Sightseeing in Helsinki - what to see. Complete travel guide

Sea had always played an important role in the foundation and development of the modern metropolis of Helsinki. This is the reason why the capital of Finland is often called the daughter of Baltic. Helsinki is the political and economic center of Finland. Helsinki residents have a reputation of tolerant and well-mannered people who appreciate art and nature. The city, which is home to a large number of parks and which is surrounded by forests, skerries and the sea, is distinguished by the Scandinavian maritime climate. The architectural style of Helsinki is the mix of old and new buildings - czarist-era buildings adjoin modern palaces made of glass and metal. The city’s landscape looks bright and vivid thanks to numerous cafes and markets. Clothing, jewelry or crafts featuring traditional Finnish design can be found everywhere in Helsinki.

Satama and Suomenlinna.
Helsinki port, Satama , is located right near the market. This is an important transit point for all arriving and departing passengers. From here tourists are welcome to make an excursion tour on a boat that will bring them around the Finnish capital. Tourists are also welcome to visit one of the nearby islands and the Helsinki Zoo. Suomenlinna is a place that certainly deserves special attention. This is a fortress built on one of the islands located in front of the port. The fortress appeared in the XVIII century, and its main aim was to protect Finland, which was ruled by the Swedes that time, from constantly attacking Russian troops. Nowadays, Suomenlinna, is home to 850 residents. The fortress has also become a favorite place for country walks and relaxation for inhabitants of Helsinki. The largest sea fortress in whole Scandinavia can be reached by ferry. The ferry leaves from the port pier on Market Square. In addition to rocky coast, Suomenlinna, which is included in the list of world heritage sites by UNESCO, offers its visitors large green areas for picnics, old wooden houses with cafes or museums, a small hotel where visitors can stay for a night. This is also the place, where visitors will be able to see the only Finnish submarine of the World War II period. There is a church there that is also used as a beacon.

Church Temppeliaukion Kirkko.
The church in Temppeliaukion kirkko rock attracts visitors not only by its natural simplicity, but also by an excellent contrast to architecturally pretentious churches and oil paintings overloaded with all kinds of decorations and gold jewelry. Temppeliaukion kirkko emerged in the 60s of the previous century. The construction began with the fact that a large piece of rock was taken from the mountain. Because of this a hole appeared in the rock. The outer side of the rock was decorated with a round, rather low copper dome with built-in glass surfaces. This way the church is illuminated only by the light that penetrates the top of the dome and a little amount of candles that stand on the rocky ledges of the walls. A modest cross and several wooden benches are the only decorations of the interior of the church. Thanks to incredible acoustics, the church in the rock often becomes the venue for organ concerts. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Cathedral Tuomiokirkko.
Dazzlingly white on the inside and outside, Tuomiokirkko Cathedral is currently considered the most famous symbol of the capital of Finland. To get inside the cathedral, you will need to go up a long staircase. When the weather is good, the staircase is always full of people who come here to sunbathe or enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the port. If you have enough time, it is definitely better to follow your visit to Tuomiokirkko with an excursion to the Cathedral of the Assumption. The cathedral is located on the nearby Katajanokka peninsula. The cathedral is known as the most significant Orthodox Church in Finland. Gilded onion-shaped domes and walls made of red brick are very popular with travellers who are keen on photography. This Russian-Byzantine style of the church reminds of Russian reign in Finland, which lasted until 1917. Every year Katajanokka Peninsula is visited by approximately 500,000 tourists.

Olympic Stadium.
Olympic Stadium is located approximately two kilometers away from the historical center of Helsinki. This is the largest stadium in Finland, the symbol of which is a tall observation tower of 72.71 m. The tower’s length is a bit strange, but it has a symbolic meaning. Its unusual length matches the length of the record spear throw of Matti Järvinen, a winner of the Olympic Games of 1932. The construction of the stadium was completed in 1938, but the summer Olympic Games of 1940, which were to be carried out there, were canceled due to the beginning of the Second World War. In 1952, Helsinki finally hosted the Olympics. During the games the Olympic Stadium was the main venue for competitions and it provided seats to more than 70,000 spectators. In late 90's the stadium was closed for a five year renovation, after which the capacity of the stadium was reduced to a maximum of 40 000 spectators. When the stadium does not host sports competitions or other activities, its observation tower, which offers a wonderful view of the capital of Finland, is open to visitors.

Seurasaari Island.
Seurasaari Island is located to the west of Helsinki . The island is famous for its open air museum that features Finnish buildings of XVII-XX centuries. Dressed in traditional costumes, the museum’s guides will tell visitors about life of the Finns in the last century. Besides the museum, the island is famous for its picturesque landscapes, and everyone is welcome to admire this beauty for free. Many residents of Helsinki use this opportunity to come to Seurasaari in order to swim or have a picnic. The traditional favorite pastime of all visitors of the island is giving nuts to lovely squirrels. Every year the largest number of tourists comes to Seurasaari during the summer solstice, or the so-called white nights. The celebration dedicated to the summer solstice, which takes place between June 20 and 26, attracts both locals and tourists, who use loud music, hearty food, heavy drinking to scare off evil spirits.