Helsinki Travel Guide

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City Introduction

The Finnish capital is very beautifully located with water to three sides and with an archipelago just outside the city center. The natural beauty is complemented by 19th-century Helsinki and modern Finnish architecture, and these things are part of what gives loads of interesting things to see and do while visiting the city.

The city’s two most famous churches are top sights; the Classicist Protestant Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral. The churches both date from Finland during the era of the Russian Empire, and the well planned 19th century town is located with the protestant cathedral as center point.

The short distances between the sights of the city center allow for nice walks among buildings from the 18th century to the present day. Churches, museums, recreation areas and modern designs are some of the things that you can see in the streets; all in a nice mix with the surrounding beauty in nature.

The name of the capital is Helsinki or Helsingfors, beacause the city and country are bilingual Finnish and Swedish. Across languages, everyone enjoys the city and the surrounding area with everything from beaches along the Gulf of Finland to the vast lake landscapes to the north and fine coastal towns and historical sights such as the sea fortress of Sveaborg to the south.

Top Attractions

Helsinki Cathedral

Cathedral/Tuomiokirkko

The neoclassical cathedral in Helsinki stands above the surrounding buildings and is therefore a dominant element in the capital’s skyline. The church was built 1830-1852 as St. Nicholas Church in Russian Finland.

 

Senate Square/Senaatintori

In 1809, Finland became part of the Russian Empire, and on that occasion Helsinki became the Finnish capital. The Senate Square was laid out and built in a style similar to that of the nearby capital, St. Petersburg.

 

Uspensky Cathedral, Helsinki

Uspensky Cathedral/Uspenskin katedraali

Uspensky Cathedral is Helsinki’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It was built in Russian-Byzantine style in the years 1862-1868 with inspiration from a 16th century church near Moscow.

 

National Museum of Finland/Suomen Kansallismuseo

This is the main building of the Finnish National Museum. It was built 1905-1910. The museum’s exhibitions show Finland’s history from prehistoric times to the present day.

 

Temple Square Church, Helsinki

Temple Square Church/Temppeliaukion kirkko

Temple Square Church in Helsinki is one of the city’s large and quite different sights. The unique church was literally blown down into the bedrock of Helsinki in the years 1968-1969.

 

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is one of the world’s largest maritime fortresses and one of Helsinki’s many exciting sights. It is located on six of the outermost islands outside Helsinki, to which both ferries and tour boats sail daily.

Other Attractions

Finnish Senate, Helsinki

Finnish Senate/Suomen Senaatti

In 1809, a government office was established, which from 1816 was the Imperial Senate. The Senate building on the east side of Senate Square was erected to house the political body, and the building was inaugurated in 1822.

 

University of Helsinki/Helsingin yliopisto

On the west side of Senate Square you can see the main building of the University of Helsinki. Like the other 19th-century buildings from Russian times, the university is built in neoclassicism.

 

Helsinki Railway Station

Helsingin rautatieasema/Helsinki Railway Station

This is the city’s railway station, which is an example of magnificent railway architecture. The building is famous for its architectural features with an exterior in pure national romanticism.

 

Presidentinlinna/President’s Palace

This mansion was built by the merchant Johan Henrik Heidenstrauch as a residence in the years 1816-1820. In 1837 the palace was purchased to be the residence of the Governor-General, and today it is the seat of the President of Finland.

 

Helsinki City Museum

Helsinki City Museum/Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo

The City Museum of Helsinki has a number of departments around the Finnish capital. This is the main building, and here you can see a nice overview of Helsinki’s history.

 

City Hall/Kaupungintalo

This is Helsinki City Hall, which was built in 1833 as a hotel named Hotel Seurahuone/Hotell Societetshuset. The large hotel had a ballroom, banquet room and only 27 actual hotel rooms.

 

Old Market Hall, Helsinki

Old Market Hall/Vanha Kauppahalli

The Old Market Hall in Helsinki is one of three older market halls in the Finnish capital. It was built in 1889 according to drawings by the architect Gustaf Nyström.

 

Mannerheim Museum/Mannerheim Museo

The Mannerheim Museum is a museum dedicated to the Finnish statesman and military man Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, one of Finland’s most important statesmen of all time.

 

The Old Church, Helsinki

The Old Church/Vanhakirkko

This is one of the oldest churches in the city. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and consecrated in 1826. The Old Church was built of wood and thus offers a special atmosphere.

 

Kiasma

Kiasma is the name of the Finnish State Museum of Contemporary Art. The focus of the museum’s collection and exhibitions is international art from 1960 to today.

