European Vacation - Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a city well known for its neo-classical, art nouveau and modern architecture. The city center is situated on a peninsula surrounded by the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is a very maritime city and is popularly called “the daughter of the Baltic.”

With its attractive coastline and beautiful archipelago, as well as its many museums and cultural events, it offers a large choice of tours and excursions.

Helsinki's coastal position makes it ideal to experience in the summertime from one of the many sightseeing ferries leaving from the port of Helsinki. In the wintertime Helsinki's northern position makes it dark for most of the day, thus making it a cozy town with much interesting lighting.

Top Helsinki attractions include:

The Lutheran Cathedral is one of Helsinki’s best-known landmarks with its huge green dome overlooking the city. Designed by Carl Ludwig Engel, this masterpiece was consecrated in 1852. A powerfully stark neo-classical building, the interior reflects the architectural perfection of the exterior.
Russian Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1868 on a rocky outcrop on Katajanokka peninsula, a site that had originally been set aside for an Imperial palace. The Cathedral is a reminder of the influence of Russia over the history of Finland and that the country belonged to Russia until 1919. It is now Western Europe’s largest Orthodox Cathedral. A statue of Tzar Alexander II still stands in the square in front of the cathedral.
The Ateneum Art Museum is probably the most popular museum in Helsinki. Tourists will enjoy several Finnish art works dating back to the beginning of the 19th century until 1960.
Seurasaari Open Air Museum contains folk and farm buildings from all over Finland. Founded in 1909, the museum gives an outstanding overview of life in Finland from the 18th to the 20th century. One of the main exhibits at Seurasaari is the beautiful 17th century Karuna church.
Temppeliaukio Church (The Rock Church). Two architect brothers shaped this incredible piece of church architecture from a solid rocky outcrop in 1969. This so-called “rock church” is located right in the heart of Helsinki. Due to its superb acoustics, the church is sometimes used as a concert hall.
Finlandia hall is Helsinki’s leading concert and congress center. Designed by the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, it has two main stages.
The Harbour Museum was designed by three of Finland's greatest early architects. One of the highlights of the museum is the Finno-Ugric exhibit.
The Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art is Helsinki’s new Museum of Contemporary Art and it is rapidly becoming one of Finland’s most popular attractions. It is a fascinating place for hardened art lovers and the uninitiated alike. The Kiasma is not a gallery in the classic sense; it is a place where the art and the visitor encounter each other in many ways. The collection starts in the 1960s and includes works of Minimalism, Pop Art, Arte Povera, German Neo-Expressionism, Italian Trans-Avant Garde as well as American 1980s paintings.
Senate Square is regarded as one of Europe's finest neoclassical squares. It houses the Senate building, the University building and the Lutheran Cathedral. A popular meeting point, the square is particularly lively in August during the Helsinki festival and on December 6th when there is a torchlight procession across the square.
The Island Fortress of Suomenlinna. The 18th century Fortress of Suomenlinna is a must-see on any trip to Finland. The unique fortress is a fine example of European military architecture. Besides being a being a historical site and tourist attraction, Suomenlinna is also a well-loved recreation area for Helsinki citizens. Suomenlinna remains a lively island with an impressive array of museums, galleries, restaurants and cafes.
The National Museum of Finland. This striking building was designed by three of Finland's greatest early architects. Built in the Romantic style it was opened in 1919. There are some rare archaeological finds from the Finnish Stone Age as well as from medieval and Lutheran periods. There are also good exhibits of folk-culture artifacts, folk costumes, textiles and furniture as well as foreign ethnographic collections.