MY BEST HELSINKI sights and destinations

Welcome to MY BEST HELSINKI sights & destinations


		MY BEST HELSINKI SIGHTS, DESTINATIONS & ATTRACTIONS
WHAT TO SEE, WHERE TO GO & HOW TO GO, IN HELSINKI


	CULTURE -museums, music » historic artist home museums » PARKS & GARDENS » PARKS- islands. » DESTINATIONS -kids & adults » SCIENCE - kids & adults » KAAPELITEHDAS CULTURE FACTORY-kids & adults » DESTINATIONS for walking. » NEIGHBORHOODS -walking » CHEAP THRILLS » SHOPPING » BUILDINGS -government » churches. » COMING & GOING »

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HELSINKI MUSIC HELSINKI CLUBS & BARS HELSINKI SIGHTS & DESTINATIONS HELSINKI HOTELS, TRANSIT & TRAVEL SERVICES FINNISH WORDS

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CULTURE MUSEUMS:		MUSIC:

KIASMA -the New Museum for contemporary art: Second link TENNISPALATSI (Tennis Palace, Helsinki City Art Museum ) second link For classical arts, check out Ateneum Art Museum -The Finnish National Gallery Second link TAIDEHALLI - Kunsthalle KANSALLISMUSEO -The National Museum of Finland Second link SUOMENLINNA MUSEUM KLUUVI GALLERIA		FINLANDIA HALL - FINLANDIATALO Second Link KANSALLISOOPPERA - FINNISH NATIONAL OPERA Second Link Chock out the annual HELSINKI FESTIVAL More information about HELSINKI MUSIC, -Classical, jazz, rock, etc. Locations, equipment, stores, dates, you name it. PLENTY of information & links for POPULAR MUSIC VENUES: clubs & bars


CULTURE - HISTORIC ARTIST & DESIGNER HOME MUSEUMS, etc:

	HVITTRÄSK Second link museot ja linnat MUSEUMS & CASTLES	SEURASAARI OPEN-AIR MUSEUM Helsinki, Seurasaari Island. A collection of historic buildings (18th to 20th cewntury) from different parts of Finland, demonstrate life in the Finnish rural areas. Unlike most other Helsinki islands, you do not need to take a boat to get here. There is an old quaint bridge, almost next to the bus stop. Beautiful island, beautiful walk.



		Merikatu, Eira, as viewed from Liuskasaari island.


PARKS & GARDENS:	DOWN TOP

RAKENNUSVIRASTO, general about parks ESPLANADE PARK - ESPLANADIN PUISTO Second Link KAIVOPUISTO PARK - KAIVOPUISTO Click on image Second Link KAISANIEMI PARK -KAISANIEMEN PUISTO CENTRAL PARK of Helsinki - KESKUSPUISTO		WINTER GARDEN -TALVIPUUTARHA Second link - Winter Garden TÖÖLÖ BAY - TÖÖLÖNLAHTI TÖÖLÖ BAY - FINLANDIAPARK TÖÖLÖNLAHTI-FINLADIAPUISTO Images of the present and the future, including some arial views Fitness trails close to Töölö Bay. (Move the cursor over the "Easy-Medium-Difficult" signs.) SIBELIUS PARK -SIBELIUSPUISTO VIIKKI TORPICAL GARDEN: GARDENIA PARKS Center of Helsinki, viewed from Suomenlinna island.


	PARKS - PART TWO - HELSINKI ISLANDS:

Suomenlinna
Historic sea fortress island
(group), on the World Heritage
List.
Second Link

CAFE CHAPMAN -on Suomenlinna
Fortress Island
- our review on:
restaurant page 2

WALHALLA -on Suomenlinna
Fortress Island

second link

UUNISAARI -sorry, in Finnish only.
second link (in English)

Aboard the little boat from
Merisatama to the popular little
island, Uunisaari, that is a city park.
Travel time about 3 minutes.

LIUSKASAARI
Location on Map

Click photo for larger view:

Meditation on Liuskasaari island.

Forgot your picnic basket?
Try restaurant BOATHOUSE
Second Link
third link

	We often hop on board a taxi boat to get out to one of the beautiful public islands, which are city parks. The sea is usually quite clean, so many people swim off the islands.


PIHLAJASAARI -island. Web site in Finnish only. But by clicking on the links you see different photos from the island. Wonderful! Picnic, swimming, sun bathing, camping, etc. Kids love it, and so do the adults. There is a cafe and a restaurant and a great terrace patio. Beaches & Sauna The main beach with its colorful changing booths is a really nice place to swim. There is also a sauna that can be privately rented. Pihlajasaari consists of two separate islands connected with a bridge. The islands can be reached by boat only. A privately-operated commuter boat from Kaivopuisto gets you there. Check out: THE BOAT TO PIHLAJASAARI Pihlajasaari picture gallery (the background image of this page is from pihalajsaari) Pihlaja = Rowan in English. See picture of the Finnish Rowan tree. Helsinki parks: history, pictures & Finnish text	TOP DOWN	KLIPPAN in the South Harbor. Click photo for place names & larger view: location on map VALKOSAARI in the South Harbor. If you get an urge for fine dining while there, try your luck at Restaurant NJK Restaurant NJK SÄRKÄNLINNA restaurant second link -our review on restaurant page 2 Click photo for place names & larger view: Taxi boat arriving at Särkkä Island pier.


