Kauppatori

Lonely Planet review

The famous fish market at the Kauppatori (market square) sells fish, seasonal fruit and berries, and makkara (sausages); there are also stalls selling local handicrafts, unusual hats, Sami dolls, reindeer-related paraphernalia, gloves, T-shirts and woodwork. Evening markets are held over the summer months.

It is surrounded by graceful 19th-century buildings - some of the few remaining in the city after the devastation of WWII. Havis Amanda, the lovely mermaid statue and fountain just west of the fish market, was designed in 1908 by one of Finland's most beloved artists, Ville Vallgren. The statue, also known as 'Manta,' is commonly regarded as the symbol of Helsinki - if not all of Finland.