The capital and the largest city of Finland, Helsinki sits on a granite peninsula on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland facing the Baltic Sea. This beautiful city was founded by King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden in the year 1550 and it was incorporated in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland in the year 1808.
Helsinki, better known as the “Daughter of Baltic” is a new and great city jam packed with innovative young creatives who make the city one of the most interesting places to hang out and live in. And Helsinki ranks on the top as one of the most favorable place to stay in the world due to its almost zero crime rates, peaceful ambience, gender equality, superior educational system and world’s most renowned healthcare system. Let us check out few of the interesting places in the city that make Helsinki tours a must in every traveler’s bucket list!
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is undoubtedly one of the best points of interest in Helsinki and indeed a priceless treasure of Finland. Constructed on an island this beautiful fortress is accompanied by six nearby islands. It was built in the middle of the 18th century for barring Russians to enter the Baltic. It has also been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in the year 1991 and is considered as the top attractions of Helsinki for tourists around the world.
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, an architectural marvel is a leading contemporary art museum in the Nordics that was designed by an American architect, Steven Holl. It houses some of the best modern arts that express and provokes various emotions which make it an inevitable part of Helsinki tours.
Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2, 00100, Helsinki, Finland
Official site: http://kiasma.fi/en/
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
A Lutheran church established in 1969, Temppeliaukio Church is surrounded by rocky stone walls and is covered by a dome getting support from parallel pillars that lie diagonally from the edge of the walls with the dome. The gaps hence created between each of the pillars lets the sunlight fall upon the place. This church is well known as Rock Church. Tourists interested in architectural marvels must include this place in their Helsinki tours.
Address: Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki
Official site: http://www.helsinginkirkot.fi/en/churches/rock-church-temppeliaukio
Seurasaari Open-air Museum
Seurasaari open-air museum is considered as one of the best attractions of the island which is linked with the mainland by a footbridge. The museum has old houses, farmsteads, a manor house, a church from Kiruna other old barns made of wood brought from different parts of Finland that determines the lives of Finns years ago. Also, there is a timber house occupied by the Friends of Finnish Handicrafts exhibiting rye carpets and other traditional textiles where visitors can watch the weavers at work.
Address: Seurasaari, Helsinki
Official site: http://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/seurasaari-openairmuseum
Finnish National Museum (Kansallismuseo)
Built in 1912 in a National Romantic style, the National Museum of Finland has a huge collection of vintage materials that attracts tourists from all over the world. The updated prehistory exhibition of the museum takes you back in time to experience living prehistory, building connections that extend all the way to modern times. Learn and be amazed at how much the Finns have in common with prehistoric people.
Address: Mannerheimintie 34, Helsinki, Finland
Official site: http://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/nationalmuseum
Central Park (Keskuspuisto)
Central Park (Keskuspuisto) of Helsinki is yet another major attraction of Helsinki tours. It is a massive park right in the middle of the city. It covers more than 10 square kilometers and is more a wild woodland than manicured garden. There are a lot of bike and walking trails along with other activity areas within it making it one of the amazing places to visit for tourists from all over the world.
Official site: http://www.hel.fi/hel2/keskuspuisto/eng/1centralpark/
There are many other places as well such as the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Finlandia Hall and more that make Helsinki tours an enjoyable experience.
Martin Wynn
Priya
