Best things to do in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Fortress

The historically significant Suomenlinna Fortress isn't only a major military monument worthy of the UNESCO World Heritage List, but also home to about 800 Finns who live in the renovated barracks. The entire site is a fun, multifaceted attraction for Helsinki residents and visitors. Built during Swedish rule in the 18th century, the fortress is situated on an island at the entrance to Helsinki's harbour. The fortification became a strategic military shipyard with one of the biggest dry docks in the world, comparable to the fortress at Gibraltar. Apart from admiring the architecture, there's plenty to experience at Suomenlinna, which contains six museums, galleries, restaurants, cafes, several parks, beaches, and nature areas. Guided walking tours are offered and there are always events taking place such as exhibitions, jazz shows, and theatrical performances, particularly during summer.

Website www.suomenlinna.fi

Senate Square

Architecture buffs will enjoy sitting in a cafe admiring the buildings surrounding Helsinki's lively Senate Square, which is renowned for some of Europe's finest examples of the neoclassical style. However, visitors don't need any knowledge of architecture to enjoy this lovely square, which has a great atmosphere and is one of the central meeting places of the city. The square is dominated by the city's main landmark, the Lutheran Cathedral, designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and consecrated in 1852. The interior is as perfect as the exterior design, and is open to the public daily for no charge. Other buildings on the Square designed by Engel are the Government Palace, completed in 1822, and the University buildings, completed by 1832. The square is a thrilling place to be on New Year's Eve, as this is where locals come to celebrate with singing, dancing and brilliant fireworks displays. Bus and walking tours of Helsinki depart from the square, which is a good starting point for exploration of the city.

Uspenski Cathedral

Many have compared Helsinki to the beautiful Russian city of St Petersburg, a close neighbour across a strait of water. The exotic redbrick Uspenski Cathedral cements the Russian connection, as it was designed by Aleksei Gornostayev of St Petersburg in the mid-1800s. The ornate cathedral sits atop a rocky outcrop on the Katajanokka Peninsula opposite the fish market, fronted by a statue of Tsar Alexander II as a memento of Russia's occupation of Finland until 1919. The magnificent Byzantine edifice is topped with a characteristic golden onion dome, and the interior is opulently decorated with valuable icons. The cathedral is beautifully situated and very eye-catching, and can be seen from many places in the city. There are wonderful views of Helsinki from the hill. Parts of the church are off-limits when there isn't a service being conducted but there's still plenty to see. Flash photography is not allowed inside.

Market Square

Known locally as Kauppatori, the Market Square in Helsinki is the central meeting point of the city. The space is sandwiched between the sea and a row of impressive historic buildings that include the City Hall, the Swedish Embassy, and the Presidential Palace. Trams and waterbuses converge on the square, where visitors gather to watch the changing of the guard at the palace and admire the Havis Amanda mermaid statue at the west end of the Square in front of Esplanade Park. There's a longstanding tradition of displaying old American cars in the square on the first Friday of every month, which is fun for motor enthusiasts. The square is also a departure point for the ferries that travel to Suomenlinna, and it's possible to hire private vessels for sailing trips out to other nearby islands in summer. The Baltic Herring Festival occurs every year in October, serving as the oldest recurring festival in Helsinki. It's a particularly good time to visit as lots of food and craft stalls spring up in the square, with plenty of herring to sample. Seagulls have become something of a menace in the Market Square, swooping down to snatch food of all kinds from the hands of unsuspecting tourists.

Temppeliaukio Church

An awesome and unique piece of architecture, the Temppeliaukio (Church in the Rock) was designed by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and carved out of solid granite as recently as 1969. It has become one of Helsinki's most famous attractions, its rock walls roofed over with a massive concave copper ceiling, which gives it excellent acoustics and makes the roof seem like an enormous sun. From the outside, it still feels like part of the rock that surrounds it. The interior is magnificent and quite the opposite of the dark cave travellers might expect when looking at the rock-hewn building. It's an unusual place of worship but clearly a spiritual attraction and, no matter what a visitor's beliefs are, this artistic church will surprise and perhaps inspire them. The church is often used as a venue for musical events due to its wonderful acoustics and there are sometimes piano recitals in the afternoons; if travellers visit during one of these performances, they can leave a donation to show their appreciation. English services are occasionally conducted on Sundays at 2pm.

