The best gift for children and adults for the New Year holidays is a trip to the homeland of everyone's beloved Santa Claus. But this is not the only asset Helsinki, there are other attractions that will delight all its tourists.
Cheap flights to Helsinki
Attractions Helsinki
Helsinki is young modern city and is home to Finland's busiest port. From a trip to this city, you can get a lot of good emotions that will forever remain in your memory.
Historical monuments, beautiful parks, cathedrals, a large number of museums - this is only a small part of what awaits a tourist on his trip to Helsinki.
Walking tour in Helsinki: what to see?
There are a lot of places in Helsinki where you can see all the beauty of this town.
It is better to start your walk from the city center, from the Senate Square, where one of the most important sights of Finland, the Cathedral, the State Council Building and the National University Library are located.
Each tourist has a unique opportunity to visit the islands included in the Helsinki archipelago.
The archipelago includes 330 islands, but the most popular of them are:
- Pihlajasaari.
- Kaunissari.
- Vartiosaari.
- Korkeasaari.
- Uunisaari.
- Seurasaari.
The city also has a huge number of amusement parks, museums and church buildings. Even months are not enough to see everything.
What else can you see in winter?
When visiting Helsinki in winter, you can watch a local miracle of light, an enchanting show that nature has prepared for you - this is northern Lights... You will be offered cross-country skiing and snowmobiling hikes for hunting him.
You can also go dog sledding to enjoy the true beauty of the Arctic.
The visiting card of the city
Senate Square is a visiting card and the main attraction of the city. Everyone agrees with the opinion that it contains the most beautiful architectural structures in Europe, which were built in the Empire style.
The Senate Square houses the great architectural creations of Engels:
- Cathedral Is the largest Orthodox church in the northern part of Europe. Previously, it was called Nikolsky in honor of St. Nicholas.
- State Council building... It was intended for meetings by the Emperor's Senate.
- The main building of the University.
- National University Library... It keeps a rare collection of Slavic literature.
Major cathedrals
In every city of our vast country there are holy places that every believer wants to visit.
There are such ones in Helsinki and anyone can visit them:
- Assumption Cathedral. It is one of the country's Orthodox churches, although Finland's main religion is Lutheranism. This cathedral is located in the center of Helsenki near the Katajanokka peninsula. When traveling to Helsinki, be sure to go to the service. The decoration of the cathedral amazes with its magnificent interior. From the platform around the cathedral, there is a beautiful view of the city: the square, the harbor and much more.
- Kallio Church. Due to the sheer size of the building, this church can be seen from almost all parts of the city. In 2012, he turned 100 years old. Its name is translated from Finnish as "rock". In appearance, the church looks like a natural creation, which a person simply underwent restoration.
- Temppeliaukio rock church. The extravagant idea of its construction amazes all its visitors. Here, the amazing combination of virgin nature and modern technology is the most important distinguishing feature of Finland. Many admire the beauty of the landscape, architecture and stunning acoustics.
- Gothic Church of St. John. It is the largest stone church in Finland. Located in Punavuori on a high hill, it is here that bonfires are lit in honor of the holiday - the summer solstice. The church offers free wedding, baptism and funeral ceremonies. It accommodates 2,600 people.
Major museums
Fans of antiquity and history in Finland will find fascinating trips to the museums of the capital.
There are a large number of them and they are ready to open their doors to tourists from all over the world:
- Museum of Design. The museum contains unique drawings, drawings and photographs of designs from all over the world.
- Kiasama Museum. Here are collected works of the most diverse trends in contemporary art.
- National Museum of Finland. It contains a large amount of the country's cultural and historical heritage.
- Amos Anderson Art Museum. Here you can see works of art from a private collection of authors who influenced the development of Finnish art in the 20th century.
For a complete list of museums that are available for visiting, ask your guides during your trip.
Places for romantic walks
In Helsinki, as in any city in the world, there are places where couples can visit:
- Annale Park. There is a magnificent butterfly garden and mirror ponds. The silence that surrounds you will envelop you, and you can enjoy soulful conversations.
- The bridge of love. This is the place where couples swear in love and as a sign of this, they hang locks on the railing.
- Botanical Garden. A walk among the flowers awaits you and the opportunity to see the largest water lily, whose name is Victoria.
- Greenhouse "Gardenia". The tropical garden will surprise even the most sophisticated romantics.
Walking through these beautiful and romantic places, couples can enjoy the peace and solitude from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding world.
What to see in 1 day?
There are people who travel to Helsinki for one day. How can they choose the most interesting places for a city tour? For this it is better to browse the Internet in advance and flip through sites that have detailed information about Helsinki.
