The annual population of Helsinki is: Open left menu Helsinki

26.03.2022

Helsinki - the capital of Finland - a city located on quiet shores Baltic Sea. The proximity to St. Petersburg and fairly close historical ties with Russia make travel to this city quick, with minimal customs formalities. The Pearl of Finland is one of the most beautiful capitals of Northern Europe, rich in architectural monuments, unique culture, safety and well-developed tourist infrastructure. Despite its northern location, Helsinki can offer a huge range of entertainment at any time of the year. It is not for nothing that Finland is included in the list of leaders in terms of the best standard of living - the pleasure of visiting Helsinki cannot be compared with any other trip.

Geography

The Finnish capital is located in the southern part of the country on sea coast and occupies many islands and peninsulas. The area of Helsinki itself is 716 square kilometers with a population of just over 600 thousand people - more than half of the area is occupied by sea waters. Helsinki is the main city of the metropolitan agglomeration, which includes three more satellite cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen - the population of the entire region is more than 1 million people and is the largest populated area in Finland. Despite its location, Helsinki is an attractive city with many green areas and rocky and mountain forms- a familiar landscape of the Finnish capital. The unique location ensured the city's protection from the mainland and the sea, and also led to the development of various types of public transport - land and sea. Administratively, Helsinki is divided into eight districts, consisting of 59 districts, most of which have developed both historically and geographically - e.g. small islands, plains or residential areas. Helsinki is located in a time zone that differs from Moscow time by one hour - on a par with Cairo, Tallinn, Kiev and Minsk.

Climate

Weather conditions in Helsinki fall somewhere between continental and maritime climates, and the seasons are clearly defined by calendar time. Winter is quite long and cold, with snowfalls and a constantly low average temperature of about -7-10°C. Sharp drops in the thermometer do not happen often. Spring and autumn are characterized by temperature changes from plus to minus, with frosts and rains. The proximity of the sea also ensures several foggy periods. Summer in Helsinki lasts from June to the end of August with high temperatures around +20°C and sea temperatures warming up to +17°C. Hot days last for a long time and there is very little precipitation - this is enough to local residents and tourists were able to relax on numerous city beaches. The uniqueness of Helsinki is that you can go to the Finnish capital at any time, although July is considered the most attractive - as the warmest and most pleasant month in terms of weather. Also in summer, the city experiences a “white nights” season, since it is located at the same latitude as St. Petersburg. In spring and autumn, travelers go to Helsinki to get the most out of the changing seasons, when nature changes and the appearance of the city takes on an unforgettable appearance. Winter in Finnish capital gives a real New Year and Christmas mood, as everything is covered with snow, and the city itself shines with thousands of colorful lights. In addition, walks in the suburbs with extensive forests and rocky coastline are popular in winter.

Story

The territory of modern Finland was the property of the Swedish crown for a long time, until it was transferred to the Russian Empire. Helsinki was founded on June 12, 1550 under the name Helsingfors, a name still used in official references and in the Swedish-speaking community of Finland. The city district of Arabia is the oldest part of Helsinki, where the city originated. For a long time it was a simple provincial town, built mainly of wood. Only in 1748, when the construction of the defensive fortress of Sveaborg began, Helsingfors began to acquire stone buildings, but still remained an average village, since the capital of Finland was Abo.

The proximity to the Russian borders led to the fact that the city participated in all Russian-Swedish conflicts as a stronghold for armies. In 1809, at the end of the last war with Sweden, Finland completely ceded to the Russian Empire with the rights of fairly broad autonomy, more like a personal union. The rulers of Russia did a lot to improve the condition of the new Principality of Finland, and therefore are highly revered in this country. Alexander the First moved the capital of Finland to Helsingfors and sent one of the most famous architects, Karl Engel, to the city, who built the most famous architectural monuments- Presidential palace, Cathedral St. Nicholas, Orthodox churches and the entire Senate Square. His students subsequently engaged in further expansion of the city in the Russian Empire style, in the image and likeness of St. Petersburg. In 1860 the first Finnish Railway, and in 1870 it connected Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The Russian government has done a lot to introduce and spread the Finnish language and support national interests - as opposed to the country's Swedish roots. That is why in Helsinki there are monuments dedicated to the emperors and empresses of Russia, as well as prominent figures of Finnish origin, everywhere. At one time, even Lenin was celebrated as a liberator, since it was the October Revolution that led to the complete independence of Finland from Russia.