Seurasaari Open Air Museum

The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum allows visitors to step back in time and glimpse the traditional way of life in the Finnish countryside, and all this in the heart of the capital city, Helsinki. Situated on a lovely green island accessed from the mainland via a footbridge, the museum consists of a collection of cottages, farmsteads, rural churches, manor houses, and other old buildings, all preserved and relocated from their original sites around the provinces of Finland. The 87 buildings currently on the museum site have been arranged to form a complete replica of a country district, reflecting what life was like in various levels of rural society between the 18th and 20th centuries.

Website www.nba.fi/en/seurasaari_openairmuseum

National Museum of Finland

History enthusiasts will enjoy the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki, which depicts Finnish life from prehistoric times to the present. Housed in an impressive Romantic-style building, it looks a bit like a castle. The museum's permanent exhibition is divided into different sections. The Treasure Trove is a display of coins, medals and weaponry; the archaeological section features some rare Stone Age finds. Folk costumes, textiles and furniture are found in the cultural heritage collection, while the Workshop Vintti offers an exciting interactive approach to history, letting visitors sit on a throne, saddle a horse, or build an authentic Finnish wall. Other highlights include the section on the Vikings and the exhibition on jewellery through the ages in Finland. One common criticism of this otherwise popular museum is that there isn't adequate coverage of the Finnish wars, which may be a disappointment to military history lovers. The museum has regular temporary exhibitions as well as the extensive permanent collection, but these usually carry an extra cover charge. The rich history of the Finnish is relatively unknown to outsiders, which makes this museum especially intriguing. The museum also has a cafe and shop.

Website www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/kansallismuseo

Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village is a popular daytrip from Helsinki via trains to Rovaniemi. Every day is Christmas in this rather commercialised but still quaint Lapland hideaway of northern Finland. Here, Mr Claus spends his time preparing gifts for the world's children and meeting and greeting an estimated 500,000 delighted visitors a year. Coincidentally, the valley inside the Arctic Circle where Santa's Village is set is shaped like an ear, so it's said that Santa can listen to kids across the planet. All sorts of activities are on offer at the village, including a reindeer park, snow safaris and Santa's personal post office, from which visitors can mail letters or cards home. There are beautiful Christmas decorations on sale, along with plenty of opportunities for present shopping. Santa Claus Village and Santa Park are located just a mile from the international airport of Rovaniemi (capital of Lapland), and is also accessible by bus or train from Helsinki.

Website www.santaclausvillage.info

Helsinki Zoo

Situated on the popular island of Korkeasaari, the Helsinki Zoo is one of the best family attractions in Helsinki and can be reached by bus, car, or ferry during the summer. Home to about 150 different animal species and almost seven times that many varieties of plant life, the zoo makes a great stop for anyone travelling with children in Helsinki. The place is arranged in different habitats so that visitors move from one world to another through tundra, rainforest, mountains, wetlands, deserts, and tropics. Each season also presents visitors with different experiences, ranging from autumn when the big cats get more active to greeting the newborns in spring. Visitors can see Finnish wildlife such as musk ox, reindeer, and snowy owls, or more exotic flora and fauna from all over the world, including rare animals such as the majestic snow leopard and the red panda. As part of its mission to preserve and protect biodiversity, the Helsinki zoo breeds and raises endangered animals. The zoo, founded 120 years ago, also offers rest areas, restaurants, and souvenir shops, and visitors can bring their own picnic and enjoy it sitting on the cliff tops with lovely views.

Website www.korkeasaari.fi

Helsinki

Things to do in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Fortress

Senate Square

Uspenski Cathedral

Market Square

Temppeliaukio Church

Seurasaari Open Air Museum

National Museum of Finland

Santa Claus Village

Helsinki Zoo

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Suomenlinna Fortress

Senate Square

Uspenski Cathedral

Market Square

Temppeliaukio Church

Seurasaari Open Air Museum

National Museum of Finland

Santa Claus Village

Helsinki Zoo