Finland’s capital is Helsinki, a city located in the Gulf of Finland in the Uusimaa region in the southern part of the country. The city’s architecture consists of brightly-coloured granite sourced from within Finland’s borders, which is why Helsinki is also known as the White City of the North. The central part has a population of 658,457, while the urban part has a population of 1,327,762 and covers an area of 680.12 square kilometres. The capital area spans 3,697.50 square kilometres and has a population of 1,536,810. It consists of four capital districts that connect with ten larger regions of Helsinki. With Hostelling International Slovenia’s article, you can gain the latest travel tips for your trip to the Finnish capital.
Helsinki was founded by the Swedish king Gustav Eriksson Vasa in 1550, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. The merchant city of Helsinki was therefore said to rival the Danish merchant city of Reval, which was renamed Tallinn in 1918. Helsinki had a different location in the 16th century, namely 4.8 kilometres north of the Vantaa delta, and it was moved closer to the sea in 1640 in order to provide quicker access to the open sea. With all the changes in the 18th century that brought an end to the city, the city officials reconstructed the capital’s old town during the Great Duchy of Finland, which was under the Russian rule.
Architect Carl Ludwig Engel designed many of the city’s buildings in the neoclassical style in early 19th century. The Evangelical Lutheran Helsinki Cathedral at the Senate Square is a popular tourist attraction. The church serves as a place for religious services during church and state holidays. There’s a city hall near the market, which once housed the Seurahuone hotel. When it was still located in the city hall, the city officials used the old Pori house. There’s one of Helsinki’s oldest parks near the building, an English garden. There was a market by the old Pori city hall up until the end of the 19th century.
The Helsinki university and national library were founded in 1640. They both operated for four centuries and depict the city’s tradition and history through three political founding periods. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto designed the Finlandia Concert and Congress Hall. The construction was completed in 1975. 35 ambassadors attended the first conference and the Congress Hall in the same year. The Eastern Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral was built in 1868 and, with its Russian Revival architecture, is the typical cultural and tourist attraction that demonstrates the historical influence Russia had on Finland. The cathedral was designed by Russian architect Alexei Maximovich Gornostayev.
Enrich your trip to Helsinki and learn about the city’s cultural characteristics with information about cultural content using the World City Trail app, which provides a planned tour for travellers. If you’re travelling in small group then a local guide will take you on a tour of the Helsinki Cathedral, the city hall, the market and many other cultural attractions. The guided tour will let you explore Helsinki, the 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism. A trip to Helsinki’s surroundings, namely to the medieval city of Porvoo, is the right choice for all who want to get a closer look at the 18th- and 19th-century architecture, a 15th-century cathedral, Porvoo Castle and the old city hall. Take a guided tour of the Uusimaa region with a regional ticket and don’t forget to visit the other cities and towns as well where you get numerous benefits in restaurants, shopping centres, museums and on guided tours.
Another interesting activity is exploring the tropical ocean with marine animals at Sea Life Helsinki. It’s home to one hundred different marine animals species and over 1,500 animals in 50 tanks overall. You can touch a starfish and a crab in a special pool that is dedicated to interaction with animals. If you travel east of Helsinki, you can have a blast on a speed boat ride that comes with a view of some of the 170,000 islands that comprise the Helsinki archipelago. You’ll learn about the flora and fauna, enjoy a traditional lunch and try out public sauna. Take a helicopter flight over the city for an unforgettable view of Helsinki’s architecture, discover how the locals live and find out why Finland’s capital is the city of architecture. The helicopter has an eco certificate and operates on sustainable fuel.
Hostelling International, in collaboration with local accommodation providers, invites travellers to book their HI hostels in the Finnish capital. We’ve selected three hostels in the city which offer a wide array of activities and provide a comfortable stay for members of Hostelling International and those who haven’t joined us yet. CheapSleep Helsinki is a hostel with dorms as well as private and family rooms. It’s located in the Vallila/Vallgård neighbourhood in the northern part of Helsinki. The HI accommodation has a varying number of beds in both women-only and mixed rooms. It offers special benefits to large groups, though prior arrangement is required.
The modern eco-friendly Eurohostel in the city centre operates sustainably and has a HI-Quality and Sustainability certificate, offering its guests special comfort combined with quality and sustainable leisure time. Your stay includes free use of the Finnish sauna, a delicious breakfast and an interesting social environment, which are just some of the hostel’s pros that make guests book their stay. If you’re looking for a more unusual experience, why not visit the Suomenlinna island and stay at the Suomenlinna hostel, which provides sustainable accommodation. The island’s UNESCO protected natural and cultural heritage just calls for a getaway. But before you travel to Finland and its capital, equip yourself with our travel tips. In her article Travelling in Finland, Alenka shares tips on where to stay and what to see.
With the first edition of the Pocket Helsinki travel literature, anyone can explore Finland’s capital and its most beautiful tourist attractions. Pocket Helsinki provides key information about the city on its 156 pages, which are equipped with photos and 18 maps. The guide makes a trip to the capital easily accessible for everyone. What do I need to know about the city’s neighbourhoods and tourist attractions, about local products, city routes, TOP experiences, sightseeing and other activities? The Pocket Helsinki travel literature brings plenty of tips on how to organise and spend your day in Finland’s capital.
Helsinki also includes 315 islands and, thanks to its typical climate, draws in travellers from all over the world who prefer low temperatures and the changes that occur during the winter and summer solstices, which make the capital interesting year round. The average winter temperature is around –5 degrees Celsius, while the average summer temperature ranges around 17 degrees Celsius. An average December day has around six hours of daylight and an average June day has around 19 hours of daylight. Visitors in Helsinki can spend their time in the city’s many recreational parks and recreational areas, and use sports agencies that manage the islands or the recreational areas in the city’s surroundings or neighbouring municipalities. Water activities can be experienced alone in public areas or through a sports agency.
The HSL public transport provides quick access to the city centre and the surrounding regions. The city bus, tram, underground, train and ferry lines connect various city locations, which can be accessed with a single- or multi-day ticket, the latter being valid for up to 13 days. Another idea for a sustainable city tour is the city bike, which you can use to explore the city however you want. If you decide you’d rather explore on foot and love spirits, you can stop by a bar and try locally produced Helsinki gin and other alcoholic beverages. There’s also a wide array of relaxation centres and public saunas in the capital if you want to improve your physical and mental well-being.
A perfect place for a getaway from all the hustle and bustle and for some relaxation, the Keskuspuisto central park spans an area of one thousand hectares. It was designed by architect and urban planner Bertel Jung in 1911. With nature reserves, such as Haltiala, Niskala, Pitkäkoski and Ruutinkoski, the central park is a protected area with various spots dedicated to sports and recreation. The park is reachable by a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. And if you’re interested in learning more about activities in Helsinki, including where you can relax your body and soul, you should read the article written by Globetrotter’s editor titled A short but sweet stroll through Finland.
Wherever you go, your trip can be safe, with simple and customisable international travel insurance for solo travellers and families. Get travel insurance through World Nomads and get a policy with 24-hour assistance and transport for medical emergencies, as well as cover for more than 220 sports and leisure activities on snow, water, air and land. The insurance policy may include, among other things, coverage for experiential activities, such as au pairs – part-time or voluntary work with children, working in a bar, fruit picking, office work, teaching and some other work abroad. Protect yourself or your family with World Nomads travel insurance.
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