Urho Kekkonen Museum Tamminiemi
Urho Kekkonen Museum Tamminiemi Found in the Meilahti district of Helsinki, Tamminiemi is a villa that served as the official residences for former Fininsh president Urho Kekkonen between 1940 and 1981. The house was originally designed by Sigurd Frosterus and Gustaf Strengell for a Danish man by
Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi)
Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi) Originally built as an automobile showroom for various local car dealerships (as well as an auto service center) the Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi) was designed by student architect Helge Lundstrom. Its current name was derived from the fact that during the 1940s and ‘
Swedish Theatre
Swedish Theatre The Swedish Theatre, also known as the Svenska Teatern, is the oldest theater in Helsinki and offers performances exclusively in Swedish, the country’s second official language. Going to a theatre performance in a foreign language can seem a bit daunting, but musicals such as the t
Suomenlinna Toy Museum
Suomenlinna Toy Museum Suomenlinna Toy Museum has a great collection of old toys and dolls, teddy bears, toy cars and games, some of which date back to the 1800s. A little museum showcasing the long history of toys, visiting is a unique way to get acquainted with Finnish culture and tradition. No
Sinebrychoff Art Museum
Sinebrychoff Art Museum Specializing in European art from the 14th to the 19th century, Sinebrychoff Art Museum is the only museum of its kind in Finland. Part of the Finnish National Gallery together with Ateneum Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Sinebrychoff displays an impor
Saariselkä
Saariselkä Located about 155 miles (250 km) north of the Arctic Circle, Saariselkä is one of Finland’s northernmost ski resorts, a remote spot that is an ideal choice for those looking to get off the beaten track and escape the crowds. Saariselka is best known for its winter sports, and the n
Pyhä-Luosto National Park
Pyhä-Luosto National Park A wild landscape of ancient pine forests, lakes and hills stretching between the fell resorts of Pyhä and Luosto, Pyhä-Luosto National Park is the highlight of central Lapland and a popular choice for a day trip from Rovaniemi.With more than 90 miles (150 km) of walking t
Parliament
Parliament Finland’s Parliament House, also called Eduskuntatalo, is not only the home of the session hall that hosts the 200-seat parliament, but is also somewhat of a massive work of art within the capital of Helsinki. It’s a monumental, square building constructed in a classical style – the res
Mannerheim Museum
Mannerheim Museum The Mannerheim Museum is dedicated to the life and times of Finland’s national hero, Gustaf Mannerheim. As the country’s commander-in-chief during World War II, Mannerheim saved Finland from the clutches of Russia, and as the post-war president, he also managed to successfully ne
Lumi Linna Snow Castle of Kemi
Lumi Linna Snow Castle of Kemi With its faux-drawbridge, looming watchtowers and ramparts topped with Finnish flags, the Lumi Linna Snow Castle of Kemi would be impressive even if it wasnt built entirely of snow and ice, but knowing that the architectural masterpiece is completely demolished each
Lainio Snow Village
Lainio Snow Village A true winter wonderland sculpted from over 2,000 tons (2 million kilograms) of snow and ice, the Lainio Snow village is an undeniable highlight of a trip to Lapland and even more impressive when you consider that the 215,000-square-foot (20,000-square-meter) complex is complet
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Helsinki Olympic Stadium Located a mile from the city center in the Töölö district, Helsinki Olympic Stadium (Helsingin Olympiastadion) is the biggest arena in Finland, with 40,600 spectator spots. Finland was originally meant to host the 1940 Summer Olympics, but the outbreak of World War II dela
Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo)
Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo) Home to both the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo) is the Finnish capital’s main concert hall. Sitting opposite Parliament House in the prestigious Töölönlahti district, the buildi
Helsinki City Museum
Helsinki City Museum One of the largest museums in all of Finland, the Helsinki Art Museum, is located within the Tennis Palace complex in central Helsinki. However, the museum also has a regional art museum in Uusimaa, keeps the Kluuvi Gallery, and also maintains much of the citys public domain a
Gallen-Kallela Museum
Gallen-Kallela Museum Akseli Gallen-Kallela was a Finnish painter who is especially well known for his illustrations of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The Gallen-Kallela Museum was once his private atelier and home, and was later converted to fit Gallen-Kallela’s personal use perfectly.
Cygnaeus Gallery
Cygnaeus Gallery During his lifetime, Professor Fredrik Cygnaeus (1807-1881) was one of Finlands most renowned art collectors. He housed an impressive number of paintings and sculptures from mainly Finnish artists. Upon his death in 1881, Cygnaeus left his vast collection to the state in his will.
Central Railway Station
Central Railway Station For thousands of commuters, Helsinki’s Central Railway Station is the main traffic hub from which buses, the metro and numerous local and long distance trains arrive and depart. In fact, with roughly 200,000 daily visitors, it is Finland’s most visited structure. The buildi
Café Ursula
Café Ursula Founded in 1952, Kaivopuisto Park’s Café Ursula quickly grew from tiny kiosk to bustling cafe by the Baltic Sea. A summertime favorite among Helsinki locals, Café Ursula’s outdoor terrace is a popular place to sit in the fresh air with a coffee, beer or glass of wine and watch the boat
Amos Anderson Art Museum
Amos Anderson Art Museum The Amos Anderson Art Museum is the largest private exhibition in Finland. It was founded in 1965 by Amos Anderson, who was then editor of the local newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet and also a determined businessman and patron of the arts. Today, it is maintained by the arts fo
Submarine Vesikko
Submarine Vesikko What is a German type-II U-boat doing as a museum on the shores of Helsinki’s Suomenlinna Sea Fortress? Here’s the story. Built by the Dutch in 1931, Vesikko was a secret submarine built for experimental purposes for the German Navy. It was built in secret in Finland because, aft
