Helsinki is a city of striking architecture, both modern and traditional, including Neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Modernist. The city also is full of sculptures and other works of art. As is normally our custom when arriving in a new city, we went on an extensive walking tour, this one a 10-mile Lonely Planet-inspired Helsinki “Iconic Buildings and Monuments” city walk.
Below are trip highlights from May 14th in Helsinki, Finland. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.
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Tuomiokirkko
Position: 60°10.18’N, 24°57.15’E
Spectacular neoclassical Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral) was completed in 1852 as a tribute to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, the Grand Duke of Finland.
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Senaatintori
Position: 60°10.20’N, 24°57.14’E
Senaatintori (Senate Square), viewed from the top of the stairs to Tuomiokirkko. The statue right of center is of Emperor Alexander II of Russia.
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Tuomiokirkko Altar
Position: 60°10.23’N, 24°57.12’E
The majestic altar inside Tuomiokirkko during a service.
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Tuomiokirkko Organ
Position: 60°10.23’N, 24°57.12’E
The beautiful organ inside Tuomiokirkko was installed in 1967, of a similar design to the church’s original organ.
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Saatytalon
Position: 60°10.27’N, 24°57.18’E
Saatytalon (House of the Estates), has been a government building since it’s construction in 1891. The guards out front kept a careful eye on anyone approaching.
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Bank of Finland
Position: 60°10.27’N, 24°57.21’E
The Bank of Finland building, fronted by a statue of Finnish philosopher and statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman, who was ennobled in 1866. Visible damage to the base of the statue is from Soviet bombing during World War II.
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Ritarihuoneenpuistikko
Position: 60°10.18’N, 24°57.37’E
Tulips blooming in Ritarihuoneenpuistikko (Knight’s House Park).
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Presidentinlinna
Position: 60°10.07’N, 24°57.38’E
The Presidential Palace in Helsinki, one of three official residences of the President of the Republic of Finland.
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Kauppatori
Position: 60°10.06’N, 24°57.35’E
Kauppatori (Market Square) on the waterfront is the central square in Helsinki, busy with vendors selling food and souvenirs.
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Porkkala
Position: 60°9.98’N, 24°57.22’E
The Finnish minelayer Porkkala, built in 1992 and upgraded around 2016, arrived into port as we were walking past.
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Goodwin
Position: 60°9.97’N, 24°57.14’E
Jennifer sharing a bench with a lounging cow statue outside Goodwin steakhouse.
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Vanha Kauppahalli
Position: 60°9.97’N, 24°57.16’E
Inside Vanha Kauppahalli, (Old Market Hall), a traditional Finnish market along the Helsinki waterfront .
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Story
Position: 60°9.97’N, 24°57.19’E
We had delicious burgers for lunch with a harbour view at Story restaurant in Vanha Kauppahalli. On the left is the Finnish minelayer Porkkala and the superyacht on the right is Kismet, that we passed earlier this year at the Lurssen yard on the Kiel Canal.
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Kappeli
Position: 60°10.06’N, 24°57.00’E
Striking glass-enclosed Kappeli cafe dates from 1867.
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Esplanadin Puisto
Position: 60°10.04’N, 24°56.71’E
Looking east along Helsinki’s grand park Esplanadin Puisto. The statue in the distance is of Finland-Swedish poet Johan Ludwig Runeberg.
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Fact and Fable
Position: 60°10.04’N, 24°56.71’E
Fact and Fable, a memorial to Finnish poet and historical novel author Zachris Topelius.
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Kolme Seppaa
Position: 60°10.13’N, 24°56.43’E
Kolme Seppaa (The Three Smiths) is a 1932 statue of three naked smiths hammering an anvil. An unusual task for nude participants. :)
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Helsinki Central Station
Position: 60°10.24’N, 24°56.49’E
Helsinki Central Station, built in 1919, was chosen in 2013 by the BBC as one of the most beautiful in the world.
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Visitor Information
Position: 60°10.26’N, 24°56.47’E
At the Helsinki Visitor Information center to pickup some maps and brochures.
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Platform
Position: 60°10.28’N, 24°56.48’E
The beautiful glass-covered central platforms at Helsinki Central Station.
