sist oppdatert: 10/13/21 | 13. oktober 2021
Da jeg landet i Helsingfors, forsto jeg ikke egentlig hva jeg skulle forvente. Av alle finansieringsbyene i Nord -Europa får Helsingfors minst “buzz.”
Helsinki ble grunnlagt på 1500 -tallet av kongen av Sverige, og ble opprinnelig opprettet for å konkurrere med den travle handelshavnen i Tallinn. Dessverre var veksten treg så vel som de fleste av byen døde under pesten i 1710. Det var ikke før russerne annekterte regionen som den begynte å etablere samt vokse til byen den er i dag.
Mens små (mindre enn 1 million mennesker bor her) så vel som ikke så populære som Stockholm eller København, er Helsingfors et hip, moderne finansieringshus til en levende kunst så vel som musikkscene. Det er sprengt av museer, kafeer, så vel som miljøvennlig plass. Du kan raskt gjøre det meste av sightseeing i byen til fots siden den er kompakt. Det beste av alt er at Helsingfors ser en brøkdel av turistene som andre skandinaviske hovedsteder får.
For å hjelpe deg med å få mest mulig ut av besøket ditt, her om alle de beste tingene du kan gjøre i Helsingfors:
1. Ta en gratis vandretur
Noe av det aller første jeg alltid gjør når jeg dukker opp i en ny destinasjon, er å ta en gratis vandretur. Du får se de viktigste severdighetene, lære om historien så vel som kultur, samt ha en lokal profesjonell som tilbys for å svare på alle spørsmålene dine.
Green Cap Tours tilbyr en gratis 1,5-2 timers tur som fungerer som en solid introduksjon til byen. Bare sørg for å tippe guiden din på slutten!
For en alternativ titt på de mindre kjente delene av byens fortid så vel som arbeiderklassens historie, ta den gratis andre siden av Bridge Tour. Det gir et dyptgående, alternativt blikk på Helsingfors.
2. Sjekk ut Post Museum
Et museum om posttjenesten høres helt kjedelig ut, men jeg oppdaget det overraskende interessant. Museet fremhever historien til posttjenesten i Finland, fra skip så vel som sleder på 1600-tallet til moderne tjeneste. Det er mange relikvier, gallerier, samt kortfilmer om nøyaktig hvordan de fikk postforsendelse til å fungere i et så tynt befolket så vel som tøffe miljø. Det gjør en eksepsjonell oppgave å ta et kjedelig emne i tillegg til å gjøre det morsomt, tilgjengelig og pedagogisk.
Alaverstaanraitti 5, +358 03 5656 6966, Postimuseo.fi. Åpent tirsdag-søndag fra kl. Opptak er 13 EUR.
3. Slapp av i Sinebrychoff Park
Denne lille byparken pleide å være den private hagen til en russisk forretningsmann. I dag er det et populært sted for piknik, avslappende arrangementer, samt aking om vinteren. Det er mange kafeer i nærheten, så ta en matbit i tillegg til å komme hit for å slappe av i tillegg til å se dagen gå forbi. Det er super populært blant lokalbefolkningen om sommeren.
4. Sjekk ut National Museum of Finland
Som historiebuffer setter jeg alltid pris på et flott museum. Jeg har vært på mer enn min rettferdige andel av skuffende så vel som underfinansierte museer gjennom årene. Heldigvis var dette ikke en av dem.
Museet ble åpnet i 1916, og dekker Finlands historie fra steinalderen til i dag. Den har en stor samling av gjenstander, gir mange detaljer i tillegg til å skape en kronologisk fortelling, samt tilbyr anstendige beskrivelser, slik at du alltid forstår hva du ser på. For en liten finansieringsby er det et veldig, veldig utmerket museum. Ikke gå glipp av det!
Mannesheimintie 34, +358 29 5336000, Kansallismuseo.fi/no/kansallismuseo. Åpne hver dag fra kl. 11 til 18 (stengt på mandager om vinteren). Opptak er 14 EUR, men det er gratis på fredager mellom 16:15 til 18:00.
5. Vandring på Suomenlinna -festningen
Suomenlinna er et UNESCOs verdensarvsted konstruert av Sverige i 1748 på en øy like ved kysten. Opprinnelig kalt “Sveaborg” (Swenskes slott), og ble bygget som en avskrekkende mot russisk ekspansjonisme. Etter hvert ble den omdøpt til “Suomenlinna” (Castle of Finland) i 1918 da landet fikk uavhengighet. A check out right here is a relaxing way to spend half a day as you can check out the fort, wander the island, or chill in one of the many parks.
