The capital of Finland, the city of developed tourism Helsinki, whose sights are striking in its diversity, is located in the southern part of the country.
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Helsinki is the administrative center of the province of Uusimaa and, together with its satellite cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, forms a region in which more than one and a half million people live. Greater Helsinki consists of 12 communes, on the territory of which there are 8 universities, many social institutions and technology parks. The population is actively migrating to the capital, and this makes Helsinki the fastest growing municipal region in Europe.
In Finland, the main international airport is Helsinki-Vantaa, which is located just 20 kilometers from the center of the capital. The most modern airliners fly from the air harbor around the world.
Rating
In 2014, the city of Helsinki, whose attractions are of interest to hundreds of thousands of tourists from different countries, came in fifth in the ranking of the best cities in the world, according to the British magazine "Monocle". And according to the New York Times, among the cities worth visiting, the capital of Finland is in second place, after Panama. In addition, Helsinki is recognized as one of the safest cities in the world - an international consulting company put it in fourth place on this list, Luxembourg was given the championship, Zurich and Bern were in the second and third positions.
Tourists in Finland
The city of Helsinki, whose attractions do not leave anyone indifferent, is an ideal place for tourists coming to the capital of Finland from all over the world. Architectural masterpieces, historical monuments, rarities, as an integral part of world culture - all this attracts travelers.
Helsinki sights with a description of their history are included in numerous sightseeing tours. Guides that can be purchased at any kiosk will help you plan visits. The city of Helsinki, the sights of which can be seen again and again, is a welcoming and hospitable place. Impressions after the excursions will remain for a long time. And since it is impossible to visit all exhibitions, museums, fairs and attend many other events in Helsinki in one visit, a second visit to Suomi is quite possible as part of a tourist trip.
Helsinki sights with a description of their history, architectural masterpieces and much more have made the capital of Finland a kind of mecca of tourism. Most cultural sites are located in the very center of the city; getting to know them does not present difficulties associated with movement, as is the case in other European cities.
If you need to visit tourist sites in districts distant from the center, then public transport is at your disposal, perfectly organized service for quick movement. Trams in the capital of Finland and in other cities of the country are subject to a per-minute schedule for following a route that is never violated. Comfortable wagons will deliver you to your destination, quickly and comfortably. Traveling by public transport is quite expensive, but if you purchase a ticket for several landings, then the fare is significantly reduced. In addition, the transport system in Helsinki has a group travel system, when several people travel on the same general ticket, and this method also costs relatively cheap.
History and Modernity
Finland, Helsinki, sights, cultural values, a way of life of the population - all that the country lives in, attracts lively interest from visitors, many do not have a two-week tour to get acquainted with the history of the state and to see memorable places.
Travel agencies offer exciting journeys through the ages to ancient Finnish civilization, when architectural masterpieces were erected, characterized by northern restraint, minimalism and sophistication. Ancient buildings, churches and cathedrals of Helsinki, sights, photos of which can be found in guidebooks, booklets and special publications, are shrouded in mystery of past centuries, but nevertheless are accessible today to the general public.
Architecture
Many buildings in the modernist style were built in Finland, but a visit to the art nouveau architectural ensemble, the most integral throughout Northern Europe, leaves a special impression.
In the city center, especially within the Senate Square, there are unique masterpieces of neoclassical architecture. The largest Orthodox church - the Assumption Cathedral - reflects the Byzantine-Russian architectural traditions.
Helsinki's architectural masterpieces, attractions that have been appreciated by grateful tourists for many decades, occupy first positions in the ranking of world architecture. Many buildings in the cities of Finland combine several styles at once, but the combination of neoclassicism and, for example, modernism is so organic that it creates the impression of some kind of new architecture. Later areas of architecture are represented by the Hi-Tech Center in the Ruoholahti area, the Sanomatalo building and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.
Finland, Helsinki sights in winter
The countries of Scandinavia have a number of northern mainland characteristics. Sweden, Norway and Denmark are three Scandinavian countries (geographically). When Scandinavia is mentioned together with Finland, it is already called Fennoscandia.
Helsinki sights in winter are special tourist trips around the country. Dog sledding, a light sleigh running a musher, deer racing - all this makes up an interesting range of winter pastimes. What is the residence of Santa Claus in Lapland, the northernmost province of Finland, which is open to everyone who wants to visit the magical Santa Park. And after riding in the rides, you can go to Mrs. Klaus’s Gingerbread Kitchen and try some fragrant cookies.
In Helsinki, the sights in winter (the reviews of tourists are exceptionally positive) look special, the snow-white plains around, the dazzling purity of snow is fascinating. Even architectural masterpieces look unusual under the snow.
The main attractions
In the center of Helsinki, on Senate Square , the main attractions are located: the Presidential Palace, the National Library, Lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built in 1852. Merchants' mansions are well preserved; at present, there are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes in them.
And in the center of the square stands the monument of Alexander II, the Russian emperor, thanks to which the Finnish people gained independence. 12 times the king visited Finland, participated in the decision of state affairs of the country, hunted, retired to the Valaam monastery, which was located on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Under Alexander II, a railway was built in the country, connecting Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
Helsinki today
It is impossible to explore the city in a short time, the capital of Finland is all in ancient buildings, parks, museums and entertainment centers. For the youngest tourists there are excellent entertainment complexes, among which the Amusement Park called "Linnanmäki" dominates. For adults, in addition to city excursions, there are many marine attractions and boat excursions.
Visiting historical memorials begins with the medieval fortress of Sveaborg, which for many decades defended Helsinki from enemies from the sea. The next historical exhibit is Temppeliaukio Church, located right in the thickness of the cliff.
Tourists who prefer landscape beauty can visit the zoo, the winter garden and the Marine Life marine center. Wildlife lovers will have unforgettable impressions of visiting the island of Seurasaari, completely inhabited by restless squirrels.
Visitors of any age will be satisfied with a visit to the popular science center "Eureka", which opens the way to the amazing secrets of the universe. Hundreds of exhibits from the fields of astronomy, chemistry, biology, physics instantly capture the attention of tourists.
Of particular interest is the unusual-style monument to composer Jan Sibelius. The monument, where the maestro is depicted in profile, against a background of stylized organ pipes. The great Finn represents his country.
Finnish art
As in any other country, in Finland there are exhibition halls that open to visitors genuine national creativity. The central institution of this profile is the Helsinki Art Museum called Atheneum, which, together with the Kiasma Exhibition Center, presents the Finnish Gallery of National Art. The halls host huge collections of paintings, sculptures and other objects of Finnish fine art.
National Museum
The history of any state needs a material reflection. In Helsinki, the role of the repository of historical artifacts is played by the National Museum, which collects the country's cultural heritage. Numerous expositions cover the period of development of Finland from ancient times to the present day.
In addition to stationary expositions, the museum periodically hosts regional studies, telling about the ethnography of the past and about the prospects for the development of Finnish society. Serving tourists is carried out in different languages, including Russian. The museum has a bookstore with literature on Finnish culture, and also in different languages.
The museum’s collection is the national wealth of the Finnish people, according to the expositions you can trace the entire evolution of the country, the collections are distributed by thematic sectors, each of which is in a separate room.
The largest department is the historical, which is represented by archaeological artifacts found during excavations in Finland. The extensive exhibition covers several eras and cultural periods, it is represented by numerous objects of the past. These are household items, weapons, jewelry, clothes, shoes, ceramics and bronze dishes.