Helsinki creates the greatest tourism slogan ever for its 'badass' visitors

The temperature in Helsinki is currently hovering just above zero, but is set to drop to as low as -8C next week, with clouds and drizzle to boot. Finland's winter sometimes sees the mercury fall to -50C.

So it's a fitting show of admiration for travellers to the region that a sign hoisted high outside the capital's airport praises the bravery of those passing through arrivals.

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The banner, credit for which is due to the city's tourist board and a two-day start-up festival called Slush, reads: "Nobody in their right mind would come to Helsinki in November.

"Except you, you badass. Welcome."

Images of the sign, which was put in place to welcome attendees to the Slush event, have gone viral, with internet users praising the ingenuity and honesty of the slogan. One user described the humour as "very Finnish".

Marianne Vikkula, ceo at Slush, told the Independent that Helsinki in November has "only few hours of sunlight... and lots of muddy slush on the ground." She added: "Helsinki in November is weather-wise probably the worst possible place you can imagine.

"It's dark, wet and cold. You might have seen photos of beautiful snowbanks - well, you don't usually find them in Helsinki (they're in Lapland)."

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Helsinki was -34.2C in 1987.

Indeed, unless the home of Father Christmas (Finnish Lapland) is on your itinerary, the country - and its capital - are perhaps best seen in the summer, when the weather is more amenable. So says our expert there.

"In summer, the Finnish capital blossoms. Visit [then] and you'll find the locals on the beaches, foraging in the forests and picnicking long into the evening - punctuated with trips to the sauna and dips in the Baltic," writes Robert Mayes.

The Telegraph, London

See also: 20 reasons to visit Helsinki

See also: Why Australians are flocking to Europe's deep north

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