After gaining independence in 1917, the country began to develop independently, and Helsinki became the capital of the state, where the main administrative centers are concentrated. The Second World War did not affect Finland much, as it was more inclined to neutrality during the conflict and was able to maintain its usual way of life. The post-war period was marked by the intensive growth of Helsinki and the introduction of the latest methods of construction and organization of life. In 1952, the city hosted the 15th Olympic Games. Modern Helsinki is one of the safest and most prosperous cities in the world, both in terms of the level of protection of the population and tourists, and in providing for citizens. In 2007, Helsinki was the center of the Eurovision Song Contest, and in addition, the city constantly hosts various cultural, political, and industrial events.

Sights of Helsinki

Senate Square and the Cathedral are architectural treasures and landmarks of Helsinki. The square is surrounded by a rare architectural complex in the neoclassical style. On its territory there is a Cathedral that is more than 150 years old. The cathedral was built in 1852, it was designed by K. L. Engel. On the roof of the cathedral there are figures of the apostles, and from the steps there is a wonderful view of the South Harbor.
A very interesting building on Temppeliaukio Square is a church in the rock. The church was erected in 1969; it was carved out of a rock mass. The top of the church is decorated with a glass dome, which is supported by copper plates. The church is famous for its excellent acoustics; it is for this reason that various concerts, including organ music, are often held here.
The largest sea fortress in the world is Soumenlinna Fortress. It was located on an island near the entrance to the southern port. The fortress is a unique military structure, one of the most popular attractions in Finland and an urban area of the city.

It is also worth paying attention to the Serena water park, especially if you are vacationing with children or simply love water adventures. This is the largest complex in Northern Europe, which operates around the clock. Here you can spend the whole day enjoying a unique experience in the indoor and outdoor pools.
Helsinki is famous for its large number of museums. For example, the Natural Science Museum, which will introduce you to the nature of the city, will immerse you in the depths of the Baltic, a collection of bone remains of majestic dinosaurs.
The fortress-museum preserves old military traditions. The Naval Academy is located on the Small Black Island to this day. The fortress was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural monuments.
Another attraction of Helsinki is the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. His collection is focused on modern trends in art. The museum displays works of Finnish and international (Russian, Northern European and Baltic) art.
There is also a wonderful Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. It was built specifically for the 1940 Olympic Games, but due to the World War the games were postponed for 12 years and were held here only in 1952. Currently, the Sports Museum is located on the territory of the stadium. In addition to it, there is another attraction on the territory of the stadium - a 72-meter observation tower, thanks to which it becomes possible to admire the delightful surroundings of the capital from a bird's eye view.

Events and festivals

Finns love and know how to relax, despite all their seriousness and strict adherence to the rules. Residents of Helsinki and tourists can spend several fun days every year at one of the city's festivals. The Finnish capital is not only the center of national celebrations, but also has its own unique festivals to attend:

Winter is a traditional time for Christmas and New Year's holidays, which acquire amazing and unusual features in the northern city. Christmas weeks are held throughout the city with various fairs, concerts, processions and other entertainment events starting on December 2. Notable dates are also St. Lucia's Day (December 13) and the Tuomos fair on Senate Square, which takes place almost the entire month. In January, Helsinki turns into a center for documentary film with the Doc Point festival, and in February for contemporary music with the Musica Nova event.
Spring is famous for several major celebrations that coincide with major dates. Easter is held in high esteem, in honor of which fairs, carnivals and processions are held. Helsinki also celebrates May 1st, called Vappu, with various fun events. On the second Sunday in May, Mother's Day is celebrated, when all women are honored with various gifts, and stores often have big discounts on goods.
Summer is also not the most eventful season, but one of the most memorable and vibrant. On June 12, Helsinki celebrates the founding day of the city with large-scale celebrations, concerts, open-air exhibitions and other fun. On June 4, the national Day of Defense Forces is held, which traditionally includes a military parade. In the summer, Ivan Kupala Day (Midsummer Day), Finnish Flag Day is celebrated, and a Maritime Festival is held. But the most famous event in Helsinki in early July is the largest rock festival Tuska Open Air, which brings together performers and fans from all over the world. At the end of July there is a beer festival, and in August there are numerous musical and theatrical events dedicated to ethno, folk, jazz, modern and others.
Autumn is very rich in various events that have different directions - from Finnish Fashion Week (in early September) to huge exhibitions dedicated to hockey and winter sports. The most notable is the celebration of Salaki Day - in honor of the Baltic herring and other seafood. At this time, a large fair is held on the Trade Square, in which many folk craftsmen take part. At the end of October, the city hosts Sauna Day - when all city institutions open their doors to those interested. November 30 is St. Andrew's Day, when the first New Year's trees are put up in Helsinki, and the holiday is considered the starting point for Christmas markets.

