Ultimo aggiornamento: 13/10/21 | 13 ottobre 2021
Quando sono atterrato a Helsinki, non capivo davvero cosa aspettarmi. Di tutte le città di finanziamento del Nord Europa, Helsinki ottiene il minimo “ronzio”.
Fondato nel XVI secolo dal re di Svezia, Helsinki fu originariamente istituito per competere con il vivace porto commerciale di Tallinn. Sfortunatamente, la crescita è stata lenta e la maggior parte della città è morta durante la peste del 1710. Fu fino a quando i russi annetterono la regione che iniziò a stabilire e crescere in città che è oggi.
Mentre piccoli (meno di 1 milione di persone vivono qui) e non così popolari come Stoccolma o Copenaghen, Helsinki è una casa di finanziamento alla moda e moderna per un’arte vibrante e una scena musicale. Sta esplodendo con musei, caffè e spazio ecologico. Puoi fare rapidamente la maggior parte delle tue visite turistiche in città a piedi poiché è compatto. Soprattutto, Helsinki vede una frazione dei turisti che ottengono altri capitali scandinavi.
Per aiutarti a sfruttare al meglio la tua visita, proprio qui di tutte le cose migliori da fare a Helsinki:
1. Fai un tour a piedi gratuito
Una delle prime cose che faccio sempre quando mi presento in una nuova destinazione è fare un tour a piedi gratuito. Puoi vedere le attrazioni principali, conoscere la storia e la cultura, oltre a offrire a un professionista locale di rispondere a tutte le tue domande.
Green Cap Tours offre un tour gratuito di 1,5-2 ore che funge da solida introduzione alla città. Assicurati di dare la mancia alla tua guida alla fine!
Per uno sguardo alternativo alle parti meno conosciute del passato della città e della sua storia della classe operaia, prendi l’altro lato gratuito del Bridge Tour. Fornisce uno sguardo approfondito e alternativo a Helsinki.
2. Dai un’occhiata al Museo Post
Un museo sul servizio postale sembra assolutamente noioso, ma l’ho scoperto sorprendentemente interessante. Il museo evidenzia la storia del servizio di posta in Finlandia, dalle navi e dalle slitte nel 1600 al servizio moderno. Ci sono tonnellate di reliquie, gallerie e cortometraggi su come hanno fatto funzionare la spedizione di posta in un ambiente così scarsamente popolato e duro. Svolge un compito eccezionale che assume un argomento noioso oltre a renderlo divertente, accessibile, oltre che educativo.
Alaverstaanraitti 5, +358 03 5656 6966, postimuseo.fi. Aperto martedì-domenica dalle 10 alle 18. L’ammissione è di 13 eur.
3. Rilassati a Sinebrychoff Park
Questo piccolo parco cittadino era il giardino privato di un uomo d’affari russo. Oggi è un luogo popolare per picnic, rilassanti, eventi e slittamento in inverno. Ci sono molti caffè nelle vicinanze, quindi prendi uno spuntino e vieni proprio qui per rilassarsi e guardare la giornata. È super popolare tra la gente del posto in estate.
4. Dai un’occhiata al Museo Nazionale della Finlandia
Come appassionato di storia, apprezzo sempre un grande museo. Sono stato più della mia giusta dose di musei deludenti e poco finanziati nel corso degli anni. Fortunatamente, questo non era uno di questi.
Aperto nel 1916, il museo copre la storia della Finlandia dall’età della pietra ad oggi. Ha una grande collezione di artefatti, fornisce molti dettagli e crea una narrazione cronologica, oltre a offrire descrizioni decenti in modo da capire sempre cosa stai guardando. Per una piccola città di finanziamento, è un museo molto, molto eccellente. Non perderlo!
Manietheimintie 34, +358 29 5336000, kansallismuseo.fi/en/kansallismuseo. Aperto tutti i giorni dalle 11 alle 18 (chiuso il lunedì in inverno). L’ammissione è di 14 EUR, tuttavia è gratuito il venerdì tra le 16:15 e le 18:00.
5. Vandare la fortezza di Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna è un patrimonio mondiale dell’UNESCO costruito dalla Svezia nel 1748 su un’isola appena al largo della costa. Originariamente chiamato “Sveaborg” (Castello degli svedesi), fu costruito come deterrente contro l’espansionismo russo. Alla fine, fu rinominato “Suomenlinna” (Castle of Finland) nel 1918 quando il paese ottenne l’indipendenza. Un check out proprio qui è un modo rilassante per trascorrere mezza giornata in quanto puoi dare un’occhiata al forte, vagare per l’isola o rilassarti in uno dei tanti parchi.
