The capital of Finland cannot boast of pompous, lush architecture, a large number of historical attractions and any particularly outstanding cultural heritage. However, Helsinki is a distinctive, atmospheric city and it definitely has its own charm.

City authorities welcome modern architectural projects. Thanks to this, tourists can admire the unusual Temppeliaukio Church and the Kamppi Chapel of Silence. The embankments of the Finnish capital, dressed in granite, turn into discreet and majestic panoramas of the Baltic Sea, where cruise ships and ferries.

Helsinki is a solid, solid and prosperous city. There are no enchanting Gothic cathedrals and castles here, but there is incomparable Kiasma, strict northern nature and the triumph of common sense.

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What to see and where to go in Helsinki?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.

1. Cathedral and Senate Square

Senate Square is one of three central squares Finnish capital. Sights and main attractions are concentrated around it. tourist routes. The place is decorated with the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral, which was erected in the first half of the 19th century after Helsinki was declared the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Inside the cathedral there is a monument to the founder of the Reformation - M. Luther.

2. Monument to Sibelius

A monument dedicated to the famous and revered Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Several streets, a music academy, and a city park are also named in honor of this outstanding historical figure. The monument was erected in 1967 according to the design of E. Hiltunen. This is an abstract composition, representing a pile of metal pipes and a bas-relief of the composer located at the foot.

3. Havis Amanda

City fountain, one of the symbols of the Finnish capital. The project was developed by sculptor V. Wallgren at the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the sculptural group there is a statue of a woman - a “sea nymph”, on the sides there are fabulous sea lions. It’s hard to believe, but before the installation of the monument, there were heated discussions for more than two years about the propriety of installing a naked figure in the city center.

4. Sveaborg Fortress

A sea fort located on rocky islands near Helsinki. From the city center you can quickly get there by ferry. Sveaborg is the Swedish name; the Finns call the fortress Suomenlinna. The structure was erected in the middle of the 18th century at a time when Finland was part of Sweden. The fortress was a base for the Swedish fleet and protected the approaches to Helsinki.

5. Temppeliaukio Church

An original temple located in a natural rock. The church is considered one of the most striking attractions of Helsinki. Thanks to the unusual architecture, a stunning acoustic effect is created in the church hall. The idea of ​​progressive design belongs to the Suomalainen brothers. The temple was built in the 70s. XX century and quickly gained fame and popularity. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Temppeliaukio Church every year.

6. Assumption Cathedral

Orthodox church, built according to the design of A.M. Gornostaev in the middle of the 19th century. The architectural style of the cathedral is a mixture of Byzantine style and traditions of Russian temple architecture. In 1872 it was given cathedral status. On this moment The Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki is the largest Orthodox church in Western and Northern Europe.

7. Kallio Church

The granite bulk of Kallio Church is often called a striking creation of the so-called “Finnish” Art Nouveau or “national romanticism”. This rather original structure appeared in 1912 and soon became the main attraction of the entire Kallio region. It is believed that the architect L. Sonck, when designing the building, took as a model the description of the Old Testament Temple of Solomon (including its impressive dimensions).

8. St. John's Church

Lutheran Temple late XIX century, a grandiose creation of the Swedish architect A. Melander. It was built on the spot where the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala was always celebrated. The church is very impressive in size - 2,600 people can fit inside at a time. The building was built in the “standard” neo-Gothic style, the interior space is decorated with wooden decor, which was worked on by the best Finnish craftsmen.

9. Chapel of Silence Kamppi

The modern building, erected in 2012 according to the design of M. Summanen, N. Sirol and K. Lintul, is an interesting and striking example of the latest architecture in Helsinki. The chapel is not a temple in the usual sense; services are not held here, but on its territory you can get psychological help or simply take a break from the bustle and oppressive city space.

10. National Museum of Finland

Museum of the History of Finland, where you can trace the development of the land of Suomi (as the Finns call their state) from ancient times to the modern period. The museum exhibitions are quite extensive - from clay shards to the thrones of rulers, from medieval weapons to the technical achievements of Nokia. The museum was opened to visitors in 1916.

11. Design Museum

The museum's exhibitions demonstrate the achievements of Finnish applied art. Exhibitions, international events, and demonstrations of fashion collections of young designers are often held here. The museum was founded in 1873 as a workshop for teaching applied arts. Now this place is considered one of the best modern creative venues in Europe.

