Attractions
Helsinki, the capital of Finland,
is the centre of cultural, financial and economic activity. Its
green parks and waterways, fresh sea winds with seagulls flying
over the busy market square, and many open-air cafe make Helsinki
a pleasant place to visit in summer. The city retains a small-town
feel: there are no high-rise buildings, and the market square
is still surrounded by 19th century architecture. Built on a peninsula,
Helsinki is linked by ferry to Suomenlinna Island in the Gulf
of Finland, which is perfect for picnicking daytrippers.
Helsinki contains some of the most notable art museums in Finland.
The national art foundation's Ateneum is the principal
gallery and covers Finnish and international art from the 19th
century. The National Museum, also located in the city
centre, has extensive collections of Sami and Finno-Ugric ethnological
artefacts. Johnny Head-in-the-airs will notice the Kalevala-inspired
frescos on the ceiling of its main hall. The Raitioliikennemuseo,
with a dozen old rattlers, is a delightful tram museum.
Located in an old depot, it depicts Finnish street life in decades
past. The Rock Church, hacked out of solid stone, attracts
many visitors seeking a few bars of albino gospel. There are concerts
here as well as services. West of the city centre in the dormitory
town of Espoo is the magnificent studio of Gallén-Kallela,
the notable Finnish painter.
Ferries and motorboats shuttle from Helsinki to Suomenlinna
Island, where you can ramble around the ruins of the mighty
fortress or look around its several museums. The Ehrensvärd
Museum, which covers the history of the fortress from Swedish
heyday to mayday, is the best. If you want to do a boy's-own battle
reenactment, a torch is all you need to squeeze that body through
bunkers and caves on either side of the fort.
Helsinki has numerous budget hostels in the city centre, although
it isn't a bad place to unroll your sleeping bag outdoors in summer.
There are plenty of hamburger restaurants, kebab joints and grills
in the city centre, but those who baulk at using their body as
a grease trap can try one of the cafés south of the centre
or around the market square. Theatres in Helsinki have shows in
Finnish, but you may prefer opera and ballet, as performances
will be incomprehensible in any language. Helsinki also has its
fair share of good pubs and clubs for midnight ramblers. |
