Matka travel fair in Helsinki 2018

The Matka travel fair in Helsinki is not only Finland's largest travel fair, but the largest travel fair in the entire Nordic region. We arrived in Helsinki by plane just before lunchtime yesterday, and then we hung out at the fair for most of the day.

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Matka in Helsinki

The Matka travel fair in Helsinki is organised at Messukeskus and this year attracted almost 900 exhibitors from 83 countries around the world. New countries visiting Matka for the first time this year included Ghana, Rwanda (top photo) and the Arab Emirate of Ras-al-Khaimah.

The fair runs from Thursday to Sunday. During the first two days, the fair is open to the industry, and lots of meetings between buyers and sellers in the travel industry are booked. Journalists and bloggers are also welcome during these days, but due to work, we chose to come first on the weekend, when the fair is open to the public.

Ghana visited Matka in Helsinki for the first time

Gigantic trade fair

The Matka travel fair in Helsinki is really a gigantic fair. You walk and walk among the exhibitors, which consist of destinations, tour operators, airlines, shipping companies, hotels, suitcase sellers and all sorts of others.

Some stands offer dancing or competitions, and there are also plenty of stalls selling food from around the world. Right next door is the Caravan Fair, which exhibits motorhomes and caravans. We'll tell you about it soon!

Matka i Helsingfors — Entering the exhibition hall ...

Karelska piroger — Or why not a Karelian pirogue?

Exciting destinations?

There are of course lots of exciting destinations at the fair! We took a look at Jordan, are still keen on Tunisia and have our eyes on India. Among other things. We also looked at a lot of destinations in Europe, which may be suitable for our planned motorhome trip this summer/autumn.

Matka Helsinki — A bit of a beach feel at Matka in Helsinki

READ MORE: Caravan - motorhome fair in Helsinki
READ MORE: Choosing a ferry or flight to Helsinki

Where do we live during the fair?

You can actually stay in a hotel on the fairground, but it was a bit more expensive than we thought. Instead, we found Finlandia Park Hotel which is located in the Käpylä area, within walking distance of the fair. There is not much around the hotel, but the area feels nice with beautiful old wooden villas along the road.

Both the room and the service are excellent and you can't complain about the price either. We paid 750 SEK for two (possibly there was a temporary discount on the price), and that included breakfast. Very satisfied!

Finlandia Park hotell — This is where we live - just over a kilometre from the fair!

Helsingfors — The hotel is located in a nice neighbourhood

More to see and do in Helsinki

Want more tips for the Finnish capital? Then read our guide on what to do in Finland's capital. what to see and do in Helsinki. Below you will find even more tips for Finland.

21 January 2018 6:00

Finland, Travel inspiration

fairs, journey

Helena

Administrator

28 Comments

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Liniz Travel says:

Lovely pictures 😉 was the fair good? Hugs

21 January 2018 - 8:25

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The fair is good, ie a very large travel fair! Like this on the weekend, it is mostly for private individuals, however. As a travel blogger, it can probably be good to come Thursday or Friday if you can.
  
  21 January 2018 - 9:20
  
  Reply
Christian says:

Glad you went over and watched!

21 January 2018 - 8:29

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Holding the fort 🙂
  
  21 January 2018 - 9:25
  
  Reply
Mr Steve says:

Christmas Eve for you, I imagine. I would love to walk around there in the hotel area just to look at the beautiful wooden houses.

21 January 2018 - 8:45

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very beautiful houses!
  
  21 January 2018 - 9:26
  
  Reply
Sandra Lifsresor.se says:

A fair I would really like to visit! Nice to get some report.

21 January 2018 - 8:54

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great fair! Could be even more fun as a travel blogger to come on Thursday or Friday.
  
  21 January 2018 - 9:26
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

Fun with a travel fair - especially when there is food here and there too. Drinks too, I hope, now that you still have comfortable walking distance to the good hotel 😀.