Det er også mange fascinerende bygninger her (inkludert seks forskjellige museer), samt noen utenomveisstrender.
Admission to the fort is free, though each museum has its own admission fee.
6. Sjekk ut Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum opened in 1990 as well as is housed in a really unique modern building not far from the post Museum. The collection consists of over 8,000 works (I’m not a significant contemporary art fan so I personally don’t recognize any type of of the names). part of the Finnish national Gallery, Kiasma is Finnish for “chiasma” which is a term that describes the crossing of nerves or tendons.
Mannerheiminaukio 2, +358 29 450 0501, kiasma.fi/en. open Tuesday from 10am-6pm, Wednesday-Friday from 10am-8:30pm, Saturdays from 10am-6pm, as well as Sundays from 10am-5pm. Admission is 15 EUR as well as complimentary on the very first Friday of the month. currently closed until spring 2022 for renovations.
7. See the Finnish museum of Photography
This museum houses an amazing collection of photography from both Finnish as well as worldwide artists. There are rotating exhibits as well as exhibits by new as well as emerging photographers. There’s always something fascinating right here so check the website to see what’s on screen during your visit.
Tallberginkatu 1, +358 9 68663610, valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi. open Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays). Admission is 10 EUR.
8. marvel at the Helsinki Cathedral
This cathedral was built in the 19th century as a tribute to Czar Nicholas I. located next to the bank Museum, it towers over the city as well as is one of the most recognizable facets of the capital’s skyline. If you’ve visited a lot of cathedrals won’t likely walk away thinking this is one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe, however I think it’s one of the best in Scandinavia. They have a (free) short organ recital every Wednesday at 5pm.
Unioninkatu 29, +358 9 23406120, helsinginseurakunnat.fi. open most days from 9am-11:45am as well as 12:30pm-6pm (11am-6pm on Sundays) however times can vary so check the website. Opptak er gratis.
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9. stroll around the central Market
For souvenir shopping, tasty local food, fresh produce (including lots of berries in the summer), as well as excellent people-watching be sure to head to the central Market. It’s located near the harbor, which sits on the coastline of the Baltic Sea. In October, the herring market begins which is a significant local event. the market has heated tents when it gets chilly as well as there are plenty of restaurants as well as cafes around making it a fun place to check out any type of time of the year. While it is typically swarming with tourists, I heard sufficient Finnish to understand it isn’t a total tourist trap.
Open 6:30am-6pm Monday-Friday, 6:30am-4pm on Saturdays, 10am-5pm on Sundays. Opptak er gratis.
10. check out the Sinebrychoff Art Museum
This is the only museum in the city that focuses on older European paintings as well as portraits (from the 14th-19th centuries). Housed in a building built in 1842, there are around 4,000 items in the collection. Not only are there some extraordinary as well as historic works right here however part of the museum is composed of the Sinebrychoff residence itself. You can walk through the old Sinebrychoff estate as well as see what life was like for the affluent in Helsinki in the 19th century.
Bulevardi 40, +358 29 4500460, sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi. open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays) as well as 10am-5pm on weekends. Admission is 16 EUR.
11. check out the bank of Finland Museum
Admittedly, a bank museum sounds even more boring than a post museum however this museum was one of the coolest museums I’ve seen in a long time. very first as well as foremost, it paints a clear as well as insightful picture of the history of money in Finland. They likewise host rotating exhibitions on all sorts of related topics (such as counterfeit money). however what I discovered the museum really did well was to explain the history of modern finance. It makes the topic so clear as well as concise that I really learned a lot during my visit.
Snellmaninkatu 2, +358 9 183 2626, rahamuseo.fi/en. open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-5pm as well as 11am-4pm on the weekend. Opptak er gratis. currently closed due to COVID. check website for up-to-date information.
12. relax in Esplanade Park
This park, known as Espa to the locals, is a popular place to spend an afternoon when the weather is nice. In the warmer summer months, there are street musicians as well as performers around as well as lots of eco-friendly space as well as benches for any individual looking to lounge with a book or a picnic. opened in 1818, the park likewise has some walking as well as jogging trails too. It’s just a nice place to relax as well as soak in the city.
