Travel in Helsinki and Its Surroundings
Helsinki is a beautiful port city located in southern Finland, on several peninsulas on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, with a population of approximately 630,000 residents. The city blends modern, innovative architecture with an abundance of parks and gardens. Helsinki was named World Design Capital for 2012.
Even the city's Central Railway Station was designed following an architectural competition held in 1904, in which the greatest architects of the 20th century took part.
Recommended Hotels in Helsinki:
Hotel Haven – A luxurious 5-star hotel with 137 rooms. In a central location adjacent to the Esplanadi shopping street. The hotel features a fitness room and a bar/restaurant. Free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Kämp – A 5-star hotel centrally located near Esplanadi Park, housed in a handsome 19th-century building with 179 spacious, modern rooms featuring historic decor.
The hotel offers a fitness center, bar, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Indigo Helsinki-Boulevard – A 4-star boutique hotel in a central location. The hotel features a fitness room, bar, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi.
Apartment Hotel Aallonkoti - 18 apartments located in the city center offering units in a variety of sizes: from studio apartments for couples to 2-bedroom apartments with a living room suitable for up to 5 people. The apartments are modern, with a fully equipped kitchen, a terrace overlooking the adjacent park, and free Wi-Fi.
Go Happy Home Apartments – A reliable company offering 8 holiday apartments in various central locations across the city. All apartments are within a 15-minute walk of Helsinki Central Station. The apartments come in diverse sizes, from a studio for two to a 2-bedroom apartment with a living room and sauna. The apartments include a fully equipped kitchen and internet.
To Helsinki, the capital of Finland, it is recommended to arrive via a Baltic Sea Cruise.
Esplanadi promenade is located in the heart of the city's historic center and has served for over 200 years as a main gathering and leisure spot for Helsinki residents and visitors alike.
In the center of the avenue lined with impressive buildings and shops is a park featuring numerous works of art, benches, and stalls selling food and beverages. Market Square (Kauppatori), located at the eastern end of the Esplanadi promenade, is a blend of a local food market and souvenir stalls for tourists.
Key tourist attractions in the city include: Market Square, Senate Square, Presidential Palace, Parliament House, National Museum, Helsinki Cathedral, Olympic Stadium, and the Sibelius Monument & Park—featuring an impressive monument erected in honor of Sibelius, Finland's national composer.
In a central location in Helsinki lies the city's botanical garden, Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, which is considered one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world and among the largest in Europe.
A unique site in the city is the "Rock Church" (Temppeliaukio)—the only church in the world carved directly into massive granite bedrock, renowned for its incredible acoustics.
Guided Tours in Helsinki and Its Surroundings
Booking recommended tours in Helsinki from Viator:
The cruise port is located about a 15-minute drive from the city center. Because the sights in the city are relatively spread out, it is advisable to take a guided tour. You can cover the city's "must-see" highlights in just a few hours, so after several days of visiting large cities packed with buildings, museums, palaces, and monumental structures, it is recommended to take advantage of the visit for a nature excursion in one of the nearby parks and a visit to a picturesque town called Porvoo, which is located a 45-minute drive from central Helsinki.
The tour naturally includes a loop through the city's main attractions, but its highlight is a roughly two-hour walk in Sipoonkorpi National Park, located less than a 40-minute drive from Helsinki, where you will hike an easy and enchanting trail through a forest lush with trees, wild mushrooms, flowers, and lakes.
Midway through the hike, you will enjoy a short picnic featuring traditional Finnish "Pulla" pastry and coffee. Following the nature walk, you will head to the historic town of Porvoo, where you will stroll through the picturesque old town situated along the riverbanks, brimming with charming shops, cafes, and restaurants housed in iconic red wooden buildings. Stop in for chocolate tastings at the Brunberg Candy Factory Shop. The tour also includes lunch at a pastoral, rustic restaurant set in the heart of green nature. You can also incorporate a traditional Finnish sauna experience. Even if you prefer not to enter the sauna itself, it is worth peeking inside an authentic Finnish sauna, where Porvoo locals often socialize together.
Another great way to explore the city is on a guided canal cruise: Helsinki Canal Cruise. The scenic and relaxing tour takes about an hour and a half, cruising past beautiful islands and the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress.
For cycling enthusiasts, here is a recommended tour from Viator:
♦ Guided Segway tour in Helsinki -
Helsinki Segway Tour
Small group tour, lasts 1.5 hours.