Land of the midnight sun, land of countless lakes and islands, and endless forests: Finland is all of these, a wonderful natural playground for outdoor pursuits as well as a country of elegant, cultured cities where the people are friendly and hospitable. The capital, Helsinki, is the centre of Finnish culture and commerce, and the country’s main cruise port. Large ships dock south-west of the city at West Harbour, from where a bus or tram will take you into the centre; smaller ships dock at South Harbour near the Market Square, which is a good place to start your tour of the city.
Helsinki is filled with architectural treasures, from its elegant 19th century neoclassical cathedral, spacious boulevards and city parks, to the strikingly modern designs of the University library or the Chapel of Silence. It’s a city that will dazzle you with its sights, its peninsular setting and surrounding islands and natural harbours, and its opportunities for relaxation. Drinking coffee is almost the national pastime of Finland. Enjoying the city’s cafés and café culture, its cakes and savouries, will easily take up a large part of your day. Move on refreshed and there is much to enjoy. Visit the Sibelius Park, dedicated to Finland’s most revered composer; the Suomenlinna sea fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the National Museum of Finland or the Kiasma Modern Art Museum.
For a great excursion beyond Helsinki, visit the town of Porvoo, just 50km east of the city. Founded in the 14th century, much of it still has the air of a quiet little 19th century town. While its colourful wooden houses and narrow cobbled streets nestling along the banks of the river make it seem like a place that time forgot, it is actually one of the most forward-looking towns in Finland: it is the home of several new energy conservation enterprises, and aims to be Finland’s most energy-efficient community.
Land of the midnight sun, land of countless lakes and islands, and endless forests: Finland is all of these, a wonderful natural playground for outdoor pursuits as well as a country of elegant, cultured cities where the people are friendly and hospitable. The capital, Helsinki, is the centre of Finnish culture and commerce, and the country’s main cruise port. Large ships dock south-west of the city at West Harbour, from where a bus or tram will take you into the centre; smaller ships dock at South Harbour near the Market Square, which is a good place to start your tour of the city.
Helsinki is filled with architectural treasures, from its elegant 19th century neoclassical cathedral, spacious boulevards and city parks, to the strikingly modern designs of the University library or the Chapel of Silence. It’s a city that will dazzle you with its sights, its peninsular setting and surrounding islands and natural harbours, and its opportunities for relaxation. Drinking coffee is almost the national pastime of Finland. Enjoying the city’s cafés and café culture, its cakes and savouries, will easily take up a large part of your day. Move on refreshed and there is much to enjoy. Visit the Sibelius Park, dedicated to Finland’s most revered composer; the Suomenlinna sea fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the National Museum of Finland or the Kiasma Modern Art Museum.
For a great excursion beyond Helsinki, visit the town of Porvoo, just 50km east of the city. Founded in the 14th century, much of it still has the air of a quiet little 19th century town. While its colourful wooden houses and narrow cobbled streets nestling along the banks of the river make it seem like a place that time forgot, it is actually one of the most forward-looking towns in Finland: it is the home of several new energy conservation enterprises, and aims to be Finland’s most energy-efficient community.
