Helsinki is the capital of Finland. Founded in 1550, the "Daughter of the Baltic" has been the Finnish capital since 1812, when it was rebuilt by the tsars of Russia along the lines of a miniature St. Petersburg. Today, Helsinki pulls off the trick of being something of an international metropolis while still retaining a small-town feel. The best time to visit is in summer, when Finns peel off their overcoats and flock to outdoor bars and cafes to enjoy the sunshine.
Helsinki's current population is about 629,500, but the Greater Helsinki region including the suburbs of the neighboring administrative areas of Espoo and Vantaa has a population of over 1.3 million.
Central Helsinki is rather compact and can be explored by foot by energetic visitors. A combination of walking and public transportation might be most convenient to cover the sights in Helsinki.
Surrounded by sea and a vast archipelago, Helsinki is at its best in the summer when the dialogue between the city and nature is at its fullest. Classical Helsinki's sights can be divided into an eclectic set of churches and a wide variety of museums.
Helsinki is a fun city to visit. Take your coat and warm boots for a winter visit and enjoy the snow, or go in summer when the sun hardly sets and stroll in the green parks until midnight.
In 2014 the lifestyle magazine Monocle has listed Helsinki as the world’s fifth best city to live in, trailing neighbouring Stockholm which came in fourth. The Finnish capital has reason to be proud however, as notable cities such as London, New York and Rome didn’t even make the cut.
Helsinki's current population is about 629,500, but the Greater Helsinki region including the suburbs of the neighboring administrative areas of Espoo and Vantaa has a population of over 1.3 million.
Central Helsinki is rather compact and can be explored by foot by energetic visitors. A combination of walking and public transportation might be most convenient to cover the sights in Helsinki.
Surrounded by sea and a vast archipelago, Helsinki is at its best in the summer when the dialogue between the city and nature is at its fullest. Classical Helsinki's sights can be divided into an eclectic set of churches and a wide variety of museums.
Helsinki is a fun city to visit. Take your coat and warm boots for a winter visit and enjoy the snow, or go in summer when the sun hardly sets and stroll in the green parks until midnight.
In 2014 the lifestyle magazine Monocle has listed Helsinki as the world’s fifth best city to live in, trailing neighbouring Stockholm which came in fourth. The Finnish capital has reason to be proud however, as notable cities such as London, New York and Rome didn’t even make the cut.