12. Natural History Museum

One of the three largest national museums in Finland. The exhibition, dedicated to natural history and evolution, is located on four floors. Among the especially valuable artifacts are fossil exhibits that are more than a thousand years old. The collection is divided into four parts: “The History of Life”, “The Nature of Finland”, “The History of Bones”, “The Nature of the World”.

13. Science Museum "Eureka"

The museum is located in the city of Vantaa near the Finnish capital. It is an interactive gaming, educational and entertainment center where visitors of different ages can conduct experiments, explore the nature of physical phenomena and simply have a good time. More complex experiments can be carried out in museum “laboratories” under the guidance of specialists.

14. Athenaeum Art Museum

An art gallery housing a rich collection of works of art. A special place is given to the paintings of Finnish artists - representatives of the Golden Age period in national art. There are also works by recognized world classics: Van Gogh, P. Gauguin, Modigliani, Degas, F. Goya, Cezanne and others. The collection contains a large number of paintings by Russian artists: Levitan, Shishkin, Repin, Polenov.

15. Kiasma

A grandiose museum of contemporary art, located in a monumental building of modern architecture. The museum specializes in collecting works by Finnish masters and artists from surrounding countries. Often many works are created by order of Kiasma. Now the museum’s collection numbers about 9 thousand exhibits, but the funds are continuously replenished and the exhibition is growing.

16. Seurasaari – open air museum

The museum is located on island of the same name west of Helsinki. There are similar exhibitions in many European countries, they are designed to introduce tourists to the traditional way of life and life of the local population. In Seurasaari you can see wooden dwellings of villagers, Finnish saunas, outbuildings, mills, and religious buildings brought from all over the country.

17. Market Square

The square was formed in early XIX century. Since then, there has been a market here, popular with visitors to Helsinki and local residents. On the square you can buy souvenirs, fresh food, excellent fish, and also have a delicious lunch. Ferries depart from here to Suomenlinna. An obelisk in honor of the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was erected on the square.

18. Old covered market

Shopping arcades on the shores of the South Bay, located in an elegant brick building of the 19th century. The market offers a large selection of meat, fish, seafood, bread, and a variety of baked goods. There is also a local specialty shop and a sushi restaurant. Old indoor market– a rather atmospheric place with carved wooden counters, small shops and friendly sellers.

19. Helsinki Train Station

The relatively small building of the capital's railway station is architectural monument beginning of the 20th century. It was built according to the design of the architect E. Saarinen. The Art Nouveau facade is decorated with figures of stone giants created by E. Wikström. There are numerous departures from the station commuter trains and trains long distance to various European countries and to Russia.

20. Waterpark Serena

A water park in the suburbs of Helsinki, which is open to the public all year round. Quite a lot of slides are located under open air, and you can often see children frolicking in the water during the cool Finnish summer at temperatures as low as +19 °C. When purchasing an All Inclusive ticket, you can enter all attractions, bar and restaurant (alcohol for a fee).

21. Sea Life Marine Center

An oceanarium located in the northern part of the Finnish capital. Sea Life aquariums feature a wide variety of marine life: stingrays, sharks, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, exotic tropical fish, and inhabitants of the harsh northern seas. Group excursions are conducted around the aquarium in Finnish, Swedish and English languages. The guide also contains information in Russian.

22. Linnanmäki

An amusement and amusement park, quite popular among tourists and local residents. Up to a million visitors come to Linnanmäki every year. Carousels and park rides manufactured in leading European countries and meet the latest safety requirements. There are several free attractions for children in the park.

23. Korkeasaari Zoo

The zoo is located on the island of the same name. It was founded in 1889 by A. Fabritius. The first inhabitants of the zoo were bears. The territory of Korkeasaari is home to snow leopards, which are now on the verge of extinction. In addition to the magnificent northern animals, at the zoo you can admire reptiles, tropical birds, and representatives of exotic fauna.

24. Botanical Garden

The garden is located near the central part of Helsinki. Rose gardens have been laid out in the park, greenhouses and a system of artificial ponds have been created. In summer, the garden turns into a magnificent blooming and fragrant canvas. Thematic events, various exhibitions, competitions, and actions to protect nature are regularly held on its territory.

25. Esplanade Park

City park, Finnish Champs Elysees and one of the favorite places for walks for local residents and guests of Helsinki. Here you can have a great rest between visiting the many shops and attractions of the Finnish capital. In the eastern part of the Esplanade there is a small concert venue where progressive musical groups perform in the summer.

Helsinki(Finnish Helsinki; Helsingfors or Helsingfors - Swedish Helsingfors) is the capital and largest city of Finland, administrative center province of Uusimaa. Located in the south of the country, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. Population 578,126 people (03/31/2009). Foreign citizens make up about 10% of the city's population.

Helsinki, together with the satellite cities of Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen, forms a metropolitan region with a population of over a million people. The population of Greater Helsinki, which includes 12 municipalities, exceeds 1,300,000 people.

Helsinki is the center of business, education, culture and science in Finland. Greater Helsinki is home to 8 universities and 6 technology parks. 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland are located in the capital region. Rural immigration makes Helsinki one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Europe.

The main international air hub in Finland is Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, located 20 kilometers from the center of the capital and providing direct flights around the world. The journey from Helsinki to Tallinn takes 1.5 hours by sea and 18 minutes by helicopter. In the other two major cities, Tampere and Turku can be reached in 1.5-2 hours by train and 1.5-2.5 hours by car.

At the beginning of 2009, Helsinki began to consider possible annexation with the capital city of Vantaa. On 30 March 2009, Vantaa City Council agreed to carry out a review of the Helsinki project for possible unification. The council emphasized that the review does not envisage the cessation of the city's existence.

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Swedish rule

Founded by the Swedish king Gustav Vasa in 1550. By his decree, several hundred residents of the city of Porvoo settled in the territory of the current city district of Arabia. June 12, the day the decree was signed, is considered the city’s birthday.

However, it turned out that the location was poorly chosen - the harbor was too shallow, and as a result the city was moved to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe present Kauppatori (Market Square).

Until the middle of the 18th century, Helsinki remained a small, entirely wooden city; plague epidemics often broke out here.

In 1748, on the islands near Helsinki, the Swedes began construction of the Sveaborg fortress (Finnish: Suomenlinna), designed to protect the city from the sea. As a result, the city began to grow; The first stone houses appear. However, Turku (Abo) remained the capital of Swedish Finland.

The city was captured by Russian troops four times - twice during the Great Northern War, in May and July 1713; August 24, 1742, during the Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743; February 18, 1808, during the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809.

Russian rule

In 1809, according to the Treaty of Fredericksburg, Finland joined Russia. Three years later, on April 12, 1812, Alexander I declared provincial Helsingfors the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland. After this, a reconstruction committee was established, headed by military engineer Johan Albrecht Ehrenström. He was supposed to rebuild the ceremonial capital of the Grand Duchy. In 1816, the German architect Karl Ludwig Engel, who worked in Russia, was invited to the position of architect of the Finnish capital. The development of the project was supervised by Emperor Alexander I and his brother Nicholas, hence the noticeable similarity central parts Helsinki and St. Petersburg. From this time on, rapid organized development of the city began.

In the 1820s, Karl Ludwig Engel created a project for the development of the central part of the city. As a result of its implementation, for example, the neoclassical ensemble of Senaatintori (Senate Square) with a magnificent cathedral appeared. The university was moved from Turku to Helsinki.

During the Crimean War, the city came under fire from the Anglo-French squadron, which, however, did not lead to significant destruction.

In the 1860s the first Finnish Railway connected the city with Riihimäki and Tampere. Industry developed rapidly. In 1870, the railway connected Helsinki with St. Petersburg.

Capital of independent Finland

After the declaration of independence during civil war in Finland, the city was occupied for some time by units of the Finnish Red Army, but as a result of the offensive of General Mannerheim from Vaasa, supported by German troops, the city came under the control of the bourgeois Finnish government.

After the end of the civil war, the city continued to develop dynamically. Its territory expanded significantly, new ones grew residential areas. For example, the “garden city” of Tapiola (Finnish Tapiola, Swedish Hagalund; administratively subordinate to Espoo) became widely known.

In 1952, the Summer Olympic Games were held.