Restaurants and cafes

As a European capital, Helsinki has a large selection of different catering establishments - from ultra modern to small national restaurants. In the city you can try dishes from all cuisines of the world, but locals prefer authentic and familiar dishes typical of the Finnish capital. The peculiarity of national restaurants and cafes in Helsinki is that they prepare dishes from seasonal organic products - that is, no one will offer strawberries to tourists in October. In addition, Finnish cuisine is famous for its original game dishes, served for over 150 years at the Kappeli restaurant; simple dishes of herring, red fish or with sausages and cabbage - at Sunday fairs on Kauppatori Square; craft breweries and stylish art restaurants in the Design Quarter; exquisite signature dishes in restaurants marked with a Michelin star - Demo, Luomo, as well as in Postres, Olo. Many small establishments and cafes offer business lunches in a buffet format, and the city has a huge number of small coffee shops with pastries - the Finns are among the leading nations in Europe consuming a lot of coffee.

The hallmark of Helsinki is salmon, whitefish, and trout, which are served in almost all restaurants and cafes with a variety of side dishes and additives. Finns are also very fond of game and hot dishes, in particular soups, of which national cuisine a large number of. You should definitely try at least some of the local varieties of bread and the famous pastries with cloudberry jam. When visiting Helsinki, it is worth remembering that Finns drink alcohol and quite a lot - few people can outdrink representatives of this nation. Locally produced drinks are strong, and therefore you need to be careful about local types of alcohol.

Shopping

A famous shopping destination in Helsinki, Aleksanterinkatu Street is home to major international brands as well as local designers offering a variety of stylish items. One of the most popular brands is Marimekko, which is a must-have for any traveler to Finland. In the shops on Trade Square, Esplanade Boulevard, Mannerheim Street you can buy anything - from high-quality furniture to the latest clothing collections, but don’t forget about traditional souvenirs from Helsinki:

wool and leather products;
bone figurines;
Hunter knives;
the famous Moomins - in the form of toys, figurines, clothes, accessories;
wooden crafts - mugs, kitchen utensils, coasters, figurines;
sauna accessories - from caps and towels, to buckets and aromatic oils;
stone, copper, porcelain and glass products - brands Iittala, Hackman, Arabia, folk crafts;
cloudberry jam;
pastries and bread;
famous alcoholic drinks - Finlandia vodka, Koskenkorva; liqueurs Minttu, Lapponia;
smoked, salted fish, canned food, goods from the annual fish fair;
Fazer chocolate;
natural coffee of the highest quality.

How to get to Helsinki?

The proximity of Finland to Russia solves many transport problems and makes travel easier, as it provides the most different variants trips. Trains run regularly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Helsinki, arriving at Central station, which is an architectural monument of the century before last. There is also a regular bus service - the central bus station is located in the center of Helsinki, close to the main transport arteries of the city. Vantaa Airport is located just 17 kilometers from the center of the Finnish capital and has excellent connections with the city via public transport. Finnish and Russian airlines carry out regular flights of the largest cities in Russia. You can get to Helsinki by sea - valid ferry service with St. Petersburg. The travel time does not pass much, but upon arrival you can enjoy the panorama of Helsinki, opening from Gulf of Finland. The port is also located in the city center and allows quick access to the most interesting places. You can also travel to Helsinki with your own car, since the distance from St. Petersburg is only about 400 kilometers. Simplified customs controls and immigration laws will allow you to quickly enter the Finnish capital.

