7 things to do in Helsinki

Helsinki, the capital of Finland and also its largest city; Helsinki offers a variety of historical, cultural and outdoor attractions to explore making it the perfect place to go for a vacation. Helsinki sits on a granite peninsula on the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, facing towards the Baltic Sea. Here are 7 things to do in Helsinki:

1. Ateneum Art Museum:

Finland’s best-known art museum and a hub of Finnish art, collections displayed at the museum date back to the 19^th century all the way to the modern age. On display currently till 2020, the Stories of Finnish Art exhibition celebrates the Ateneum collections, you will be guided through the development of Finnish art from 1809 to the 1960s. The museum also offers workshops, lectures, guided tours and various clubs and all of this makes the museum a perfect place to get in touch with the Finnish culture.

2. Helsinki Zoo:

No tour is completed if the zoo is not visited. The Helsinki Zoo Korkesaari is one of the oldest zoos in the world. Originally established in 1889, the Helsinki Zoo offers a variety of animals from all the way in the arctic tundra to the tropic rainforests. Approximately 200 different animal species are housed in the Zoo along with a 1000 different plant species. The zoo makes extra efforts to preserve endangered species and is also a part of a network, formed by the zoos in Europe, which help to preserve various endangered species of animals in the world. The Rhino sign in the zoo will take you to the animals that belong to the zoos’ shared protection programme.

3. Kamppi Chapel of Silence:

Going through the city and seeing all the spots worth visiting can get hectic and loud, depending on the traffic and a number of people present. It’s important to take a moment to relax and get your bearings and the Kamppi Chapel of Silence is the perfect place for that. Located in a corner of the Narinkkatori square in Helsinki at the entrance of the Kamppi shopping centre, the Chapel is a place intended where people can have a moment of silence and meet each other. It offers an opportunity to locals and tourists alike to calm down in, what can be described as, perhaps one of the busiest areas in Finland.

4. Market Square:

Located in the South Harbor at the very beginning of the Esplanade Park, the Market Square is Helsinki’s most international and famous market. The booths sell traditional goods, treats, handicrafts, and a variety of souvenirs. The market also offers a heated café tent where you can sit back, relax and enjoy a steaming hot cup of coffee, even on the coldest days of winter.

5. Olympic Stadium:

One of the many reasons Helsinki is known for is that it hosted the 1952 Olympic games and for that reason an Olympic Stadium which is one of the most popular attractions of the city. Originally built in 1938, the stadium now hosts both national and international sporting events and outdoor concerts. The Stadium Tower is 72 meters high allowing the visitors to admire the landscape and all of central Helsinki. Tickets for the tower are available in the lobby.

6. Sky Wheel Helsinki:

Sometimes you need a higher vantage point to appreciate the beauty of the place you’re visiting, and for that purpose, Helsinki has just the thing. The Sky Wheel Helsinki, located in Katajanokka, the Sky Wheel is a 40-meter high observation wheel providing a 360 degree of the city, and all the most important attractions the city has to offer. And the best part? The cabins are air conditioned which means, the Sky Wheel is open all year round.

7. Suomenlinna Sea Fortress:

One of the biggest sea fortresses in the world, founded and built in 1748 by Field Marshal Count Augustin Ehrensvard on the islands that are off the coast of the city. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered to be a unique monument to European military architecture. The fortress has numerous restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy fine food and guided tours are available on selected days of the week, all year round, in several languages.

Do you have a favourite thing that you like to do in Helsinki?

If so, then let me know in the comments.