| Finland Travel Guide:
Finland
a Country from a Fairy Tale by Celsey
Visit
Helsinki and take in the Finnish capital's amazing cultural scene
by Martin McAllister
Helsinki
Hotels
As the capital of Finland,
Helsinki offers countless ways to spend your holiday: it is, for instance,
a centre of artistic culture in Scandinavia, with a number of museums and
galleries to visit. It also affords various settings for visitors to enjoy;
from a remarkable cityscape to natural parks and preserves. However, despite
its large size, Helsinki is an intimate city - and while it is carries
a lively atmosphere, it's not particularly bustling. This makes the city
particularly easy to walk around and so enjoy its various attractions,
cafés and marketplaces at leisure. It's also an ideal holiday destination
for individuals, couples and families. Boasting such attractions as the
Linnanmäki amusement park, the Merimaailma Sea Life aquarium and the
Korkeasaari Helsinki Zoo, children - as well as adults - can take delight
in Helsinki's countless splendours.
Located along the Gulf of
Finland, Helsinki boasts many kilometres of coastline stunning - a geographic
feature which makes it ideal to visit during the summer months. The nearby
islands, which visitors can access by ferry, are especially popular with
locals and tourists. Among Helsinki's most frequented coastal attractions
are Nietaniemi Beach in the district of Töölö, the Seurasaari
Island with its parks and open air museum and the Suomenlinna naval fortress,
which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 
Streetcar,
Helsinki, Finland
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The architecture in Helsinki
is also one of its highest appeals; the city is strewn with neo-medieval
castles and buildings, as well as neo-classic structures which were often
used as backdrops for Hollywood movies set in the Cold War era. However,
the city is best known for its beautiful Art Nouveau buildings, which date
from the early 1900s. Helsinki is also home to a number of architecturally
unique churches, most of which are Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Orthodox.
As Finland's 'culture capital,'
Helsinki can also boast a vast range of art galleries and museums. The
largest historical museum in Helsinki is the National Museum of Finland,
which holds a large collection dating from prehistoric times to the 21st
century. Other major historical museums in the city include the Helsinki
City Museum, the University Museum and the Natural History Museum. The
Finnish National Gallery is another large art venue and houses the Ateneum
Art Museum for classical Finnish art, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum for classical
European art and the Kiasma Art Museum for modern Art - which is also said
to be Helsinki's most architecturally controversial building.
Theatregoers visiting Helsinki
are sure to be impressed by the city's grandiose theatres: the Finnish
National Theatre, the Helsinki City Theatre and the Finland Swedish Svenska
Teatern all host spectacular small to large-scale productions throughout
the year. The city also boasts a range of fantastic music venues, including
the Finnish National Opera and the Finlandia concert hall.
You'll find a number of hotels
in Helsinki located near the city's top attractions, making it easy for
you to experience all the surrounding splendours of the city. So next time
you're considering a city break, why not head to the spectacular city of
Helsinki? With its amazing culture, stunning scenery and unparalleled excitement,
you're guaranteed a remarkable time.
Helsinki
Hotels
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