Ci sono anche molti edifici affascinanti proprio qui (tra cui sei diversi musei) e alcune spiagge fuori mano.
L’ingresso al forte è gratuito, sebbene ogni museo abbia una propria quota di ammissione.
6. Dai un’occhiata al Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Questo museo è stato aperto nel 1990 ed è ospitato in un edificio moderno davvero unico non lontano dal Museo post. La collezione è composta da oltre 8.000 opere (non sono un fan di arte contemporanea significativa, quindi personalmente non riconosco alcun tipo di nomi). Parte della galleria nazionale finlandese, il kias è finlandese per “chiasma” che è un termine che descrive l’incrocio di nervi o tendini.
Manietheiminaukio 2, +358 29 450 0501, kiasma.fi/en. Aperto martedì dalle 10 alle 18, dal mercoledì al venerdì dalle 10 alle 20:30, dal sabato dalle 10 alle 18, nonché Sundays from 10am-5pm. Admission is 15 EUR as well as complimentary on the very first Friday of the month. currently closed until spring 2022 for renovations.
7. See the Finnish museum of Photography
This museum houses an amazing collection of photography from both Finnish as well as worldwide artists. There are rotating exhibits as well as exhibits by new as well as emerging photographers. There’s always something fascinating right here so check the website to see what’s on screen during your visit.
Tallberginkatu 1, +358 9 68663610, valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi. open Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays). Admission is 10 EUR.
8. marvel at the Helsinki Cathedral
This cathedral was built in the 19th century as a tribute to Czar Nicholas I. located next to the bank Museum, it towers over the city as well as is one of the most recognizable facets of the capital’s skyline. If you’ve visited a lot of cathedrals won’t likely walk away thinking this is one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe, however I think it’s one of the best in Scandinavia. They have a (free) short organ recital every Wednesday at 5pm.
Unioninkatu 29, +358 9 23406120, helsinginseurakunnat.fi. open most days from 9am-11:45am as well as 12:30pm-6pm (11am-6pm on Sundays) however times can vary so check the website. L’ingresso è gratuito.
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9. stroll around the central Market
For souvenir shopping, tasty local food, fresh produce (including lots of berries in the summer), as well as excellent people-watching be sure to head to the central Market. It’s located near the harbor, which sits on the coastline of the Baltic Sea. In October, the herring market begins which is a significant local event. the market has heated tents when it gets chilly as well as there are plenty of restaurants as well as cafes around making it a fun place to check out any type of time of the year. While it is typically swarming with tourists, I heard sufficient Finnish to understand it isn’t a total tourist trap.
Open 6:30am-6pm Monday-Friday, 6:30am-4pm on Saturdays, 10am-5pm on Sundays. L’ingresso è gratuito.
10. check out the Sinebrychoff Art Museum
This is the only museum in the city that focuses on older European paintings as well as portraits (from the 14th-19th centuries). Housed in a building built in 1842, there are around 4,000 items in the collection. Not only are there some extraordinary as well as historic works right here however part of the museum is composed of the Sinebrychoff residence itself. You can walk through the old Sinebrychoff estate as well as see what life was like for the affluent in Helsinki in the 19th century.
Bulevardi 40, +358 29 4500460, sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi. open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays) as well as 10am-5pm on weekends. Admission is 16 EUR.
11. check out the bank of Finland Museum
Admittedly, a bank museum sounds even more boring than a post museum however this museum was one of the coolest museums I’ve seen in a long time. very first as well as foremost, it paints a clear as well as insightful picture of the history of money in Finland. They likewise host rotating exhibitions on all sorts of related topics (such as counterfeit money). however what I discovered the museum really did well was to explain the history of modern finance. It makes the topic so clear as well as concise that I really learned a lot during my visit.
Snellmaninkatu 2, +358 9 183 2626, rahamuseo.fi/en. open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-5pm as well as 11am-4pm on the weekend. L’ingresso è gratuito. currently closed due to COVID. check website for up-to-date information.
12. relax in Esplanade Park
This park, known as Espa to the locals, is a popular place to spend an afternoon when the weather is nice. In the warmer summer months, there are street musicians as well as performers around as well as lots of eco-friendly space as well as benches for any individual looking to lounge with a book or a picnic. opened in 1818, the park likewise has some walking as well as jogging trails too. It’s just a nice place to relax as well as soak in the city.
