The city of Helsinki is the home of numerous statues and monuments, which teach us about the history and the culture of the city. Most of these works can be found in and around the center, near the main landmarks. Starting at the busiest tourist attraction, Helsinki’s harbor, you can find the fountain of Havis Amanda. The statue of the nude female mermaid was sculpted in Paris in 1906. The sculpture was intended to symbolize [...]

Every language is a culture in itself, what has been called a “languaculture.” Like each languaculture in different nations and societies, there’s also a usually unnoticed but very strongly present worldwide deaf culture and Sign Language. The cohesive representing body for Sign Language is the World Federation for the Deaf (WFD), and their international headquarters is right here in Helsinki.

As I don’t normally associate Indian-Subcontinental religions with Northern European countries, when I found out that there’s an Iskcon temple in Helsinki (part of a sub-branch of Hinduism particularly dedicated to the god Krishna), I had to go check it out for myself.

The city of Helsinki’s sports department operates four swimming halls year-round. There are also outdoor pools for refreshing relaxation during the hot summers. These public swimming pools are open to residents as well as tourists. Each swimming hall has something that makes it unique. Below are brief overviews of each swimming hall and their regular hours of operation. Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall Opened in 1928, Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall was Finland’s first public indoor pool. The building [...]

There are nearly 30 public beaches in Helsinki. Most of these beaches are along the seaside, but at least four of them rest on the banks of the Vantaa River. The Helsinki Environment Centre carefully tracks the water quality of Helsinki’s beaches throughout the swimming season. The information gathered is posted online each day, allowing beachgoers to check the water quality before leaving their homes. The majority of beaches in Helsinki are open from June [...]

Helsinki’s modern art museum is architecturally one of the most interesting buildings in Helsinki and can be found right in the center near the Helsinki Central Railway Station. More than three million people visited Kiasma in 2011, and it’s one of the must see places for anyone interested in art and culture. Kiasma opened in 1998. The building was designed by the renowned architect Steven Holl. The name of the museum is derived from the [...]

Go-karting is a wonderful way of enjoying competitive racing on a small budget, meeting friends and having a lot of fun.  Helsinki has several recreation centers that offer guests the chance to race go-karts with their friends and family. Go-kart amusement centers usually allow guests to rent the go-karts for varying lengths of time instead of charging them for individual races. Like almost anything else that charges for admission, group rates are usually cheaper than [...]

Warm summer days are perfect for exploring Eastern Helsinki’s waterways. Calm waters and numerous resting places provide a wonderful kayaking or canoeing experience, even for beginners. Anyone interested in a water-fueled adventure should stop by Finland’s premier kayak rental company and lesson provider, Natura Viva Vuosaari Paddling Center. A leading travel advice website ranks the Vuosaari Paddling Center’s kayak tour of Helsinki as the city’s number one attraction. This three-hour guided trip leads paddlers through [...]

Every summer since 1991, the world-class Helsinki Samba Carnaval has filled the streets of Finland’s capital with excitement and delight. Similar to Rio’s world-famous Carnival, this event is Europe’s largest Samba festival. Approximately 25,000 people attend the Helsinki Samba Carnaval each year. The parade features performing groups, dancers and musicians from around Finland. Some of the entertainers include a children’s group, skilled Samba dancers and a percussion section. Each group of entertainers is called by [...]

Helsinki’s Havis Amanda is a beautiful bronze statue of a nude mermaid rising out of a granite fountain. According to the statue’s sculptor, Ville Vallgren, the mermaid represents the birth of Helsinki and the city’s rise from the sea. Vallgren crafted this masterpiece in Paris in 1906, and it was erected in Helsinki’s Market Square in 1908. The name Havis Amanda was given to the mermaid by Swedish newspapers and Vallgren shortly after the statue’s [...]