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My Trip to Helsinki
By Milan Matchev of ArrangeYourVacation
Helsinki, the capital of Finland is the largest city of the country. The city is full of history and culture. It was founded by Gustav Wasa, the king of Sweden in 1550 as a port on the Gulf of Finland. You will be easily be enamored by Helsinki – its beautiful sea side shores with its pristine blue waters, and the stunning old world architecture of the city ranging from the Neo- classical, and Gothic structures to modern architecture. The Temppeliaukio Church which opened in 1969 is a popular tourist attraction. Tourists flock to see the walls of the church which are natural rock faces. The beautifully designed Church is today a popular venue for concerts. The National Museum of Finland is situated in Helsinki's city centre. The exhaustive collections give you a complete idea of Finland’s archaeological and ethnographic histories and cover the complete time span from the prehistoric times to the present day. You must take out time for the Korkeasaari Zoo which is one of the oldest zoos in the world. The Zoo houses more than 200 different species of animals and nearly 1000 different plants. The Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland) Sea Fortress is an easy 15 minute boat ride from the port. It was constructed in 1748 and finds place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was built on a group of six islands to serve as the main base for the Swedish armed forces. The boat service runs till two am and there is even a tunnel from the city to the islands which serves an emergency exit. The stony walls and green, sprawling ramparts as well as its many restaurants and museums make the Fortress a great picnic spot. You can also take the ferry to take you to Saunasaari which is one of the many islands surrounding Helsinki. The island’s sauna complex for tourists includes traditional wood heated saunas. Finland is one country which is proud of its saunas. Almost every house has an access to a sauna and there are even corporate saunas. Finn Air for example has a sauna at the airport. Another must see for a tourist is the city's Lutheran cathedral, situated within easy distance of the port and the main Esplanade Street. Built between 1830 and 1852, the Cathedral is reached by an imposing, sweeping flight of steps which is characteristic of much of the city's architecture. Helsinki hosted the 1952 Olympic Games and the imposing Olympic Stadium and the nearby national sports museum attract a lot of tourists. During the evening’s visitors flock to the majestic Opera House which hosts Operas, ballet and concerts from September to May. Others turn up at the Grand Casino Helsinki. The casino is very popular with visitors who have a go at the many slot machines and gaming tables. The Helsinki night life scene has every thing from ladies only bars to heavy metal bars and believe it or not pubs with saunas. Finns are famous for their love of Liquor. You can try the tram with the bar which runs from the main train station to the Opera House. For just 8 euros, you can enjoy a night ride through the city while sipping beer. Helsinki is best explored on foot. A budget tourist can also opt for the Helsinki card which costs 43 euros and gives you free access to public transport and discounts in pubs and restaurants. |
Helsinki
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 |  | Laraine appreciated this intel. Feb 11, 2011 |  | | ontravel appreciated this intel. Feb 12, 2011 |
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It is my hope that some day I will be able to travel to Finland. Thank you for this fine 5* intel.
All the best,
Laraine
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