Things to see and do Helsinki

Created in 1893, this wonderful winter garden is a veritable oasis. Surrounded by lush, exotic plants, visitors are tempted to sit at pretty wrought-iron tables to savor the peace of the place. The beauty of the cacti, azaleas and palms that invade the glass and steel greenhouse, while listening to the lapping of the fountain... If the season is right, stroll through the formal garden that borders the greenhouse to breathe in the scent of roses.

This museum evokes the life of the Finns of the past. Farms and houses from different parts of Finland are reconstructed on this pleasant land. We walk from one to the other to discover the interiors of these dwellings, which are striking for the beautiful simplicity of their interior decoration, centred around enclosed beds and wall carpets (ryiji). Very characteristic, a large traditional Karelian log house. During the tourist season, a musician even plays the kantele. The large 18th-century state residence, entirely made of wood, houses interesting Gustavian-style furniture (Gustav III, King of Sweden, corresponds to the French Louis XV). See also the small and very Spartan hut where Aleksis Kivi wrote his novel The Seven Brothers. Religious service on Sundays in a small 17th century wooden church where, as wall lights, a row of carved wooden arms carry candles. Also take a trip to the old smoke sauna and the old mill. Objects remind us of the years of great misery and famine, such as shoes made of braided birch bark. Please note that the museum is only open from May 15 to September 15. On site, for those who want, guided tours (in English) are available from June 15 to August 15, every day at 3pm. Bar and restaurant are available for a break during the walk. The museum also has a nice souvenir shop.

A monument created as part of "Helsinki World Design Capital 2012", by architects K2S Oy, representing Finnish innovation in wood construction. Located opposite the Kamppi shopping center, this chapel offers a striking space for meditation in a district teeming with life and activity. The special light that bathes this space contributes to the charm of the site. The ideal place to take a break.

Built in 1868, the Orthodox rite cathedral is a superb example of the Byzantine-Slavic style. From the esplanade, the view is breathtaking. It was built according to the plans of the architect A.M. Gornoschtaev. At the time, two distinct notables' cultures coexisted: Swedish-speaking Finns and Russian notables. As for the Finnish-speaking population, which was the majority, it gradually imposed its views at the end of the 19th century. It remains the most important Greek Orthodox church in Western Europe and is still standing.

A must-see stroll by the sea. In summer this cheerful market takes over the southern port (Eteläsatama) in the heart of the city centre. The stalls of the merchants of the four seasons scent the air with their loads of dill and wild berries and fishermen sell their daily catch. Traditional craftsmanship offers objects made of braided birch bark, Russian chapkas made of fur... On summer evenings, the Place du Marché welcomes musicians and various street shows.

You will find wildlife from the cold regions and high mountains, including the siberian tiger, the common panda, the musk ox and the snow leopard. You may have even hear and, why not, see the bear... To watch, some extraordinary events, including the competition sculpture on ice cream (mid-February) and sand (mid-June) as well as the night of cats (at the beginning of September).

At the beginning of 2018, the Amos Andersson Museum moved to historic buildings dating from 1936 that have been completely restored. If the BBC and the Guardian have named it among the most interesting museums in the world, it is not usurped! Indeed, you will discover on 200 ^m2 three exhibitions per year which are most often on the Contemporary or Modern Art themes. Part of the museum offers to see or review historical films, sometimes in French. The programme of exhibitions and films shown is on the website.

Inaugurated in 2012, Kaisa House, which houses the central bookshop of the University of Helsinki, is a striking architectural achievement. Its immaculate spaceship shape is not only innovative, it's also functional, warm and elegant. A little secret that the students will only reluctantly let you in on: the terrace, on the top floor, is a wonderful place to enjoy a coffee and admire the view over Helsinki and, above all, its white cathedral.

This museum traces the history of the fortress from the 18th century to the present day: in particular its construction and the life of the naval base and garrison. Every 30 minutes, the Suomenlinna Experience film is screened in the auditorium, 9 languages are available including French. This is a 25-minute historical film on the big screen that sums up the entire history of the Suomenlinna fortress. This gives a good understanding of the past of this site and its issues in particular. Open all year round, it's free with the Helsinki Card.

This interesting museum, renovated in 2008, reveals the mysteries of flora and fauna through four permanent exhibitions (Finnish Nature, Nature of the World, History of Life and History of Bones) as well as temporary exhibitions. The Kaisaniemi and Kumpula botanical gardens and the mineral cabinet (^3rd floor of the Arppeanum, Snellmaninkatu 3) are extensions of the museum. Tip: it's free for a few days a year (see website).