13. See Uspenski Cathedral
This big red cathedral is difficult to miss. It’s an Eastern Orthodox church with big domes as well as gold crosses as well as absolutely has avery Russian feel to it. Consecrated in 1868, it’s really the largest Eastern Orthodox church in all of Western Europe. The interior is lavishly decorated too, with a big vaulted ceiling as well as lots of Eastern Orthodox icons (though some of the most popular icons have really been stolen in recent years).
Kanavakatu 1, +358 9 85646100, hos.fi/en/. open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30am-7pm, Saturday from 10am-3pm, as well as Sunday from 12pm-3pm. closed during ceremonies. L’ingresso è gratuito.
14. Take a Food Tour
If you’re a foodie like me, you have to take a food tour. They’re the best way to sample the local delicacies as well as traditional foods, such as fresh fish, craft beer, as well as Finnish porridge. Heather’s Helsinki offers a tasty tour of the city that lasts 4-5 hours as well as includes 9 different stops around the city for just 85 EUR per person. You’ll not only get to eat some excellent food however you’ll learn a lot about the history as well as culture behind the cuisine.
15. check out the Helsinki City Museum
Opened in 1911, this is an exceptional city museum with plenty of descriptions as well as top-notch exhibits as well as photos. It’s really the third-best city museum I’ve come across in Europe (after the Amsterdam as well as Barcelona museums). Non perderlo. You learn a lot about the city as well as about exactly how it has changed as well as evolved over the centuries.
Aleksanterinkatu 16, +358 9 31036630, helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi. open weekdays from 11am-7pm as well as weekends from 11am-5pm. L’ingresso è gratuito.
16. chill out in Kaivopuisto Park
This significant park is tucked away in the southeast corner of Helsinki. during the winter, tobogganing is popular here. lots of events held right here as well, such as Vappu Day (May 1st) celebrations. The park overflows with thousands of locals who come to picnic, listen to music, as well as drink away the day. since it’s so out of the way, you barely ever see tourists here.
17. hit the Sauna
You can’t check out Finland without going to a sauna. The word itself is Finnish as well as there are over 3 million in the country (which is a lot since there are only 5.5 million people in Finland). There are plenty of public saunas in Helsinki, most of which expense around 10 EUR as well as have separate sections for men as well as women. You can usually rent towels as well, as well as while going nude is the traditional method there’s no shame in wearing a towel either.
Some of the best saunas in the city are:
Kotiharjun Sauna
Sauna Hermanni
Allas Sea Pool
18. check out Seurasaari Island
This island just north of the city is house to an open-air museum featuring traditional style Finnish buildings. Guided tours are offered everyday in the summer as well as take you around the buildings as well as shed light on exactly how Finns lived from the 17th-19th centuries. The museum, which opened in 1909, collected the buildings from all around the country so you aren’t seeing replicas here.
Meilahti, +358 295 33 6912, kansallismuseo.fi/en/seurasaarenulkomuseo. open from May-September. check website for specific hours. Admission is 10 EUR.
19. check out the style Museum
Finnish design, like its Scandinavian counterparts, is incredibly popular, known for seamlessly integrating style elements into regular life. The museum teaches you about Finnish architecture as well as style history over the last century as well as a half. opened in 1873, the style museum holds over 75,000 objects, 40,000 drawings, as well as 100,000 photographs.
Korkeavuorenkatu 23, +358 9 6220 540, designmuseum.fi/en/. open 11am-6pm Tuesday-Sunday (open until 8pm on Wednesdays) in winter as well as 11-6 everyday in summer. Admission is 12 EUR.
20. check out Amos Rex
Named after Amos Anderson, a Finnish patron of the arts Amos Rex is an art museum that opened in August 2018. It has a rotating series of temporary exhibitions from local as well as worldwide artists (check the website for details) as well as is already one of the most popular in Helsinki. I’m not a modern art fan, however I’m told this gallery has really great exhibitions.
Mannerheimintie 22–24, +358 9 6844 460, amosrex.fi/en. open 11am-8pm on weekdays (closed on Tuesdays) as well as 11am-5pm on weekends. Admission is 20 EUR.
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Helsinki is a city that deserves more praise than it gets. fortunately for you, since it typically overlooked, you can check out without dealing with the crowds that so many other European capitals are plagued with.
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