Welcome to Helsinki!
Helsinki has been influenced by the East and West which has given the city a unique character. As a tourist you’re greeted by friendly people, hundreds of events, beautiful architecture, and a rich variety of restaurants and nightlife. Helsinki is very beautiful and has many interesting sights. When you walk through Helsinki, you can see many traces of Finland’s great architects by aAlver Aalto and Eliel Saarinen.
If you enjoy shopping, then you have come to the right place, There are shops for all tastes and price ranges. Helsinki offers everything; from exclusive boutiques, major department stores to flea markets. The Design District In Rödbergen is an area well worth a visit if you like clothes and furnishings. There are many tourists who come home with glass products from Iittala and Marimekko which has designed more than 3000 different patterns.
If you want to experience nature then Helsinki also has much to offer. There are many beautiful parks and walking paths. In the area around Tölöviken there is a popular recreation area. Helsinki has plenty of squirrels, therefore the city has chosen it to be the city animal and the Maple is the city tree. If you want to experience even more nature, the forest is not far away. The city has ten miles of shoreline and the archipelago consists of hundreds of islands and islets. It is an idyllic setting for those wanting to take a cruise just outside the city.
Do like so as many other tourists and visit Helsinki.
Municipality Facts
Population
576 632
Area
716 km²
Regional Center
Helsingfors
County
Nyland
More Information
Internet
www.visithelsinki.fi
Newspapers
Hufvudstadsbladet www.hbl.fi
Tourist Bureaus
Helsingfors City Tourist - & Conference Bureau Pohjoisesplanadi 19, Helsingfors +358-(0)9 3101 3300
Notes
Emergency
112
Police
189 41 75
Country Code
+358
Area Code
09
City
About
Welcome to Helsinki!
Helsinki has been influenced by the East and West which has given the city a unique character. As a tourist you're greeted by friendly people, hundreds of events, beautiful architecture, and a rich variety of restaurants and nightlife. Helsinki is very beautiful and has many interesting sights. When you walk through Helsinki, you can see many traces of Finland's great architects by aAlver Aalto and Eliel Saarinen. If you enjoy shopping, then you have come to the right place, There are shops for all tastes and price ranges. Helsinki offers everything; from exclusive boutiques, major department stores to flea markets. The Design District In Rödbergen is an area well worth a visit if you like clothes and furnishings. There are many tourists who come home with glass products from Iittala and Marimekko which has designed more than 3000 different patterns. If you want to experience nature then Helsinki also has much to offer. There are many beautiful parks and walking paths. In the area around Tölöviken there is a popular recreation area. Helsinki has plenty of squirrels, therefore the city has chosen it to be the city animal and the Maple is the city tree. If you want to experience even more nature, the forest is not far away. The city has ten miles of shoreline and the archipelago consists of hundreds of islands and islets. It is an idyllic setting for those wanting to take a cruise just outside the city. Do like so as many other tourists and visit Helsinki.
See and Do
Swimming
Backasbrinkens Swimming Hall
The hall has a 50 meter swimming pool in addition to the diving pool with a 10 meter diving platform, the outdoor pool, the childrens pool, the solarium and the massage. Backasgatan 49, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-3484 8800
Beaches
There are many nice beaches in Helsinki, and the most well known beach is in Sandudd. Many families go to Ugnsholmen which is located south of Brunnsparken. There is a shallow beach with lifeguard and good service. If you want to stay close to the center, there are also beaches at Fölisön, Blåbärslandet och i Munksnäs.
Georgsgatans Swimming Hall
The Swimming hall was built in 1928 as a Roman bath and has a beautiful interior. Since it is allowed to bathe naked, there is separate bathing for men and women. There are also cabanas to rent if you would like a little peace and quiet where you can relax after a sauna. There are steam and wood-heated saunas. Georgsgatan 21 B, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-310 87401
Simstadion (Aquatics Center)/Outdoor Swimming
At the Simstadion, which is open in all weather from May to September, the water is always 25 degrees. There is a 50 meter pool, children's pool, waterslide and diving tower.
