Helsinki Travel Guide

General

Helsinki, the White Daughter of the Baltic and the capital of Finland, has wide boulevards and a beautiful blue harbor. The city centre is built on a windblown peninsula and many of the sights are within walking distance of each other. The plan of the down town is a clear one and cordial Finns, most of whome speak at least English, help you around. Although Helsinki was founded in 1550, as a trading center, most of its architecture is rather modern and some even avant garde: Helsinki became the capital of Finland in 1812 and the whole centre area war rebuilt, much in the Empire style.

Around Senate Square you'll find delightful neoclassic architecture in a cathedral and the government buildings. Part of the charm is the relatively low architecture, you cannot find any skyscrapers. Sea is a major element, be sure to stop at the Market Square by the sea and the Havis Amanda Fountain. With population over 500,000, nearly a million if you count the metropolitan area, Helsinki combines many of the best sides of a small and big cities: you'll find your way around easily, yet the city offers a wide variety of activity especially during the summer.

Helsinki has several great museums, beautiful churches, parks, theatre, opera, shopping possibilities and historic sights, such as the Sea Fortress of Suomenlinna. You can also experience the Finnish cuisine, try especially fish and reindeer dishes, along with many others like suberb Russian kitchen. Helsinki has also several nice pubs and clubs to visit. With four very different seasons, the streets and bars, as well as the people, are usually livelier during the summer than winter.

The surroundings of Helsinki offer a lot too. Several lakes and the evergreen forest give a special character to the countryside. The Old Town of Porvoo and the area around Lake Tuusulanjärvi, especially the home (Ainola) of famous composer Jean Sibelius, are the prime ones. With more time than few days you could explore the other parts of Finland, there are plenty of possibilities from active trekking holidays to quiet relaxing stay at some cottage by a beautiful lake or the archipelago. Helsinki serves also as an excellent jumping point to Tallinn and even to St.Petersburg or Stockholm. Rest of Finland is, of course, full of possibilities.

Buy a Holiday in Helsinki

Shopping

Shopping can easily be done at the down town of Helsinki. Nearly all of the major malls, department stores and little boutiques are within walking distance of each other. The main shopping streets are Mannerheimintie, Aleksanterinkatu, Kaisaniemenkatu, Pohjois and Etelä Esplanadi, Bulevardi and Fredrikinkatu. The biggest quality department stores in the centre are Stockmann (Aleksanterinkatu 52), Sokos (Mannerheimintie 9) and Aleksi 13 (Aleksanterinkatu 13). Forum, Kluuvi, the Kiseleff Bazaar, Kaisa and Kämp Gallery are the main malls. Itäkeskus ("eastern centre") has a massive mall divided to several avenues with wide variety of shops. All eastbound metro trains from the centre of Helsinki go to Itäkeskus in 15 minutes. Finland is not the cheapest place in Europe, but it is definitely worthwhile to take a look around.

Buy a Holiday in Helsinki

Sights

Helsinki is not a beach holiday but a place for active tourism, though during a sunny day you could choose the beach at Hietaniemi or some of the nearby islands. Besides architecture and museums, there are several places to go and things to see.

The surroundings of the Market Square ("Kauppatori") and Senate Square ("Senaatintori") are essential for every trip. Close to the Market Square is Kaivopuisto Park, a lovely sprawling green space with spectacular views of the sea. There is an observatory and a restaurant-disco "Kaivohuone", a place for twentysomethings at night. On a number of summer weekends the city sponsors free concerts in the park. If you like sea you can take cruises from the Market Square. Or explore few museums along historic sights at the 18th-century Suomenlinna Sea Fortress located in an island near the harbor. You can reach it by low cost 10 minute ferry. It’s also a wonderful sea born place place for a picnic during the summer.

One of the best views over the harbor is from the American Bar at the top of the Palace Hotel directly across from the Market Hall at Eteläranta. For views of the whole down town you should try rooftop bar at the Torni Hotel at Kalevankatu 5.

North of downtown is Finlandia Park with Finlandia Hall (concerts and confererences) at one end and ultramodern Opera House at the other end. On the other side of the adjacent gulf (yes, it is not a lake) you'll find nice old wooden houses. Also bordering the park, cross the Mannerheimintie street, is the National Museum. At the Railway Square you'll find the National Theatre, if you like to venture for seeing a play in Finnish. During the winter you might try sports too, real Finnish cross-country skiing at Paloheinä or just sit down and enjoy a hockey game.

Buy a Holiday in Helsinki