THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN HELSINKI

Getting your Bearings in Helsinki

A good way to begin your visit is to take a guided tour so you can see the city at a glance and then decide where you would like to go back to for a longer visit. There are several companies that can organise this for you, and you have a choice between a bus tour or a walking tour with a guide. Helsinki is quite small and many of the sights in the city centre are within easy walking distance from each other.

A more economical option is to take a self guided tour on the 3T tramline. The tram stops at many of the most popular sights and only costs around 2 euros, allowing you to hop on and off as you please.

Find yourself a good tourist map to get you started or visit the transport website for more information: http://www.hel.fi/hkl

National Museum of Finland, Helsinki

The National Museum of Finland is a comprehensive presentation of Finnish history and culture from the Stone Age to the present day, located next to the parliament Building in Helsinki.

The main sections of the permanent exhibition are: Finnish Prehistory, A Land and It's People (rural life in Finland before industrialisation), The Realm (culture and society in Finland from the Middle Ages), The Past Century,  and The Treasure Troves which includes a collection of historic objects such as coins, jewellery and weapons, and an excellent exhibition of Finnish folk history from costumes, toys and traditional household objects.

There are also temporary exhibitions which change seasonally. There is a shop and a cafeteria as well as a reference library for those who wish to study further into Finnish history.

The museum is open from Tuesday and Wednesday 11:00am- 20:00pm, Thursday to Sunday 11:00am to 18:00 and admission is 5.50 euros, but entry between 16:45pm and 20:00pm is free. Free entry if you buy the Helsinki Card.

Helsinki Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko)

This distinctive landmark is Finland's most famous and most photographed sight, situated opposite the Senate Square in the city centre.  It can be seen from just about anywhere in the city but it is really worth a look up close. The stark white walls and green domes  of the roof are typical of the Russian Neoclassical style.

This Evangelical Lutheran cathedral was built in 1830- 1852, designed by Carl Ludwig Engel as a tribute to Nicholas I, the Grand Duke and Tsar of Russia. It was known as St. Nicholas Church until Finland claimed independence in 1917.

The building was later altered under the power of Ernst Lohrman who added the four smaller domes to reflect the style of the Saint Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Later still, statues of Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles were added to the roof.

Almost 400, 000 visitors see the church in one year alone. Many are tourists, but the church is also still a place of worship and ceremonies such as weddings. The Cathedral is open from 9am every day.

You will probably also enjoy sitting on the steps out the front and watching life pass by this busy square. There are also some lovely boutiques in the tiny alleys surrounding the square. A great place to grab a coffee or do some shopping!

Suomenlinna Island and Fortress, Helsinki

Suomenlinna is a small island about 1km off the coast of the city of Helsinki. You can visit the island easily on a day trip on the ferry which takes about 20 minutes to reach the island.

Apart from being a beautiful place to escape the city or enjoy a picnic, the island is home to a historic fortress, which was built in 1747 to defend Helsinki from Russian occupation. The fortress was included in UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1991.

There are also several small museums, and guided walking tours which point out various historic buildings and other places of interest on the island. In the summer it is not unusual for small concerts and other events to be held on the island, and there is an exhibition centre and many craft shops which make excellent places to do your souvenir shopping.

There are many cafes and restaurants on the island if you decide not to bring your own picnic, as well as a brewery and a beer garden.

Start your visit at the visitors centre in the middle of the fortress. There is a museum here which explains the history of the island and it is also the starting point for guided walking tours.

Ferries to the island operate all summer from early in the morning until 2am, or for something different, you can rent a boat and moor it at the visitors marina.

The island is a popular place in summer, but it is also very pretty during the winter, with a quaint village-like atmosphere. About 900 residents live here.  A hostel recently opened on the island, making it possible to stay overnight.

Access to the island is free, but the ferry ride and museum entry must be paid for individually. There is no ATM or cash dispensers on the island so take some money with you. Many shops accept credit cards for bigger purchases.

More information: http://www.suomenlinna.fi/

Market Square ("Kauppatori"), Helsinki

This delightful market is located right next to the sea, where the ferry leaves for Suomenlinna island. From Spring to Autumn, since 1743 when the market began, vendors of fresh food, local delicacies and traditional crafts and souvenirs gather to sell their goods to locals and tourists.

The busiest time for this market is in early October when the city Herring market begins. Love them or hate them, herrings, particularly the salted or pickled kind are part of the staple Finnish diet and a treasured national icon!

On the first Friday of the month there is a display of antique American vehicles on show for motor enthusiasts and tourists. No one really knows how or why this tradition began but it remains a popular fixture of the markets to this day. 

The square is lined with cafes where you can enjoy a coffee and sample some of the local sweet or savoury delicacies. The colourful markets are also a great place to take some interesting photos and watch the locals interact with one another.

