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Top Attractions in Helsinki

Kaartinkaupunki

Kaartinkaupunki consists of the area between the Esplanadi park and the Tähtitornin vuori park. Its area was first confirmed in 1812, but the neighbourhood was only named in 1959. It is neighbourhood number 3 in Helsinki, belonging to the Ullanlinna district and to the Southern main district. Kaartinkaupunki was named after the old Russian army barracks located near Kasarmitori. The oldest part of the barracks was built in 1822. It was originally built as a residence for the Helsinki training battalion, which later became the Guard of Finland. The neighbourhood has a land area of 0.33 square kilometres . In 2005, it had a population of 881, and in late 2003, it had 11,001 jobs. Kaartinkaupunki includes the Esplanadi park, the Helsinki Market Square, and the streets of Pohjois- and Etelä-Esplanadi. It does not include any of the buildings on Pohjoisesplanadi, because they belong to Kruununhaka or Kluuvi. One of the main streets in the area is Korkeavuorenkatu. The precise location of the neighbourhood can be seen on the Helsinki city plan map.

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori, or Sveaborg, is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site. Originally named Sveaborg, or Viapori as called by Finnish-speaking Finns, it was renamed Suomenlinna in 1918 for patriotic and nationalistic reasons, though it is sometimes known by its original name. The Swedish crown commenced the construction of the fortress in 1748 as protection against Russian expansionism. The general responsibility for the fortification work was given to Augustin Ehrensvärd. The original plan of the bastion fortress was strongly influenced by the ideas of Vauban, the foremost military engineer of the time, and the principles of Star Fort style of fortification, albeit adapted to a group of rocky islands. In addition to the island fortress itself, seafacing fortifications on the mainland would ensure that an enemy would not acquire a beach-head from which to stage attacks. The plan was also to stock munitions for the whole Finnish contingent of the Swedish Army and Royal Swedish Navy there. In the Finnish War the fortress surrendered to Russia on May 3, 1808, paving the way for the occupation of Finland by Russian forces in 1809.

Market Square

The Market Square is a central square in Helsinki, Finland, and one of the most famous market places and tourist attractions in the city. The Market Square is located near the centre of Helsinki, at the eastern end of Esplanadi and bordering the Baltic Sea to the south and Katajanokka to the east. The Helsinki City Transport maintains an all-year-round ferry link from the Market Square to Suomenlinna, and in the summer there are also private companies providing ferry cruises, both to Suomenlinna and other nearby islands. From spring to autumn, the Market Square is bustling with activity with vendors selling fresh Finnish food and souvenirs. There are also many outdoor cafés at the square. Some cafés also provide meat pastries, and one advertises their pastries as being "the best in the Market Square… in Helsinki… in Finland!" The height of the squares popularity is in early October when the annual Helsinki herring market begins. A long tradition at the Market Square is a display of old American cars on the first Friday of every month. Any motorist with an interest in old American cars can take part in this display. How the tradition originally started is unclear. Seagulls have become an increasing menace in the Market Square, swooping down to snatch snacks and ice-cream from the hands of unsuspecting tourists.

Ullanlinna

Ullanlinna is the southern-most city district of Helsinki, in Finland. The name Ullanlinna refers to the fortification line that was built at the southern edge of the area during the 18th century , as part of the town fortifications, which also included the fortress of Suomenlinna. The name Ulla refers to the Swedish Queen Ulrika Eleonora . During the 19th century the area was dominated by summer pavilions owned by the wealthy Helsinki middle-classes. The appearance of the area changed gradually at the end of the 19th century as the wooden houses were replaced with much higher stone buildings, designed in the prevailing Jugendstil architectural style synonymous with National Romanticism. The central part of Ullanlinna is marked by the Tähtitorninpuisto park , at the centre of which is the former observatory, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in 1825 in the Neoclassical style of architecture. Other notable buildings in the district are the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture.

