than places for books. They explored the gaming areas, tried interactive activities and spent time together playing games.
One of the highlights was making personal Youth Exchange 2026 badges. Participants designed and pressed their own camp badge.
A Taste of Finland at Hesburger
Lunch was enjoyed at Hesburger, Finland's largest fast-food chain. For many of the international visitors, it was their first time trying a Finnish burger.
The participants especially praised the burgers and Hesburger's famous mayonnaise. They were also surprised to learn that the company originally started as a mayonnaise manufacturer before becoming Finland's best-known burger restaurant.
Stepping Back in Time at Seurasaari
Tekijä: BishkekRocks - Oma teos, CC BY-SA 3.0
In the afternoon the group travelled to Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, where a guided tour introduced them to traditional Finnish life and architecture from different regions of the country.
Walking among centuries-old wooden houses, farm buildings and historic boats gave the participants a glimpse into how Finns lived long before modern cities and technology.
One stop quickly became a favourite. According to local stories, one of the old buildings is haunted. Although no ghosts appeared during the visit, the mysterious atmosphere certainly added excitement to the tour.
After the guided walk, the group enjoyed Seurasaari's peaceful nature and looked for the island's famous birds and squirrels. They spotted several animals, although none were interested in accepting the group's food offerings.