Transport

In terms of traffic intensity and road congestion, Helsinki ranks one of the last in Europe - the leisurely pace of life allows you to conveniently and comfortably use any type of public urban transport, without fear of getting stuck in traffic jams. A valid Helsinki Card provides additional discounts on travel in all types of transport, except taxis. Helsinki has convenient connections both in the city center and when traveling to more remote areas:

metro - has only two lines and 17 stations - runs through the whole of Helsinki;
bus service - connects all districts of the city with each other and is one of the most extensive;
Tram service is a very developed form of transport, allowing you to quickly get to different parts of Helsinki. Many routes lead through the historical center;
sea trams are a regular mode of transport that runs along the bays and straits of the city, connecting islands and peninsulas;
Taxi is a common and quite expensive type of transport, which has its own nuances when ordering by phone and stopping on the street. The second option will make the trip a little cheaper, but it is still recommended to book a car in advance.

Car rental is represented by several dozen international and local companies offering cars of any class. When making this choice, it is worth remembering that there are not many parking spaces in the center, and on the streets there are different parking and payment rules - one on weekdays, and completely different on weekends. In Helsinki, you can rent bicycles, which are offered near all major hotels, train stations, and metro stations. The total length of equipped bike paths is more than 750 kilometers and will allow you to see all the sights and not spend extra money on public transport.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in the city, some of which have a generally accepted “star rating”, and some are not marked with insignia at all - but the level of service and service is quite high. There are many in Helsinki expensive hotels international chains Hilton, Radisson, Holiday Inn, as well as small family hotels with a small number of rooms. Popular among tourists available seats accommodations like Hotel Anna, Hotel Sofia, Omena Hotel Helsinki Lonnrotinkatu. Many high-class hotels, for example Hotel Kamp, Scandic Grand Marina, have a very developed infrastructure - own beaches, sports and health complexes. If you want to spend your holiday in a majestic castle, then the four-star Glo Hotel Art is for you. No less popular are various apartments, hostels and rental apartments, which allow you to plunge into the life of the Finnish capital and take care of your own food. It must be remembered that during the most popular seasons, accommodation must be booked in advance - two to three months in advance, especially during the summer and Christmas holidays. Youth hostels of the All Right and Cheap Sleep chains are the best in the city, as they provide a fairly large selection of services at an affordable price, and are located close to the main attractions.

Connection

Russian mobile operators support roaming when traveling to Helsinki, but long stay better buy a card local company. The cost of local and international calls will be several times lower. There is also a regular telephone connection in the city - in hotels, restaurants, on the street, in public places there is somewhere to call. Internet and Wi-Fi cover almost the entire city, including transport - metro, tram, bus. Remote access to the network is provided by all shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment complexes. Connecting to the main servers is easy and allows you to save on communication costs using an Internet message.

1. If you are going to the capital of Finland in March, then you should take a warm scarf with you, since the weather at this time is not yet warm enough and the air temperature fluctuates around 0 degrees.
2. There are not very many Internet cafes in the city, but you have the opportunity to check your email address at the post office or at the library completely free of charge.
3. Currency exchange should not be done in banks, since the commissions there are quite high, and banks are open only on weekdays. It is better to use city exchange offices.
4. It’s better to take a city tour at public transport, and not in your own car, since fuel is quite expensive here, and there are strict traffic rules.
5. If you suddenly get lost in the city, then you should go out to the sea and move along the embankment.
6. Shops are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00. IN summer time On Saturday, shops close a little later (around 16:00).
7. It is worth knowing that in shopping centers It is not customary to bargain in stores, but in local markets you should not miss this opportunity.
8. If you are going to visit the forest, it is better to wear tightly closed clothes and also take some insect repellent with you so that the walk is not spoiled.
9. You should take care of environment, because local residents take great care of it, and any neglect on your part can result in a large fine.

Helsinki on the map, panorama

Helsinki is the capital of Finland. The city is considered the largest in the country. Helsinki is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Vantaa River, which flows into the Baltic. In Swedish, the city was called differently for a long time - Helsinfors.

Story

The city was founded in 1550 by the first Swedish king, Gustav Vasa. For almost two hundred years the town did not develop; it was more like a large village where local residents were engaged in fishing. The city constantly suffered from outbreaks of plague.