A unique, fun and ecological way to discover Helsinki! All tours are private, the whole tuk-tuk is reserved for your group only and your driver is also a local guide. With a maximum of 4 people, Yoo-hoo! offers a great way to communicate with the guides during the tour, to have time to discuss the topics and sights you are interested in, and to be able to tailor the tour to your wishes as much as possible. You can bring your own snacks and refreshments and even dogs are welcome.

This district, built around a bay, is a great place to stroll, to breathe in the sea air and admire the unique blend of modern architecture and soothing natural surroundings. Helsinkians call it the Smurfs or Legoland district, because of its multicolored, geometric buildings from the 1980s and 1990s. The whole area is reminiscent of a vacation village, but not unpleasant. There are also a few wooden sculptures dedicated to children's cultural awakening and a playground.

Behind this classic brick building lies a treasure trove of architecture, a magical place that any local will advise you to visit. This popular and very dynamic library, in view of the many cultural events organised regularly, houses a beautiful collection of books of all kinds, in small and cosy reading rooms, decorated with late Art Nouveau frescoes. On the top floor, the castle of tales is the room reserved for little faces.

A museum that traces the history of Finnish sport through numerous exceptional objects from all eras. You'll find Olympic medals, a crystal globe, autographed soccer shirts (such as Jari Litmanen's) and video documents from the era. The visit is also suitable for younger visitors, thanks to the many play facilities available on site. The tour can be combined with a visit to the Olympic Stadium Tower.

It is the work of two men: Johan Albrecht Ehrenström and Carl Ludvig Engel. The first, whose task is to create a city worthy of a European capital, is called in 1816 at the Berlin Engel, already at work in Tallinn and St. Petersburg. In the space of a quarter of a century Engel will draw the plans of about public buildings and a large number of special houses in Helsinki and other cities in Finland. He is nevertheless obliged to submit his projects to Tsar Alexander I and his successor Nicolas I, who, in all things, retain their right of veto.

The northern place of the Senate is dominated by the very white Lutheran cathedral (Tuomiokirkko), one of the largest dome cathedrals in the world, completed in 1852 according to the plans of Engel. The monumental staircase further strengthens its imposing character. The sculptures on the roof, representing the apostles, are carried out on the model of the Isaac church of St. Petersburg. From the top of the stairs, the view on the south port (Eteläsatama) and the surrounding streets is splendid. From the Gulf of Finland, for example on a ferry, the panorama is even more striking. The façade of the cathedral, surmounted by the large green dome and surrounded by numerous terrazzo columns, then shines gently. On the right of the square, the Governor's Palace, one of the major works of Engel completed in 1822, houses the Senate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister's office is located on the first floor at the corner of the Aleksanterinkatu. The main entrance to the main entrance hides one of the most beautiful interiors in Empire style. The place is unfortunately forbidden to the public.

Left, the place of the Senate is bordered by the main building of the former university of Finland, transferred to Helsinki by decree of the czar after the great Turku fire in 1827. The façade presents the same structure as the Governor's Palace. A large part of the university will, however, be destroyed by the bombings of 1944, including the large concert hall, works of art included (since 1971, the large concert hall in Helsinki has been elected to the Palais Palace of Alvar Aalto). Behind the cathedral, in the Unioninkatu, the small Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity, also in Engel, hosts several beautiful old icons, including the Virgin of Smolensk. Also in the Unioninkatu, the beautiful library of the university (Yliopiston Kirjasto), the ceiling decorated with frescos, is one of the most beautiful works in Engel. Its interior splendour is commensurate with its splendid yellow facade, decorated with a majestic corinthienne colonnade.

At the centre of the square is the statue of Alexander II, assassinated in 1881 by an anarchist group, made by Walter Runeberg in 1894 (son of the famous writer Johan Ludvig Runeberg). It was under Alexander II that the Duchy of Finland acquired broad autonomy, hence the special place it held in the memory of the inhabitants of the city. The place of the Senate is also bordered to the south by former residences of the Helsinki Commercial Bourgeoisie. Among these mansions in the early th century, notice the beautiful grey-grey house built for the powerful businessman Sederholm. The ground floor is now occupied by small boutiques in the old, by charming cafés or Russian restaurants. The Demetriade house, which makes the corner of the Unionkatu, gathers many of these chic shops that form the very tourist Baazar Demetriade. Helsinki also sometimes displays a small air in St. Petersburg. Moreover, the Finnish capital was used as a shooting site for certain films, the action of which was supposed to take place in the city built by Pierre-le-Grand in 1703.