Sights in Helsinki
-
A
National Gallery
The Ateneum houses Finnish paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to the 1950s. There's also a small, interesting collection of 19th- and early-20th-century foreign art, including a copy of Auguste Rodin's bronze The Thinker, and paintings by Van Gogh, Gaugin and Cezanne. The building itself dates from 1887.
The list of painters at the Ateneum reads like a 'who's who' of Finnish art. It houses Finnish paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to the 1950s including works by Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, the Von Wright brothers and Pekka Halonen. Pride of place goes to the prolific Gallen-Kallela's triptych from the Kalevala depicting Väinämöinen's p…
reviewed
-
B
Suomenlinna Island
An ideal day or half-day trip from Helsinki is to pack a picnic and take the regular ferry to the island fortress of Suomenlinna. A great deal of Helsinki's history was shaped here - the World Heritage Listed fortress was founded by the Swedes in 1748 to protect against the Russians but following a prolonged attack, Sveaborg was surrendered to the Russians in 1808.
There are several good cafés on Suomenlinna, but many locals like to picnic among the fortress ruins with a few drinks - it can get pretty boozy here on summer weekends. At around 17:00 it's worth finding a spot to watch the enormous Baltic ferries pass through the narrow gap.
HKL ferries depart every 20 minute…
reviewed
-
C
Sibelius Park
At lovely Sibelius Park you'll find a steel monument to the great Finnish composer. The organlike cluster of steel pipes is said to represent the forest.
This kinetic modern sculpture was created by artist Eila Hiltunen in 1967 to honor Finland's most famous composer, Jean Sibelius. Born in 1865 in Hämeenlinna, Sibelius wrote music for the glorification of his own people and in defiance of the oppressor, Russia. His most famous composition, Finlandia, came to represent Finnish patriotism and pride.
Hiltunen's innovative abstract structure was designed to blend with the natural surroundings. Appropriately for a monument to a composer, the sculpture creates its own music -…
reviewed
-
Tuomiokirkko
One of CL Engel’s finest creations, the chalk-white neoclassical Tuomiokirkko, presides over Senate Square, though as it was not completed until 1852, the architect, who died in 1840, never saw it. Given Finland’s Lutheran sensibilities, it was created to serve as a reminder of God’s supremacy over the square. Its high flight of stairs, however, has become a meeting place for canoodling couples, and a setting for New Year’s revelry. The interior features statues of the Reformation heroes Luther, Melanchthon and Mikael Agricola; true to their ideals, there is little other ornamentation under the lofty dome. There’s a cafe in the brick-vaulted crypt in summer.
reviewed
-
D
Uspenski Cathedral
The eye-catching red-brick Uspenski Cathedral is equally imposing on nearby Katajanokka Island. The two opposing cathedrals face each other off high above the city in a contest for its soul. Built as a Russian Orthodox church in Byzantine-Slavonic style in 1868, it features classic onion-topped domes and now serves the Finnish Orthodox congregation. The high, square interior has a lavish iconostasis with the Evangelist flanking panels depicting the Last Supper and the Ascension. Orthodox services held at 6pm on Saturday and 10am Sunday are well worth attending as a discreet visitor for the fabulous chorals and candlelit atmosphere.
reviewed
-
E
Mannerheim Museum
This fascinating museum in Kaivopuisto Park was the home of Baron Gustav Mannerheim, former president, Commander in Chief of the Finnish army and Finnish Civil War victor. The great Field Marshal never owned the building; he rented it from chocolate magnate, Karl Fazer, until his death. The house tells of Mannerheim’s intrepid life with hundreds of military medals and photographs from his Asian expedition travelling 14,000km along the Silk Road from Samarkand to Beijing. Entry includes an informative one-hour guided tour in six languages, plus free plastic booties to keep the hallowed floor clean.
reviewed
-
Espoo Museum of Modern Art
The city’s top sight is Espoo Museum of Modern Art, which holds over 2000 works, ranging from the early 20th century to the present. It’s definitely Finland’s most significant private art collection and worth the trip from Helsinki. Sharing the same address and opening hours, and visitable with the same ticket, Espoo City Museum and Finnish Toy Museum Leikkilinna can round out a day trip. You can catch buses 106, 106T, 110, 110T or 110 TA from the Kamppi.
reviewed
-
F
Kansallismuseo
Impressive Kansallismuseo resembles a Gothic church with its heavy stonework and tall-steeple tower, but actually opened in 1916. Inside the museum is divided into rooms covering different periods of Finnish history, including a large collection of prehistoric finds, church relics and cultural exhibitions. Look up for the vivid frescoes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela depicting scenes from the epic Kalevala, including one of the hero Väinämöinen plunging a stake into the giant pike.
reviewed
-
Nuuksio National Park
In the northwest district of Espoo, Nuuksio National Park is an excellent opportunity to experience a bit of Finnish wilderness if your visit won't take you beyond the Helsinki area. Although so close to town, it's a typical slice of Finnish forest, with a multitude of lakes and ponds, and several walking trails. You may see rare ospreys, grey-headed woodpeckers or black-throated divers on your strolls; the park is also a habitat to elk and nocturnal flying squirrels.
