The question of what to see in Helsinki for a few days of travel is difficult to solve. The capital of Finland is full of interesting places that travelers should familiarize themselves with. To make your route as well as possible, you should find out general information about the most popular attractions. This article will help to cope with such a task.
City walks
Tourists should not worry about what to see in Helsinki, but it’s better to immediately go on a general inspection of the city. Walking along its streets may not bring much pleasure if you do not know the most attractive corners of the capital. These include the Market Square, which is located right on the seashore. Trade is in full swing on weekdays, so you can buy products, as well as other goods at an affordable price. When the weekend comes, this place turns into a cozy city corner, where you can have a good time. Beautiful views only contribute to this. Aleksanterinkatu Street deserves no less attention than the Market Square. It was not renamed after separation from Russia, and it received the name in honor of Tsar Alexander I. Once upon a time the richest merchants in the city traded here, and now modern life is boiling on the avenue. Infrastructure for every taste will help to avoid doubts about what to see in Helsinki. Bars, restaurants and shops openly meet people here.
Historical part
If you do not know what to see in Helsinki while visiting the city, then you should go to the Senate Square. This place is of great importance for the capital, because it was from him that the expansion of the city began. At the beginning of the 19th century, Finland received autonomy status, and the city became the capital. The infrastructure here did not meet the requirements of the new status, and therefore redevelopment began. For this, the German architect Karl Engel was invited, whose services were actively used then in the Russian Empire. For a century, Senate Square has been surrounded by buildings, places of worship, and educational institutions. Their appearance is perfectly preserved until these days, and therefore you can meet many tourists here. To solve the question of what to see in Helsinki in March from among the historical buildings, one look at the Sveaborg fortress will help . A powerful defensive castle was erected in 1748. The purpose of the citadel was to protect from the sea from the attack of the Russian Empire during the wars with Sweden. For six decades, defenders successfully held the defense, but still the fortress surrendered to the army of the attacking state. Now you can get to the castle by water, and inside the traveler is waiting for various entertainments. The atmosphere of past eras, museums and restaurants will make you stay overnight at local hotels.
Cult buildings
To find out what to see in Helsinki in winter or summer, it is extremely well to study the list of attractions. One of them is the Assumption Cathedral, which at any time of the year is able to impress visitors with its architecture. This iconic building is a symbol of the city, and it is precisely its tourists who see one of the first if they arrive from the sea. The cathedral is located in the popular region of Katayanokka, it has the status of the largest Orthodox church in the north and west of Europe. They erected a building on a high rock in the first half of the 19th century. Russian-Byzantine style, the use of red bricks and large sizes - all this attracts travelers to inspect the building. Now the Assumption Cathedral is surrounded by the mansions of the elite district, although at the time of its construction the area was almost deserted. After this temple, in the list of what to see in Helsinki in winter, it is worth adding Temppeliaukio Church, which is located directly inside the rock. In the 60s of the last century, the building was built according to the project of two brothers, architects by profession. Workers blew up a rock, superficially treated a funnel and placed a dome on top. When you enter here, the illusion is created that there is a high vault above people, although in reality it does not exceed twelve meters.
Water adventures
There will also be no problems with seeing children in Helsinki, because there are many establishments for families in the city. One of these is the Sirena water park, which has the status of one of the largest in Northern Europe. The institution is located not in the capital itself, but in the small town of Espoo. Go there for half an hour, but you can get a lot of impressions. Among a large number of attractions, it is worth highlighting the Tornado with sharp turns and a bustling stream. An interesting experience will be a trip to the "Black Hole" hill, where you can appreciate the bright light and music effects. If you want to spend more time calmly, then the infrastructure of the water park will provide such opportunities. Pools with water of different temperatures, several types of baths, a jacuzzi, hydromassage and much more. An alternative to what you can see in Helsinki with children is another water park - Flamingo. This establishment is located in the town of Vantaa, which is nineteen kilometers from the capital. Here slides and pools for every taste alternate with cafes, restaurants and other places of recreation. A visit to water parks will not only bring a lot of diverse emotions, but it will also be remembered for a long time. It is worth noting that special conditions and attractions are created for children in the two mentioned institutions.
Closer to animals
If in doubt about what to see in Helsinki for 2 days in winter, tourists should go to the marine center called Sea Life. This huge aquarium will help you get acquainted with marine fauna from the most diverse corners of the world. Fifty aquariums with different representatives of the underwater world are equipped for this. Each visitor will be able to find something interesting for himself, because some people like to watch jellyfish or beautiful fish, while others are attracted by the formidable form of sharks. The main marine predators swim over the heads of visitors in a special pool. The spectacle is created incredible, and emotions are going through the roof. Another great option to see the whole family in Helsinki in 3 days is the local zoo. Its name is Korkeasaari. It is in the northern part of Europe one of the best places to explore the wildlife. Visitors are most struck by the fact that the conditions for keeping fauna are carefully selected here. Familiar plants have been brought for them, which will also be of interest when visiting. The zoo can be considered a model of the world in reduced sizes. It may take a whole day to examine all the exhibits, but the pleasure of this will be enormous.