Family Activities
Borgbackens Amusement Park
Borgbackens Amusement Park from 1950, has everything you could wish for in a theme park. The wooden rollercoaster which is over 50 years old, is still the amusement park's most popular attractions but there are a lot of easy and wild attractions. The area also has a game hall and an outdoor stage that is visited by popular artists. Tivoligränd 1, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-773 991 www.linnanmaki.fi
Fallkulla Pet Park
Set in a traditional farm environment, the children and adolescents participate in chores on a farm. There are live animals such as; chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, goats, pigs, cows and horses. Fallkulla, Malm, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-3108 9095
Fölisö Open Air Museum, Fölisön
The buildings here have been moved from many different parts of Finland. Here you can learn how life was back in the past and the Finnish Folk Tradition. From the buildings interiors and objects, one can get an insight of the crofters, farmers, peasants, and about people's lives from the 1700s and also back into the last century. The museum offers guided tours in various languages. There are also a café, restaurant, kiosk and museum shop. There is even a beach on the island. Fölisön, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-4050 9660
Helsingfors Automobile Museum
The museum has the largest collection of miniature cars, more than 3,000 cars are collected here. It also has a museum of vehicles and wax figures of famous Finns. Munkholmsgatan 12, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-667 123
Helsinki Zoo
At this popular zoo, you have the opportunity to learn about animals and plants from around the world. The zoo offers houses with different themes. In the tropics of Africasia and Amazonia, it is summer all year round and you meet the animals like the lizards, turtles and parrots, with monkeys jumping around. Furthermore, you can experience the rugged countryside of the Himalayan peaks with animals such as takin, wild horses, camels and snow leapords. The zoo even has animals that want it really cold such as; the snowy owl, lynx, and musk oxen. Blåbärslandsstigen 12, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-3103 7900 www.korkeasaari.fi
Sea Life
When one visits SEA LIFE, you get to experience a magical underwater world with everything from the tropical waters to the Arctic Sea. Get acquainted with sealife such as; prawns, piranhas, sea horses, starfish and rays. In the exhibition "Sharks! Dinosaurs under the surface", you learn about the sharks exciting development and history. Tivolivägen 10, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-565 8200
Museum
Finlands National Museum
In Finlands National Museum there are historical, numismatic and international scientific records describing Finnish history, from prehistoric times to the present day. Vintti is an interactive exhibition for children, where one must use the head and hands in order to discover the Finnish history and culture. The museum also has a café, an information center and a museum shop. Mannerheimvägen 34, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-4050 9544
Fölisö Open Air Museum, Fölisön
The open-air museum has buildings which have been relocated from various landscapes in Finland . You may learn more about how crofters, farmers and capable people lived then and the Finnish folk tradition. During the summer, the guides are in folk dress from ancient times and guided tours are in different languages. The island has a beach, kiosk, restaurant / cafe and museum shop. Fölisön, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-4050 9660
Kiasma - Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art
Kiasma, which is part of the National Gallery, comes with the latest developments in the visual arts field. The collections include Finnish and international art from the 60's to the present, and there are also different special exhibitions. Kiasma is an active cultural center and includes a theater offerings, and among other things; dance, music and lectures. Mannerheimplatsen 2, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-1733 6501
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress was founded in 1748 under the direction of Augustin Ehrensvard and is one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world. The fortress is situated on six different islands in the archipelago and is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is one of the most popular sights in Finland and many people like to take the opportunity to eat a good meal or take a coffee break at one of the many restaurants and cafes. During the summer months, daily tours are arranged in Swedish, Finnish and English. During the the winter months, guided tours are in English on the weekends. Sveaborg, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-684 1850 www.suomenlinnatours.com
The Ateneum Art Museum
The Ateneum Art Museum is Finlands National Gallery and holds the nation's leading art treasures. The museum contains Fine Arts from the 1750s to the 1960s and western art from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Among the artists are famous names such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Helene Schjerfbeck and Albert Edelfelt. There is also a cafe and a bookstore. Brunnsgatan 2, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-1733 640, info +358-(0)9-173 361, växel
Parks
Brunnsparken
The most famous park in Helsinki is Brunnsparken where many of the embassies are located. There are large lawns, which lends itself to various leisure activities and along the sea are many cafes and restaurants. On Brunnsparkens highest point is the Ursa Observatory and on the east side with a seaview, is the home and museum of Marshal Mannerheim.
Gardenia-Helsingfors
Gardenia-Helsinki opened in the spring of 2001. In addition to the special exhibitions and events, there is a rose garden, a peony garden and an outside Japanese garden. The glass-covered tropical garden is open year round. There is a cafe and lunch restaurant. Försöksgårdsvägen 1, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-347 8400
Helsinki City Winter Garden
This beautiful conservatory was founded in 1893 and has over 200 species of plants such as palms, passion flower, thriving money tree, cacti and over one hundred year old camellias. In the fountain water are carp, which quickly becomes one of the children's favorites. Hammarskjöldsvägen 1 B, Helsingfors
Sibelius Park
The Sibelius Park is named after the composer Jean Sibelius and has one of Helsinki's most popular statues, the Sibelius Monument. The statue is reminiscent of organ pipes and is constructed of welded steel with the composer's bust on one side.
Worth Seeing
Cathedral
The Helsinki Cathedral is 62 meters high and is one of Helsinki's main landmarks. The church, which was designed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel is located centrally at the Senate Square. A Neoclassical Church, which represents the shape of a regular cross. It is believed to be modeled after the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. On the roof of the church are twelve statues representing the apostles - the world's largest production of zinc statues. Unionsgatan 29, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-2340 6120
Suomenlinna Church
The Suomenlinna Church from 1854, was originally orthodox. The church tower functions as a lighthouse and is still used. After Finlands independence in 1928, it became a Lutheran church. Sveaborg C 43 FI-00190 Helsingfors +358-(0)9-709 2665
Temppeliaukio Church
The church was consecrated in 1969 and designed by architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. Temppeliaukio Church is quarried from the rock and the sunlight comes in through the ceiling window. Thanks to its excellent acoustics because of the rugged mountainous area, the building is used frequently as a concert venue. It is one of the most popular sights in Helsinki. Luthersgatan 3, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-2340 5920, +358-(0)9-2340 5900
The Church of St. John
The Church of St. John is Helsinki's largest church built in neo-Gothic style during the late 1800s and designed by architect Adolf Emil Melander of Sweden. The church has excellent acoustics, making it a popular place for concerts of large choral works in particular. The churches altarpiece, was painted by Eero Järnefelt in 1932. Högbergsgatan 12, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-2340 6122
The Old Church
The Old Church was designed by C.L. Engel and completed in 1826. It is one of the few surviving memories of the old wooden-Helsinki. In the park there are graves and a memorial stone for the German and Finnish soldiers who died during the Civil War in 1918. Lönnrotsgatan 6, Helsingfors +358-(0)9-2340 6128
Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral
Completed in 1868 in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history. It also has a small souvenier shop. Kanalgatan 1, Helsingfors +358-(0)207 220 683
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