Our Top 10 Things to See and Do in Helsinki, Finland
#1 - Suomenlinna
Perhaps the biggest surprise we experienced on our trip to Helsinki is The Suomenlinna fortress. You will need to take a ferry out from the market square, but it is only a 15-minute ferry ride. If you have a transportation pass, it is included in the cost, which was quite nice as we already had one for the day. What we thought was just going to be a quick hour-long trip ended up being 6 hours. And that was us booking through it too. You could easily spend a whole day here. For context, this fortress was built during the 18th century by Sweden to combat against Russian aggression from the east. When Finland was taken over during the Crimean War, Russia gained dominance over Finland. It wasn’t until Finland gained independence in 1917 that it was named Suomenlinna. There are many museums, barracks, shops, and historical points throughout the island. With a working population of 500 people, it is a small village that you can explore. Definitely something you will want to see while you’re here.
#2 - Experience a Sauna
photo credit: Polhus - no, I didn’t take a photo of us with strangers in the sauna - that would have been weird
In case you didn’t know, the Finns invented the sauna. We have them to thank for all the warm, cosy spa days we get around the world. Finns enjoy the simple things in life and detoxing from daily life stressors. Perhaps we should learn more from them, as they are often considered one of the happiest countries in the world! When you come to Finland, you have to partake in a sauna. It doesn’t have to be fancy. If your hotel has one, use it. Or, you can pay for one of the experiences in the city. There are many options… and optional clothes if you would prefer to strip down with strangers… when in Finland, do as the Finns do!
#3 - Temppeliaukio Church
This is one of the most unique churches we’ve been to in Europe. This church is carved out of rock here in the city. It was completed in 1969 by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, whom started construction after winning a competition in 1961 to design a new church for the city after the war. It is Lutheran with very little ornate features, but it showcases the nature and simplicity of the structure. Sit and admire the ceiling, observe the unique organs, and come to say a prayer or two in this stunning display of art and design.
#4 - Old Market Hall
If you’re hungry, look no further than the old market hall. It has a lot of Finnish cuisine, including the famous salmon soup, bread cheese, smoked reindeer, and other culinary delights from around the world. While we were there, we also found Vietnamese, Thai, African, and American cuisine. You’re likely to find something there to try. If not, walk across the street to the pop up market with food stalls galore. This is where locals and tourists alike come for lunch.
#5 - Senate Square
As with most of our travels, the senate square is usually where many people migrate for the day, as it typically holds a lot of the museums and historical sites. Helsinki is no exception. You can spot the Helsinki cathedral, the presidential palace and other governmental offices, the City Museum, and see the Alexander II statue. Tsar Alexander II, as we were told, is often admired by Finns whom consider him to be a good emperor of Russia. He was a passivist and gave Finland more freedoms than other emperors. Unlike other statues that have been removed around the city because it displayed Russian propaganda, this one stays on and is shown proudly in the senate square.
#6 - HAM
HAM, which stands for the Helsinki Art Museum, is a contemporary art museum in the city centre. It is a collection of artists predominantly from Finland, but there are others from around the world. You can find art in all shapes and forms, from classic, to sculptures, natural pieces, to videos and sounds. It is a very immersive art museum with several exhibitions going on all the time. With Helsinki’s artsy atmosphere, it makes sense to see the premier art museum in the city. You can get a better grasp on what the influences are and what matters when creating art around the city.
#7 - Helsingin päärautatieasema
The first time we arrived here, I thought, “Wow, that’s interesting!” This is just the main train station in the city, but the architecture is so fascinating. In 1904, a design competition was held for the new design of the central station. Eliel Saarinen won with his national romanticist design and started construction in 1909. Although completed, Eliel scrapped his original idea and ended up doing this one instead, which was finished in 1919. From the outside, you can see 4 men outside the door holding spheres meant to symbolise guidance and to provide a light to travelers.
#8 - ALL THE PARKS
Another thing I noticed while wandering around Helsinki were all the nice parks around. You have Sibelius Park, Kaivopuisto, and Niskala arboretum and Haltiala primeval forest to name a few. In Finland, nature is very important and a big part of Finn culture. You will see parks throughout the city, even in the more congested areas. Some say the air sparkles because of how clean and natural it feels here.
#9 - Kamppi Chapel
As I’ve said many times already on this blog, Finns are very creative and artsy. There are several buildings you’ll see as you walk around the city and go, “wow, that’s different,” or “that’s unique!” That was part of my favourite things about Helsinki - it’s unique. Kamppi chapel is another church that’s very unusual. It’s a tiny modern chapel built in 2012 that is not designed to be a traditional chapel, but rather as a small spot for anybody, regardless of religious affiliation, to go and meditate. It is often called the chapel of silence for this reason. In the midst of busy city life, you can go and find peace and quiet here for reflection.
#10 - Helsinki City Museum
Lastly on our list is the Helsinki City Museum. While it’s not one of the most extensive museums we’ve been to, it is a nice little museum to take in the history and culture of Finland. While I’m not going to cover Finland’s history on this blog, this little museum does pack a lot of information in just a couple of floors. And we both agreed that the diorama of Helsinki from the 1800’s was pretty amazing. You’ll want to check this out if you want to learn more about Finland’s past.
