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    Tourist Attractions in Helsinki

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Helsinki. Photos and a brief description.

    Helsinki
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    About Helsinki

    The capital of Finland cannot boast of pompous magnificent architecture, a large number of historical attractions and some particularly outstanding cultural heritage. However, Helsinki is an original, atmospheric city and it definitely has a peculiar charm.

    The city authorities welcome modern architectural projects. Thanks to this, tourists can admire the unusual church of Temppeliaukio and the chapel of silence of Kamppi. The granite-clad embankments of the Finnish capital turn into restrained and majestic panoramas of the Baltic Sea, where cruise liners and ferries swing on the waters.

    Helsinki is a sound, solid and prosperous city. There are no enchanting Gothic cathedrals and castles here, but there is an incomparable Kiasma, strict northern nature and the triumph of common sense.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Helsinki

    Cathedral and Senate Square

    Senate Square is one of the three central squares of the Finnish capital. Attractions and main tourist routes are concentrated around it. The place is decorated with the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral, which was erected in the first half of the XIX century after the proclamation of Helsinki as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Inside the cathedral there is a monument to the founder of the Reformation — M. Luther.

    Cathedral and Senate Square
    Monument to Sibelius

    Monument to Sibelius

    A monument dedicated to the famous and revered Finnish composer Jan Sibelius. Several streets, a music academy, and a city park are also named in honor of this outstanding historical figure. The monument was erected in 1967 according to the project of E. Hiltunen. This is an abstract composition, which is a pile of metal pipes and a bas-relief of the composer located at the foot.

    Havis Amanda

    The city fountain, one of the symbols of the Finnish capital. The project was designed by sculptor V. Wallgren at the beginning of the XX century. In the middle of the sculptural group there is a statue of a woman – a "sea nymph", on the sides there are fabulous sea lions. It's hard to believe, but before the monument was erected, there were heated discussions about the propriety of installing a nude figure in the city center for more than two years.

    Havis Amanda
    The fortress of Sveaborg

    The fortress of Sveaborg

    A sea fort located on rocky islands near Helsinki. From the city center, you can quickly get there by ferry. Sveaborg is a Swedish name, the Finns call the fortress Suomenlinna. The structure was erected in the middle of the XVIII century at a time when Finland was part of Sweden. The fortress was the base for the Swedish fleet and defended the approaches to Helsinki.

    Temppeliaukio Church

    The original temple, located in a natural rock. The church is considered one of the most striking attractions of Helsinki. Thanks to the unusual architecture, a stunning acoustic effect is created in the church hall. The idea of progressive design belongs to the Suomalainen brothers. The temple was built in the 70s of the XX century and quickly gained fame and popularity. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Temppeliaukio Church every year.

    Assumption Cathedral

    Assumption Cathedral

    The Orthodox church, built according to the project of A.M. Gornostaev in the middle of the XIX century. The architectural style of the cathedral is a mixture of Byzantine style and traditions of Russian temple architecture. In 1872, it was given the status of a cathedral. At the moment, the Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki is the largest Orthodox church in Western and Northern Europe.

    Kallio Church

    The granite bulk of the Kallio Church is often called a bright creation of the so-called "Finnish" modernism or "national Romanticism". This rather original structure appeared in 1912 and soon became the main attraction of the entire Kallio district. There is an opinion that the architect L. Sonk, when designing the building, took as a model the description of the Old Testament temple of Solomon (including its impressive size).

    Kallio Church
    St. John's Church

    St. John's Church

    Lutheran church of the late XIX century, a grandiose creation of the Swedish architect A. Melander. It was built on the place where the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala was always celebrated. The church is very impressive in size – at the same time 2600 people can be placed inside. The building was built in the "reference" Neo-Gothic style, the interior space is decorated with wooden decor, which was worked on by the best Finnish craftsmen.

    Kamppi Chapel of Silence

    The modern building, erected in 2012 according to the project of M. Summanen, N. Sirol and K. Lintula, is an interesting and vivid example of the latest architecture of Helsinki. The chapel is not a temple in the usual sense, services are not held here, but on its territory you can get psychological help or just take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city space.

    Kamppi Chapel of Silence
    National Museum of Finland

    National Museum of Finland

    The Museum of the History of Finland, where you can trace the development of the land of Suomi (as Finns call their state) from ancient times to the modern period. The museum expositions are quite extensive – from pottery shards to the thrones of rulers, from medieval weapons to the technical achievements of Nokia. The museum was opened to the public in 1916.

    Design Museum

    The museum's expositions demonstrate the achievements of Finnish applied art. Exhibitions, international events, demonstrations of fashion collections of young designers are often held here. The museum was founded in 1873 as a workshop for teaching applied arts. Now this place is considered one of the best modern creative venues in Europe.