In 2007, the city hosted the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

Name

In Finnish, the city has been officially called Helsinki since its founding (1550); in Swedish it is still officially called Helsingfors. All other languages ​​used the name "Helsingfors" for a long time (in Russian - "Helsingfors") before Finland became independent (December 6, 1917). And this is not surprising: until the end of the 19th century, the Swedish population absolutely predominated in the city, although the population of the city in 1880 was only 43 thousand people.

Despite formal subordination Russian Empire after 1809, the Swedish-Finnish nobility retained their power in Finland and for a long time gave preference to the Swedish language. In an effort to reduce dependence on Sweden, the Russian authorities stimulated the development of Finnish language, and the intense migration of rural Finns to the city quickly changed the demographic and linguistic balance in the city in favor of the Finns.

After 1917, the Finnish name Helsinki began to be used. On Soviet maps of the 20s - early 30s, in accordance with the then transfer of the foreign language [h], the spelling of Gelsinki was found (the spelling of Gelsinki is accepted in the modern Ukrainian language, where g is read [h]).

The Swedish-speaking minority in the capital remains to this day (6.2% of the city’s population), and Swedish has official status on par with Finnish.

Relief

The city is located in a rocky area. Historical Center The city is located on a peninsula with a heavily indented coastline. The elevation changes in the city are significant and rocks are a common part of the landscape. There are waterfalls on the rivers within the city.

Climate

The climate of Helsinki is moderate, transitional between continental and maritime. Winter is long and snowy, summer is cool and does not go beyond the calendar. Spring and autumn are long and cool. Severe frosts are quite rare; summer temperatures almost never exceed 30 °C. Maximum precipitation occurs at the end of summer and throughout autumn.

Population

In 2002, 305,196 people of working age lived in the city, of which 277,967 were employed and 27,229 were unemployed, the unemployment rate was 8.9%.

Population (as of March 31, 2009) - 578,126 people. The proportion of the female population in Helsinki is 53.4%, which is higher than the Finnish average of 51.1%. Forecast of the city's population: for 2020 - 589,604 people, for 2030 - 597,640 people.

Language composition

For a long time, Helsinki developed as a predominantly Swedish-speaking city. In 1870, when Finland was part of the Russian Empire, the prevailing official languages in the city there were: Swedish - 57%, Finnish - 25.9%, Russian - 12.1%; German (1.8%) and others (3.2%) were also used. By 1890, due to the beginning of the mass migration of Finnish peasants to the cities, the policy of the Russian authorities to maintain and develop the Finnish language and the partial assimilation of the Swedes, the ratio of languages ​​was as follows: 45.6% Swedish, 45.5% Finnish, 6% Russian and 2. 9% others.

Currently, two languages ​​are recognized as official in the city - Finnish and Swedish, while 86% of the city’s population are Finnish-speaking, 6% Swedish-speaking, about 4% consider Russian their native language and another 4% - other languages. (See also Russians in Finland).

The newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet is published in Swedish, 2 Swedish-language radio stations broadcast - YLE Radio Vega Mellannyland (with regional programs) and YLE Radio X3M, in addition, radio programs in Swedish are broadcast on a local radio station (Finnish lähiradio, Swedish närradio). There are 2 Swedish-language channels broadcasting terrestrially - YLE FST5 (free, owner - YLE) and SVT World (paid, owner - Swedish public broadcaster SVT); Other channels from Sweden are also available on cable networks.

Radio Sputnik broadcasts in Russian.

Economy

Helsinki is home to the stock exchange, founded in 1912.

Transport

In Helsinki there are international airports Helsinki-Vantaa, through which about 90% of flights in Finland and Helsinki-Malmi pass.

Currently, research is being carried out and work is underway to design an underwater railway tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn. The estimated length of the tunnel is 60-80 km. The construction of the tunnel will require from 1 billion to several billion euros. The estimated construction period is 10-15 years.

At the end of 2010, it is planned to launch new trains between St. Petersburg and Helsinki, which will reduce travel time between the cities to 3.5 hours

Sea transport

Helsinki is a major port from where international Passenger Transportation throughout Baltic Sea. Ferry companies Tallink Silja, Viking Line, Finnlines, Stella Lines (Ferry Julia) provide regular year-round departures to Tallinn, Stockholm, Rostock, Lübeck/Travemünde, St. Petersburg. Tourists arriving by ferry from Finland to St. Petersburg can stay in the Russian Federation without visas for 72 hours.

