Where to stay in Helsinki
Where Is Helsinki in Finland?
The capital and largest city of Finland, Helsinki is located in the southern region of the country, on the tip of a peninsula that sits by the Gulf of Finland. The seat of the Uusimaa region, Helsinki is composed of 315 islands that include Seurasaari, Vallisaari, Lauttasaari, and Korkeasaari. Helsinki is also the center of the Greater Helsinki metropolitan area, which is made up of the cities of Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. The city is located approximately 80 kilometers north of Tallinn, Estonia; 300 kilometers east of Stockholm, Sweden; and 300 kilometers west of Saint Petersburg, Russia.
What Is Helsinki Famous For?
Promising quirky Baltic adventures, Finland’s capital of Helsinki delights all with its sea-facing landscape, magnificent architecture, groundbreaking design, and spectacular Nordic cuisine. Helsinki's boulevards overflow with streamlined and stylish architectural gems, as well as ornate churches, a UNESCO-listed fortress, and traditional marketplaces dating back to the 19th century. A culture-packed urban center, Helsinki is aplomb with classy cafes, regular festivals, and a buzzing nightlife scene that establishes the city as a millennial hotspot. However, a breath of fresh air is always available in Helsinki. Surrounded by a sublime natural environment that's easily reached from every part of the city, Helsinki offers ample opportunities to get active. Some activities include boating to its archipelago's islands, strolling along its beaches, wandering through its extensive parks and gardens, and hiking in its surrounding forests.
Places to Visit in Helsinki
- Design District: One of the trendiest areas in the city, the Design District is polished, sleek, and effortlessly cool. The district is all about the progression and development of art — whether it’s fashion, design, or anything cool and contemporary, you will hear about it here first. With several pop-up spaces that host eclectic art exhibitions, edgy fashion shows, and hip concerts, the Design District attracts creatives from near and far.
- Senate Square: The main square of Helsinki since the 17th century, Senate Square has been the crux of all activity in the city. Framed by four buildings that represent the four powers of the state conceived at the time — senate, church, university, and commerce — Senate Square emits a Nordic old-world charm reminiscent of a bygone era. The meandering lanes of the square that were once populated by old merchant houses are now occupied by municipal offices and cafes, while bazaars dot the square in a random pattern. As the statue of Tsar Alexander II sits strong in the center of the square, visitors cluster on the grand staircase that lead to the majestic cathedral.
Popular Destinations Near Helsinki
- Suomenlinna: Once a powerful sea fortress in the Baltic region — constructed in the 18th century by the Swedish — Suomenlinna is one of the most popular attractions in Helsinki. As visitors discover this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site that’s often called the “Gibraltar of the North,” Suomenlinna permits all who come to step back in time. Walk around the defensive walls, admire the grand Russian church, and have a cheeky peek inside the old barracks. Both educative and entertaining, Suomenlinna allows visitors to grab a fascinating insight into a dramatic, tragic, and action-filled point in history.
Best Neighborhoods in Helsinki
- Kallio: Named as the Rock of Helsinki, Kallio is the wild and urbanized neighborhood of the metropolis, where bohemian souls meet for coffee and lose themselves in between the nooks and crannies of the labyrinthine streets. The ultimate hipster district and student village of Helsinki, Kallio is home to lines of eclectic coffee shops, affordable flea markets, and plenty of raucous nightlife hotspots. Make sure to check out the notorious Kallio block party that takes over the streets, filled with rowdy revelers.
