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Helsinki
About Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and located in the southern part of Finland on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It is a very maritime city and sometimes also called the daughter of the Baltic. It is a modern European city with an urban cosmopolitan lifestyle. Surrounded by the sea and its archipelago the compact and intimate city makes it easy to walk around and enjoy cafés, markets, and the nearby islands.
Local highlights
Explore the city
- Senate Square Square with the Cathedral, Council of State and the University of Helsinki
- Market Square
- Linnanmäki Amusement Park
- Sea Life
- Helsinki Zoo
- Enjoy the Hietaniemi Beach
Explore its museums and historical sights, such as
- Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress-a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Ateneum Art Museum-with Finnish art from the mid-1700s to the 1960s.
- Kiasma the museum of contemporary art
- National Museum of Finland
- Cathedral of Helsinki
- The Temppeliaukio 'Rock' Church
- Uspenski Cathedral with its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, a clear example of Russian influence
Highlights in the vicinity
- Visit the many smaller islands or you can also tour them by sightseeing cruise
- Seurasaari-a little island to the north of the center, filled with walking trails and authentic old Finnish houses
Good to know
- No. of inhabitants: 559 Thousand
- Timezone: UTC +2
- Weather: weather is moderate influenced by both maritime and continental climate patterns.
Summer in Helsinki begins in May and lasts until mid-September. On hot days the temperature can rise to around 30 °C. In June there are 19 hours of daylight between sunrise and sunset. The winter begins in November or early-December; snow makes Helsinki turn into a winter wonderland and the sea is often frozen. The average temperature between December and February is around -4°C but can drop to -15°C. - Emergency tel.nr. 112
Local transport
- Taxis
- Trams
- Commuter trains
- Metro
- Buses
Inbound transport
- Nearest airport: the international Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (20 km from Helsinki) and Malmi Airport
- Ferries: Ferry connections to Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden) and Travemünde (Germany)
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