In 1748, the first fortress built by the Swedes appeared in the city - Sveaborg. After this, the city began to grow, and the first stone houses appeared in it. We remind you that in those days Finland was not independent state, but was a large Swedish province. That's why administrative center province of Finland was the city of Turku (Swedish name - Abo).

Russian troops captured Helsinki four times during the Northern War with Sweden, and the two subsequent Russian-Swedish wars.

After the last Swedish war, all of Finland became part of the Russian Empire and remained part of it until the end of 1917. Helsinki has continuously developed and grown over the years. After joining Russia, the capital of Finland was moved from Turku to Helsinki.

In 1870, a railway was built in the city. It connected Helsinki with St. Petersburg. After the arrival of the railroad, the city's economic growth only intensified.

During the First World War, the city was occupied by the Kaiser's German troops. Thanks to them, units of the Red Army were driven out of the city and Finland soon gained independence.

In 1939, aggressive military circles in Finland, led by Marshal Mannerheim, became close to the German fascists. Finland became an ally of Nazi Germany and directly began to threaten the USSR with a military attack. The peace was very fragile, and eventually the Soviet-Finnish war broke out, which led to Finland losing part of its lands on the Karelian Isthmus, including Vyborg. The border was moved away from Leningrad almost 100 km to the west. Helsinki was subjected to continuous bombing by the USSR.

However, with the beginning of the war of Nazi Germany against the USSR, Finland joined the Germans and alsodeclared war. The bombing of the city by Soviet aircraft continued until the autumn of 1944, until Finland admitted defeat.

After the war, the city was rebuilt and turned into one of the most modern cities in Northern Europe.

Map

Museums

According to tradition, we begin our acquaintance with the city with its museums.

Helsinki City Museum is a museum of the history of the Finnish capital. The exhibition halls present all the historical stages of Helsinki's development, from its origins to the present day. The museum has several departments, which can rightfully be considered separate museums, but organizationally they are part of one large historical museum. The main building houses a central exhibition dedicated to the history of the city.

The House of the Finnish Burgher recreates the home environment of a wealthy Finn's home.

Another branch Historical Museum is School Museum, located at a different address in Helsinki. A historical Finnish school from the nineteenth century has been recreated here.

Finnish Tram Museum – located in the center of Helsinki. Almost all brands of trams are collected here, from the first horse-drawn trams to the ultra-modern ones.

The next major museum in the Finnish capital is National Museum Finland . The museum was created a hundred years ago, in 1910, and introduces visitors to rich history Finland, from the Swedish period to the modern one.

Finnish National Gallery – is divided into three separate museums: the Art Museum, the Hiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sinebryuchov Art Museum. Let's look at each of these museums in order.

Art Museum is the largest museum in Finland, containing the largest collection of paintings by medieval European Renaissance artists. The museum was founded in 1921. It was founded by the Russian owner of one of the Finnish brewing companies, Nikolai Sinebryukhov.

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art – this museum houses about 4,000 exhibits of contemporary Finnish art. It is also structurally part of the National Museum of Finland.

Athenaeum Museum- another art museum in Helsinki, considered central in the city. There are more than 20,000 thousand paintings and sculptures that have been collected for 250 years – since 1750.

Another interesting museum in the capital of Finland is postal museum. Here are collected samples of postcards from European countries, uniforms of postmen in Finland and other countries, and various mailboxes. This is a very interesting museum!

Maritime Museum of Finland (Suomen merimuseo) – this museum tells about the maritime glory of Finland, especially in those years when it was part of Sweden. There are models of sailboats and boats here.

War Museum in Helsinki is the central museum of the Finnish armed forces. The museum contains exhibitions dedicated to the history of military affairs in Finland. A large area is occupied by exhibitions dedicated to the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.

House of Marshal Mannerheim in Helsinki And– all the home furnishings of the famous people have been recreated herethe famous Finnish military leader of 1939-1940 - at the time when he was the commander-in-chief of the Finnish armed forces.

Attractions

It's time to take a walk through the streets and squares of Helsinki!

Senate square – this is the calling card of the city! On the square stands St. Nicholas Cathedral. Another monument adorns the square - a monument to Russian Emperor Alexander I. Dates and business meetings are arranged on Senate Square. and…. A huge number of pigeons like to constantly flock here, to the delight of local pigeon lovers who come here to feed them.

