Today Helsinki is the most important city in Finland from any point of view. Judge for yourself - the capital of the state, the largest sea port and a transport hub of the country, the center of education and science, one of the most successful places for doing business. In terms of per capita income, the Finnish capital is firmly among the top ten cities in the world. All these conditions annually attract thousands of new residents here, which makes the city of Helsinki one of the fastest growing in Europe. Broad prospects are opening up in the capital of Finland for young people - there are 8 prestigious universities in the city and great opportunities for further employment.
Helsinki climate
The climate of Helsinki is characterized as temperate, transitional between maritime and continental. Winter in the city is usually long and snowy, but severe frosts are rare. Summer is not hot and is close to the calendar duration, spring and autumn are long and cool.
Average temperature in Helsinki by months
Transport
Public transport in the city of Helsinki is quite widespread and is represented by trams, buses, metro and ferries. There are uniform travel tickets for 1,2 or 3 days, which allow you to use the services of any public transport as well as visiting museums and attractions.
Trams in the city center are the most convenient for movement - they run every day at any time of the year exactly according to the schedule indicated at the stops. By the way, Helsinki is the only city Finland, which uses trams.
To reach the most popular islands of Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari, you can take a ferry from the Market Square.
The metro in Helsinki is represented by one line, consisting of 17 stations, and is used mainly for movement in the eastern and central parts of the city.
Russians can get to Helsinki using regular trains from St. Petersburg and Moscow.
What to see in Helsinki
Perhaps the most visited place by tourists in Helsinki is Senate Square, main square cities. Its center is snow-white Cathedral, also known as St. Nicholas Cathedral (in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker). V architectural ensemble Senate Square also includes the Senate building, the building of the University of Helsinki and the monument to Emperor Alexander II, famous for his patronage of Finland.
Helsinki has the largest Orthodox church in Northern Europe- The Assumption Cathedral, built of red bricks and decorated with golden domes.
Very popular with tourists old fortress Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a defensive structure on eight islands that has long served as a reliable defense of the state. Today on the territory of the fortress there are several interesting museums, and the walk through the fortress itself will leave a lot of impressions.
Nature lovers should definitely visit the Korkeasaari Zoo, located on the island of the same name. This is one of the largest and at the same time one of the most northern zoos in the world, it contains many representatives of the rarest animal species, including those living in the Far North.
One of the most unique architectural landmarks in Helsinki is the Temppellaukio Church, carved into the rock, the interior of which is formed by a virtually untreated granite surface. This makes the church famous for its excellent acoustics and is often used as a concert hall.
Helsinki from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Helsinki.
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Helsinki is located on the shores of the bay, famous for its fresh air and beautiful landscapes, coupled with interesting "northern" architecture. The city's proximity to St. Petersburg, simple visa formalities and inexpensive tickets make this place a popular tourist destination for Russians.
Founded in 1550, the "daughter of the Baltic" became the capital in 1812 and in the same period was rebuilt by the Russian tsars as a kind of miniature semblance of St. Petersburg. Actually, it was this role that the city played in many films of the Cold War period.
Despite its metropolitan status, Helsinki is a calm city. For some, even too much. Our compatriots who book, for example, the popular tour “ New Year in Helsinki ”are often disappointed: the holiday starts and ends at midnight. Everyone watches the fireworks and goes home. But a lonely girl can fearlessly sit here late in the bar, and then return to the hotel in the middle of the night: Helsinki is quiet and peaceful.
How to get to Helsinki
Search for flights to Helsinki
Transport
The public transport network in Helsinki is represented by metro, buses, minibuses, trams, ferries and electric trains. Tickets and passes are common for all types of transport. The official (website-site-planner) will help with choosing a means of transportation and planning a route.
An hour trip with unlimited number of changes costs from 2.20 EUR. It is more profitable to buy day tickets for a period of 1 to 7 days at a price of 9 to 36 EUR. The Travel Card will help you save money: a trip by tram will cost 1.55 EUR, by other types of transport - 2.06 EUR. Prices on the page are for October 2018.
The fine for a stowaway trip is 80 EUR.
The metro in the Finnish capital consists of 2 lines and 17 stations. Opening hours: 5: 30-23: 30, on Sunday it opens an hour later.
Tram number 3 passes by all the main attractions, and along the routes number 4 and 6 there are many original buildings and interesting places.
A tram is the best choice for traveling around the city center. Buses run during the day and night. Most of them leave from the station square. They stop, just like trams, by raising their hands - the entrance is only through the front door. When approaching your stop, the main thing is not to forget to press the button on the handrails.