 

Esplanade, Helsinki

The Esplanade/Esplanadi

The Esplanade is a central park and a lovely oasis in the middle of Helsinki. It is laid out as a wide boulevard with lawns between, among other things, neoclassical buildings.

 

Parliament House/Eduskuntatalo

The Parliament of Finland was established in 1906 during the country’s time as an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. Independent Finland built this monumental parliament building, which opened in 1931.

 

Finlandia House, Helsinki

Finlandia House/Finlandia-Talo

Alvar Aalto designed and built the Finlandia House in the years 1967-1971 as a concert building, and a wing for congresses was added 1973-1975.

 

Sibelius Monument/Sibelius-monumentti

The Sibelius Monument is a work of art named after the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It is set up in Sibelius Park.

Day Trips

Porvoo, Finland

Porvoo

Porvoo is a well-preserved medieval town, whose settlement began in the 13th century. The town was given early market town rights, and today the town is best known for its old town with the preserved wooden houses.

 

Seurasaaren Open Air Museum/Seurasaaren Ulkomuseo

At this open-air museum you can see a very fine collection of houses and buildings that originally stood in many different places in Finland.

 

Järvenpää, Finland

Järvenpää

The city of Järvenpää is famous for being the hometown of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius for many years. He built his villa Ainola here in 1904.

 

Hämeenlinna

North of Helsinki, Hämeenlinna is located in the southern part of Finland’s large lake area. In the area around the town you can really enjoy nature, and in Hämeenlinnna there are several sights.

 

Vyborg/Выборг

Vyborg is located on the Gulf of Finland, and it was founded by the Swedes in 1293 during their conquest of the Karelian region. In 1710, Vyborg became Russian. Today there is a lot to see; eg the old Swedish castle.

 

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn

The Estonian capital is located south of Helsinki on the opposite side of the Gulf of Finland. There are fast ferries to Tallinn several times a day from Helsinki, and you can visit the city on a day trip.

Shopping

City Center

Rautatientori
city-center.fi

 

Forum

Mannerheimintie 20
cityforum.fi

 

Itäkeskus

Itäkeskus 5
itis.fi

 

Kamppi

Narinka
kamppi.fi

 

KAMP Galleria

Pohjoisesplanadi 33
kampgalleria.fi

 

Stockmann

Aleksanterinkatu 52
stockmann.fi

 

Shopping streets

Esplanadi, Kauppatori, Aleksanterinkatu, Bulevardi

With Kids

Science

Heureka
Tikkurila, Vantaa
heureka.fi

 

Zoological garden

Helsinki Zoo
Korkeasaari
hel.fi/zoo

 

Amusement park

Linnanmäki/Borgbacken
Tivolikuja 1
linnanmaki.fi

 

Natural History

Luonnontieteellinen Museo/Naturhistoriska Centralmuseet
Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13
fmnh.helsinki.fi

 

Aquarium

Sea Life Helsinki
Tivolitie 10
sealifehelsinki.fi

 

Technology

Tekniikan Museo/Tekniska Museet
Viikintie 1
tekniikanmuseo.fi

 

Tropics and reptiles

Tropicario
Sturenkatu 27
tropicario.com

Practical Links

Helsinki tourism

hel.fi/tourism

 

Finland tourism

visitfinland.com

 

Helsinki city transport

hel.fi/hkl

 

Finnish Railways

vr.fi

 

Helsinki Airport

helsinki-vantaa.fi

City History

Swedish trading town

Helsinki was founded as the sixth city in Finland in 1550 by the Swedish king Gustav Vasa. The city then bore its Swedish name Helsinki.

Gustav Vasa wanted to establish a competitor to the thriving trade city of the Hanseatic League, Tallinn, on the other side of the Gulf of Finland, and a royal trade was established in the city by royal decree.

Throughout the centuries after its founding, however, Helsinki has remained a withdrawn smaller fishing and trade city that could not take up competition with Tallinn. By 140, otherwise Helsinki had moved slightly to the south to a better location by the sea.

 

Russia expands

To the east of Helsinki and at the end of the Gulf of Finland, Peter the Great established in 1703 its new city and Russia’s new capital of St. Petersburg. The city was lavish, and as a Russian center of power, the strategic value of the Gulf of Finland increased significantly.

The Swedes built the fortress of Sveaborg at the entrance to Helsinki for advanced defense of the city. This happened in the 1740s, when Russia had invaded Helsinki only in the years 1713-1721 and again in 1742. Sveaborg was completed in 1772.

Sweden went to war with Russia due to Napoleon in 1808. In the same year, Sveaborg was conquered by the army of the tsar, and in 1809 Russia gained dominion over Finland and Åland at the Peace in Fredrikshamn, and made the area the Grand Duchy of Finland during the Russian Empire.