Public transport

Helsinki is clearly divided into two parts - the historical western and the more modern eastern (Itä-Helsinki, Östra Helsingfors) - connected by a single metro line, as well as an extensive network of roads.

Public transport is also represented by trams (in the center and adjacent parts of the city), buses, commuter trains and the municipal ferry lines Kauppatori - Suomenlinna, Katajanokka - Suomenlinna and Hakaniemi - Suomenlinna. Public transport in the city is managed by the Helsinki City Transport Authority (Finnish HKL, Helsingin kaupungin liikennelaitos, Swedish HST, Helsingfors stads trafikverk).

CityBike

During the warmer months, Helsinki offers a free public bicycle service - CityBike. There are 26 bicycle racks in the city center, where anyone can borrow a bicycle for a period of time with a deposit of 2 euros. Riding a CityBike bicycle is allowed only within the central part of the city. In 2008, it was planned to expand the service in subsequent years, but in 2010 they decided to suspend the program until 2012.

Education

Helsinki is home to the country's largest University of Helsinki, as well as a number of other higher education institutions. educational institutions, with 64,128 students (of which 38,454 are at the university). Secondary education is provided by 190 schools, of which 22 are private. All data is for 2003.

Museums

• Helsinki City Museum. It has several branches, including two summer museums: the Burgher's House and the Power Plant Museum. They open only with the onset of the high tourist season. Entry to both museums is free.
• National Museum Finland
• Finnish National Gallery
• Athenaeum Museum of Classical Art
• Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
• Sinebryukhov Gallery
• Suomenlinna fortress
• Urho Kekkonen house-museum Tamminiemi
• postal museum

Cultural centers

The Korjaamo cultural factory (Töölönkatu 51 +358 504 072 467) is located near the center of Helsinki. Located in an old tram depot, the Korjaamo factory is a complex consisting of galleries, theaters and concert halls, a shop, a cafe and a bar - and, of course, a tram museum. After the opening of the second building - the Tram Garage (Vaunuhalli) in June 2008. Korjaamo has become the largest cultural center in Finland. Exhibition activities, mainly specializing in photography and video art, now take place in three galleries, two of which are located in the new Tram Garage. Every year, the STAGE international festival is held within the walls of Korjaamo Teatteri, bringing together the best modern theaters from all over the world under its roof.

Main attractions

• Assumption Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki.
• Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas (1852, architect K. L. Engel), the University, the Senate building and a monument to the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who expanded the rights of autonomous Finland and granted it a constitution in 1863.
• Assumption Cathedral (1868, architect A. M. Gornostaev), cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church, the largest Orthodox church Northern Europe.
• Suomenlinna Fortress (until 1918 - Sveaborg), founded in 1748.
• Korkeasaari Zoo is one of the northernmost and largest zoos in the world.
• Temppelaukio Church, carved into the rock, 1969.
• A music festival has been held in Helsinki for the past 5 years - Flow Festival
• Northern Europe's largest water park "Serena"

Scientific, industrial, educational and cultural center of the country. It was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden. For a long time, until the 18th century, Helsinki remained a small town, mostly of wooden construction. However, in 1748, on the islands located near Helsinki, the Swedes began construction of the Sveaborg fortress to protect the city from attack from the sea. This gives impetus to further development settlements.

Helsinki was captured by Russian troops four times. Twice in May and July 1713 during the Great Northern War, then during the Russo-Swedish War of 1741-43 and in the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-09. During Russian rule, rapid development of the city began, which made the central part of Helsinki similar to St. Petersburg. In 1860, the first railway was built in Finland, connecting Helsinki with Tampere and Riihimäki. And in 1870, the railway was built to St. Petersburg.

Helsinki is a city made for tourism, as most of its attractions are in close proximity to each other. The surroundings of Senate Square are unique architectural ensemble in the style of neoclassicism. It consists of four buildings designed by Karl-Ludwig Engel in 1822-1852: the State Council building, Cathedral, National Library and University Main Building. In addition, on Senate Square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II by Walter Runeberg, 1894. The sculpture, made of bronze, stands on a pedestal of red granite.

One of the main attractions of Helsinki is the Assumption Cathedral. Built according to a design developed by Russian architect A.M. Gornostaev in 1886, it is currently the largest cathedral in Western and Northern Europe. The exterior of the cathedral is made in pseudo-Byzantine style and makes an indelible impression. He stands on high cliff, and from the platform at the entrance to the cathedral there is a magnificent view of Helsinki.