This will save you time searching for the most famous places while traveling.
City tram
This is the most convenient way to see the whole city without nerves. There are many museums, galleries, shops near the tram line, which you can visit during transfers. For convenience, you can buy a one-time ticket that is valid for one hour.
It can be purchased from the tram driver or from ticket machines. But then you can enjoy the beauty for an hour without worrying about being dropped off. Another type of payment is a travel ticket, which is valid for a day.
With its help, you can travel not only by tram, but also by any other transport.
Suomenlinna fortress
It is practically a separate city, which is located on six islands. There is a nautical school on one island. The fortress was built in the 18th century, for the defense of the city after the repeated defeat of the Swedes during the war with Russia.
She had to restrain the troops of Russia so that they could not pass into the territory of Finland, which was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. In 1808, Russian troops occupied the fortress, and in 1809 Sweden gave Finland to Russia.
The fortress received its current name Suomenilinna after Finland was recognized as an independent country.
Popular Science Center "Eureka" has no less popularity among children than SiaLife. Here are collected unique educational attractions and entertainment. For curious children, this is just paradise, because they will be able to touch and experience simulators and other inventions.
One of them is the "wheel of energy", which can be turned and thereby take part in the production of paper.
Spherical cinema Verne
It is located on the territory of the Eureka Science Center. Here you can watch footage where a climber climbs to the top of a mountain or birds fly. Do not regret your time, stay here longer and you will not regret it. The souvenirs that you buy here are sure to please your relatives.
Every time you come to Helsinki and get into this cinema, you will always see something new. You can look at all the ocean expanses of the whole world on one screen and it will seem that you have really been there.
Museum "Kiasma"
It is very easy to get to it, because it is located next to the train station. Only current art exhibits are exhibited here, and therefore the exposition changes frequently. Mainly, works of Finland and neighboring countries are exhibited here.
The number of exhibits already totals more than 8500 and over a hundred more are added every year. The museum itself is a direct customer of these exhibits.
Oceanarium Sea Life
In the center you can see fish and other inhabitants of the depths of the sea. There are sharks, rays and seahorses here. Coral fish live in small aquariums, and silver herring live in large aquariums.
You can get a lot of adrenaline while walking through a 10-meter glass tunnel, which is located under the shark pool. Each visitor has the opportunity to feed any inhabitant of the marine center.
It is the largest aquatic amusement park in all of Europe and is located in the city of Espoo. Having been there, you will always remember this place, because its unusual location inside the mountain cannot leave anyone indifferent.
In winter, you can ski on this mountain. Siren is suitable for both relaxing and extreme sports. There are water slides, heated pools, attractions, saunas and jacuzzis. For fans of extreme sports, a 445-meter pipe and a 140-meter seething stream evoke a stormy delight.
For lovers of the sea, there is a pool with one meter high waves. It is impossible to walk nearby and not visit the attractions, because so many joyful squeals and splashes fly from them. After visiting the sauna and jacuzzi, you can lie on the sun loungers or go to the restaurant for drinks and snacks.
Sauna "Kotiharyu"
Having arrived in Finland, it is impossible to miss a trip to the sauna, especially since this is the only public sauna that is heated with wood. It is located next to the Somainen metro station. The owners of the bathhouse are the whole family, they do an excellent job of kindling and receiving guests.
After the steam room, visitors can go outside in towels and drink beer, despite the passers-by. This place is considered ideal for stag parties, with additional payment, you can order and massage.
What to see in 2 days?
If you come for two days, then you have more than enough time for sightseeing. But you should still use your time wisely, because in the hustle and bustle, you may forget to visit all the places you wanted. For this plan your route in advance and try to stick to it strictly.
The guides can be asked for an individual route along which they will lead the excursion. This will save you time and hassle.
Built in the Art Nouveau style, it is known throughout the world as a magnificent piece of Finnish architecture. The building plan is very convenient and therefore it is impossible to get lost there. At the entrance there are figures holding lanterns, and the building is adorned with a clock tower.
The wall of the restaurant located at the station is decorated with a picture of a local lake. Through the underground passages of the station you can get to the largest shopping centers of the city, for example, in Kamppi. Here you can find a tourist point where you can find out about the sights of the city that interest you.
This information is completely free.
Esplanade Park
Linden trees grow here, among which locals and guests of the city like to walk. At the entrance to the park, there is the Capelli restaurant, where you can eat after a walk. The park has a concert area, where festivals of various styles of music are held in summer and performances are shown.
