HELSINKI > FISKARS (90 km) The route begins in our capital, Helsinki, which has a lot to offer families with children. One recommended destination is Suomenlinna Fortress Island (www.suomenlinna.fi), a UNESCO World Heritage site, where children can participate in the “Quest of the Lost Crown” and other adventures. Suomenlinna is easily accessible by ferry from the market square. The old fortress walls are great for picnics, but there are also excellent restaurants. Other places to visit with children in Heslinki include Linnanmäki amusement park, Sea Life aquarium, Korkeasaari Zoo and the Swimming Stadium. Novelties at Linnanmäki include a new and improved Ferris wheel - an impressive landmark with a diameter of 34.5 m. www.linnanmaki.fi.
	Helsinki (pop. 559,300) has been described as a friendly, relaxed city because of its easy-going people. The culture of Helsinki can be experienced in market places, cafés, clubs, exhibitions and at a host of events throughout the city. Helsinki is the principal gateway to Finland and has many regular daily ferry connections to Sweden, Germany and Estonia. Some of the finest ships in the world sail on the Baltic Sea. There are several ships, car ferries and fast ferries sailing daily between Helsinki and Stockholm and Tallinn.
	Ateneum - The Finnish National Gallery Finnish art from the 18th century to the 1950s. The country’s largest collection includes works by Edelfelt, Gallen- Kallela, Schjerfbeck and Simberg. Kaivokatu 2, phone +358 (0)9 1733 6401, www.fng.fi. Helsinki City Art Museum Tennis Palace. The City Art Museum’s varying exhibitions are a refreshing option right in the city centre. Salomonkatu 15, phone +358 (0)9 310 87 001, www.hel.fi/artmuseum. Amos Anderson Art Museum Collections include 20th century Finnish art, special exhibitions. Yrjönkatu 27, phone +358 (0)9 684 4460, www.amosanderson.fi. The Finlandia Hall This concert and conference centre designed by Alvar Aalto is a national symbol, a Helsinki landmark and a stage for concerts, events and major international meetings. Mannerheimintie13 E, phone +358 (0)9 40241, www.finlandia.hel.fi. Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. A year-round ferry service from the Market Square to the sea fortress. www.suomenlinna.fi. Linnanmäki Amusement Park and Sea Life Helsinki The amusement park Linnanmäki and Sea Life Center next to it are Helsinki’s favourite with children and adults. www.linnanmaki.fi, www.sealifehelsinki.fi. Helsinki-Zoo-Korkeasaari Approximately 650 animal species, from the arctic tundra to the tropical rain forests, reside in Helsinki Zoo. www.korkeasaari.fi. Senate Square and Cathedral The magnificent Senate Square is a remarkable sight flanked by powerful symbols of religion, science and politics: the Lutheran Cathedral, the Main Building of the University of Helsinki and the Senate Building. Temppeliaukio Church The church in the rocks. A bold modern construction from 1969. Lutherinkatu 3. Uspenskij Cathedral The biggest Orthodox Church in the Nordic region.phone +358 (0)9 634 267. Kiasma - Museum of Contemporary Art. Collections and special exhibitions include installations, photographs, media art and paintings. Mannerheiminaukio 2, phone +358 (0)9 173 361, www.kiasma.fi. Design Forum Finland Permanent collection of industrial design as well as special exhibitions. Erottajankatu 7, phone +358 (0)9 6220 8130, www.designforum.fi. Finnish National Museum The National Museum presents Finnish history from prehistoric times up to the present. Mannerheimintie 34, phone +358 (0)9 40 501, www.nba.fi. Finnish National Opera Internationally acclaimed ballet and opera as well as modern dance and concerts. Helsinginkatu 58, phone +358 (0)9 4030 2211 (tickets), www.operafin.fi. Seurasaari Open-Air Museum Folk buildings and farmsteads from different areas of Finland. About 5 km from the city centre. phone +358 (0)9 4050 9660. Helsinki Card 2006 All-in-one city card with nearly 100 benefits, e.g. free unlimited travel on public transport in Helsinki