Port of Helsinki

About Helsinki, Guide and Tourist Attractions
(Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland)

Finland's capital and largest city, Helsinki is a popular tourist destination as well as a major finance, technology and international business centre.

With its mix of modern attractions and historical monuments, Helsinki offers something for everyone.

What to Do in Helsinki

Events and festivals occur throughout the year in Helsinki. The Helsinki Festival is an annual cultural festival held in late summer, celebrating dance, film, music and other arts. In early autumn, the Love and Anarchy Film Festival features international films and filmmakers. Other events include the Christmas Market, Helsinki City Marathon and the International Horse Show.

Helsinki has an enjoyable and diverse night scene, centered in the Kallio district, near the city centre. The crowd ranges from university students to international business travellers. The restaurants here span the whole spectrum of food, from local to Asian to Mexican. Shoppers will enjoy the shopping centres, individual boutiques and designer stores located throughout Helsinki.

Tourist Attractions

Most of Helsinki's attractions are within walking distance of the city centre. A walking tour will reveal architecture dating as far back as the 18th century. The fascinating Temppeliaukio Church was carved out of a solid rock outcropping in 1969. The market square, next to the harbour, is surrounded by 19th century architecture. The vendors sell anything from produce to local handicrafts. You can also take a short boat trip to Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress, a sea fort that was built in 1748 to fend off Russian attack.

There are over 80 museums in Helsinki. The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma exhibits work by artists worldwide from the 1960s to the present. The National Museum of Finland displays Finnish and Scandinavian history, starting from prehistoric times. Ateneum Art Museum contains Finland's largest art collection, which includes Finnish works from the 18th century and foreign art from the 19th century up through 1960.

The nearby countryside also offers a number of attractions. Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland, sits 50 km / 31 miles east of Helsinki. Alleys in this charming town are still paved with cobblestones and lined with brightly-colored wooden houses. Farther east, in Kotka, is the Imperial Fishing Lodge, built for Tsar Alexander III. The most historic area of Finland lies west of Helsinki. This region is dotted with medieval churches and castles. Hanko, a spa town in this region, features guesthouses that were once villas for Russian royalty and vacant sandy beaches.