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Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress: Known as the Gibraltar of the North, the little island of Suomenlinna, off the coast of Helsinki, is home to one of the largest maritime forts (1748) anywhere in the world. It was listed by UNESCO in 1991 as a unique example of European military architecture. Its various buildings now house restaurants, cafes, a brewery and six museums.
Address: Suomenlinna C 74, 00190 Helsinki, www.suomenlinna.fi

Helsinki Cathedral: Often described as the heart of Helsinki, the dazzling white Lutheran cathedral was designed in the 19th century by the architect Carl Ludwig Engel, as part of the imperial centre of Helsinki, and ever since has dominated the skyline on Senate Square, lofty and elegant.
Address: Unioninkatu 29, 00170 Helsinki, www.helsinginkirkot.fi/en/churches/cathedral

National Museum of Finland: Housed in an impressive 19th century Jugendstil building, the National Museum maps the history and civilization of the country from the prehistoric age to the present day. Its huge collection – featuring rare archaeological finds, coins and items of great ethnographic importance – has been built up gradually over a period of two hundred years.
Address: Mannerheimintie 34, 00100 Helsinki, www.nba.fi/en/nationalmuseum

Sibelius Monument: Dedicated to the memory of the Finnish national composer, Jean Sibelius, this gigantic modern sculpture was designed by Eila Hiltunen and constructed in 1967. It was conceived in the form of a church organ, consists of almost 600 steel tubes and ‘sings’ as the tubes are struck by the wind. It weighs an impressive 24 tons.
Address: Sibeliuksen puisto, 00250 Helsinki, www.taidemuseo.fi

Temppeliaukio: Excavated out of natural granite rock, and covered with a copper dome, this evocative Church of the Rocks is an impressive architectural gem. Constructed in 1969 and designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, it is a popular concert venue, with superb acoustics.
Address: Lutherinkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, www.helsinginkirkot.fi/en/churches/rock-church-temppeliaukio

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art: Finland’s most important museum of contemporary art presents an amazing permanent collection of modern Finnish art from 1960 to the present day, as well as regular world-class exhibitions of painting, photography, video art and installations. The museum building is itself a masterpiece of modern architecture.
Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2, 00100 Helsinki, www.kiasma.fi

Linnanmaki Amusement Park: This is Finland’s most popular amusement park, built in 1950, and offering a huge choice of rides and entertainments for people of all ages. The most popular attraction remains the old timber roller-coaster, now more than half a century old and evoking the atmosphere of a bygone age.
Address: Tivolikuja 1, 00510 Helsinki, www.linnanmaki.fi

Olympic Stadium: Designed in 1938 by architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti, in the functionalist style of the period, the Helsinki Olympic Stadium was host to the 1952 Olympics and has since then been the venue for many of the country’s major sporting events and concerts. The stadium has a 72m tower which provides unique views of the urban landscape of Helsinki. It is also home to the Sports Museum of Finland.
Address: Paavo Nurmen tie 1, 00250 Helsinki, www.stadion.fi

Ateneum Art Museum: This splendid 19th century building houses the largest collection of art in Finland, with more than 20,000 works dating from 1750 to 1950. Visitors can trace the evolution of classical Finnish painting from the rococo portraits of the 18th century to the experimental movements of the last century, with works by famous Finnish artists such as Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Helene Schjerfbeck.
Address: Kaivokatu 2, FI-00100 Helsinki, www.ateneum.fi

Helsinki Zoo: This is one of the oldest zoos in the world (1889), with more than 1,000 plant species and 200 kinds of animals, originating from a variety of geographical zones ranging from Arctic tundra to the tropical forest.
Address: Mustikkamaanpolku 12, 00570 Helsinki, www.korkeasaari.fi

Helsinki is rich in opportunities for retail therapy, especially if, like the Finns themselves, you’re an aficionado of good design. The Design District is a huge area in the heart of the city, consisting of 25 streets and with more than 200 stores specializing in fashion, design and décor (Punavuori and Kamppi), jewellery and clothes, antiques and art (Kruununhaka and Ullanlinna) and everything you can imagine in the field of contemporary design. Helsinki’s main shopping streets are Aleksanterinkatu (Aleksi), home to the Stockmann Mall (the biggest department store in Scandinavia, with international luxury brands), and the recently renovated Kluuvi Shopping Centre, where you can find leading international firms and quality local brands, as well as the aristocratic Esplanadi (Espa) with very exclusive boutiques. The largest mall in the city (and in Scandinavia as a whole) is Itis, which contains more than 300 shops and restaurants. Other shopping streets worth exploring are Mannerheimintie, Pohjois and Eteläesplanadi, where you can find famous Finnish brands (Iittala, Marimekko etc.). For those who love open-air markets, there is the famous Market Square (Kauppatori) at the southern port, which has a remarkable atmosphere and a huge choice of fresh traditional foods, as well as souvenirs. The covered Hakaniemi Market Hall, housing 70 stores on two floors, has excellent souvenirs and craft items and great delis.

Helsinki is a great place for foodies looking for new taste experiences. In recent years the city’s gastro-scene has really taken off, with experimentation in a New Nordic Cuisine based on simple seasonal ingredients and authentic flavours. Depending on the time of year you can try dishes based on game (smoked reindeer), fish (wild salmon, herring), fruit (berries from the Arctic circle), wild greens and herbs as well as local cheeses. Good food can be pricey, especially in the city centre, but many bistros and cafes serve good lunches at decent prices. You can sample excellent seasonal delicacies at the open-air food markets, like Market Square or Hakaniemi Market Hall, which both have great food stalls. For nightlife in Helsinki there are all sorts of trendy bars, cocktail lounges, live venues and clubs with dance music. Most of them are situated in the centre of the city, but good places can also be found in the Kamppi, Punavuori and Kallio districts.

• World Village Festival: This is a major cultural event, held every May in Kaisaniemi Park and Railway Square, featuring dance, music, theatre, debates, literature and exotic cuisine. More than 100 performances and artists from all around the world come to Helsinki to participate in this colourful two-day festival (23-24/5) promoting multiculturalism and sustainable growth.
• Circo Festival: In the renovated premises of an old power plant in the Suvilahti district, ground-breaking circus troupes from Finland and all around the world present the latest trends in circus skills. Held every day in a huge open-air tent, the festival features a host of parallel events, including concerts and street food, face painting and conjuring displays.
• Helsinki Festival: Finland’s biggest arts festival is held every August in Helsinki and offers a comprehensive range of events, from classical and ethnic music concerts to theatre, contemporary dance, cinema, visual arts and events to children. In short – something for everyone.

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, 12km north of the city. The airport has duty-free shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, wine bars, ATMs, bureaus de change, a children’s play area and a hairdresser’s. There are specially designed Internet areas and electronic device charging points, allowing travellers to surf the net, with WiFi free of charge all through the airport. For art lovers, the airport has a collection of modern sculpture you can admire while waiting for your flight, while readers will enjoy the ultra-modern book exchange. The best way to get to the city centre is to take the Finnair City Bus, which takes just 30 minutes to get to Helsinki’s main rail station. Buses leave every 20 minutes, and run from 05.00 to 00.00. There is also public bus 615 (620 during the night) which covers the same route (Helsinki Central Station – Airport) every day, with separate stops outside each of the two airport terminals. The ride lasts about 40 minutes.