The Cathedral, standing on Senate Square, designed by Karl-Ludwig Engel, was built between 1822 and 1852, simultaneously with St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg and has much in common with it.

You should not ignore the symbol of Helsinki - the Havis Amanda fountain, which translated from Swedish means “sea nymph”. Made in 1905 in Paris, it was installed in Helsinki in 1908 and depicts the image of a young woman emerging from water. The fountain is located on another iconic place Helsinki - Trade area, where you can buy souvenirs, all kinds of sweets and drink coffee all year round.

In addition, Helsinki is very green City: all kinds of parks, squares and gardens occupy a third of total area cities. The most famous and oldest park in Helsinki is Kaivopuisto. The park is home to many embassies, including those of the United States and Russia. The beauty of the surrounding nature, the proximity of the sea, rocks, and spacious green lawns have made the park a favorite vacation spot for citizens and guests of the city. In the most high point The park houses the Ursa Observatory. And on the nearest islands and the seashore, restaurants and cafes await their visitors.

One of the oldest parks in the city, founded in 1812 for public use, is Kaisaniemi Park. It owes its name to the owner of the restaurant located in the park, Kaisa Wallund. The restaurant, by the way, is still open today. The park itself smoothly flows into the botanical garden founded in 1829.

In addition, it is certainly worth visiting the Sveaborg Fortress (now Suomenlinna). The fortress, located on islands near Helsinki, was included in the List World Heritage UNESCO in 1991. Currently, on the territory of the fortress there is a naval academy of the Finnish Navy, several museums and a light security prison, the prisoners of which maintain the fortress in good condition. On the territory of the fortress there are museums: the Manege military museum, the Ehrensvärd museum, the Suomenlinna museum, the toy museum, the customs museum and the Vessico submarine. Entrance to the fortress territory is free, but you will have to pay to view the museum exhibitions.

Particular attention should be paid to visiting the Temppeliaukio Church, which is completely carved into the rock. One of the principles used in the construction of the church was the complete preservation of the surrounding landscape. And the interior, completely carved out of the rock, is illuminated by natural light entering through the glass dome of the building. The excellent acoustic characteristics of the church have led to it hosting many concerts. It was consecrated in 1969 and is visited by more than half a million people a year.

In addition, Helsinki is home to one of the largest and northernmost zoo in the world, Korkeasaari, and the Serena water park, the largest in Northern Europe. In addition, Helsinki has a large number of theaters, cafes and restaurants, entertainment centers and other establishments created to brighten up the leisure time of a tired tourist.

And when visiting Helsinki in the summer, to explore the historical part of the city, you can use free bicycles provided at 26 parking lots located in the city center, the deposit for a bicycle will be only 2 euros.

According to the English magazine Monocle, Helsinki topped the list of the most best cities world in 2011. Also in 2011, Helsinki was recognized as one of the safest cities in the world (after Luxembourg). And in 2012, the newspaper The New York The Times ranked Helsinki second on its list of cities worth visiting.

The harsh beauty of this city located on the rocks can amaze the imagination and be remembered forever.

The city of Helsinki is located on the territory of a state (country) Finland, which in turn is located on the territory of the continent Europe.

Population of the city of Helsinki.

The population of the city of Helsinki is 630,225 people.

Year of foundation of Helsinki.

Year of foundation of the city of Helsinki: 1550.

What time zone is Helsinki located in?

The city of Helsinki is located in the administrative time zone: UTC+2, in summer UTC+3. Thus, you can determine the time difference in the city of Helsinki, relative to the time zone in your city.

Helsinki phone code

Telephone code city ​​of Helsinki: +358. In order to call the city of Helsinki from mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +358 and then the subscriber’s number directly.

Official website of the city of Helsinki.

Website of the city of Helsinki, official website of the city of Helsinki, or as it is also called “Official website of the administration of the city of Helsinki”: http://www.hel.fi/.

Coat of arms of the city of Helsinki.

The description of the city of Helsinki presents the coat of arms of the city of Helsinki, which is the distinctive sign of the city.

Metro in the city of Helsinki.

The metro in the city of Helsinki is called the Helsinki Metro and is a means of public transport.