    Design Museum
    Natural History Museum

    Natural History Museum

    One of the three largest national museums in Finland. The exposition dedicated to natural history and evolution is located on four floors. Among the particularly valuable artifacts there are fossil exhibits that are more than a thousand years old. The collection is divided into four parts: "History of life", "Nature of Finland", "History of Bones", "Nature of the World".

    Eureka Science Museum Athenaeum

    The museum is located in the city of Vantaa near the Finnish capital. It is an interactive gaming, educational and entertainment center where visitors of different ages can experiment, explore the nature of physical phenomena and simply spend time usefully. More complex experiments can be carried out in museum "laboratories" under the guidance of specialists.

    Eureka Science Museum Athenaeum
    Art Museum

    Art Museum

    An art gallery that houses a rich collection of works of art. A special place is given to the paintings of Finnish artists – representatives of the Golden Age period in national art. There are also works by recognized world classics: Van Gogh, P. Gauguin, Modigliani, Degas, F. Goya, Cezanne and others. The collection contains a large number of paintings by Russian artists: Levitan, Shishkin, Repin, Polenov.

    Kiasma

    A grandiose museum of modern art, located in a monumental building of modern architecture. The museum specializes in collecting works by Finnish masters and artists from nearby countries. Often it is by order of Kiasma that many works are created. Now the museum's collection has about 9 thousand exhibits, but the funds are continuously replenished and the exposition is growing.

    Kiasma
    Seurasaari – open-air museum

    Seurasaari – open-air museum

    The museum is located on the island of the same name to the west of Helsinki. There are similar expositions in many European countries, they are designed to acquaint tourists with the traditional way of life and the life of the local population. In Seurasaari you can see wooden dwellings of rural residents, Finnish saunas, outbuildings, mills, religious buildings brought from all over the country.

    Market Square

    The square was formed at the beginning of the XIX century. Since then, there has been a market here, popular with Helsinki visitors and locals. On the square you can buy souvenirs, fresh food, excellent fish, as well as have a delicious lunch. Ferries to Suomenlinna depart from here. An obelisk in honor of the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is installed on the square.

    Market Square
    Old Indoor Market

    Old Indoor Market

    Shopping malls on the shore of the Southern Bay, located in an elegant brick building of the XIX century. The market offers a large selection of meat, fish, seafood, bread, various pastries. There is also a local delicatessen shop and a sushi restaurant. The old covered market is a rather atmospheric place with carved wooden counters, small shops and friendly sellers.

    Helsinki Railway Station

    The relatively small building of the capital's railway station is an architectural monument of the early XX century. It was built according to the project of architect E. Saarinen. The Art Nouveau facade is decorated with figures of stone giants created by E. Vikstrom. Numerous commuter trains and long-distance trains depart from the station to various European countries and to Russia.

    Helsinki Railway Station
    Serena Water Park

    Serena Water Park

    A water park in the suburbs of Helsinki, which is open to the public all year round. Quite a lot of slides are located in the open air, and you can often see a picture of how during the cool Finnish summer children frolic in the water at a temperature of only +19 ° C. When buying an All-inclusive ticket, you can visit all the attractions, a bar and a restaurant (alcohol for a fee).

    Sea Life Marine Center

    The aquarium is located in the northern part of the Finnish capital. The Sea Life Aquarium presents a wide variety of marine life: stingrays, sharks, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, exotic tropical fish, inhabitants of the harsh northern seas. Group excursions in Finnish, Swedish and English are conducted on the territory of the aquarium. The guide also contains information in Russian.

    Sea Life Marine Center
    Linnanmyaki

    Linnanmyaki

    An amusement and amusement park, quite popular with tourists and locals. Up to a million visitors come to Linnanmaki every year. Carousels and park rides are manufactured in leading European countries and meet the latest safety requirements. There are several free rides for children in the park.

    Korkeasaari Zoo

    The zoo is located on the island of the same name. It was founded in 1889 by A. Fabricius. The first inhabitants of the zoo were bears. Snow leopards live on the territory of Korkeasaari, which are currently on the verge of extinction. In addition to the magnificent northern animals, in the zoo you can admire reptiles, tropical birds, representatives of exotic fauna.

    Korkeasaari Zoo
    Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden

    The garden is located near the central part of Helsinki. There are rose gardens, greenhouses and a system of artificial ponds on the territory of the park. In summer, the garden turns into a magnificent blooming and fragrant canvas. Thematic events, various exhibitions, contests, and nature protection actions are regularly held on its territory.

    Esplanade Park

    The city park, the Finnish "Champs Elysees" and one of the favorite places for walking locals and guests of Helsinki. Here you can have a great rest in between visiting the numerous shops and attractions of the Finnish capital. In the eastern part of the Esplanade there is a small concert venue where progressive music groups perform in the summer.

    Esplanade Park