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Library
Position: 60°10.37’N, 24°56.23’E
The spectacular newly-constructed Helsinki Central Library Oodi opened to the public in December of 2018.
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Movie Set
Position: 60°10.36’N, 24°56.14’E
A movie being filmed at Civil Market square near the new library building.
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Laulupuut
Position: 60°10.38’N, 24°56.14’E
Laulupuut (Song Trees) sculpture on Civil Market square.
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Musiikkitalo
Position: 60°10.39’N, 24°56.07’E
Musiikkitalo, the Helsinki Music Center, is home to the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Sibelius Academy.
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Parliament House
Position: 60°10.35’N, 24°56.09’E
Imposing Parliament House above Civil Market square opened in 1931.
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Kansallismuseo
Position: 60°10.47’N, 24°55.93’E
Kansallismuseo, the National Museum of Finland, opened in 1916 in a building resembling a Gothic church.
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Apartments
Position: 60°10.41’N, 24°55.48’E
Large apartment blocks like this one are common in Helsinki, with the building often shaped to follow the contour of the road.
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Temppeliaukion Kirkko
Position: 60°10.36’N, 24°55.53’E
Extraordinary Temppeliaukion Kirkko church was built in 1969 into solid rock outcropping, with the roof barely above eye-level from outside and behind.
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Ooperatalo
Position: 60°10.90’N, 24°55.67’E
Ooperatalo, completed in 1993, houses the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
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Olympic Stadium
Position: 60°11.09’N, 24°55.51’E
Helsinki Olympic Tower and Stadium. The city hosted the 1952 summer Olympics, the most northernmost city to do so. Notable countries making their Olympic debut here included The Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, Israel and Thailand. Japan and Germany also were reinstated and allowed to participate after being banned for 1948 for having started World War II. The tower and stadium are undergoing a major renovation, expected to be completed this year.
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Goalie
Position: 60°11.30’N, 24°55.25’E
We enjoyed watching this goaltender practice in one of the several fields near Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
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Sibelius Monument
Position: 60°10.92’N, 24°54.79’E
Striking monument in Sibelius Park to Finland’s most famous composer Jean Sibelius. The face of the composer is visible in the rocks beyond the sculpture.
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Cafe Regatta
Position: 60°10.81’N, 24°54.70’E
Taking in the waterfront scene at iconic Cafe Regatta.
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St. Orhu’s Pub
Position: 60°10.46’N, 24°55.93’E
Enjoying “Real Ale, Real Food, Real Pub” at St. Urho’s Pub, one of the oldest pubs in the city. The establishment opened in 1973 and has a real British pub feel to it.
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Tuxedos
Position: 60°10.45’N, 24°55.90’E
St. Orhu’s Pub is near the Helsinki Music Center Musiikkitalo and shortly past 6:30pm it filled with tuxedo-wearing patrons.
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Tram
Position: 60°10.49’N, 24°55.95’E
Waiting for a tram to bring us back to Dirona. We were pretty much walked-out after trekking over 10 miles.
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196 Volts
Position: 60°10.18’N, 24°57.69’E
We are currently using two 16A shore service but we’ve adjusted our max draw down to 11A so the voltage drop doesn’t drop down below 195V. The problem is excessive voltage drop in the shore-side power infrastructure due to inadequate wiring or excessive resistance. Here you can see we’re drawing 9A and 10A respectively and both shore power voltages are at 196V
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Uspenski Cathedral
Position: 60°10.18’N, 24°57.69’E
Uspenski Cathedral, topped with golden onion domes and aglow in the evening light, viewed from our berth at Helsinki Marina. The church was built on a hilltop in 1868 as a Russian Orthodox church and now is home to a Finnish Orthodox congregation. In front of the church are converted old red-brick former industrial buildings, with resturants and bars strung along street level.
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Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.
On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps. |
Helsinki is probably a very fine city, but the architecture and attractions you detail do not have the “wow” factor of some prior cities you have visited.
I think that’s probably an accurate observation but there is still lots to attract even a discerning visitor to Helsinki. Great harbor, the fort makes for a great day, restaurants everywhere, and it’s the jumping off point for many that want to visit Tallinn Estonia or St. Petersburg Russia. In fact, there is so much ferry traffic in and out of Helsinki that it alone is fun to watch. We had an excellent visit to Helsinki.