The best way to discover a city, especially a European city because they are predominantly compact and always have a lively scene and a pedestrianised centre, is to walk. In Helsinki, I walked a lot until my limbs hurt and were begging for down time, and of course, I took gazillions of pictures.
Come with me!
SVENSKA TEATERN (Swedish Theatre)
Website: Svenska Teatern
The Swedish Theater was founded in 1827 and only plays shows in Swedish. Beside Finnish, and although the Swedish population in the country is shrinking, Swedish is the second official language in Finland. Back in those days the intellectual elite were Swedish speakers.
STOCKMANN Department Store
Website: Stockmann
This is an upscale department store in Helsinki, a great pastime paradise for the discriminating shopper. The design of the building is very Renaissance-Gothic which reminds me of many buildings here in the Netherlands including the Rijskmuseum and Amsterdam Centraal Station designed by architect Cuypers.
KESKUSKATU: A pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Helsinki.
SHOPPING AREA: This is the downtown shopping area of Helsinki where trams pass by.
FINNISH NATIONAL THEATRE
Website: Finnish National Theatre
In National Romantic Style, typical of Nordic architecture during the late nineteenth century period. Founded in 1872, the theater is located in front of the Railway Square.
HELSINKI CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION
Website: Helsinki Central Railway Station
Designed by Saarinen after winning the contest for the design of the central station and after changing his romanticist design into something more modern because of enterprising debates on the need for a modernised public building. Nevertheless, this was modern architecture back in 1919.
THE RAILWAY SQUARE (Rautatientori)
This also serves as a seconday bus station (Kamppi is the main bus station), I believe for the nearby vicinity areas. This is a very big central square, flanked by important buildings such as Helsinki Central Railway Station, Finnish National Theatre and the Ateneum Art Museum.
ATENEUM ART MUSEUM
Website: Ateneum Art Museum
The beautiful Ateneum in front of the Railway Square and home to many valuable classical art. This classical style building houses the Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Art and Design as well.
GASTRONOMIC STREET FOOD
Petje af (Hats off) to the Finnish when it comes to food innovation! I guess to all the Nordic countries? They make the conscientious effort in bringing food to the next level in the taste and presentation department, whether it is in an expensive restaurant, a bistro, cafe, your restaurant around the corner or this street gastro truck.
Read here about the Restaurant Day on the streets of Helsinki last May: Restaurant Day in Helsinki
The Netherlands can definitely learn something from the Nordics…. and start revolutionising the fries on the side with green salad drowned in mayonnaise dressing. Did I tell you the Dutch love their mayo? Anyway.
These buildings look like they were inspired by the National Romantic Style movement and a bit of Russian architecture influence. Finland was for some time under the Russian Empire.
ALEKSANTERIN TEATTERI (Alexander Theatre)
Website: Aleksanterin Teatteri
I would have wanted to watch a show here as this was located near my hotel. Opened in 1879, the theatre hosts international shows and has a very impressive interior.
Lots of National Romantic Style buildings in downtown Helsinki and a glimpse of the Russian Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral (with the gold top and cross) from the Market Square.
HOUSE OF THE ESTATES (Saatytalo)
Website: House of Estates
Surely in neo-classical period style architecture with stately corinthian column orders. Grand, elegant, what a beauty! The building is being used by the Finnish government these days for meetings.
An Italian red vespa lost in the streets of Helsinki =)
PIKKUDAMI (Flying Dutch Boat Restaurant)
Website: PikkuDami
Here is something a little bit of Amsterdam in Helsinki, and a great place to hang out on the water as well. Located across the bridge on Pitkänsillanranta.
More Dutch inspired here… TULIPS =)
HELSINGIN VANHA KIRKKO (Helsinki Old Church)
Website: Helsinki Old Church
This is a Lutheran Evangelical Church located in a friendly recreational park in the middle of the city, the Old Church Park (Vanha Kirkkopuisto). A very pretty wooden church in neo classical design built in 1727. The church became very small for the increasing population which resulted to the building of the Helsinki Cathedral.
And this is one of the many preserved reindeers I have seen in the city guarding either a restaurant or a shop. I actually sampled a reindeer steak during this trip. Lekker! Go here to see the pictures and read the story: A Taste of Lapland in Helsinki: Reindeer Rump Steak at Saaga
HELSINKI CATHEDRAL
Website: Helsinki Cathedral
I should say the landmark of Finland, the design and colours were patterned to the Old Helsinki Church (see above) in neoclassical design. She really looks like a dainty angel on top of the steps.
The Lutheran Evangelical Church is located on a massive square, the SENATE SQUARE. Go here to see more pictures of the cathedral and read my entry about this famous square: My Analogy of Helsinki and the Senate Square
USPENSKI ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
Website: Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral
This is an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral. Truly Russian with the dome and the spires design, and with all that gold. History tells us that the Christian Orthodox Church is the first split from the Roman Catholic Church due to emperor-territory-power struggle.
SOUTH HARBOUR
The Port of Helsinki
This is the harbour where the famous Helsinki Market Square is located hosting a regular lively market during the warmer days. From this port, you can board boats to nearby islands and places in Southern Finland. One afternoon I took the boat to the island called Soumenlinna, but more about this on my next posts.
To see pictures and read about the market on the harbour, go here: Kappautori: Helsinki Market Square
This is a nice relaxing cafe with views and an outdoor terrace on the yacht harbour (Kanavaranta street) called Robert’s Coffee Katajanokka.
I almost ate here at Nokka but I was so full from my market tastings in the city (Helsinki has lovely food markets!) and my exquisite lunches and dinners in Tallinn (check them here at Lieb Restaurant and Restaurant Tchaikovsky) that I decided last minute to just chill out at my hotel with tapas and a glass of red wine.
I have learned that to make a restaurant and the fine dining experience special you must not eat out every time.
Kiitos! More Helsinki stuff coming =)
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Helsinki, Finland
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)