Suomenlinna (“Finnish Fortress”) or Sveaborg ("Swedish region") – preserved fortress bastions. Today they are located within the city on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

The fortress was built on 7 rocky islands called “Wolf Skerries”. These islands are connected to each other by bridges. The fortress was stormed in 1808 by Russian troops. After these events, Finland became an integral part of the Russian Empire.

ZooKorkeasaari– is considered one of the oldest and northern zoos in the world. The zoo itself has about 200 species of different animals. A ferry runs to the zoo from the city center in the summer.

Helsinki Market Square – the busiest place in the Finnish capital. Many city bus and tram routes start from here and go to various outskirts of the city.

And on this square there is the following attraction - Presidential palace . This is the working residence of the Finnish president. The palace was built about 200 years ago - in 1820 for one of the wealthy merchants. in those days when Finland was part of the Russian Empire, one of the residences of the Russian emperors was located here.

Aleksanterinkatu – central historical street cities. In Russian it is called Alexandrovskaya. The most expensive restaurants, shops, cafes and nightclubs of the city are concentrated here. This street is crowded even at night.

Olympic Stadium in Helsinki – the Summer Olympic Games were held here in 1952. Football matches of the Finnish national team are held here andcapital football club HJK.

Religious buildings

Helsinki is considered a major religious center of the Lutheran movement. There are many churches in the city. We list the most famous of the temples:

Lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas;

Assumption Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland;

Temppeliaukio Church, this temple is carved into the rock;

Lutheran Church Kallio;

German church;

Church of St. Trinity, Orthodox;

Töölö Church – Lutheran;

Karuna Church is Lutheran.

Monuments

The monuments also give one of the northern European capitals solid look:

monument to Russian Emperor Alexander I;

monument to the Finnish poet Runeberg;

monument to the sea nymph Havis Amanda;

monument to Gustav Mannerheim;

monument to track and field athlete Paavo Nurmi;

monument to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius;

monument to three blacksmiths;

monument to President Paasikivi;

monument to Finnish playwright Alexis Kivi;

monument to Finnish banker Johan Vilhelm Snellman.

Stations

There is one train station in Helsinki. By train from the Finnish capital you can go to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen.

Parks

Let's take a walk in the parks of the Finnish capital. There are a lot of them.

Esplanade Park- most old park Helsinki and is located in the very center of the city. The main ones converge here tourist routes in Helsinki.This park is in no way inferior in number of trees and beauty Champs Elysees in Paris! There is always a jazz orchestra playing here on weekends. Residents of the Finnish capital and guests of the city always like to walk here.

Kaivopuisto Park – located in the south of the city. The park was once considered a real resort area, because it goes directly to the Gulf of Finland. There is another attraction in the park itself - Botanical Garden University of Helsinki. You can have a good rest here - the park has a beautiful football field, volleyball courts and tennis courts.

Markets

We complete our acquaintance with the city by visiting the city markets.

Old indoor market in Helsinki - lives up to its name. The highest quality products are sold here. LargeThis part of the market has rows where fish is sold. As in the capitals of other Scandinavian countries, here you can buy fresh almost any sea fish caught in the Baltic Sea!

Well, according to tradition, let’s take a look at the Finnish “flea market” - the central swap meet Hietalahti. This is the largest flea market in Helsinki. They sell ancient coins, clothes, shoes, and furniture here.

Climate

No matter how strange it may seem, the issue of swimming in the Finnish capital is no more acute than in Athens. On a hot July day, the Gulf of Finland in the Helsinki area can warm up to 22-23 degrees! That's why…. They swim here in the Baltic Sea, and with great pleasure! The only difference from south seas– very short swimming season – two months. They swim in the Gulf of Finland in July and August.

Helsinki is the most visited city in Finland by tourists. According to the Border Guard, approximately 4.9 million foreign tourists arriving in Finland stated their purpose of travel to be Helsinki in 2015 (total number 7.4 million). Approximately 13% of them are Russian citizens. According to statistics, tourists most often visited the Linnanmäki amusement park, Korkeasaari Zoo, Suomenlinna Fortress, museums and city attractions.

(attractions, museums, shops).
(hotels, hostels, camping).
(by car, by bus, by train or by plane).