reviewed
-
G
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
West of the centre, this island is best known for Seurasaari Open-Air Museum with 18th- and 19th-century traditional houses, manors and outbuildings from around Finland. Guides dressed in traditional costume demonstrate folk-dancing and crafts such as spinning, embroidery and troll-making. While you’ll see other museums like this across Finland, Seurasaari definitely has the best. There are guided tours in English at 11.30am and 3.30pm.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Natural History Museum
Recently renovated, the Natural History Museum is known for its controversial weather vane of a sperm impregnating an ova. New exhibitions like Story of the Bones, which puts skeletons in an evolutionary context, bring new life to the University of Helsinki’s extensive collection of mammals, birds and other creatures, including all Finnish species. The dinosaur skeletons and the saggy African elephant in the foyer are hits with kids.
reviewed
-
Manege
One of two museums that retells Suomenlinna’s military history and can be visited with a combination ticket (€6). Manege commemorates WWII and displays heavy artillery. Finland was forbidden to possess submarines by the 1947 Treaty of Paris and the WWII-era U-boat Vesikko is one of the few submarines remaining in the country. You climb inside and see how it all worked – it’s not for the claustrophobic.
reviewed
-
I
Ehrensvärd Museum
Ehrensvärd Museum preserves an 18th-century officer’s home with dozens of model ships, sea charts, portraits and blue-and-white-tile Swedish stoves. Opposite Ehrensvärd Museum is the shipyard where sailmakers and other workers have been building ships since the 1750s. As many as two dozen ships are in the dry dock at any given time. They can be from 12m to 32m long and from as far away as the UK.
reviewed
-
J
Temppeliaukio Church
Hewn into solid rock, Temppeliaukio Church was designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1969 and remains one of Helsinki’s foremost attractions. The church symbolises the modern innovativeness of Finnish religious architecture and features a stunning 24m-diameter roof covered in 22km of copper stripping. There are regular concerts, with great acoustics; the entrance is at the northern end of Fredrikinkatu.
reviewed
-
Porvoo Historical Museum
Porvoo Historical Museum is in two adjacent buildings on the beautiful cobbled Old Town Hall Square. The more interesting of the two is the Art Museum, with paintings by Albert Edelfelt and sculptures by Ville Vallgren, two of Porvoo’s celebrated artists. Porvoo Historical Museum, in the town hall building across the square, reproduces a 19th-century merchant’s home.
reviewed
-
Porvoo Old Town
Porvoo Old Town district north of Mannerheiminkatu was largely built after the Great Fire of 1760. It's an alluring warren of narrow, winding cobblestone alleys and brightly coloured wooden houses. Craft boutiques and antique shops line the main roads, Välikatu and Kirkkokatu. For a glimpse of less touristed bits, head for the streets east of the cathedral; Itäinen Pitkäkatu is one of the nicest.
reviewed
-
K
Kiasma
The quirky curves of Kiasma have been a part of Helsinki for more than 10 years, but the contemporary art space still surprises with exciting new exhibits. American architect Steven Holl designed the unique structure to mimic the Greek letter chi, which represents an intersection. The building has become a meeting point for art as well as drinkers on its popular terrace.
reviewed
-
L
Sports Museum of Finland
The sports museum, in the 1952 Olympic Stadium, houses Finland’s sporting hall of fame including the triumph of runner Paavo Nurmi and Matti Nykänen, one of the most successful ski jumpers of all time. There are good simulations that let you compete in the 200m race against champions and there’s a novel exhibition about Pesäpallo, Finland’s own baseball-like game.
reviewed
-
Syväranta Lotta Museum
Syväranta Lotta Museum commemorates the Lotta Svärd women’s voluntary defence force. Named for a character in a JL Runeberg poem, these unarmed women took on military service during WWII to become one of the world’s largest auxiliaries. Look out for the blue-and-white swastika and rose medals, which many Lottas wore among the military paraphernalia.
reviewed
-
M
Senaatintori
From the market square walk up the cobbled Sofiankatu to Senaatintori, Helsinki's majestic central square. Surrounded by early 19th-century buildings, the square was modelled after St Petersburg's.
CL Engel's stately Tuomiokirkko, finished in 1852, is the Senate Square's most prominent feature and the steps are a favourite meeting place.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Gallen-Kallela Museum
Part-castle, part-studio, the Gallen-Kallela Museum was the self-designed home of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Finland’s most significant artist. Many of his works are displayed here including his famed Kalevala illustrations. From Helsinki take tram 4 to Munkkiniemi, then walk 2km or take bus 33 (Monday to Friday only).
reviewed
-
N
Kaapelitehdas
The sprawling Kaapelitehdas once manufactured sea cable and later became Nokia’s main factory until the 1980s. It’s now a bohemian cultural centre featuring studios, galleries, concerts, and theatre and dance performances. Take tram 8, bus 15, 20, 21V, 65A or 66A, or the metro to the Ruoholahti stop; it’s off Porkkalankatu.
reviewed
-
Ainola
This most popular stop is Sibelius’ home, east of the lake just south of Järvenpää. The family home, designed by Lars Sonck and built on this forested site in 1904, contains original furniture, paintings, books and a piano on which Sibelius plotted out tunes until his death. The graves of Jean Sibelius and his wife Aino are in the garden.
reviewed
-
O
City Winter Gardens
A good cure for seasonal blues can be the City Winter Gardens, which are elaborate greenhouses, founded in 1893, and containing cacti, palms, and other sun-loving plants foreign to Finnish soil. They are surrounded by botanical gardens, including a spectacular display of roses. Take tram 8 from Ruoholahti metro or Töölö.
reviewed
-
Shore Houses
The distinctive row of Shore Houses along the Porvoonjoki were first painted with red ochre to impress the visiting King of Sweden, Gustavus III, in the late 18th century. They were originally used to store goods traded with German ships from the Hanseatic League, but many are now Porvoo's prime residential real estate.
reviewed
