Top places to visit around Helsinki

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Top places to visit around Helsinki

Top places to visit around Helsinki

Whichever direction you go from Helsinki, you’ll find experiences to remember. Try a day-trip – or stay for a week!

The capital of Finland is the place where most visitors to Finland stay or at least stop by. Helsinki is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green urban areas. The city marches to a wonderful and unique beat of its own with dynamic food, design, architecture and sauna scenes – with a culture made by the locals.

If you’re looking for something new, venture outside the city center and you’ll find treasures. Head north, south, east or west to find interesting places to visit whether you’re a foodie, a culture lover or a history buff.

Here are our best tips for all four points of the compass.

Pictured above: Mustion Linna. Article published in October 2019.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a modern, pocket-sized European city known for design and high technology. Helsinki’s attractive and unique character comes from its proximity to the sea, as well as its location between the East and the West.

Helsinki

Win a trip to Lake Tuusula!

Win a trip from the UK to Lake Tuusula – the iconic artist village north of Helsinki

The capital region of Finland has plenty to offer for culture enthusiasts, food lovers and history buffs. If you love art and history, head to Lake Tuusula less than 20-kilometres north of the Helsinki Airport. The quaint town of Tuusula – recently featured on The Apprentice on BBC One – is where some of Finland’s most iconic artists, designers and composers had homes that are open to visitors today.

Lake Tuusula is like experiencing the whole country in one day: Finnish culture and history of the National Romantic era deep-rooted in the the majestic lake scenery. Stroll around on a beautiful summer day and find museums, cozy cafés, old barns and factory storehouses for souveniers, as well as Finnish delicacies, works of arts, jewellery, and crafts. Another great way to see the lake area is by bicycle – rent a bike and cycle leisurely around the lake’s 26-kilometer circular route.

Pick your favorite experience!

Take part in our competition to win a trip to Lake Tuusula from the UK by choosing your favorite experience below and leave your contact details.

The prize includes direct Finnair-operated two-way flights from the United Kingdom – either London, Manchester or Edinburgh, city chosen by the winner – to Helsinki and two-night accommodation at Hotel Gustavelund for winner and guest. The competition starts on November 13th, 2019 and closes on November 30th, 2019 at 11:59 PM (Finnish time, UTC+3). The winner will be contacted via email directly. The trip is valid from May 1st, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Specific terms and conditions below.

Which experience in Lake Tuusula would you like to try the most?*
- Visit to Sibelius' home
- Cruise on the lake
- Biking around Lake Tuusula
- Shopping for local arts and crafts
- Having Finnish blueberry pie at a cozy café
Name
First Last
Email
Terms and Conditions of the competition and prize*
- I accept the Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions

1. The competition is arranged by Business Finland – Visit Finland, P.O. Box 358, Porkkalankatu 1, 00180 Helsinki, Finland, business ID 0202317-7.

2. The winner will be selected randomly. The prize for the selected winner includes the following for two: (1) Finnair-operated direct round-trip flights in Economy Class from the United Kingdom (either London, Manchester or Edinburgh, city chosen by the winner) to Helsinki. | (2) Two-night stay at Tuusula in Hotel Gustavelund (one room). The prize is for two (winner and guest). The trip is valid between 1st May 2020 - 30th September 2020. Any amendments made by the prize winner after the booking is confirmed may be subject to administration charges levied by the specific supplier. Any such charges will be the responsibility of the prize winner. There is no guarantee that a particular room or that particular travel times or flights will be available.

3. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be claimed in cash.

4. You can participate in the competition from 13th November 2019 until 30th November, 2019 (11:59 PM Finnish time, UTC +3) at Visitfinland.com. The winner will be drawn by 15th of December 2019 and contacted via email.

5. If the winner can’t be reached within 7 seven days the new winners will be drawn.

6. Visit Finland will not take care of lottery tax.

7. Any personal data relating to applicants will be used solely in accordance with current Finnish data protection legislation. https://www.visitfinland.com/privacy-statement/

8. The winner bears full risk of any damage or accidents that may be encountered by them during the trip and Visit Finland assumes no liabilities. The winner should arrange sufficient travel insurance coverage for themselves and their carry–along property at their own expense as well the passport, visa and other traveling documents.

9. Visit Finland reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition or the rules without notice.

10. Disclaimer: the winner releases organizers and any and all companies and other partners that have taken part in the planning and execution of the competition from all responsibility regarding injury or damage caused or alleged to have been caused by taking part in the competition, or by receiving the prize or by taking advantage of the prize.

11. Participation is possible for adults over 18 years except the employees of Visit Finland and its cooperation partner in the competition.

12. Rules and organizers' decisions must be adhered to obeyed. By taking part in this competition the participants commit themselves to abiding by these rules. They also accept decisions eventually made later by the organizers concerning the competition or the prize.

In cooperation with:

Suomenlinna

Heading south – island-hopping in the archipelago

The islands in the bay around Helsinki have come of age in recent years. The Helsinki archipelago consists of over 300 islands, many with public transit boat access. Whether you’re looking for nature, history or food – just jump on a taxi boat and head out across the water.