Open from the 1^st October until the 30^th April every year. Monday to Friday from 6:30am until 18:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am- 17:00pm

Linnanmaki Amusement Park, Helsinki

A great day out for families or those that like a little excitement in their lives! There are actually three amusement parks in Finland and Helsinki's Linnanmaki is the biggest. What this park lacks in terms of size and variety of rides, it certainly makes up in terms of atmosphere, and compared to Disneyland, the prices here are relatively cheaper.

The amusement park was first established in 1950 by several children welfare associations in Finland at the time, which were set up to restore the country's focus on children and family entertainment since the end of the war.

Built somewhat in a rush at the time, the park opened in May of that year. Since then it has undergone four major restoration projects and rides have been added to the park over the years. The park has rollercoasters, ferris wheels, big dippers, bumper cars and more to choose from. Something for everyone and all ages!

Entry to the park is free if you just want to wander around. If you want to go on the rides, you'll need to buy a wristband, which corresponds to your height (in order to determine which rides you are allowed on). Tickets for single rides are then purchased (at a discount for those with a wristband) and cost around 4 euros. You can also buy a ride "credit card" at discounted rates at the entrance, and combined entry to the "Sea Life" aquarium next door.

More information: http://www.linnanmaki.fi/

Sea Life Aquarium, Helsinki

Sea life is located right next to the Linnanmaki Amusement park. Another great choice for a family day out. You may want to combine a visit to the amusement park with this impressive aquarium complex.

Sea Life Helsinki (one branch in a chain of Sea Life marine education centres Europe wide) has more then 40 individual aquariums, 200 species and 1000 animals on display.

As well as a walk through a glass tunnel where you can come face to face with sharks and deep sea fish, you can meet species that inhabit coral reefs, the North Sea and even natives to the Baltic Sea region. There is also a herring ring where you can meet live specimens of one of Finland's favourite culinary delicacies! 

All this for 13.50 euros for an adult and 9.50 euros for a child. Family tickets with two adults and two children are 46 euros.

More information: http://www.sealife.fi/

Esplanadi Boulevard, Helsinki

A lovely green park which is a popular place to take a stroll, enjoy a cup of coffee or an icecream in the summer months. The streets surrounding the park were constructed in the 1800's and have an interesting historical twist: back in the day just after Finland's independence, those that remained as Swedish speakers in the country would walk down one side and those speaking Finnish would walk down the other. A peaceful protest against the opposing language.

This esplanade is where you will find Helsinki's strip of upmarket hotels, department stores and boutique shops. There are many great restaurants along here, but all are quite pricey.

The Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki

The Finnish National Gallery is actually four galleries in one: the Ateneum Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Sinebrychoff Art Museum and the Central Art Archives, all offering a different cultural perspective on history and art.

The Ateneum Art Museum houses the largest collection of art in all of Finland, including an extensive selection of artwork by Finnish artists including paintings, sculptures, prints and other mediums.

The magnificent building that houses the collections was inaugurated in 1887 and was a combined art school and exhibition space. Today the building houses the Central Art Archives, a specialised library on art history, with a distinctive Finnish focus, of course.

Free guided tours in Finnish and Swedish are offered. Guided tours in other languages can be arranged in advance at a cost of 60 euros.

General admission is 8 euros or 6 euros for concessions.

More information: http://www.ateneum.fi/en/

The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma was opened in 1998 and attracted 30,000 visitors in the opening weekend alone. In 2001, one million visitors had passed through the doors, and in 2006, two million. The popularity of the museum is attributed not only to the quality of both the permanent and temporary exhibitions held here but by the building itself.

Construction began in 1996 and it was the first of its kind in Finland. The design, by American architect Steven Holl created an impressive modern building featuring many transparent surfaces, curved, organic features and designed to maximise natural lighting for the interior. Holl also designed the details of the interior including furnishings and even bathroom fittings.

The museum is open Tuesday 10:00am- 17:00pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10:00am- 20:30pm and closed on Mondays. See the website for special event and public holiday opening hours.

Free guided tours in Swedish and Finnish are offered. Other languages are by prior arrangement only.

Adult entry is 7 euros, Concession is 5 euros.

More information: http://www.kiasma.fi

The Sinebrychoff Art Museum is a great choice for those seeking a unique museum experience. The museum is dedicated to old European art and antique objects, the majority of which was originally a private collection donated to the Finnish State in 1921 by Paul and Fanny Sinebrychoff.

Today, the museum houses items from 20 donated private collections and counting, inside the original residence of the Sinebrychoff family during the 1920s. The building underwent extensive restoration work in 2001 and 2002. A project which cost more then six million euros. It opened again to the public in February 2003.

Covering the 14^th to the beginning of the 19^th Centuries, the museum is home to paintings,  portraits, interior objects and decorative pieces such as glassware, porcelain, silverware and statues, as well as furniture.

There is also a gift shop selling posters, stationary, books on European Art and other gifts, and a glass walled cafe where you can enjoy a coffee or light snack before or after your visit.

The Museum is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00am- 18:00pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00am- 20:00pm,weekends from 11:00am- 17:00pm and closed on Mondays.

Adult admission price is 7.50 euros, and concessions 5 euros.

More information: http://www.sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi

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