21 January 2018 - 9:42

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha, yes there were drinks too. (And in Greece's stand we were offered a small glass of raki as well;))
  
  21 January 2018 - 9:49
  
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Ditte says:

Fun with some new destinations presented and many of the old ones are still there.
Jordan is definitely worth a trip, was there many years ago and both times in connection with trips to Israle. India is completely blank as far as we are concerned, except for stopovers.
Nice if Tunisia reappears on the travel market. I worked there in the 70s as a guide / tour guide and Tunisia was popular for a long time.

Good to have a hotel at a cheap price and close to the fair, too. Looks nice and also the surroundings.

21 January 2018 - 10:16

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We considered travelling over to Jordan when we were in Israel, but there wasn't enough time. India is blank for us too, would be exciting!
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:10
  
  Reply
Across the board says:

Nice to come to a travel fair, I imagine you got lots of inspiration and ideas.

21 January 2018 - 10:17

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There is certainly plenty of inspiration at the fair! Not quite easy to realise everything you want just 😉.
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:10
  
  Reply
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Hotels at a cheap price, you just want to sleep. Interesting fair

21 January 2018 - 11:14

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed! This hotel was perfect. Relatively simple, but fresh, good service, a bar, perfectly ok breakfast and excellent location.
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:12
  
  Reply
Lena in Wales says:

Never been to this fair, but visited it in Gothenburg, many, many times. Always inspiring and many good contacts are made. I think it is closed now.
Have fun in Finland!

21 January 2018 - 11:57

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, the TUR fair in Gothenburg has been cancelled. There is no really big travel fair anymore unfortunately, only some smaller ones in different places.
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:13
  
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Johnny Friskilä says:

Nice with wooden villas and snow, looks really charming! I visited Matka last year, I was surprised that the Russian Republic of Tatarstan was there. Otherwise there was a lot of Uganda and of course a lot of Finnish. You're not going to the world's biggest travel fair in Berlin in March?

21 January 2018 - 13:06

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Tatarstan was there again this year, as was Uganda. And still a lot of Finnish. In other words, much the same. We have no plans for the fair in Berlin, but it sounds interesting. When is it?
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:14
  
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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Of course it's fun to stroll around a trade fair. We visited the TUR fair in Gothenburg for many years, but unfortunately it became less and less.
You always get hungry for new destinations. Jordan sounds exciting and India I have both hitchhiked in and travelled with a native guide a little off the beaten track. It is an incredible country.

21 January 2018 - 14:15

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The TUR fair lasted a few years, but was eventually cancelled, unfortunately. Glad that you experienced some other parts of India. Sounds exciting!
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:15
  
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BP says:

It was really a great fair and well attended. Great fun with new travel destinations. We have been to Ras-al-Khaimah, but before it became a tourist destination. How cool as ever. Can be recommended!

21 January 2018 - 17:44

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But is it true? What did you do in Ras al Khaimah? A little unexpected that you have been there! 🙂
  
  21 January 2018 - 18:17
  
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Christine - 29°. says:

Fun with a travel fair and also such a large fair. 🙂

21 January 2018 - 19:25

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Too bad that there is no longer a really big and good travel fair in Sweden. But then you have to go to Matka quite simply! 🙂
  
  21 January 2018 - 19:55
  
  Reply
Petra says:

Glad you got away:-) Now you got two fairs to explore:-) Nice to fly over to Helsinki because there was a lot of rocking on the sea....

//Petra

22 January 2018 - 11:02

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Fantasy travel says:

Nice with a little report from the fair! Had also intended to go over but did not really get it together.

23 January 2018 - 14:24

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Caravan - Motorhome Fair in Helsinki | FREEDOMtravel Travel Blog

Matka travel fair in Helsinki 2018

Matka in Helsinki

Gigantic trade fair

Exciting destinations?

Where do we live during the fair?

More to see and do in Helsinki

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28 Comments

Liniz Travel says:

Helena says:

Christian says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Sandra Lifsresor.se says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Across the board says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Lena in Wales says:

Helena says:

Johnny Friskilä says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Christine - 29°. says:

Helena says:

Petra says:

Fantasy travel says:

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