Just east of the kauppatori, this island is divided from the mainland by a narrow canal and makes for an enjoyable stroll. It’s a paradise of upmarket Jugendstil (art nouveau) residential buildings with extravagant turrets and curious carvings galore.
While the south side of the island has a major ferry terminal, the other side is more peaceful, with the Engel-designed Foreign Ministry looking out over the impressively functional ice-breaker fleet . At the western end of the island, the Orthodox cathedral looks over a leisure harbour and a series of warehouses attractively converted into enticing restaurants and bars.
