HOSTING AGAIN IN JUL-AUG 2026! My home is within a walking distance from Helsinki city centre and from most passenger ports. It's particularly convenient for those travelling by ferries: arriving late in the night or leaving early in the morning is not a problem. SMALL HOME BUT CENTRAL LOCATION My home is not a fancy one. It is small and certainly in need of renovation but it is centrally located and should be convenient for guests who are more into exploring the city and its vicinity than spending much time at home. Due to the limited space, it is easiest to host just one guest at the time but occasionally I can host 2 or even 3 guests for 2–3 nights. LAST-MINUTE REQUESTS WELCOME I host a lot but not as much as I used to before. As I live close to the centre of a capital city, I get a lot more requests than I can accept, particularly during the summer season. Therefore, I have to decline many (at times most) even if there is nothing wrong with the request or with the guest. So don't take it personally if I have to decline yours. But please keep it simple. Be as exact with the dates and times as you can, say a few words about your purpose of travelling to Helsinki, and if you travel with someone tell something about them. Don't write long essays: if the dates match, I can read your profile and references (if you have them but I also host newbies who don't have any references yet). Last-minute requests are fine (actually, I prefer them). Pets are welcome. GOOD PUBLIC TRANSPOT It is about a 2-km walk from the railway and bus stations and 2-3,5 km from most passenger ferry ports to my home. The closest tramway stop is MUNKKISAARI (tram 6). I LIKE INDEPENDENT GUESTS I like independent guests who come in the evening and leave in the morning, and use the daytime to explore the city and its vicinity (like the national parks of Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi). We can then change experiences over a cup of tea or a glass of beer or wine in the evening, maybe have a dinner together. Sometimes, however, it is also nice to have guests who want some activity with the host (city walk, public sauna, small hike in a national park, beer in the park, visiting some musea, etc.) if I have time and if the guest is interested in such. CHANGES ARE FINE, JUST KEEP ME INFORMED I am flexible with changes. I have hosted a lot and I am used to guests changing plans even last minute. So if you need to cancel or change your dates it usually isn't any problem for me (if the new dates just fit in my schedule). What I don't like, however, when the guests don't communicate properly: changing plans is completely fine but please keep me updated. SOME ADDITIONAL INFO I am Christian (Lutheran) but guests can be of any denomination or religion or of none at all. I will not proselytise and I hope that you will neither. LGBTQ (or any other letter) people welcome: I may not always be up to date with all the vocabulary but I am friendly to everybody. I particularly enjoy hosting couchsurfers who have not travelled a lot yet because they often have more fresh views of Helsinki than those more experienced travellers who find a Nordic capital city rather boring after all the exotic places that they have been to (they don't say it but I can see it). However, those more seasoned travellers who also host themselves can be considered an exception because sometimes it is nice to change some experience with other hosts. In the winter I often host guests at my equally small home in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands). When you write a reference after your stay: If you tell something about my home, please mention whether you stayed with me in Helsinki or in Puerto de la Cruz. That way it is much more helpful to other surfers. If the reference is just about me as a person, then it doesn't matter.