Fountain Havis Amanda "Sea Nymph"
A rather spicy sculpture is located on the territory Trade area... This is an image of a naked girl coming out of the sea. There is a tradition among students: to arrange a noisy party at the monument on May 1.
Old Market and Trade Square
Old market Is the place where you can buy whatever you want. Inside the market you can find shops selling bread, meat and a restaurant where you can treat yourself to sushi. The shopping area is the same market, but in the fresh air, on the shore of the bay.
Sibelius monument
An unusual sculpture dedicated to the famous composer of Finland Jan Sibelius... It is made of stainless steel in the form of a pipe organ. When the wind blows, they emit graceful sounds, striking in their harmony.
Chapel of Silence Campi
One of the new attractions in Helsinki, where you can retire and relax from the hustle and bustle of the city. In shape, it resembles a large wooden bowl and its appearance is contrasted with other buildings.
The administrative hall is made in a rectangular shape with glass doors and here you can find out about the events that are planned there. The place is very popular, during the first working month forty thousand people visited it.
Winter Garden
This is a place where you can enjoy exotic plants at any time of the year. You can see themed plant exhibitions that correspond to the holidays. For more than a hundred years, residents love to meet in this particular garden, hiding from the bad weather and gray everyday life.
The collection of plants is located in the lobby and two large rooms. More than two hundred plants from all over the world are represented here... On New Year's holidays, the hall is decorated with gnomes and candles. Classical music always quietly accompanies visitors to the Winter Garden.
Collected here 150 kinds of different animals and thousands of types of vegetation. This is one of the oldest zoos in the world, where you can enjoy natural beauty, see animals and learn their history. The zoo fulfills an important mission - it supports the biological diversity of species.
Unusual buildings and monuments in Helsinki
Helsinki invites tourists to see unusual cultural monuments. Many contemporary art trends have been embodied in the monuments of the capital.
The most famous of them:
- "Venue". The sculpture is made of copper, brick and steel. The author believes that this is the best reference point for those who have lost someone on vacation.
- Monument to the ram. It was installed at the Olavinlinna fortress. According to legend, the ram prevented the attack of enemies.
- Monument "Teacher". Installed at the entrance to the Kouvola city library in honor of the woman who worked at the school and who is remembered by many graduates.
- Iron cows. It is made from old cars and is located in the Uuila area.
This is just a small part of the unusual sculptures. To see everything, you should definitely visit Helsinki.
Linnanmäki amusement park. This is the place chosen by the locals of Helsinki. And this is not surprising, because a family vacation spent here leaves an unforgettable experience. Being in the city center has its advantages: it is easy to find and drive close.
Be sure to visit it, because it contains the best attractions in Scandinavia. There are more than 40 of them in the park, the most popular is "Rocket", 60 meters high. There is also a roller coaster, "Loop", a room of fear and others. A house - an aquarium was opened in the park in 2002.
On two floors, you can see the inhabitants of almost all the seas and oceans of the world. Sharks are the pride of the park. The park also has cozy cafes and restaurants, museums and cinemas. You will have a lot of fun visiting the park.
Olympic Stadium
It is considered one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. It can be recognized by a very high observation tower located on its territory. The stadium is located three kilometers from Helsinki and can accommodate over 30 thousand spectators.
During the opening of the 15th Olympic Games, the stadium accommodated more than 70 thousand viewers... On the territory of the stadium you can also visit the Sports Museum.
Finnair SkyWhee Ferris Wheel
Thanks to the help of Finnair, which sponsored the construction, Finland has a new landmark, the 40-meter Sky Wheel.
From the height of the Ferris wheel, you can see all the beauty of Helsinki: ports with cruise ships and pleasure boats, islands, and sights of the city. Since the windows of the booths are tinted, it is very difficult to take photos.... But the sun does not blind your eyes.
Each booth has an air conditioner and even when the booth is fully loaded, you will not be stuffy.
What to see with children?
The most coveted excursion for children is a trip to Lapland, the country of Santa Claus. Here you can visit Santa Park and Santa Claus Village.
Santa's main office is located in the village, where every day they receive guests, sort through their mail and read wishes and dreams about New Year's gifts in letters of children from all over the world. Through a long corridor, the guests enter Santa Claus's office, where his faithful gnome assistants help him.
You can buy postcards at the post office and send them to your relatives, congratulations straight from Lapland. You can also send souvenirs purchased from Santa's workshop. You can also conduct a comic ritual to cross the border of the Arctic Circle, at the end of which you will be awarded a certificate.
The holiday atmosphere that prevails in the village of Santa Claus will be passed on to you and will accompany you throughout your journey.
