Senate Square
Temppeliaukio Church

Sibelius Monument
Kauppatori

Havis Amanda
Korkeasaari Zoo

Suomenlinna

Uspenski Cathedral

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

Folklore Centre Tomtebo

Seurasaari Open Air Museum

Senate Square

This is the heart of the city, where many of the parades and processions either commence

or end. Beautiful 18th century buildings surround the square and its elegant bronze statue of

Tsar Alexander II is a popular landmark and tourist attraction.

Korkeasaari Zoo

Try and make the time to visit one of the northernmost zoos in the world, located on

Korkeasaari Island and best reached by boat from the market square. The zoo houses animals

from Finland and around the world in large natural enclosures. It is respected for its success in breeding snow leopards and also specializes in breeding snowy owls and bearded golden vultures.

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Sibelius Monument

This monument is a tribute to Finland's greatest composer, and is set within the charming

Sibelius Park. It is composed of a series of abstract tubular shapes that bring to mind an organ

or such musical instrument to mind. Installed in 1945 in honour of Sibelius's 80th birthday,

it was the subject of much controversy between abstract artists and figurative artists, who were placated when a small bust of Sibelius was added. It is one of Helsinki's more popular attractions.

Kauppatori

This is Helsinki's famous Market Square, where for centuries all forms of local produce have

been sold, from fruits and vegetables, dolls, hats, T-shirts and the obligatory fish. In the summer, there are night markets that are a charming sight, especially since the square is surrounded by lovely 18th century buildings.

Havis Amanda

To the west of the market is the Havis Amanda bronze sculpture and fountain, created by Ville Vallgren. Known as 'The Mermaid' for the water-spouting fish statues surrounding her and the seaweed at her feet, the sculpture was once strongly criticized for her nudity and seductiveness,

but has since become the beloved symbol of Helsinki.

Temppeliaukio Church

This "Church in the Rock" is Helsinki's best known attraction. Hewn into solid rock, the church features a stunning 24m-diameter roof covered in 22km of copper stripping. The church is still

in use, holding regular concerts and a service in English at 2pm on Sundays. It is a popular site

of worship for local Finns.

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Suomenlinna

Situated on a cluster of islands south of the market is the greatest fortress of the Swedish

empire. Founded in 1748 to protect the eastern part of the empire against Russian attack, Suomenlinna later fell to the Russians and remained under their control until Finland gained independence in 1917. There are several interesting museums dealing with the history of the fortress and an ancient but still active shipyard. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Uspenski Cathedral

Located on the Katajanokka Island is a beautiful building that holds the title as the largest

Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe. The Uspenski Cathedral shows the marked Russian

influence on the region with its Byzantine-Slavonic design, its golden onion dome and icon-filled interior. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

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Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

The Kiasma Musuem of Modern Arts houses a fascinating collection of Finnish and international modern art from the 1960s to the 1990s. In addition to its impressive collection, the Kiasma regularly presents performance art, dance, music and films.

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Folklore Centre Tomtebo

Originally built by the famed 'Modern Renaissance' architect Gustav Karl as his summerhouse

 in 1893, this charming villa is now used during the summer for exhibitions of Finnish and Finno-Ugrian folk art and tradition. There are also numerous folk dance performances and concerts,

as well as restaurant which is rapidly making a name for itself for the excellent food.

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Seurasaari Open Air Museum

Step back in time into a Finland of long ago…just a stone's throw away from modernity,

on a little green island, stand 86 ancient buildings, preserved and relocated from all around

 Finland to recreate an ancient village, complete with churches, manor houses and cottages,

to show what life was really like for people living in past centuries.

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