 

The new capital

Until 1809, Turku had been the Swedish capital of the Swedes, but the czar in Saint Petersburg wanted a Finnish capital that was closer to the Russian government city. Helsinki was chosen due to Sveaborg’s fortress. Officially it became the capital of the Finns in 1812 and called Helsinki.

By 1808, a fire had destroyed large parts of Helsinki. The city was to be rebuilt, and as it was a new capital, it was an opportunity to have a magnificent city center built, which was just a capital worthy.

The German-born architect, Carl Ludwig Engel, together with the local Johan Albrecht Ehrenström was given the primary responsibility for the major task of Helsinki modernization. They planned and constructed the capital of the capital in a monumental empire style with inspiration from impressive St. Petersburg.

One of the highlights of the construction was the cathedral, completed in 1852. Around it lay central institutions such as the area’s government building and the university, which had been relocated to Helsinki from Turku after its great fire in 1827.

 

Development and industrialization

The time during Russia was a great period of growth for Helsinki, which had been expanded with large public facilities in the city center. The city also became a garrison city for the Russian Imperial Army, and as its capital, it was both a political, cultural and economic center in Finland.

Throughout the 19th century, Helsinki grew rapidly. Railway connections were established to Hämeenlinna in 1862 and to St. Petersburg in 1870. These and several transport facilities were essential to build the city’s central location as an economic and industrial power center.

At the same time as the economy, culture flourished and at the head of the Renaissance of the Finnish art world stood the world famous composer, Jean Sibelius. The 19th century was also the time for the creation of the first Finnish opera, which happened in 1852.

The growth created a good economic situation for the city, and this can be seen in, among other things, the beautiful national romantic buildings and art nouveau neighborhoods that emerged at the end of the century.

By the end of the 19th century, the city had grown to around 100,000 inhabitants, and Finnish was the dominant language. The many new inhabitants had moved to the capital from the country where the Finns lived, making the Swedish speakers a minority.

 

Early 20th century

From the beginning of the 20th century, Finland had to be integrated into the Russian Empire to a greater extent than before. At the same time, however, there was a growing desire for Finnish independence in the population, and as a capital Helsinki was often the scene of events in this regard. In 1904, the Russian general governor was assassinated in the government building in the center of Helsinki, and it was a very clear example of increasing Finnish opposition to the authorities.

The Communist Revolution in Russia in 1917 enabled a Finnish Declaration of Independence, which the Finns took advantage of. However, the revolution in Russia also triggered similar struggles in Finland, so independence did not come from one day to another.

After a period of just over three months of civil war, during which the Finnish government had to flee from Helsinki to Vaasa for a few months, the city in 1918 became the capital of an independent Finland. This happened after the victory of the government army led by General Mannerheim and with the support of German soldiers.

 

Independent Finland

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, there was a positive development in Helsinki, which as an independent capital had a changed need for the establishment of national institutions. The period was characterized by the many new builds in the functionalist style, among other things, and the positive period was crowned by the large facilities for holding the Olympic Games in 1940; however, these were postponed due to the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

The population has also more than doubled since 1900 and has grown explosively since the beginning of the 19th century, when only a few thousand had their home in the Finnish capital.

In 1939, the growth period in Finland was replaced by war. In the German-Soviet agreement between Ribbentrop and Molotov, Finland belonged to the Soviet sphere of interest, and on November 30, 1939, the country was attacked by its neighbor to the east. It was the beginning of the Winter War and the bombing of Helsinki started a few hours later.

The winter war raged for 105 days and the end of it came with the Moscow Peace Treaty on March 12, 1940. With peace, Finland secured its independence, but had to give up more lands to the Soviet Union.

However, during World War II, Helsinki was subject to continued bombing, with the country choosing to fight on the German side against the Soviet Union. In 1942-1944, Finland made several advances into the Soviet Union, but was forced back and had to accept the ceasefire in Moscow on September 19, 1944. With the ceasefire, the war stopped and Finland had to surrender additional territory to the Soviet Union.

 

1945 to present day

The pre-war growth quickly returned to Helsinki and Finland after the end of World War II. Between 1925 and 1960 the population again doubled, reaching about 425,000.

In the meantime, Helsinki should have hosted the Olympic Games in 1940. The big event was realized in the city in 1952 instead, and for a time Helsinki was the center of world sports. It was also at this time that the Finnish capital developed into a major international congress and conference city.

During the 1960s and 1980s many new suburbs were erected around Helsinki in connection with the move from country to city. Among other things, Alvar Aalto drew during this period and made a mark on part of the development.