Of course, every child dreams of visiting a water park. Make his dream come true and take your child to one of the two proposed water parks, and the child will be grateful to you all his life.
Water parks in Helsinki
- Flamingo Water Park. Located in the city of Vantaa and is one of the largest water parks in Finland, located on the territory of the Jumbo shopping center. When you get to "Flamingo" you get the feeling that you are somewhere in an exotic country. This feeling is provided by an amazing lighting and design solution. The equipment of the water park will not leave indifferent not only children, but also adults; water slides, diving towers and pools, of which there are as many as seven. There is also a Finnish sauna, spa and café where you can refresh yourself when you get hungry.
- no less popular among the existing ones. It is located in the city of Espoo.
Shopping: which shops to visit?
Before you go shopping, decide what you want to buy. There are a lot of shops in Helsinki. If you are looking for specific brands in clothing, then you should visit the Jumbo and Kampi shopping centers.
There are also many department store chains and shops selling certain brands in the city.
Strong alcohol is sold only by one retail chain "Alko", but light alcohol can be bought in supermarkets.
Many interesting things can be found in city markets.
They can be divided into 3 groups:
- Flea. An example is Walterri.
- Industrial. Here you can buy antiques, souvenirs from the trip.
- Grocery. At any time of the year, you can buy fresh herbs, fish and other seafood here.
In the city of Turku, you can buy farm products. All of these can be bought in the shopping centers of Hansa and Skansi.
What excursions to visit?
Helsinki offers you two types of excursions to choose from.
Overland excursions are divided into the following:
- City tour. During the tour, the guide shows you the main attractions of the city. It can be individual or group. The tour is mainly carried out by bus, but if you want to walk, choose walking tours. By booking in advance, you can add the places you would like to visit to the itinerary.
- Audio guided tours. The duration of the excursion is approximately two hours. During this time, you, sitting on the bus, listen to information about the sights that you can see through the window during the trip. You can do this tour four times a day.
- Little Finland in Helsinki. This is an excursion to a small village near the city, where you can see amazing examples of wooden architecture. You will have a trip to a farm where farmers are breeding deer and an inspection of ancient forges and mills.
- Excursion to the city of Porvoo. Together with the road, it takes 5 hours. This is a unique opportunity to see the architecture of old Finland. This city is the second oldest in Finland. The Chocolate Factory is also on the list of places to visit during the tour.
Sea excursions are divided into categories according to the choice of the mode of transport:
- Ferry to Tallinn. Regular one-day tours between cities are organized. This is a very pleasant adventure when you can see two cities at once, which are close to each other, if you take a ferry and a very long distance separates them on land.
- Cruise on the Degere Canal on a yacht. The tour takes an hour and a half, but it is a great pleasure. You can see the Sveaborg fortress, the islands of the Helsinki archipelago and many other interesting places.
Express walk: what can you see in a few hours?
If you have little time for a walk, then you better choose a sea excursion. It is possible to arrange a flight specially for you for several hours. While sailing, there is an opportunity to order food, go fishing and go to the sauna. To rent a boat you will need from 50 to 500 euros per hour.
The most popular places visited during boat trips are the islands in the Helsinki archipelago.
There are about 330 of them in total, and there you can take a break from the noisy city:
- Pihlajasaari- this is one of the islands where the locals of Helsinki like to relax. On one side it is surrounded by a sandy beach where you can sunbathe, swim and organize a picnic, and on the other, there are beautiful cliffs.
- Kaunissari. This is an island more distant from the capital, which has won fame for the beauty of its seascapes. The approximate travel time by boat is forty minutes, but then your patience will be rewarded with beautiful beaches and an abundance of fish in the water.
- Vartiosaari. This island gained popularity due to its intriguing history. On this island, the Vikings are said to have fired warning fires of the threat. On this island are the villas of the richest inhabitants of Helsenki.
- Korkeasaari. It is a coastal island with a zoo, home to animals from all over the world and rare endangered species.
- Uunisaari Is a beautiful island with a rocky surface. An ideal place for families with children and organizing picnics. Weddings are often held here in restaurants. It is a pity that the rest here is spent only in the summer, during the rest of the year the beach is closed.
Seurasaari Island: Open Air Museum
This island is also part of the Helsinki archipelago and is the closest and can be reached on foot. It houses the most amazing open-air museum. Here you can see the most original architectural buildings collected from all over the country.
At the moment, their number is 87 buildings.
The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Helsinki and back
Everyone must agree that a vacation in one of the best cities in Finland is the best choice for all family members: adults and children.
