The largest Orthodox church in western Europe is the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki. Resting on a hillside that overlooks the South Harbor as well as the city, this cathedral was built in the mid-1800s. Alexey Gornostaev, a renowned Russian architect, designed the church but passed away before seeing his vision come to life. During the time that the cathedral was being built, Finland belonged to the Russian Empire. A plaque on the back of the [...]

Hotel Torni is currently Helsinki’s fourth-tallest building; however, when it opened it was the tallest structure in Finland. Located in Helsinki’s Design District, Hotel Torni was designed in 1931 by the renowned architects Jung and Jung. The interior of the building was refurbished in 2005 to ensure the hotel’s atmosphere would remain modern and beautiful for years to come.     Hotel with fascinating history The 14-story building has always been an important part of [...]

Temppeliaukio Church, or Rock Church, is a Lutheran house of worship that opened in 1969. The design for this modern building was chosen during an architectural competition. The brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen won the contest in 1961, but construction on the church did not start until 1968. The church is built underground and features a roof constructed of copper wire. To build the church, the Suomalainen brothers blasted out the interior of a large [...]

Unique boutiques, Finnish design One of Helsinki’s more chic neighborhoods, surrounding Diana Park, was officially named the Design District in 2005. Activities in the area are coordinated by the Design District Helsinki Association. The Design District holds nearly 200 stores, galleries and restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. While some stores carry only products from some of the world’s best-known designers, other shops house the works of Finland’s newest, most talented designers. Visitors [...]

The immense sea fortress Suomenlinna (also known as Viapori or Sveaborg) is one of Helsinki’s most impressive and most visited tourist attractions. Over half a million people visit Suomenlinna yearly. The island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and houses around 850 permanent residents. How to get there Visitors can travel to Suomenlinna at any time of year on the Helsinki City Transport ferry. A waterbus is operated during the summer months [...]

Sibelius Monument is one of Helsinki’s most famous, and most controversial, landmarks. The monument was built in honor of Jean Sibelius, Finland’s national composer. Sibelius lived from 1865 until 1957, and planning for the monument started shortly after his death. The finished sculpture was unveiled in 1961, giving Finland its first abstract public monument. The controversy surrounding Sibelius Monument started at the same time a competition was organized to find a sculptor to carry out [...]

One of the best ways to spend an unforgettable day with the whole family in Helsinki is visiting the zoo. There are 150 distinct animal species and an approximated 1,000 varieties of plant life at the Helsinki Zoo in Korkeasaari. Helsinki’s only zoo is home to animals from six continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North America and South America. Animals from warmer climates that need protection from Helsinki’s cold weather are housed in the zoo’s [...]

The Finnish Museum of Natural History is run by the University of Helsinki as an independent research institution. The museum is open year-round, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The building is wheelchair-accessible and admission is free on Thursdays between 4 and 6 p.m. There are four permanent exhibitions in the Finnish Museum of Natural History; Story of the Bones, World Nature, The History of Life and Finnish Nature. Audio tours [...]

The Helsinki Central railway station is one of Helsinki’s most iconic landmarks. It was designed by a Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen in 1919. The exterior of the building is beautifully covered in Finnish granite, which lends an old-world feel to a modern hub of transportation. Two dignified statues grace both sides of the main entrance, each holding a sphere that is illuminated at night. Another one of Helsinki Central railway station’s distinguishing features is its [...]

The National Museum of Finland was constructed in Helsinki between 1905 and 1910. The building was designed by Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen and was officially inaugurated in 1916. A gas leak caused a small explosion in the museum’s Silver Room in January of 2006. Only slight damage was caused to the room and its displays. The Silver Room re-opened to visitors in the early part of 2007. The museum’s displays are spread [...]