Pasila

Pasila is a suburb in Helsinki, Finland. It is a central-northern neighbourhood, bordering Alppila to the south, Central Park to the west and Vallila to the east. The eastern and western part of Pasila are separated by a large railroad classification yard, which, as Central Pasila, is currently under development planning by the city administration. The major sports and music venue Hartwall Arena is located in the junction of the two main railways. Eastern Pasila is a commercially active district with its own Pasila railway station, a Holiday Inn hotel and the Helsinki Fair Centre. It is also home to over 3,500 people. Most of the buildings in Eastern Pasila were built in the 1970s and are made of prefabricated concrete elements. Educational facilities in the area include the Helsinki Business College and Haaga–Helia University of Applied Sciences. Western Pasila was built during the 1980s. It is a mainly residential area with approximately 4,500 inhabitants. The apartment buildings in Western Pasila are skinned with red bricks. The Finnish national broadcasting company Yle as well as the commercial MTV3 have their main premises in the northern end of the area. In the ranking of the best places where to live in Helsinki, Western Pasila is ranked 74th, and Eastern Pasila is ranked 92nd, out of 94 different parts of Helsinki. Before the Pasila-suburb was built, there were old wooden houses in the whole Pasila area and the area was called Wooden Pasila . Today only few of the old wooden houses still exist.

Punavuori

Punavuori is a neighbourhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The name Punavuori refers to red cliffs located between Sepänkatu and Punavuorenkatu. They were still visible in the 19th century, nowadays they are covered with buildings and pavement. Punavuori was traditionally a working-class neighbourhood, today it is known as a bohemian district popular among artists, students and hipsters. It is one of the most densely populated areas in Finland. After the new location and growth of Helsinki in the 18th century, Punavuori became the area next to the center. During the 19th century the district had a seedy reputation. Most of the brothels and beerhouses were found in Punavuori. The social problems were aggravated by quickly built rent-apartments for the poor. After World War II, the district went through a process of gentrification. Today Punavuori offers many trendy small shops and bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Important streets include Uudenmaankatu and Iso Roobertinkatu. In the old Helsinki slang, the district is called "Rööperi" (derived from the district's Swedish name).

Kallio

Kallio is a district and a neighbourhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, located on the eastern side of the Helsinki peninsula about one kilometre north from the city centre. It is one of the most densely populated areas in Finland. Kallio is separated from the city centre by the Siltasaarensalmi strait, over which is a bridge called Pitkäsilta . Traditionally, the bridge marks the symbolic divide between the bourgeois centre and the more working class areas around Kallio. After the forming of the new centre in the 19th century, the city expanded northward. The intense industrialization which began in the 1860s in Helsinki saw the construction of the industrial areas around Sörnäinen harbour and to the workers' district of Kallio, with the area becoming inhabited mostly by factory workers. However, most of the working-class families have long ago been replaced as the most typical Kallio residents by young adults and elderly people living alone, in a process which could be seen as some sort of gentrification. For many people who move into Helsinki from elsewhere in Finland, Kallio is the area where they first settle. Most flats are small, and rents are typically lower than elsewhere in central Helsinki, partly explaining the area's popularity among students and artists. The small flat sizes also mean that Kallio is expected to resist full gentrification. However, the rents have increased as the district has grown more popular and become an increasingly desirable area to live in. Kallio (and Harju, which is often considered a part of Kallio) also has, more than any other district in Helsinki, a reputation as a "bohemian" and liberal area. The area has a heterogeneous population and a large number of bars. The area also has a number of sex shops and strip joints. President Tarja Halonen was born in Kallio and lived there until her election as president in 2000.