Tourists come to Helsinki using different modes of transport. Helsinki Airport served 16.42 million passengers. The passenger port of Helsinki served 12 million passengers. Cruise ships brought 437,000 tourists to Helsinki. Residents of Russia often travel to Finland by their cars, buses and by rail. The Allegro high-speed train is the fastest way to travel between Helsinki and Helsinki.

The activity of tourists can be indirectly assessed by the number of clients in hotels. In 2015, there were 3.5 million overnight stays in Helsinki hotels. Foreigners and local residents each made up approximately 50% of the total number of hotel clients. The largest number of clients came from Germany. The next in the ranking of tourist sources are Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan and China. Approximately 52% of hotel customers arrived for tourism purposes and 48% for business purposes.

Foreign tourists spent approximately 1.47 billion euros in Helsinki in 20015. (Spending by tourists from China exceeded spending by tourists from Russia for the first time.)

Information about Helsinki

Helsinki is located in the southern part of Finland, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The city is located approximately 280 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, approximately 370 kilometers east of Stockholm and 80 kilometers north of Tallinn. You can check the location of the city of Helsinki.

The city of Helsinki is the capital of Finland. This is the most Big city Finland. Helsinki is home to approximately 600 thousand people. The population of Helsinki together with the nearest suburbs (the cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen) is approximately 1,300,000 people. Helsinki is home to more than ten higher education institutions. The capital of Finland has representative offices of most foreign companies operating in Finland.
The land area of Helsinki is 213 square kilometers (total area including sea territory is 715 square kilometers). There are many parks and state-protected parks in Helsinki natural areas. In 2011, Helsinki took first place in the ranking of 25 best cities world, compiled by the British magazine Monocle.

Helsinki is divided into eight administrative districts. The southern district of Helsinki is of greatest interest to tourists. The historical center of the city is located here and most of the places are located here. Here, for example, are located: Presidential Palace, Government Palace, Senate Square, Bank of Finland, University of Helsinki, central, Sokos and Stockmann department stores, Ateneum and museums, concert hall.

The year the city was founded is 1550.
The capital of Finland since 1812.
Number of museums - 72.
Number of swimming pools - 14.
Number of beaches - 27.
The number of places (berths) for boats, boats and yachts is 12,063.

The most popular museums in Helsinki. Number of museum visitors.
Helsinki City Museum - 242,650 (total number across several sites).

The city of Helsinki hosts many interesting events for tourists every year. Here are some of them. If you are in Helsinki these days, try not to miss these events.

Helsinki City Day Held annually on June 12th. On this day, events are organized for residents and guests of the city interesting events in many places in the city. The biggest event of Helsinki City Day can be considered the concert in Kaivopuisto Park (Kaivopuiston kesäkonsertti).

The biggest rock festival in Finland, the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival (Tuska) is held at the end of June or beginning of July in the Suvilahti area. This is the largest rock festival in northern Europe.

Fireworks Competition held in Helsinki in August. This colorful spectacle attracts a large number (more than 100 thousand people) of spectators every year. The fireworks championship is organized by Channel 4 in Finland.

Perhaps the most famous event in Helsinki is Holiday weeks in Helsinki(Helsingin Juhlaviikot). Holiday weeks are held at the end of summer, in August - September in many places in the city. Many different events are held at this time. These days, classical music, dance, drama, opera and much more related to various genres of art are presented in all their diversity in Helsinki. These events are interesting for many tourists. During the Holiday weeks, the city center also hosts the Night of the Arts (Taiteiden yö, The Night of the Arts).

Love and Anarchy(Rakkautta ja Anarkiaa, Helsinki International Film Festival
Rakkautta & Anarkiaa) is the name of the film festival taking place in September in Helsinki. This is the biggest event in the world of Cinema in Finland. The festival presents films from different countries.

Preparing for Christmas begins with the opening of Aleksanterinkatu Christmas Street. The celebrations begin in the afternoon on Senate Square on November 25. The ceremonial lighting of the festive lights at 15:00 on Aleksanterinkatu Street is the culmination of the holiday.

Find an excursion to Helsinki.

Where to stay

There are a sufficient number of hotels in different price categories in Helsinki. The most popular hotels are those located in the city center, close to railway station and passenger port. Look nearby popular places in Helsinki.

