Category: Sights

Is the central library Oodi at Helsinki a place you should really visit? Of course! Because it is like a blueprint how libraries should be everywhere in the world. The new building was opened in 2018 and the fantastic architecture acts as a bridge between the analog and the digital world. Oodi combines the classic library offering printed books with a digital library, with 3D printers, a cinema, with a recording studio, with video games… It creates so many good reasons to visit the library.

One of the most important places to visit is the former fortress island Suomenlinna located in front of Helsinki. What was once the Fortress of the Finns is now a city quarter of the capital city with 800 permanent residents and one million visitors every year. Here you can explore very well-preserved ancient fortifications spread over five islands. You can easily access Suomenlinna by ferry boat from the Helsinki harbor.

The amusement park of Helsinki is called Linnanmäki and has been opened in 1950 by a foundation (the Children’s Day Foundation) that collects money for child welfare work. So with every rollercoaster ride you do, you’re doing something good! Linnanmäki consists of around fifty rides, including eight rollercoasters, a panoramic free-fall tower and lots of restaurants.

The Temppeliaukion kirkko of Helsinki is a special church with a wonderful atmosphere: it is built partially into the rocks of the capital city. The church was opened in 1969 and is cut into the granite, but it has a glass roof that floods the church with light. While sitting inside you still see that you’re inside a rock as the walls are not covered.

Need some time to relax? Kaivopuisto is a park in the south of Helsinki, behind the modern harbor. From the rocks in the park you have good views on the islands in front of the mainland. There is a small observatory and you can find different restaurants. But mostly the people get here for a walk, for a picknick or to play and do sports.

The most beautiful church of Helsinki, Finland, can be found at the Senaatintori square. It is the cathedral called Helsingin tuomiokirkko which is also the icon of the city. When you reach the square you will stand in front of huge steps and have to ascent to the church, a marvelous white church in neoclassical style with green cupolas and the twelve apostles on the roof.

You can’t miss the giant ferris wheel located at the harbor of Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in 2014, is 40 meters tall and the round trip with excellent views of the harbor area and the Senaatintori square takes around three minutes (with a total time of twelve minutes per visit). Two of the cabins have special features: one has a glass floor for the brave and one is sauna for those who like it hot.

Right next to the harbor of Helsinki you can find the beautiful Orthodox Uspenskin katedraali on a hill. It is built from 700,000 red bricks which gives the church a unique look and its roof contains thirteen cupolas. The cathedral was consecrated in 1868 and is the largest Orthodox church in the northwestern Europe. And it has all the richness you would expect from an Orthodox Christian church.