13. See Uspenski Cathedral
This big red cathedral is difficult to miss. It’s an Eastern Orthodox church with big domes as well as gold crosses as well as absolutely has avery Russian feel to it. Consecrated in 1868, it’s really the largest Eastern Orthodox church in all of Western Europe. The interior is lavishly decorated too, with a big vaulted ceiling as well as lots of Eastern Orthodox icons (though some of the most popular icons have really been stolen in recent years).
Kanavakatu 1, +358 9 85646100, hos.fi/en/. open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30am-7pm, Saturday from 10am-3pm, as well as Sunday from 12pm-3pm. closed during ceremonies. Opptak er gratis.
14. Take a Food Tour
If you’re a foodie like me, you have to take a food tour. They’re the best way to sample the local delicacies as well as traditional foods, such as fresh fish, craft beer, as well as Finnish porridge. Heather’s Helsinki offers a tasty tour of the city that lasts 4-5 hours as well as includes 9 different stops around the city for just 85 EUR per person. You’ll not only get to eat some excellent food however you’ll learn a lot about the history as well as culture behind the cuisine.
15. check out the Helsinki City Museum
Opened in 1911, this is an exceptional city museum with plenty of descriptions as well as top-notch exhibits as well as photos. It’s really the third-best city museum I’ve come across in Europe (after the Amsterdam as well as Barcelona museums). Ikke gå glipp av det. You learn a lot about the city as well as about exactly how it has changed as well as evolved over the centuries.
Aleksanterinkatu 16, +358 9 31036630, helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi. open weekdays from 11am-7pm as well as weekends from 11am-5pm. Opptak er gratis.
16. chill out in Kaivopuisto Park
This significant park is tucked away in the southeast corner of Helsinki. during the winter, tobogganing is popular here. lots of events held right here as well, such as Vappu Day (May 1st) celebrations. The park overflows with thousands of locals who come to picnic, listen to music, as well as drink away the day. since it’s so out of the way, you barely ever see tourists here.
17. hit the Sauna
You can’t check out Finland without going to a sauna. The word itself is Finnish as well as there are over 3 million in the country (which is a lot since there are only 5.5 million people in Finland). There are plenty of public saunas in Helsinki, most of which expense around 10 EUR as well as have separate sections for men as well as women. You can usually rent towels as well, as well as while going nude is the traditional method there’s no shame in wearing a towel either.
Some of the best saunas in the city are:
Kotiharjun Sauna
Sauna Hermanni
Allas Sea Pool
18. check out Seurasaari Island
This island just north of the city is house to an open-air museum featuring traditional style Finnish buildings. Guided tours are offered everyday in the summer as well as take you around the buildings as well as shed light on exactly how Finns lived from the 17th-19th centuries. The museum, which opened in 1909, collected the buildings from all around the country so you aren’t seeing replicas here.
Meilahti, +358 295 33 6912, kansallismuseo.fi/en/seurasaarenulkomuseo. open from May-September. check website for specific hours. Admission is 10 EUR.
19. check out the style Museum
Finnish design, like its Scandinavian counterparts, is incredibly popular, known for seamlessly integrating style elements into regular life. The museum teaches you about Finnish architecture as well as style history over the last century as well as a half. opened in 1873, the style museum holds over 75,000 objects, 40,000 drawings, as well as 100,000 photographs.
Korkeavuorenkatu 23, +358 9 6220 540, designmuseum.fi/en/. open 11am-6pm Tuesday-Sunday (open until 8pm on Wednesdays) in winter as well as 11-6 everyday in summer. Admission is 12 EUR.
20. check out Amos Rex
Named after Amos Anderson, a Finnish patron of the arts Amos Rex is an art museum that opened in August 2018. It has a rotating series of temporary exhibitions from local as well as worldwide artists (check the website for details) as well as is already one of the most popular in Helsinki. I’m not a modern art fan, however I’m told this gallery has really great exhibitions.
Mannerheimintie 22–24, +358 9 6844 460, amosrex.fi/en. open 11am-8pm on weekdays (closed on Tuesdays) as well as 11am-5pm on weekends. Admission is 20 EUR.
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Helsinki is a city that deserves more praise than it gets. fortunately for you, since it typically overlooked, you can check out without dealing with the crowds that so many other European capitals are plagued with.
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