and a reduction on sightseeing tours. Free admission to almost 50 museums and major sights in Helsinki plus benefits in shops, restaurants and at cultural events. The Helsinki Card is valid for 1, 2 or 3 days and is sold by the Tourist Office, Tour Shop, the Hotel Booking Centre, hotels and R-kioski branches in the centre. Further information on www.helsinkicard.com Price: adults 1 day € 29, 2 days € 42, 3 days € 53. Children (7-16 yrs) € 11/14/17. Tour Shop The Tour Shop in the Tourist Office premises sells tour tickets, package trips in Finland, Helsinki Cards, tour guides for groups and business visitors, hotel rooms and packages, domestic plane, train and bus tickets as well as cruises to Tallinn and Stockholm and trips to St. Petersburg • Pohjoisesplanadi 19, FI-00100 Helsinki, phone +358 (0)9 2288 1500, tourshop@helsinkiexpert.fi, www.helsinkiexpert.fi. Spårakoff Tram Tour Tour Helsinki and enjoy a cold beer on a red tram. Departure from outside the Fennia Building in the Railway Station Square and at the Havis Amanda statue in the Market Square. Boat Tours and Cruises In summer, boat tours depart from the Market Square almost once an hour (starting 10am, duration 1.5-2 hours). Day trips to Porvoo and Inkoo also depart from the Market Square. Royal Line • phone +358 (0)9 612 2950/office, www.royalline.fi. Sun Lines • phone +358 (0)9 727 7010 (in summer), Market Square ticket booth, phone +358 (0)9 663 605, www.sunlines.fi. IHA-Lines • phone +358 (0)9 879 5343, www.ihalines.fi.
	The Market Square and The Old Market Hall A must for every visitor in Helsinki. Finnish Design shops On the Esplanade, you will find shops selling modern household products (Designor), fashion (Marimekko), giftware (Pentik), bijouterie (Aarikka) and furniture (Artek). Stockmann department store • Aleksanterinkatu 52, phone +358 (0)9 1211, www.stockmann.fi. Kiseleff Bazaar Souvenirs, handicrafts, jewellery, toys and small interior decoration items. Café, Aleksanterinkatu 28. Kämp Gallery Helsinki’s newest, most luxurious shopping centre • Pohjoisesplanadi 33, phone +358 (0)10 304 0100.
From Helsinki, our route continues along road 51, through Lauttasaari and Espoo to Kirkkonummi, Inkoo and Karjaa. From Karjaa we take road 111 to the beautiful town of Pohja, and then road 104 to Fiskars. Fiskars Village (www.fiskarsvillage.net), founded in 1649, provides a visual illustration of the history of Finland’s industrialisation. Fiskars’s boutiques also offer great opportunities for shopping. There is a wide range of restaurants and other eating places. For accommodation you could try bed and breakfast at Vanha Meijeri (the Old Dairy) (www.fiskarsvillage.net/vanhanmeijeri).
FISKARS > BROMARV (56 km) From Fiskars we return along road 111 to Karjaa, from where we take road 25 to Tammisaari. Along the way you will find Raseborg www.raseborg.org, where the Raseborg Castle Ruins offer excitement and adventure for children and adults. The admission fee is around € 1. There is a café as well as an open-air theatre, which has productions in Swedish. Tammisaari (www.tammisaari.fi/matkailu) has lovely beaches. The old town’s narrow streets are inviting. Most of the inhabitants of this town are Swedish-speaking. A good option for an overnight stay is the town’s campsite, located very close to the centre. Road 52 towards Salo and road 1081, which turns left at Tenhola, take you from Tammisaari to our next destination, Bromarv fishing village. Along the way it is worth stopping at Mellangård Honung (www.mellangard.com) for a pot of honey flavoured for instance with liquorice. The beautiful old fishing village of Bromarv is located by the sea. It is a good place to teach children about the history of southwestern Finland. Accommodation options include Villa Ida in the town centre, built in 1904, or the Sandviken B&B, which is a bit further out. Both have a beach. For more information, visit www.stallkrogen.net and www.surfnet.fi/SBB/. Bromarv is also famous for its eco-village, built by the Martha Organization.