Helsinki Attractions

The capital of Finland is Helsinki, a city of continuous change and a beautiful past. Helsinki is very popular amongst tourists because of its kind people, cleans streets and magnificent sights. Every great piece of Finnish history and culture can be found here. This large country has a lot of other things to show, so it is highly recommended to take a trip around the countryside. Most people arrive in Helsinki by plane therefore the city has a very busy airport. Low cost airlines land on the airport of the nearby Turku and a one hour long bus ride takes you to Helsinki. Make sure you pack some warm clothes since even the summer in Helsinki can be a bit cold. Expect some rain especially in the autumn.

What to do in Helsinki?

You can find out a lot about Finnish culture in Helsinki. The Lake District is truly wonderful but a lively atmosphere awaits you in the capital. The most well-known sight of Helsinki is the iconic Temppeliaukio Church. It is not a usual church because it has a huge cave underneath, which is home to a chapel. The giant dome hides breathtaking artwork. The Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in the West. It is an example of Russian influence in Finland. Some of the cathedral’s icons have been stolen recently.

The Kaupattori is Helsinki’s legendary market. The meat, fish, vegetable sold here is of excellent quality. There’s always a crowd around here and you can taste Finnish specialties at their best. Aside from the herring sale in the summer months you can find salmon and seafood as well. Cafés are also easy to find around the market.
The Sofiankatu Street is a special place in Helsinki. The heated street is a pleasant experience even in the harshest of winters. The first part of the street reminds you of the early 1800’s and the upper part is a fine example of late 19th century architecture. The end of the street is dominated by the 1930’s era buildings. Phone booths, the pavement and the benches were designed to fit the style.

The Amos Anderson Museum is home to the largest private collection in all of Finland. The collector opened his treasury in Helsinki, which is a unique corpus of modern Finnish art. The Sibelius Monument commemorates Jean Sibelius, the famous composer, a building popular since its construction in 1965. It represents music with the portrait of Sibelius hidden in the statue. The Aleksanterinkatu was designed to be a pedestrian precinct. It crosses Helsinki, only trams and pedestrians can walk on it. Every year, around Christmas time, the street is decorated with lights giving an unforgettable atmosphere. There are a lot of luxury shops along the street. The nearby Presidential Palace is the centre of Finnish political life. The president welcomes foreign delegations here. In the past this was the accommodation for delegations. The building is open to visitors but make sure to book in advance.

If you’re tired try a nice restaurant to taste local specialties. Finnish cuisine is famous for its great meat and game dishes, local fruit and fish. Herring is a staple food in Finland. Cranberry and red-currant sauces and marmalades accompany your meals. For a quick breakfast ask for a coffee and pulla, which is a general term referring to sweet pastries. They are filled with marmalade, walnut, or nut cream and you can choose a nice and warm glass of milk to accompany your breakfast. Glögi is the name of mulled wine sold in the winter.

Helsinki is open for visitors all year to show the wonders of Finnish culture and cuisine.