Love locked forever.

Love padlocks have been appearing around Europe since the early 2000’s. Why this newly formed custom has taken off, well no one really knows. The tradition is thought by some, to have originated in China. But in the romantic city of Rome, Italy, romantic sweetheats have been influence by the book ‘I Want You’ by Italian author Federico Moccia. His novel features a young couple attaching a lock to Rome’s Milvian Bridge as a sign of eternal love.

Love padlocks maintain the same basic idea around the world. Newly wedded couples attach padlocks to bridges to bring secure their love and their new lives together. Couples attach padlocks for good luck for their love. Some couples attach padlocks as purely a symbol of their love.

However, these sweethearts taking part in the newly adored custom of love is make sure their names are together forever. Engraving their initials into the lock before throwing away the key to remain lost for eternity, and hopefully their love will last just as long.

As referenced in Moccia's story, love padlocks on the Ponte Milvio, a bridge over the Tiber in Northern Rome, Italy.

By heb@Wikimedia Commons (mail) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons



Travelling for love? Take a look at this romantic feature on love padlocks around the world.

Thinking of visiting Helsinki? Get the run down on what you need to know here.

Travelling for romance?

Romance is often the reason for travelling. Couples flying half way across the world to celebrate their connections, marriages, or because they just want to get away. They main point of the matter is that they are in love.

Love padlocks are a custom in which couples affix a padlock to a fence, gate, or bridge (any public space over water) and throw the key into the surrounding rivers and lakes to symbolize their everlasting love.

This custom has taken off around the world. Sweethearts have been founded declaring their love from Europe to Asia to Australia, affixing padlocks to their cities structures.

Love padlocks covering a bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

By Matěj Baťha [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Mount Huang, a bridge in the mountain range of southern Anhui province in eastern China.

By Yabbox (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

A purpose built iron trees situated on the Vodootvodny Canal in Moscow

By A.Savin (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Most Liubavi ‘The Bridge of Love’ in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia.

AcaSrbin, Panoramio [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Love padlocks covering a bridge in Donetsk, Ukraine.

By MOs810 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If your reason for travel is romance, AirBnB is the perfect place to organize accommodation. With many residencies around the world, you can find the perfect place for your romantic getaway near any of these love padlock locations, and more.

Would you prefer a vintage feel to your stay? Have a gander at these rooms.

Maybe you and your partner are feeling a bit King and Queen-ish (or Queen and Queen-ish, King and Kin-ish, love it love after all!). These castles will provide you with your throwns. 

Or maybe (like me) your partner is just a little on the odd side. These places are perfect for the left-of-centre personalities.


Visit AirBnB for more information.

10 things to know about Helsinki before you visit.

 A handy-help list.

       By Zyance (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

1. 

Helsinki is the largest city of Finland, located in the region of Uusimaa. Finland is located approx. 80 kilometres north of Tallinn, Estonia, 400 kilometres east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 kilometres west of Saint Petersburg, Russia.

2.

Helsinki’s time zone is Eastern European Time (EET) and runs two hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2). In Summer, time runs an hour faster (UTC+3).

3.

The weather in Helsinki varies greatly from season to season.

In Summer, days last the longest with 19 hours of sunlight. Its warmest month is June, with an average temperature of +21.7 degrees celcius.

In Winter, days are the coldest. Starting somewhere between November and December, temperatures fluctuate around 0 degrees celcius. The average temperature for Winter is -10.4 degrees celcius.

4.

Chances are you caught a plane into the country. Helsinki is accessible from anywhere in the world. Approx. 200 planes arrive at Helsinki’s airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, from all over the world. To get out of the airport, a 25 minute car ride can be taken to the centre of town. Alternatively there is the airport bus, the bus 615 will take you to the Central Railway Station, or a taxi will set you back around 35-40 Euros.

5.

To travel around Helsinki, there are a few different tickets but the most useful would be the dayticket. They provide unlimited use on public transport for a duration of 1-7 days. Check out this link for more information.

6.

 The Helsinki Region Tourist Information desk is at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, providing information for tourists upon arrival. Located in Arrival Hall 2 A inside Terminal 2, the information point is open every day from 10am to 8pm.

7.

Once you are in Helsinki, the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau’s Tourist Information is open to provide information to tourists about the city, events, sights, maps, and brochures. The tourist information centre is open:

Summer:

Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm

Winter:

Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm

8.

Roaming the streets of Helsinki from the months of June to August are the Helsinki Helpers. They are there to provide lost tourists with maps, brochures, and relevant happenings. They travel in pairs and wear fluro green vests; you’ll see them from a mile away.

9.

Have no idea what to do? Here is an easy access website for what is happening in Helsinki. Type in your dates of travel here and have a gander at what is around.

10.

The last tidbit of information, something you may never think of. The general assumption when you travel is that you won’t fall into any dangerous situations, you won’t hurt yourself, really you’ll just be safe and fine the whole time. But we all know things can turn soul in the shortest amount of time, so just in case. Emergency telephone numbers:

General emergencies 112

Police, ambulance and fire 112

Curiosity still running high? Check out Helsinki's Tourist Website for more information.