The old fortress islands of Suomenlinna are only 15 minutes by boat from the city. A UNESCO Word Heritage site, Suomenlinna is one of Helsinki’s most popular attractions. Visitors are drawn to more than 10 museums and art galleries, some 15 restaurants and cafés, a sheltered swimming bay, a summer theatre and more. There are also facilities for people with reduced mobility.

The island is also the home of many Helsinki residents so a ferry goes to Suomenlinna year-round. You can get to the island from the main market square on a ferry that’s part of the city’s transport network (HSL), so you don’t need to buy an extra ticket if you already have a HSL pass.

Heading west – arriving in Fiskars for a trip back in time

Fiskars, the village that gave the famous Finnish brand its name, is less than 100 kilometres west of Helsinki. But it’s like stepping into another world. Fiskars was first developed as an ironworks in the mid 1600s, and is today still an important place of design, art and craft. Trees planted centuries ago line the road that leads to the village, winding alongside the bubbling Fiskars river. It’s picture perfect in every direction.

You can reach Fiskars with a 55-minute train ride from the Helsinki Central Railway Station to Karjaa. From there it’s 20-minutes by bus into the village. Most of Finland’s trains run on renewable energy, but if you come in a car with an electrical engine there are two charging points in Fiskars.

Check out the museums and other exhibits about how the villagers used to live, or visit the many artisans who have set up shop in Fiskars. Woodwork, pottery, handbags, candles, jewellery – there’s a lot of handwork going on in the village. The Ägräs Distillery makes spirits from wild Finnish herbs, sharing space with the Fiskars Brewery and its selection of beers and ciders. You can try them all in the adjoining Tap Room.

Fiskars is a popular mountain biking spot too; more than 60 kilometres of trails wind through the forests around the village. You can rent bikes at the Fiskars Village Trail Center. To spend the weekend or longer, check out the Hotel Tegel. It’s a beautiful building that once served as one of the village’s original workshops. The hotel is equipped with facilities for people with reduced mobility too.

Heading north – Tuusula’s treasure of famous Finnish artists

Less than 20-kilometres north of Helsinki airport lies Lake Tuusula, where some of Finland’s most iconic artists, designers and composers had homes. If you want a window into the worlds of Alvar Aalto, Jean Sibelius, Aleksis Kivi and others, then Lake Tuusula is the place to visit.

Start at Villa Kokkonen, the home that architect and designer Alvar Aalto made for composer Joonas Kokkonen in 1969. Aalto took on the project late in his career, creating a house that would inspire Kokkonen to write his masterwork: The Last Temptations. One of the main features of the house is a room where Aalto paid attention to acoustic profile. Kokkonen’s grand piano and original manuscripts are still there for visitors to see.

Listed as one of the world’s most iconic houses, Villa Kokkonen today serves as a private home to classical musicians Antti Pesonen and Elina Viitala. They give guided tours of the property 365 days a year, also serving some of the finest cake, coffee and tea you’ll find anywhere in Helsinki. A piano and opera performance is part of the program too.

Villa Kokkonen is close to Ainola, the home of famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Open to visitors during the summer months, Ainola has a beautiful garden of flowers, fruit trees and berry bushes. Within a walking distance from Ainola, located at the end of a beautiful Lake Tuusula cape, is Halossenniemi – a museum and the former home of Pekka Halonen who is one of the most beloved artists of the ‘Golden Era’ of Finnish art.

For a bite to eat or a place to stay, check out the old farmstead of Krapihovi. They also have a lakeside smoke sauna beside a golf course.

Heading east – for chocolate, cake and craft beer

The east side of the Helsinki region gives way to farmlands, hamlets and archipelago life. There is a lot to see if you know where to look.

As you head out the city, stock up on chocolate at the Fazer Visitor Centre in Vantaa. It’s a beautiful café, store and event space the chocolate brand built to celebrate its 125th birthday in 2016. Well worth a stop – also for those who are interested in modern architecture. If you are visiting during the weekend, book a table in advance as the famous Saturday and Sunday brunch is popular also with locals.

Continue your chocolate adventure in the town of Porvoo, a popular day-trip some 50 kilometres from Helsinki. Buses go each hour from Kamppi station. Once in Porvoo, cross over the main road to enter the old town. Here you can find all the chocolate, crafts and souvenirs you want. Visit Porvoon Paahtimo for food and beer in a cosy atmosphere next to the river.

Heading further east will get you to the wooden town of Loviisa and the Malmgård Brewery. Tours and beer tastings are organized by request. You can also buy food produced on the Malmgård estate. East of Loviisa, you can visit two other historical Finnish seaside towns – Kotka and Hamina. In Kotka, the modern Maritime Museum Vellamo is worth a visit. The museum draws well over 100 000 visitors annually.

Turn right towards the sea almost anywhere along this route eastwards to find a small archipelago harbour where you can buy ice cream and coffee.

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Top places to visit around Helsinki