One of the major projects of the time was the construction of the subway in Helsinki. It was opened as the world’s northernmost metro in 1982 and significantly improved the capital’s traffic system.

In recent years, Helsinki has hosted several major events. In the year 2000, the city was the European Capital of Culture, and in 2012 a number of events were held as the world’s design capital.

Geolocation

In short

Overview of Helsinki

The Finnish capital is very beautifully located with water to three sides and with an archipelago just outside the city center. The natural beauty is complemented by 19th-century Helsinki and modern Finnish architecture, and these things are part of what gives loads of interesting things to see and do while visiting the city.

 

The city’s two most famous churches are top sights; the Classicist Protestant Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral. The churches both date from Finland during the era of the Russian Empire, and the well planned 19th century town is located with the protestant cathedral as center point.

 

About the upcoming Helsinki travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

 

About the travel guide

The Helsinki travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Finnish city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

 

Helsinki is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

 

Read more about Helsinki and Finland

 

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

 

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Helsinki you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Amazing Cathedrals • Classicism • Temppeliaukio Church • Boat Trips

Overview of Helsinki

The Finnish capital is very beautifully located with water to three sides and with an archipelago just outside the city center. The natural beauty is complemented by 19th-century Helsinki and modern Finnish architecture, and these things are part of what gives loads of interesting things to see and do while visiting the city.

 

The city’s two most famous churches are top sights; the Classicist Protestant Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral. The churches both date from Finland during the era of the Russian Empire, and the well planned 19th century town is located with the protestant cathedral as center point.

 

About the upcoming Helsinki travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

 

About the travel guide

The Helsinki travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Finnish city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

 

Helsinki is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

 

Read more about Helsinki and Finland

 

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

 

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Helsinki you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Other Attractions

Finnish Senate, Helsinki

Finnish Senate/Suomen Senaatti

In 1809, a government office was established, which from 1816 was the Imperial Senate. The Senate building on the east side of Senate Square was erected to house the political body, and the building was inaugurated in 1822.

 

University of Helsinki/Helsingin yliopisto

On the west side of Senate Square you can see the main building of the University of Helsinki. Like the other 19th-century buildings from Russian times, the university is built in neoclassicism.

 

Helsinki Railway Station

Helsingin rautatieasema/Helsinki Railway Station

This is the city’s railway station, which is an example of magnificent railway architecture. The building is famous for its architectural features with an exterior in pure national romanticism.

 

Presidentinlinna/President’s Palace

This mansion was built by the merchant Johan Henrik Heidenstrauch as a residence in the years 1816-1820. In 1837 the palace was purchased to be the residence of the Governor-General, and today it is the seat of the President of Finland.

 

Helsinki City Museum

Helsinki City Museum/Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo

The City Museum of Helsinki has a number of departments around the Finnish capital. This is the main building, and here you can see a nice overview of Helsinki’s history.

 

City Hall/Kaupungintalo

This is Helsinki City Hall, which was built in 1833 as a hotel named Hotel Seurahuone/Hotell Societetshuset. The large hotel had a ballroom, banquet room and only 27 actual hotel rooms.

 

Old Market Hall, Helsinki

Old Market Hall/Vanha Kauppahalli

The Old Market Hall in Helsinki is one of three older market halls in the Finnish capital. It was built in 1889 according to drawings by the architect Gustaf Nyström.

 

Mannerheim Museum/Mannerheim Museo

The Mannerheim Museum is a museum dedicated to the Finnish statesman and military man Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, one of Finland’s most important statesmen of all time.

 

The Old Church, Helsinki

The Old Church/Vanhakirkko

This is one of the oldest churches in the city. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and consecrated in 1826. The Old Church was built of wood and thus offers a special atmosphere.

 

Kiasma

Kiasma is the name of the Finnish State Museum of Contemporary Art. The focus of the museum’s collection and exhibitions is international art from 1960 to today.

 

Esplanade, Helsinki

The Esplanade/Esplanadi

The Esplanade is a central park and a lovely oasis in the middle of Helsinki. It is laid out as a wide boulevard with lawns between, among other things, neoclassical buildings.

 

Parliament House/Eduskuntatalo

The Parliament of Finland was established in 1906 during the country’s time as an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. Independent Finland built this monumental parliament building, which opened in 1931.

 

Finlandia House, Helsinki

Finlandia House/Finlandia-Talo

Alvar Aalto designed and built the Finlandia House in the years 1967-1971 as a concert building, and a wing for congresses was added 1973-1975.

 

Sibelius Monument/Sibelius-monumentti

The Sibelius Monument is a work of art named after the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It is set up in Sibelius Park.

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