Location: Finland, Northern Europe
Official languages: Finnish & Swedish
Population: 5,5 million
Currency: Euro (€)
Brief History
Helsinki is the capital city of Finland and is located at the south coast.
Helsinki didn’t become the capital city until 1812 after Russia took over Finland from Sweden, before this Helsinki was just a small town. The year Russia took over Helsinki, it became the capital due to the fact it was closer to St. Petersburg; and from there Helsinki started to be built.
Today Helsinki is the largest city in Finland with about 650 000 residents. The summer Olympics of 1952 were held in Helsinki and it is also know the home of Ice Hockey.
Helsinki Tourist Attractions
1. Helsinki Cathedral
The Helsinki Cathedral is located in the heart of Helsinki at the senate square, this majestic building was finished in 1852 and is a Lutheran church. The cathedral and the senate square was designed by German, Carl Ludvig Engel. The cathedral is still in frequent use and is open for tourists year round. About 350 000 people visit the cathedral every year.
2. Uspenski Cathedral
The Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Eastern Orthodox church in Western Europe. It was designed by the russian Aleksey Gornostayev. Uspenski Cathedral is very similar in style to the churches in St. Petersburg, Russia. The church was finished in 1868, and is still in frequently use. The church is open to the public all year round, but in the winter times it’s closed on Mondays.
3. Suomenlinna/ Sveaborg
Suomenlinna is a sea fortress located in the archipelago just outside of Helsinki city. Suomenlinna has been designated as a world heritage site since 1991. The construction of the fortress stated in 1748 by Augustin Erensvärd, the fortress was used against Russian attacks on Finland. The sea fortress today is open to the public year round. If you visit Suomenlinna in the summer time make sure to pack a lunch and enjoy it on the island. The fortress is also bigger than you would think, (it is built on 6 islands) so I would reserve a day to explore this beautiful fortress.
(You can get to the island by ferry, the HSL card I talk about further down in the text can take you out to this fortress.)
4. Temppeliaukio Church
It is also called ”The Rock Church” since it was built into the ground. The church was designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and was opened to the public in 1969. It is frequently used as a concert hall, this is because the rock walls create beautiful acoustics.
Popular Finland Foods
Helsinki has lots of small cafés and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy a meal or coffee. Finland is the number one consumer of coffee, so it only makes sense that you can find a number of cozy coffee shops.
1. Manala
This restaurant is located at a walking distance from downtown Helsinki. Still, it has a cozy and relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a nice sit down dinner. This restaurant offers some of Finlands signature dishes such as sautéed reindeer and fried vendace.
2. Fafa’s
If you are looking for something quick but delicious, go to one of the super famous food places called Fafa’s. Fafa’s is a growing company that was started in Helsinki. Here you can get filled pita breads, salads and side dishes, for cheap prices!
3. Fazers café
If there is something Finland is famous for it is their Fazer brand, most people know Fazer because of their outstanding chocolate but they also offer so much more. If you are looking for the best breakfast or coffee break in town, go to the Fazer Café. They serve breakfast, brunch and lunch, but beware these places are very popular so many times it can be quite crowded. Still, worth the wait.
Helsinki Hotels Finland
There are lots of hotels in the city center that is located at a walking distance from everything you would want to see. Depending on how you chose to live during you stay in Helsinki, you can find affordable places all over the city. Some popular hotels in downtown of Helsinki is Hotel Kämp, Radisson blue and Scandic hotel. Hotel Kämp, is probably the fanciest hotel in the city where all the celebrities stay when they visit. Scandic and Radisson both have good prices and all that you could need for a stay there.
Also Airbnb has lots of great options here, and since the city of Helsinki has such great public transport network it should be no problem to use this option as well.
City Tours Helsinki
Helsinki is actually quite a small city and the main attractions are located quite close to each other. If you are staying close to the city center you will be at a walking distance from most attractions.
However, Helsinki has lots of public transport which makes it really easy to travel around, if you are staying within the Helsinki region you are able to purchase public transport tickets from Kiosks for the day or even longer times. The HSL card can take you around on almost any public transport in the city, trams, metros, busses and trains.
HSL ticket prices HELSINKI 2018:
1 day – 9,00€
2 days – 13,50€
3 days – 18,00€
4 days – 22,50€
5 vrk – 27,00€
6 days – 31,50€
7 days – 36,00€
To find you way from one place to another they have a website called www.reittiopas.fi that you can use to get public transport schedules from one place to another.
Visiting Helsinki
Personally, I think that the best time to visit
the southern parts of Finland is in the summer.
The city of Helsinki comes alive in the summer
time with outside terraces for food and drinks,
farmers market and beautiful parks.
If you do visit Helsinki in the winter time be
sure to bring some warm clothes, Helsinki can
get quite cold. Helsinki is surrounded by water’
not to mention that in the winter time the
temperature can drop to an average -15 degrees
Celsius or more.
Have you visited Helsinki? What was you favorite part about the city?