Vuosaari

Vuosaari is a neighbourhood in the City of Helsinki, Finland. It is located by the sea in East Helsinki and with its area of 15.38 km² is geographically the largest district in the city. It also has two Helsinki Metro stations, Rastila and Vuosaari Vuosaari is one of the fastest-growing areas in Helsinki. The number of inhabitants has been increasing rapidly since early 1990s and continues to grow as new residential areas are being built. As of 2010, the population was 35,826. Among other things, Vuosaari is noted for its nature and large, relatively unspoilt recreational seashore areas. One of these is Uutela, a popular nature park located in the southeastern corner of Vuosaari. The continual planning of new residential zones has in fact raised criticism, as many people would rather preserve Vuosaari's closeness to nature. Vuosaari is the location of a new major seaport in Helsinki, the Vuosaari Harbour. As of 2005 7,7% of the population of Vuosaari are foreign citizens and 11,6% have been born outside of Finland. This has given the neighbourhood an overtly multi-cultural image in Finnish folklore, even though the percentage is higher in many other places in the Capital Region. The two natural gas power plants of Helsingin Energia, the power utility of the city of Helsinki, are located in Vuosaari.

Kumpula

Kumpula is a verdant neighbourhood in Helsinki, bordered by Eastern Pasila to the west, Vallila to the south, Käpylä and Koskela to the north and Toukola and Arabianranta to the east. As of January 1, 2003, Kumpula had approximately 3,600 inhabitants. Kumpula is also home to the Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool, which was built for the 1952 Summer Olympics. Kumpula also has a lot of wooden single-family houses built between the wars and apartment buildings built midway through the 1980s. In addition, HOAS has built rental apartments in the area. One of Kumpula’s drawing cards is Kumpula Manor. The area is also home to one of the four campuses of the University of Helsinki, the Kumpula Campus, where approximately 6,000 students study there at the Faculty of Science. In addition, the new building Dynamicum shared by the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Institute of Marine Research, where they moved in September 2005, is located on the campus. Kumpula also has one of Helsinki's numerous gardening allotments, the Kumpula Allotment Garden. Kumpula was incorporated into the city of Helsinki in 1906.

Vallila

Vallila is a neighbourhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Vallila is a central-northern neighbourhood, bordered by Pasila to the west and Alppiharju to the south. Like Kallio, Vallila is mostly residential and has a reputation of being a working-class neighbourhood. In the past two decades people from artistic professions have found the area. Vallila though still retains its roots from 1910s to 1980s by being one of the rare neighborhoods which still has an industrial area and abundant amount of workshop businesses. Because of gentrification Vallila is nowadays considered a trendy area in Helsinki among young adults and housing is expensive, particularly in Puu-Vallila. Vallila is famous for its many old wooden houses dating back to the 1900s–1920s, which are spread over many blocks. Many buildings by the main streets are fine examples of Nordic Classicism from the 1920s–1930s. It is located closest to the city center of all the wooden-house residential areas in Helsinki. This area is called Puu-Vallila . Puu-Vallila is built 1910, while the rest of Vallila is built in 1920's and 1930s. Before this Vallila was a villa area for wealthy people living in Helsinki center. Perhaps the most famous scene in Vallila is the small flea market square featured in Aki Kaurismäki's film The Man Without a Past. Ville Valo, lead singer for the Finnish band HIM, was born in Vallila. Vallila is also the name of a basic city administrative district. It includes both Vallila and Hermanni neighbourhoods and has 12300 inhabitants . Vallila itself has 7800 inhabitants.

Erottaja

Erottaja, meaning "the separator", is a public square near the centre of Helsinki, Finland. Erottaja square has been selected as the official geographic "zero point" of Helsinki. Distances to all other cities in Finland are measured starting from here. In practice, the square functions as the meeting point of central Helsinkis two famous streets, Esplanadi and Mannerheimintie. The square is the western endpoint of Esplanadi, with the eastern endpoint being at the market square. Mannerheimintie, the longest and most famous street in Helsinki, begins at Erottaja and continues northwest, past the districts of Töölö and Ruskeasuo, until finally merging with a highway leading outside the city. There is also a minor bus station at Erottaja. Very few lines start or end there, most of them start or end at the Kamppi Center or at Rautatientori. Erottaja is also famous for being the most expensive lot in the original Finnish edition of Monopoly, even more expensive than Mannerheimintie . This has earned the square fame even outside Helsinki.