Helsinki has two large water parks: Serena and Flamingo. They are especially popular in winter. Residents of both Finland and Russia like to rent a hotel room next to the water park and spend a few days here with pleasure.

There is also a campsite near Helsinki. Camping Rastila is located approximately 12 kilometers from the center, next to the beach. There are places for setting up tents, motorhomes, as well as small cottages.

How to get there

You can travel to Helsinki using various modes of transport. The choice of transport depends on your departure location. The most convenient way is from St. Petersburg. You can get to the capital of Finland by train, bus, ferry or plane.

By rail from St. Petersburg The most convenient way to come to Helsinki is high speed train Allegro. A comfortable train will take you to the capital of Finland in approximately four hours. The train departs from Finland Station. You can also take the Moscow – Helsinki train at Ladozhsky Station.

From St. Petersburg to Helsinki buses depart daily from different transport companies. You can find interesting offers on our website.

Getting from Moscow to Helsinki The most convenient way is by rail or plane. Trains to Helsinki depart from Leningradsky station in Moscow. Travel time is approximately 14 hours.
Planes to Helsinki usually depart from Sheremetyevo Airport. Flight time is about two hours. You can buy a plane ticket online.

.
.
🚌 Tickets.
Helsinki.

About transport in Helsinki.

Capital and The largest city country, Helsinki is located on rugged by bays and skerries on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea in the southern part of Finland.

The city was founded in 1550 by decree of the Swedish king Gustav Vasa as a rival to the Hanseatic Revel (now Tallinn) near the Finnish settlement of Koskela ("village on the rapids", small waterfalls can still be found everywhere within the city). At that time, Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden, so the Swedish toponym Helsingfors remained the official name of the city for a long time, later passing into Russian as Helsingfors. According to one version, he appeared along with the first settlers from the Swedish province of Halsingland, but the most likely is the usual tracing paper from Finnish - Hellssingeforss, i.e. "rapids on Helsinga" (Helsinga is the ancient name of the river now known as Vanta). The local residents themselves initially called the city Helsinki, which was fixed after the country gained independence in 1917. Nowadays, Finns more often call their capital Stadi (from the Swedish "city"), Hesa (the usual abbreviation) or, in rare cases, Helsset (the name of the place in Sami dialects).

A convenient harbor and good protection in the form of skerries, numerous islands and the powerful fortress of Sveaborg (Suomenlinna) gave the settlement a powerful impetus for development, and in just two centuries it turned from a run-down port into one of the most beautiful cities in the region. In 1812, Helsinki became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, and then the entire country.

Now this small city by European standards (just over half a million population) is very picturesquely spread out between endless bays, streams, rocks and forests, forming one of the most colorful settlements in Europe. Officially, the agglomeration includes 315 islands and almost 100 km of coastline, but in practice these numbers are probably higher.

Despite its port status, the city is famous for its fresh air and beautiful landscapes, coupled with an interesting culture formed under the influence of Italian, Scandinavian and Russian traditions, which is only emphasized by ultra-modern art objects (the country is deservedly considered one of the leaders in the field of architecture, and in 2012 Helsinki has been recognized as the design capital of the world. It still holds the interesting status of being the smallest city in the world to ever host the Olympics, and is also the northernmost capital of the European Union.

Theaters and concerts in Helsinki

Scientific, industrial, educational and Cultural Center countries. 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 the further development of the settlement.

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 a unique architectural ensemble in the neoclassical style. It consists of four buildings designed by Karl-Ludwig Engel in 1822-1852: the State Council building, the Cathedral, the National Library and the Main University 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, currently he is the most large cathedral Western and Northern Europe. The exterior of the cathedral is made in pseudo-Byzantine style and makes an indelible impression. It stands on a high rock, 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 - Market Square, where you can buy souvenirs, all kinds of sweets and drink coffee all year round.

In addition, Helsinki is a very green city: all kinds of parks, squares and gardens occupy a third of the total area of the city. 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, spacious green lawns made the park favorite place recreation for citizens and guests of the city. In the most high point The park houses the Ursa Observatory. And on the nearest islands and 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 best cities in the world in 2011. Also in 2011, Helsinki was recognized as one of the safest cities in the world (after Luxembourg). And in 2012, The New York 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.