On average, a taxi ride around the city costs 15-20 EUR.
Cycling - good way see the city and feel its spirit. The total length of cycle paths is about 750 km. By registering and picking up a two-wheeled friend at one of the CityBike parking lots (website with English version), anyone can ride within the center. Hotels often include bike rental in the room rate. For renting an "iron horse" in specialized points, they ask from 5 EUR per hour and 20 EUR per day.
Helsinki Maps
Rent a Car
Rental services in Finland are provided by both international companies - Avis, Sixt, Europcar, Alamo, CarTrawler, and local - Scandia Rent, Netrentm, Transvell Oy. There are offices at the airport, near railway stations and ports, as well as throughout the city, especially in large hotels. You can make an order in advance via the Internet or rent a car on the spot. The technical condition of the cars is good, but the cost is higher than the European average. The highest tariffs are in summer and winter, in spring and autumn they are reduced. Daily rental of an economy class car will cost from 100 EUR, executive - from 300 EUR.
When parking, pay attention to the signs - there are streets where parking is free on weekdays, but paid on Sundays and holidays.
Guides in Helsinki
Entertainment and attractions
7 things to do in Helsinki
- Explore the dungeons of Sveaborg.
- Taste local delicacies at the Kauppatori market.
- See the city skyline from the Ferris wheel.
- Listen to the silence in the chapel of the same name on Narinkkatori Square.
- Take a ride in the tram bar.
- Feed the seagulls at Senate Square.
- Make a wish on the magical fifth step of the Cathedral.
Senaatinori Square
The first building that appeared on it was the Senate, where the government of the country sits today. Opposite him is the University, the old building of which seems to be a mirror image of the Senate.
At the corner of Senaatintori is the Main University Library, the entrance is open to everyone. Among those who wish, there are especially many Slavists who come here from all over the world to work with the unique collection of Slavic literature collected in the library thanks to Alexander I, who decided to send here one copy of each book published in the Russian Empire.
But the architectural dominant of the square is, of course, the snow-white Lutheran Cathedral of Tuomiokirkko. The central dome, erected by Engel, is surrounded by 4 smaller domes - they were already added by his student Ernst Lormann after the death of the architect. The statues of the twelve apostles adorn the cathedral in the manner of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. A high staircase with steep steps leads from the square to the cathedral, already from the middle of which a view of the harbor opens. In the center of the square there is a monument to Alexander II, around which there are 4 symbolic figures - Law, Peace, Enlightenment and Labor. The main merit of the Russian tsar to the Finns is the legalization of the Finnish language in 1863, for which the latter are grateful to him to this day. Senaatintori Square is the centerpiece of the city's celebrations, student pickets and youth concerts under open air.
Helsinki
Töölö District
The Töölö district is a quiet backwater favored by the creative intelligentsia. There are three main attractions here. The monument to Sibelius, the famous Finnish composer, attracts tourists with its unusual shape: organ pipes of various lengths and configurations rise from a pedestal on supports. The total weight of the monument is 24 tons.
The Church in the Rock (Temppelinaukio, 1969) is a unique temple carved into a flat rock. Only the glass and copper dome comes out. The church has excellent acoustics and the organ is one of the best in the country.
Hietaniemi Cemetery is more like a sculpture exhibition in a shady park. Almost all Finnish presidents are buried here, the architect Engel, who built about 30 buildings in the style of imperial neoclassicism in Helsinki in 25 years, Faberge jeweler, icon of Finnish design and architecture Alvar Aalto, actors of the national theater.
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Cathedrals and churches in Helsinki
There are over 60 churches in Helsinki. One of them, the Assumption Cathedral (1868), located on the island of Katajanokka, is the main Orthodox church in the city and the largest Orthodox church in northern Europe. The architecture of the cathedral reflects the influence of the Russian wooden architecture of the northern regions. Also noteworthy is the church in Kallion (Kallion kirkko), located in the center of the district on a sloping hill. Its high bell tower is visible from all open spaces of the surrounding areas. The majestic, strictly symmetrical building is faced with stone, the interior decoration is no frills. The music for the bells was composed by Jan Sibelius.