DESTINATIONS - fun for kids & adults alike:

Korkeasaari Zoo Second Link Terrific place to visit any time of the year. Getting there is already fun: since it is located on an island (Korkeasaari means, after all, High Island), you get there by a small ferry and get to enjoy the beautiful sea views of central Helsinki. The ferry leaves from the Market Square. Another way to get to the Zoo, is via Kulosaari, a suburb that is located close to the center of Helsinki. From Kulosaari you can "island hop", i.e. walk (or drive) over a bridge to Mustikkamaa (Blueberry land) island, which is a popular picnic & recreation destination for locals; and again, walk over another bridge, to Korkeasaari Zoo. It is quite a schlep, but if you love walking, and like to see areas outside the center, why not. Helsinki Beaches Sea Life Helsinki Second Link Voted one of the most popular places to visit. Linnanmäki Amusement Park Second Link Still very amusing. OLYMPIC STADIUM -OLYMPIASTADION Second Link		HEUREKA SCIENCE CENTER Fun & interesting & entertaining for adults and children alike. KAAPELITEHDAS art & culture center Historic cable factory (designed by architect Wäinö G. Palmquist & built 1939-1944) turned culture factory. Great. Unfortunately their English web site is not. But you can call them and ask which activities, courses (including for children) or events & exhibitions are going on, or starting in the near future. Mailing address: Tallberginkatu 1 C 15, FI-00180 Helsinki. The administration office of Cable Factory is located on the 2nd floor. Open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm. Information: +358-9-4763 8300 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm), fax +358-9-4763 8383 E-mail: kaapeli@kaapelitehdas.fi For a list of which artists, schools, classes, enterprises & other creative entities, etc., function in the building, click here and then click on the 3 different groups of letters. Some of these entities offer different courses in art, architecture, or a variety of artistic or engaging physical activities for children Event Calendar - in Finnish Picture"bank" - in Finnish. Click on the dated links to see photos or quicktime videos from workshops, etc. There is also a popular cafe & restaurant, "Hima & Sali" at Kaapelitehdas. Kaapelitehdas address: Tallberginkatu 1 C 15, Helsinki 00180, Finland Tel: +358 9 4763 8305
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ARKKI -ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL for CHILDREN & YOUTH. Offers clubs & classes in a variety of artistic activites, includes among others, a HUT BUILDING DAY CAMP. Located in the Kaapelitehdas building. Address: Tallberginkatu 1 C 106, 5th Floor 00180 Helsinki, Tel: +358 9 685 642 e-mail: arkki@co.inet.fi

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DESTINATIONS - great for walking:

MARKET SQUARE - KAUPPATORI. Second Link The busy Market Square by the South Harbor. You can buy fruit, berries, vegetables, fish, bread, flowers, clothes, artifacts, etc. There are several food stands, offering surprisingly tasty food, and also very popular outdoor cafes. Havis Amanda statue & fountain at the Helsinki South Harbor Market Square. MORE WALKING, IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, JUST BELOW:		Senate Square VANHA KAUPPAHALLI - THE OLD MARKET HALL HAKANIEMEN KAUPPAHALLI - HAKANIEMI MARKET HALL HIETALAHDEN KAUPPAHALLI – HIETALAHTI ANTIQUE & ART HALL Click photo for place names & larger view.
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NEIGHBORHOODS, great for walking:

-PUNAVUORI -KAIVOPUISTO -ULLANLINNA -EIRA Walking in Meristama, in Eira.		-KATAJANOKKA: Katajanokka is filled with gorgeous Art Noveau (i.e. Jugend) buildings. click for larger view - KRUUNUHAKA: -TÖÖLÖ
		...and yes:
One of our favorite walking routes in Helsinki starts from the area of the Esplanade Park, via the South Harbor Market Square. It mostly follows the shoreline, past Kaivopuisto to Ullanlinna and to Eira and beyond. Sometimes we walk all the way past Hietalahti Market and back to the center along Bulevardi (the Boulevard) and bringing us back to Mannerheimintie (Mannerheim Street) and the Esplanade Park. HERE, a great HELSINKI MAP, so that you can see where you are. ALso, a link to our Photo Page 2, where most of the photos are taken while walking along this route. Remember to click on the photos, most of which open to a very large view, some with text.		-SUOMENLINNA, which is not just a historic sea fortress island (group), but also a neighborhood where people live.


		"CHEAP" THRILLS:

		SIGHTSEEING BY 3T / 3B tram 3T / 3B ROUTE MAP The tram runs in a loop, shaped like an 8. The chepest and most efficient way to see Helsinki and' locals. Click on link above for information about the route, and how to get a route map, other tram routes, tickets, etc, etc.. The red brick Market Hall on the right is a delightful place to shop for food, snakcs, goodies, to grab a small bite or a cup of coffee or tea, or to just browse. You could even shop for picnic food here, before heading out for one of the pretty islands. ROUTE MAP FOR ALL TRAMS			SPÅRAKOFF -tram. The beer pub on "wheels". It offers a sightseeing tour of the city that takes a little less than an hour, during which the passengers can enjoy refreshments. second link. Scroll down to "A restaurant on wheels" "Spåra" is a Finnish slang word for "tram", deriving from the Swedish word "spårvagn" (= rail wagon). The Finnish word is "raitiovaunu". VISITOR INFO - bus, tram, metro FINNISH TRAMWAY SOCIETY Misty & rainy mordnig views from Kruunuhaka, looking over Helsinki's North Harbor toward Katajanokka: