Finland Things to Do Tips by sabsi

Go to Suomenlinna, the fortress islands off the harbour of Helsinki. It's the perfect spot to go on a summer day! For picknicks or sunbathing!!

What I found interesting was that the Fortress is called Sveaborg (Fortress of Sweden) in Swedish and Suomenlinna (Fortress of Finland) in Finnish language!

Actually what is referred to as Suomenlinna is not only one island, it's actually six islands which are linked by bridges. The fortress is located on Susisaari and Kustaanmiekka. on Iso Mustasaari there's actually a small village where approx. 1000 people live - far away from the centre of Helsinki. There's shops, a church and a school there even.

Watch out for ferries when you are at Suomenlinna. It's an amazing sight when the huge ferries pass by Suomenlinna!

Apart from ferries and nice views there are several museums, a visitors centre, a dock and a submarine to be explored on the islands of Suomenlinna.

Boats to Suomenlinna leave approx. every 15 mts from the market at the harbour of Helsinki. There are boats that are run by the local public transport company which cost ya only one normal ticket. Special ferries to Suomenlinna cost more. Be careful which one you take!!!

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Directions: Take a boat from Helsinki harbour. You can use your local transportation ticket (from the tram or bus or Metro), you don't have to pay again when you have one already!

Pihlajasaari is a rather small island off the coast of Helsinki and you will find beautiful lonely beaches, forests, rocks, a wonderful kahvila with an even more beautiful terrace and even a nudist beach here.

I absolutely loved lying on the beach here (not the nudist one tho ;) - with views of ships on their way to Tallinn, bright sunshine and with the funny colourful huts behind us.

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Directions: The island of Pihlajasaari is just 15 minutes away from Helsinki by boat. The boat leaves at Cafe Carusel in Eira (at the end of Laivurinkatu), a return ticket costs 4,50 €.

Tuomiokirkko at Senate Square is probably the most gorgeous church I've ever seen!!! You can see it from everywhere in Helsinki city centre - the stairs it stands on are so high! With its white colour and it's green roof it is a real beauty!!!

Don't waste your time inside though, it's much better from the outside than from the inside!!!

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Address: Senaatintori, Senate Square, Helsinki

Uspenski cathdral is the biggest orthodox church in Finland. It's extremely gorgeous from the inside as well as from the outside. If you plan to see only one church of Helsinki I'd choose this one! The interieur design is much more gorgeous than the inside of the white cathedral Tuomiokirkko.

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Directions: In Helsinki on the hill on the left side of the kauppatori (facing the sea)

For me the main station of Helsinki is the most beautiful building in the whole city (ok apart from Tuomiokirkko maybe ;). It was built in 1919 and it shows Finnish National Romantic architecture at its best. The four grumpy looking guys at the front are just so wonderful....

The inside is quite nice as well.... and I just love watching the people boarding the Moscow train here!

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Address: Rautatientori

Hvitträsk was built between 1901–1903 by three famous Finnish national romantic architects, Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. You can visit Saarinen's house (entrance fee is €4) which is pure Art Nouveau - on the inside as well as on the outside. All the furniture in here, the carpets, curtains and the buildings themselves were designed by the architects and their families. All this is soooo beautiful.

There's also the home of Gesellius and Lindgren which was turned into a cafeteria and a restaurant as well as a beautiful park and forest overlooking the lake. At the shore of the lake you will find a beautiful sauna.

Hvitträsk is not far from Helsinki in Luoma (near Espoo) which makes it a perfect day trip destination from Helsinki.

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Address: Hvitträskintie 166, 02440 Luoma
Directions: Getting here is kinda complicated. From Ring III (the motorway on the outskirts of Helsinki) you try to find the right exit and follow the signs. As we didn't find the right exit and got lost I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly how to get there now.
Website: http://www.nba.fi/en/hvittrask_en

The archipelago off Turku's coast is for me the most beautiful area of town. You shouldn't miss a trip through the archipelago by boat when visiting Turku.

It's beautiful to pass by all those little islands with their beautiful wooden houses and little saunas at the shore. You will see a lot of typical Finnish forests, yachts and the most beautiful nature you can imagine! Don't miss it!

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Address: Boats start from Aurajoki near Puistokatu

Turku Castle is the first building I saw of Turku when I once arrived here by ferry from Stockholm. Now that I came back to Turku for a day trip I finally visited it.

The castle was built as a small fortification in the 13th century and developed into what it looks now over the centuries. An impressive Renaissance Floor was built in the 16th century. The whole tour through the castle brings you to different rooms and there are so many of them that I lost count. There's a prison, a ball room, a chapel, lots of stairs and small windows etc etc.

As nowadays the castle hosts the Historical Museum of Turku with changing exhibitions on your way you can see pottery, clothes, toys etc etc. You could spend ages in here if you read and look at everything there is. After a while it was too much actually and we were trying to find the way out. HAHA Which isn't as easy as it sounds by the way ;)

Once we were out we had a look at the beautiful yard of the castle and the park around it.

The admission of € 4,50 is definitely worth it considering how much you will get to see here and how much time you can spend here.

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Address: Linnankatu 80
Directions: Just follow Linnankatu to the port. The castle is at the end of this long streets that leads you all the way through Turku

Go on top of the big jump and be scared! It's amazing that people actually ski down there, it's very very steep and sends me shivers down my spine everytime I visit!!! In summer the sight is even more amazing as there is a swimming pool where jumpers normally land their jumps.

Afterwards don't miss the Ski Museum which is right next to the jumps. Try virtual skijumping, cross country skiing and biathlon there. I had such a laugh there!

In winter the Lahti ski games take place here every year. Then you can watch x-country skiing and skijumping here. I hope to be going in March 2005 finally :).

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Directions: Lahti is 100 kms north of Helsinki (direct Motorway!). The hill and the museum are at Urheilukeskus (Sports Centre).
Other Contact: http://www.lahti.fi

At lake Vesijärvi there's a wonderful harbour with many wonderful cafes and terraces, boats, birds and summer feeling.

You will also find Sibelius hall here, a stylish concert hall with amazing acoustics.

Sit down in one of the old fashioned cafes with some pastry and enjoy the atmosphere. I was kinda stuck here as I liked it sooo much.

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Address: Sibelius Hall - Ankkurinkatu 7, Lahti