Two famous museums
If you have problems with what to see in Helsinki in 2 days, it means that the tourist has not yet visited the museums of this big city. The first to visit is the Kiasma Museum, where you can enjoy exhibitions of contemporary art. These are not the classic expositions that visitors are used to. A center has been created in this place, uniting creative personalities who work in different areas of contemporary art. Of course, in the museum you can also see classic works of art. Even a person far from art will be able to penetrate the spirit of creativity after his visit. In addition, you must definitely visit the Design Museum in Helsinki. In the recent past, design was not considered a separate art, but at that time specialized exhibitions were held in this building. Thanks to this, the Design Museum is considered one of the oldest in Europe, if we take into account only this direction. Unique expositions are available for viewing to all visitors. You can see the drawings, photographs and much more that is associated with different areas of design. To spend some time here with pleasure and reflection will be pleasant and also useful.
Unusual places
For lovers of scientific research and the achievements of modern technology, the question of what to see in Helsinki in 2 days does not arise at all. Such travelers should immediately go to the Popular Science Center “Eureka” immediately after arrival. In the capital of Finland, for the sake of visiting this place, hundreds of thousands of tourists from different parts of the world annually arrive annually. The huge complex is located in the suburbs and provides access to exhibits that are dedicated to various fields of science. Various kinds of entertainments were prepared for visitors here, for example, paper making and chemical experiments are included in this number. Special attention should be paid to the planetarium with excellent visual effects, as well as films (3D) of scientific and space subjects. Translation into Russian is available, so tourists will have something to do. Another option from the list of what is worth seeing in Helsinki for 1 day in winter is the Winter Garden. This is a favorite recreation area of the local population, which also attracts tourists. A covered greenhouse with beautiful plants was created under the patronage of Major General Jacob Lindfors. He ordered that the entrance to the premises be free and his desire is valid even now. Each visitor will be helped to relax by two hundred diverse plants growing in their natural habitat recreated in the greenhouse.
Cultural Tours
The question of what to see in Helsinki in 1 day must be resolved quickly due to the limited time. In this case, it is better to decide which direction you are most interested in. For example, if you want to get acquainted with the historical or cultural heritage of the country, you should visit the National Museum of Finland. Visitors are presented with exhibitions that demonstrate the formation of the state. In different halls you can see exhibits of all eras. For a detailed acquaintance with the culture and history of the state, this museum is best suited. If there is a desire to appreciate something more original, then travelers should go to the monument to Jan Sibelius. This is the most unusual stone sculpture that you can imagine. Every Finn respects the work of the composer, because at the time when the country was part of the Russian Empire, the symphonic poem Finland, composed by him, was a kind of anthem. In honor of Sibelius, they decided to build a structure of six hundred steel tubes with thin walls. In an upright position, they were welded together, some were cut on one side, others were decorated with a certain pattern. A bronze bust of the composer was also placed on a pedestal. When the wind passes through these pipes, a real symphony of various sounds begins to sound. Since in the works of Sibelius it is often possible to recognize the melody of the surf, wind, water, etc., the sounds made by the monument remind of the great composer of Finland.
All kinds of entertainment
You can decide what to see in Helsinki in 1 day simply by visiting the Lynnanmäki Park. The local population will be able to prove to any traveler that it is impossible to find a better place for entertainment in Northern Europe. Here, in addition to rides, there are different opportunities to get an adrenaline rush. If you want to feel the speed, drive or make an exciting trip, visitors should go to the Dead Loop attraction. A good option could be a roller coaster with a large difference in elevation and sharp turns. Fear rooms, games rooms, a tower with a pneumatic mechanism and much more are waiting for visitors here. But in order to feel the proximity of nature, tourists do not need to leave the city. It is enough to go to the island of Seurasaari in the western part of Helsinki. This place is loved by the inhabitants of the city for the atmosphere of complete tranquility. This is the home of a huge amount of squirrels. Here they live and have become accustomed to the company of people for a long time. All travelers are also advised to visit the open-air museum or spend time walking slowly around the island.
Travel completion
If all the options for where to go and what to see in Helsinki have already been tried, it remains to go shopping. To do this, you can visit the Old Covered Market, which is also a historical monument. Shopping, of course, can be arranged in ordinary shops, but here is a special atmosphere with the spirit of trade of past eras. The range of products is so diverse that you can buy fresh fish and trendy clothes. If you want to go shopping in an even more extravagant place, then the Hietalahti market will be an excellent choice. Antique shops here are equipped along with coffee shops and boutiques. It is simply necessary to go here for the most unusual accessories that can be brought from Finland. The only minus is that the market does not work in winter, so there is no need to look here in the cold season.