Helsinki is a modern European cultural city whose urban cosmopolitan lifestyle exists in perfect harmony with nature. Surrounded by the sea and its own exotic archipelago, Helsinki offers visitors an endless number of possibilities. The modern architecture, cutting-edge design and high-technology have attracted international recognition for Helsinki. The city’s cultural scene offers a vast range of events, concerts and exhibitions.
Helsinki is a compact and beautiful city that is ideal for exploring on foot. The city also has an excellent public transportation system for getting around and visiting outlying areas.
Finnish design
has enjoyed an excellent international reputation for decades. Helsinki
is an ideal city for purchasing designer goods and discovering fresh
designer culture. A great places to get an extensive idea on Finnish
contemporary design are FinnishDesignShop and Design Forum Finland - a shops selling Finnish
design and offering special exhibitions.
The Design Museum is a specialist museum selecting and maintaining a collection of design objects. Arabia museum and Gallery
adjoin the Arabia factory. The permanent museum exhibition displays
Arabia utility and art ceramics over a period of 130 years and the
gallery is devoted to special exhibitions, historical and contemporary
ceramics and glass.
Helsinki is a very important city in terms of architecture, offering modernism, functionalism and Northern Europe's largest single Jugend-Art Nouveau area. There are numerous buildings to explore including Finlandia Hall, the venue for PIMRC´06.
The main shopping streets in the Helsinki city centre are Mannerheimintie, Aleksanterinkatu, Kaisaniemenkatu, Pohjois (North) and Etelä (South) Esplanadi, Bulevardi and Fredrikinkatu. Nearly all of the major malls, department stores and little boutiques are within walking distance of each other. In addition to major shopping centres, Helsinki offers hundreds of tiny and unique boutiques, including original designer shops.
Finnish designer products are a must for the serious shopper and can be found at, for example, Ril's, Vuokko Nurmesniemi's and Marimekko's boutiques. Unique Finnish jewellery can be admired and purchased at Kalevala Koru's and Tillander's fine establishments. Designer products and furniture are available at Skanno, Emporium and Design Forum Finland, as well as smaller designer boutiques along the side streets of Helsinki. The Kämp Galleria shopping centre next to the Hotel Kämp is filled with quality outlets.
The Helsinki night is filled with music, people and electricity. The city has an active nightlife throughout the year, and there is a good mix of different type of bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. In addition, a broad selection of cafés and restaurants guarantees that the right atmosphere can be found for any evening. Helsinki This Week reveals what is happening and where.
Art lovers will love Helsinki and its large number of high quality museums and galleries. The Ateneum Art Museum is the National Gallery of Finland. The nation's largest art collection includes an impressive exhibition of Finnish art from the mid-1700s to the 1960s. The museum's foreign collection features western art from the mid to late-1800s to the 1950s, including works by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cézanne. Kiasma is the controversial and intellectually stimulating Museum of Contemporary Art designed by world-renowned architect Stephen Holl. The museum features art from the 1960s to the present day and includes installations, media art, music and film. The National Museum of Finland illustrates the development of Finnish society and culture from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the present.
The Senate Square and surrounding buildings form a unique and cohesive example of Neo-Classical architecture. The square is decorated by three buildings designed by C. L. Engel between 1822 and 1852: the Cathedral, Council of State and the University of Helsinki. In the immediate vicinity you will also find the National Library, the Sofiankatu museum street, Esplanade Park and the Market Square.
Built in the 1700s, Suomenlinna is one of the world's largest maritime fortresses and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Built on six islands off the coast of Helsinki, Suomenlinna is today one of the most popular sights in Finland. Suomenlinna offers an unforgettable experience for all ages, offering museums, special events, idyllic cafes and cosy restaurants.
Linnanmäki has been the traditional highlight of every Finnish child's summer holiday for the past 50 years. The amusement park offers thrills for the whole family. The Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island is another family favourite, featuring exotic animals from the Arctic tundra to the tropical rainforests. Sea Life takes you on a voyage from the tropical oceans to the Arctic Sea, not forgetting the Baltic Sea along the way. The exhibitions present many species whose environments are under threat. As well as seeing live creatures, visitors can also enjoy interactive and educational presentations. Heureka, The Finnish Science Centre, is a hands-on exhibition and action centre. Super movies and science programmes are shown in Verne planetarium theatre.
In the Sibelius park is the world famous composer Jean Sibelius' (1865-1957) monument by Eila Hiltunen which was unveiled in 1967. The Sibelius Monument, resembling organ pipes, is made of welded steel with the bust of the composer on one side. The monument is one of Helsinki's most popular statues and one of the most well known tourist attractions. The monument is 8,5m high, 10,5m wide and 6,5m deep. It is built of over 600 pipes and weighs 24 tons.