Helsinki museums
The guests of the capital will certainly be interested in the museums united under the auspices of the Finnish national gallery, - Sinebryukhov Museum of Fine Arts (a large collection of Western European painting, porcelain, silver and furniture), the Ateneum Art Museum (a collection of Finnish and foreign art of the 18-20 centuries), the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, the Seurasaari Open Air Museum, and also other museums in Helsinki. ° C
Helsinki for children
Young adventurers will be able to climb into a bear den, ride a bicycle on a tightrope or visit the pilot's cockpit in the popular science center "Eureka". In its unusual spherical cinema Verne, both the dizzying ascent of Mount Everest and the flights of flocks of birds look spectacular.
The Helsinki Zoo is considered one of the northernmost in the world, although representatives of the southern fauna from lions to peacocks feel great here. V winter time there is an ice sculpture competition. The Linnanmäki Amusement Park is a classic amusement park with roller coasters and fun for adrenaline lovers. Children will have unforgettable impressions from visiting the two-story aquarium in the Sea Life marine center, where underwater world different latitudes - from the cold waters of the Baltic to the tropical ocean.
In the Suomenlinna Fortress, the boys will be especially interested in the bastions, tunnels and cannons, and the girls will be interested in the Toy Museum with adorable Moomin trolls.
Not only children, but also adults will like theme park for recreation "Lego-show" - there you can take part in construction competitions, meet the heroes " Star wars"Or get to know Harry Potter. Many slides and water activities await children and adults in one of the largest water parks in Europe - "Serena" (website with a Russian version). Liikennekaupunki Children's Transport Town is a 5-minute walk from the Olympic Stadium. In summer, admission is free - you can take a pedal car for free and learn the rules road traffic on practice.
Helsinki, the dynamic capital of Finland, is a city filled with life and energy, located on sea coast, with the most beautiful islands and lush green parks. Helsinki is a city with its own amazing and unique rhythm that amazes visitors with its cuisine, design, architecture and saunas! Helsinki, like all the Northern European culture represented in it, was created by the painstaking work of local residents.
Helsinki - The largest city Finland. The population of the metropolitan area is 1.4 million. If you look at the map, you can see that Helsinki is comfortably located in the northernmost corner of Europe, but it is not difficult to get to it, thanks to convenient air links connecting the eastern and western directions... No flights? Not a problem! Helsinki can be easily reached from St. Petersburg, Estonia and Sweden via the Baltic Sea. Indeed, the sea is one of the most characteristic features of this city. The Helsinki archipelago consists of more than 300 fascinating islands.
Life in the city proceeds in an imposing and unhurried rhythm, and it is very easy to establish contact with this city both directly and figuratively... The public transport system in Helsinki is considered one of the best in the world - thanks to one excellent metro line - the city is also convenient to get around on foot or by bike.
In addition to Helsinki, within the radius of the capital region there are also other interesting cities and places full of attractions to visit. These include neighboring cities Espoo and Vantaa, historical city Porvoo, Järvenpää-Tuusula region, renowned for its rich artistic heritage and artisan villages to the west of Helsinki, which once housed iron foundries. Less than 2 hours from Helsinki there are 6 national parks and countless other natural attractions.
Go for a walk in the woods, enjoy concerts, festivals, a traditional Northern European dinner or visit one of the iconic public saunas - you can find it all here!
Scientific, industrial, educational and Cultural Center country. It was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden. For a long time, up to the 18th century, Helsinki remained a small town, mostly wooden buildings. However, in 1748, on the islands located near Helsinki, the Swedes began building the Sveaborg fortress to protect the city from attack from the sea. This gives impetus to further development settlement.
Helsinki was captured by Russian troops four times. Twice in May and July 1713 during the Great Northern War, then during the Russian-Swedish war of 1741-43 and in the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-09. During the Russian rule, the rapid development of the city began, which made the central part of Helsinki similar to St. Petersburg. In 1860, the first railway was built in Finland, connecting Helsinki with Tampere and Riihimäki. And in 1870 the railway was laid to St. Petersburg.
Helsinki is a city made for tourism, as most of its attractions are in close proximity to each other. Surrounding Senate Square is a unique architectural ensemble in the neoclassical style. It consists of four buildings designed by Karl-Ludwig Engel in 1822-1852: the State Council building, the Cathedral, National Library and the main building of the university. In addition, on Senate Square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II by Walter Runeberg, 1894. The bronze sculpture stands on a red granite pedestal.
One of the main attractions in Helsinki is the Assumption Cathedral. Built according to the project developed by the Russian architect A.M. Gornostaev in 1886, now it is the largest cathedral in Western and Northern Europe. The exterior of the cathedral is made in a pseudo-Byzantine style and makes an indelible impression. It stands on a high cliff, and a magnificent view of Helsinki opens from the platform at the entrance to the cathedral.