Käpylä

Käpylä is a neighbourhood of Helsinki with 7,600 inhabitants. Administratively speaking, Käpylä is a part of the Vanhakaupunki district. It is located between Kumpula, Oulunkylä and Koskela. Käpylä has a terminus for route-1 of the Helsinki tram network. Additionally, the Olympic Village built for the 1952 Summer Olympics and another village for the cancelled 1940 Summer Olympics are located in Käpylä. The Park Hotel, located in Käpylä, became known for being the shooting location of the popular Finnish satirical TV series Hyvät herrat. One of the two lyceum schools situated in Käpylä has a specific orientation towards students with an interest in the natural sciences. The tram lines 1 and 1A as well as the Tuusulanväylä freeway bus lines travel to Käpylä. The I- N- and T-trains of the Helsinki commuter rail system stop at Käpylä railway station. There are smaller regions inside Käpylä, Puu-Käpylä and Taivaskallio.

Natural History Museum of Helsinki

The Natural History Museum of Helsinki is an exhibition of the Finnish Museum of Natural History of the University of Helsinki. The museum is located in Etu-Töölö in central Helsinki. The museum building was originally established as a gymnasium for Russian students in 1913, and adopted by the University in 1923. The museum displays taxidermed animals, skeletons, remains of prehistoric animals, and minerals. The first floor houses a bone exhibition; in the upper floors there are exhibitions of the Finnish nature, the nature of the world, and the history of life. The moose statue in front of the museum is its best known symbol. The lobby hall is dominated by a taxidermed African elephant. The museum also has a cafe and a souvenir shop. The total floor area of the museum is around 8,000 square metres .

Munkkiniemi

Munkkiniemi is a neighbourhood in Helsinki. Subdivisions within the district are Vanha Munkkiniemi, Kuusisaari, Lehtisaari, Munkkivuori, Niemenmäki and Talinranta. The land in Munkkiniemi was from the 17th century a part of Munksnäs manor. In the 1910s grandiose plans were made to expand all of western Helsinki with tens of thousands of new inhabitants, the so-called Munksnäs-Haga plan by Eliel Saarinen. The construction of the new areas started slowly and it wasn't until the 1930s that a more extensive construction phase began in Munkkiniemi. From 1920 to 1946 Munkkiniemi was part of Huopalahti municipality. Huopalahti including Munkkiniemi was incorporated with Helsinki in 1946. Munkkiniemi is one of the more affluent areas of Helsinki. Characterized by the relatively high proportion of Swedish speakers, around twelve percent, and a socioeconomic structure heavy on upper management and professionals, the district is appreciated as a particularly safe and well-serviced part of the city. This is reflected in the high prices of housing.

Design Museum

Design Museum is a museum in Helsinki devoted to the exhibition of both Finnish and foreign design, including industrial design, fashion, and graphic design. The building is situated in Kaartinkaupunki, on Korkeavuorenkatu Street, and is owned by the Republic of Finland through Senate Properties. The museum, which is 140 years old and one of the oldest in the world – was first founded in 1873 but has operated in its present premises, a former school, designed by architect Gustaf Nyström in 1894 in the neo-Gothic style, since 1978. The museum also has a cafe and shop. Situated on the same city block is the Museum of Finnish Architecture. The museum includes a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of Finnish design from 1870 to the present day, as well as space for changing exhibitions. The museums permanent collection consists of over 75,000 objects, 40,000 drawings and 100,000 drawings. Design Museum arranges also international touring exhibitions and publishes books and exhibition catalogues. From museums home page there is a free access to several web exhibitions on Finnish design, for example about production of Arabia Factory, Marimekko and designers Kaj Franck and Oiva Toikka. Latest web exhibition is about 1950–60s design – an iconic golden era of Finnish Design.
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