Passenger traffic of the Helsinki metro (Helsinki metro congestion) is 57.30 million people per year.

The number of metro lines in the city of Helsinki is 1 lines. The total number of metro stations in Helsinki is 17. The length of metro lines or the length of metro tracks is: 21.10 km.

Built on the peninsulas and islands of the Baltic coastline, Helsinki is a maritime city. Streets wrap around bays, bridges connect islands, and ferries provide connections to distant islands. It is saturated with the smell of the sea, and the ports are constantly noisy from arriving and departing ships.

Helsinki covers an area of ​​1140 sq. km and includes 315 islands; at least 30% of the city is dedicated to parks and open spaces. However, most of the city's attractions are concentrated within one peninsula.

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Founded in 1550 by the Swedish king Gustav I as a trade rival to Tallinn, Helsinki had a difficult time in its early years. The fledgling settlement was threatened by poverty, war and disease. For a long time it remained an insignificant coastal city, dominated by other, prosperous cities - shopping centers in the Baltic region. The construction of Suomenlinna (the sea fortress) helped raise the status of Helsinki, but dramatic changes began to occur in the city after the Russian victory over Sweden in the Finnish War, as a result of which Finland was annexed to Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809.

In order to reduce Swedish influence in the country, Tsar Alexander I moved the capital from Turku to Helsinki. Åbo Academy, Finland's only university, also moved here in 1827, and eventually became a University. This move reinforced the city's new role, and in the following decades the city grew and developed at a rate never before seen; All the prerequisites were created for the birth of the modern capital of Finland - Helsinki. These changes are best seen in the business part of the city, which was rebuilt in a neoclassical style and is somewhat reminiscent of St. Petersburg. Just as in other cities, the progress of science and technology was a key factor behind the rapid development.

Although the first half of the 20th century was a difficult and destructive time for Helsinki, the city continued to develop. Modern post-war urbanization of the 70s of the last century tripled the urban population, and this made the city one of the fastest growing centers of the European Union in the 90s of the 20th century.

How to get to Helsinki

You can get here by air, land and water.

Vanta Airport is located 19 km north of the city center. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs 30 euros, the trip will take about 30-40 minutes. There are also special eight-person taxi buses that can take passengers anywhere, the cost of such a trip can vary from 40 to 50 euros. Bus 615 runs regularly between the airport and the train station square in central Helsinki.

You can get to the city by land either by train or by bus. Train Station located in the city center and connected by special passages to the metro. The capital is located at the intersection of three main railway lines, with trains leaving for Turku in the west, Tampere in the north and Lahti in the northeast. Bus routes connect the Finnish capital with Sweden, Norway and Russia. Helsinki's main bus station is located between Kamppi metro station and Mannerheim Street. Local and regional routes also depart from this station.

When to go

The summer tourist season runs from mid-June to mid-August and is characterized by long days and cool nights. It is worth saying that spring and summer in the south of Finland begin a month earlier than in the north. Although many Helsinki establishments and attractions reduce access hours after the end of the tourist season, this time also offers many advantages: you can avoid the period of mosquito activity, especially in the north; enjoy the picturesque foliage of the trees in autumn and enjoy skiing in winter. Spring here is short, but magical: the snow melts and the ice breaks up, and nature explodes with life, making the transition from winter to summer in almost one day.

You can hope for warm (but not hot) days in Helsinki from mid-May. Summer nights are short and never too dark, while in winter the days are very short and last only a few hours.

Transport

Very convenient in the capital transport network, including routes of buses, trams, metro, ferries and taxis.

Visitors to Helsinki can purchase a single pass for 1, 2 or 3 days, which allows unlimited travel on buses, trams, metro and ferries, and allows one guided bus trip to the main attractions. This ticket also allows you to visit about 50 museums in the city. The cost of such a pass (Helsinki Kortti) for an adult is 25 euros for 1 day, 35 euros for 2 days and 45 euros for 3 days, for children from 7 to 16 years old - 10, 13 and 16 euros for 1, 2 and 3 days respectively. Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies and hotels.

You can also purchase a tourist ticket for 1, 3 or 5 days. With this ticket you can travel within Helsinki on all types of public transport, except regional buses. An adult ticket for 1 day costs 5.40 euros, for 3 days - 11 euros, for 5 days - 16 euros. A ticket for children costs 2.70 euros for 1 day, 5.40 euros for 3 days, 8.10 euros for 5 days. Children under 7 years old travel free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at tourist offices and metro stations.