The Cathedral, standing on Senate Square, designed by Karl-Ludwig Engel, was built in the period from 1822 to 1852, simultaneously with St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg and has much in common with it.
One should not ignore the symbol of Helsinki - the Havis Amanda fountain, which means “sea nymph” in Swedish. Made in 1905 in Paris, it was installed in Helsinki in 1908 and depicts a young woman emerging from the water. The fountain is located on another iconic place Helsinki - Trade area, where you can buy souvenirs, all kinds of sweets and drink coffee all year round.
In addition, Helsinki is a very green city: all kinds of parks, squares and gardens occupy a third of the total area of the city. The most famous and oldest park in Helsinki is Kaivopuisto. The park is home to many embassies, including the United States and Russia. The beauty of the surrounding nature, the proximity of the sea, cliffs, spacious green lawns have made the park a favorite resting place for citizens and guests of the city. In the most high point The park is home to the Ursa observatory. And on the nearest islands and the seashore restaurants and cafes await their visitors.
One of the oldest parks in the city, founded in 1812 for public use, is Kaisaniemi Park. It owes its name to the owner of the Kaisa Vallund restaurant located in the park. The restaurant, by the way, is open to this day. The park itself flows smoothly into the botanical garden founded in 1829.
In addition, it is certainly worth visiting the Sveaborg Fortress (now Suomenlinna). Located on islands near Helsinki, the fortress was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. At present, the territory of the fortress houses the Naval Academy of the Finnish Navy, several museums and a prison of light security, the prisoners of which maintain the fortress in good condition. On the territory of the fortress there are museums: the Manezh War Museum, the Ehrensvärd Museum, the Suomenlinna Museum, the Toy Museum, the Customs Museum and the Vessiko submarine. The entrance to the territory of the fortress is free, but you will have to pay to view the exposition of the museums.
Particular attention should be paid to a visit to the Temppeliaukio Church, which is completely carved into the rock. One of the principles used in the construction of the church was the complete preservation of the surrounding landscape. And the interior, completely carved out in the rock massif, is illuminated by natural light falling through the glass dome of the building. The church's excellent acoustic performance has led to many concerts being held there. It was consecrated in 1969 and is visited by over half a million people a year.
In addition, Helsinki is home to one of the largest and most northern zoo in the world, Korkeasaari, and the Serena Water Park, the largest in Northern Europe. In addition, in Helsinki a large number of theaters, cafes and restaurants, entertainment centers and other establishments created in order to brighten up the leisure of a tired tourist.
And when visiting Helsinki in the summer, to explore the historical part of the city, you can use the free bicycles provided at 26 parking lots located in the city center, the deposit for a bicycle is only 2 euros.
According to the British magazine "Monocle" Helsinki topped the list of the best cities in the world in 2011. In the same 2011, Helsinki was recognized as one of the safest (after Luxembourg) cities in the world. And in 2012, The New York Times ranked Helsinki as the second best city to visit.
The harsh beauty of this cliff-top city is capable of capturing the imagination and being remembered forever.
Helsinki is the most visited city in Finland by tourists. According to the Border Guard Service, approximately 4.9 million foreign tourists visiting Finland indicated that their purpose of travel was to visit Helsinki in 2015 (a total of 7.4 million people). Approximately 13% of them are Russian citizens. According to statistics, tourists most often visited the Linnanmäki Amusement Park, Korkeasaari Zoo, Suomenlinna Fortress, museums and sights of the city.
- (attractions, museums, shops).
- (hotels, hostels, camping).
- (by car, by bus, by railroad or by plane).
Tourists come to Helsinki using different types transport. Helsinki Airport served 16.42 million passengers. The Helsinki Passenger Port has served 12 million passengers. Cruise liners brought 437,000 tourists to Helsinki. Residents of Russia often travel to Finland in their cars, buses and by rail. Allegro high-speed train is the most quick way travel between and Helsinki.
The activity of tourists can be indirectly estimated by the number of clients in hotels. In 2015, 3.5 million overnight stays were recorded in Helsinki hotels. Foreigners and locals accounted for about 50% of the total number of hotel customers. The largest number of clients came from Germany. The next in the ranking of tourist sources are Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan and China. Approximately 52% of hotel customers arrived for tourism and 48% for business purposes.
Foreign tourists spent about 1.47 billion euros in Helsinki in 20015. (For the first time, spending by tourists from China exceeded that of tourists from Russia.)
