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.

Check the "my home" page ("read more" in the app) for more information about sleeping arrangements.

LAST-MINUTE REQUESTS WELCOME

I host a lot but not as much as I used to before: now I like to keep more breaks between guests. Anyway, as I live close to the centre of a capital city, I get a lot more requests than I can accept. 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. I don't want to read long essays about yourself and your travel philosophy: 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 tram stop is "Munkkisaari" (tram line 6T). For more detailed information, check "my home" page ("read more" in the app).

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.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I mostly host. Particularly I like returning guests. Hence, if you have stayed with me before and we left positive references to each other, you are most welcome again.

Interests

• dogs
• environment
• sauna
• christian
• geography
• tea
• vaccinated

Music, Movies, and Books

Apart from being an Eurovision fan, I am not very music oriented. When I am alone, I rarely listen to any music. However, I don't mind if someone plays their favourite music. Actually it is often rather nice and I am fine with any genre. Also, I don't watch much movies even if I enjoy them when I do. But I read: I particularly like books that give the reader insights to life, society and environment in some different places or periods of time.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have hosted 400+ guests, mostly here on CouchSurfing.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you get hosted by me, a picture of you (or a selfie of us together) might end up on my Instagram @nlipsane. I use it mostly as a guestbook to remember whom I have hosted or met. I hope that you don't mind.

TEA, COFFEE, MATE

Tea is always available, and maybe something with it. I usually drink either green tea or oolong.

I don't drink coffee but I have some coffee available at home for guests. There are plenty of nice cafés around to get a cup of coffee, if you need, but beware that the prices in Helsinki can be rather high.

In the morning I often drink mate cocido (yerba mate but not the traditional method of preparing it) and I can serve it to guests too, if they wish.

COOKING, RESTAURANTS

We can cook together, if you wish (but I am not very good cook myself). There are also a plenty of restaurants nearby but apart from some lunch offers they are rather pricey (this is Helsinki and I live in one of the most expensive parts of the city).

If we cook together, I eat almost anything but not mushrooms nor mustard. Also, I don't like very cheesy foods nor ketchup. I eat meat but not every day, and I am particularly happy meeting couchsurfers who can cook delicious vegetarian/vegan dishes. I also like spicy food.

I have WI-FI at home.

When I have a car we can use that for some day trip or I can drive you to/from the port if you are taking a ferry. It is a shared car so I don't have it all the time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

Dominica, Finland, Spain

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