Metro/bus/train

The Helsinki City Transport Office is located at Rautatientori metro station and is open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 to 19:00 and Friday from 7:30 to 17:00. Transport system The city is open daily from half past six in the morning until half past one at night. A ticket for one trip with transfer rights costs 2 euros for adults and 1 euro for children, a tram ticket costs 1.8 euros without transfer rights.

Ferry

Ferries depart from the South Esplanade (Eteläesplanadi) and head to the islands of Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari.

Taxi

All taxis in Helsinki are equipped with a yellow TAKSI/TAXI sign. Landing fee - 5 euros, then - according to the meter, depending on the mileage. Rates depend on the time of day, they are higher in the evening - from six to ten in the evening, on Saturdays - after two in the afternoon, and on Sundays - from ten in the evening to six in the morning.

Automobile

It is not recommended to travel around Helsinki by car due to the limited number of parking lots; it is better to walk or use public transport. However, for the outskirts of the city the car is perfectly suited. You can rent a car at the airport or in the city center.

Bike

Bicycle rental costs range from 10 to 15 euros per day. A deposit of 16 euros is required and a passport must be presented.

Nightlife in Helsinki

In recent years, the city has experienced a significant increase in leisure options at night. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest times, so if you are planning to go to a club, it is better to show up as early as possible, as you may not be allowed in later. Mostly people gather in the bars of popular hotels, for example, at the Scandic Hotel Continental.

Almost all theater performances are in Finnish or Swedish. However, the language of music is universal and Helsinki's cultural landscape is rich music events in any season. The main concerts take place in Finlandia Hall. Operas are performed in their original language at the Finnish National Opera.

Some nightclubs have small casinos. If you want something more serious in this regard, go straight to Casino Rey.

The best source of information about current events is the small magazine Helsinki Guide, which can be found in most hotels and travel agencies.

Holidays

Finns know how to have fun, so they take the holidays seriously. One of the noisiest and most fun festivals in Helsinki, especially for students, is the Vappu holiday, celebrated on the night of April 30 to May 1. Each area of ​​the city welcomes the arrival of spring in its own way; The main event takes place in the market square along the esplanade, where crowds gather on April 30 to watch the statue of Amanda Havis wear a white cap specially made for the occasion. The cap is a symbol of the transition to a new stage of life; all graduates of Finnish lyceums receive it. From this moment on, general fun begins, taking the form of a grandiose party on the streets of Helsinki.

The festival takes place in the capital of Finland in late August - early September. This festival, founded in 1968, is dedicated to Finnish and international art and its various types. Every year about 300 thousand people come here to enjoy full program classical and contemporary music, dance, theater programs, cinema and art exhibitions. One of the most famous moments of the festival is the Night of the Arts, when the city streets, parks, churches and galleries are filled with dance groups, orchestras and street singers. Within the framework of this festival there is also a Children's Festival.

The Helsinki City Marathon attracts thousands of runners from all over the world in August. Perhaps one of the reasons for such popularity is that the marathon route runs along the most picturesque places along the sea coast in and around the city.

The Baltic Herring Fair is the most old tradition city, its history goes back about 200 years. At the fair, the main Scandinavian product is presented to visitors in different types, and the number of dishes and serving amazes the eye and taste.

Shopping

Finland is famous for its creative approach to interior design. Here you can buy ceramic and glassware, hand-knitted clothes, wood products and rugs. Textiles and jewelry also carry a distinct Finnish spirit, and toy stores are filled with educational toys for all ages. Souvenir abundance is represented by products made from reindeer skin, dolls in national costumes, baskets, spicy liqueur made from yellow cloudberries, gooseberries and stone fruits. And, of course, here you can buy everything you need to go to the sauna.

The most famous places for shopping are in the center of Helsinki - the Esplanades, Market Square, Aleksanterinkatu, Iso Roobertinkatu and Bulevardi streets.

Most stores are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00. Sometimes, especially in summer, shops are open until Saturday four days. Residents of countries outside the European Union can shop in stores with EUROPE TAX-FREE SHOPPING signs, with the expectation that when leaving the country they will receive a refund of value added tax (usually 16%). The amount for which purchases are made must exceed 40 euros.