Information about Helsinki
Helsinki is located in southern Finland, on the coast Gulf of Finland Baltic Sea... The city is located about 280 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, about 370 kilometers east of Stockholm and 80 kilometers north of Tallinn. You can specify the location of the city of Helsinki.
Helsinki is the capital of Finland. This is the most Big city Finland. Helsinki is home to about 600 thousand people. The population of Helsinki together with the nearest suburbs (the cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen) is approximately 1,300,000. More than ten higher education institutions are located in Helsinki. The Finnish capital is home to the majority of foreign companies operating in Finland.
The land area of Helsinki is 213 square kilometers (total area together with the sea area is 715 square kilometers). There are many parks and protected by the state in Helsinki natural areas... In 2011, Helsinki took first place in the ranking of the 25 best cities in the world, compiled by the British magazine Monocle.
Helsinki is divided into eight administrative districts... The Southern District of Helsinki is of the greatest interest for tourists. Here is located historical Center cities, most places are located here. Here, for example, are located: Presidential palace, Government Palace, Senate Square, Bank of Finland, University of Helsinki, Central, Sokos and Stockmann department stores, Ateneum museums and, a concert hall.
The city was founded in 1550.
The capital of Finland since 1812.
The number of museums is 72.
The number of pools is 14.
The number of beaches is 27.
The number of berths (berths) for boats, boats and yachts - 12,063.
The most popular museums in Helsinki. The number of museum visitors.
Helsinki City Museum - 242,650 (total at several sites).
The city of Helsinki hosts many interesting events for tourists every year. Here is some of them. If you are in Helsinki these days try not to miss these events.
Helsinki City Day held annually on June 12th. On this day, interesting events are organized for residents and guests of the city in many places of the city. The biggest event of the Helsinki City Day can be considered a concert in Kaivopuiston kesäkonsertti park.
The biggest rock festival in Finland, the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival (Tuska) is held in late June or early July in the Suvilahti area. This is the largest rock festival in the north of Europe.
Fireworks Competition held in Helsinki in August. This colorful show attracts a large number (more than 100 thousand people) of spectators every year. The organizer of the fireworks championship is the fourth TV channel in Finland.
Perhaps the most famous event in Helsinki is Festive weeks in Helsinki(Helsingin Juhlaviikot). Festive weeks are held in late summer, in August - September in many places in the city. During this time, many different events are held. These days in Helsinki in all their diversity are presented classical music, dance, dramatic art, opera and much that is associated with various genres of art. These activities are interesting for many tourists. During the Festive Weeks, the city center also hosts the Night of the Arts (Taiteiden yö, The Night of the Arts).
Love and Anarchy(Rakkautta ja Anarkiaa, Helsinki International Film Festival
Rakkautta & Anarkiaa) - this is the name of the film festival taking place in September in Helsinki. Exactly this big event in the world Cinema in Finland. The festival features films from different countries.
Preparing for Christmas begins with the opening of the Aleksanterinkatu Christmas street. The celebrations begin in the afternoon on the Senate Square on November 25. The ceremonial lighting of the festive lights at 15 o'clock on Aleksanterinkatu Street is the culmination of the celebration.
Find excursion in Helsinki.
Where to stay
Helsinki has a sufficient number of hotels in different price categories. The most popular hotels are located in the city center, near railway station and the passenger port. Look located next to popular places in Helsinki.
Helsinki has two large water parks: Serena and Flamingo. They are especially popular in winter. Residents of both Finland and Russia love to rent a hotel room next to the water park and spend a few days here with pleasure.
There is also a camping site near Helsinki. Camping Rastila is located about 12 kilometers from the center, next to the beach. There are places for setting up tents, caravans and small cottages.
How to get there
You can come to Helsinki using different kinds transport. The choice of transport depends on the place of your departure. Most conveniently from St. Petersburg. You can get to the Finnish capital by train, bus, ferry or plane.
By rail from St. Petersburg the most convenient way to come to Helsinki is high speed train Allegro. A comfortable train will take you to the Finnish capital in approximately four hours. The train departs from Finland Station. You can also take the Moscow - Helsinki train at the Ladozhsky railway station.
From St. Petersburg to Helsinki buses of different transport companies leave daily. You can find interesting offers on our website.
Get from Moscow to Helsinki most conveniently by rail or plane. Trains to Helsinki leave from the Leningradsky railway station in Moscow. Travel time is approximately 14 hours.
Airplanes to Helsinki usually depart from Sheremetyevo Airport. The flight time is about two hours. You can buy a plane ticket online.
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Helsinki.
About transport in Helsinki.
