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Helsinki
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Tourist & Convention Bureau
Pohjoisesplanadi 19, (P.O. Box 28), FI-00099 City of Helsinki
Tel: (09) 3101 3300, fax: (09) 3101 3301, tourist.info@hel.fi
Open: 2.5.-30.9. Mon-Fri 9-20, Sat-Sun 9-18, 1.10.-1.5. Mon-Fri 9-18, Sat-Sun 10-16
WWW.VISITHELSINKI.FI |
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Welcome on a city holiday in Helsinki!
See, feel and experience Design Capital of the World 2012
Helsinki is a pocket-size metropolis offering visitors a rich variety of cultural enjoyment as well as good-quality shopping.
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Families with children love the hilarious Helppi figure which can be seen in the brochure “Helsinki – Finland’s largest theme park”. Upload the PDF-brochure from the picture.
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“Helsinki – visitors’ guide” tells you everything you may wish to know about the sights of the city and the services provided. Upload the PDF-brochure from the picture. |
Top Cultural Attractions
The cultural field of Helsinki is definitely the richest in the country. Whether you want to enjoy Music, Theatre or Art, there is enough to see and experience for every day of the week. In the number and quality of different types of events on offer Helsinki is unrivalled in Finland. World class superstars visit the city every year.
The National Opera of Finland
The architecturally imposing Opera House standing on the shore of beautiful Töölönlahti bay is a venue for high standard opera and ballet performances.
Theatres
The Finnish National Theatre is the oldest pro-fessional theatre in the country. The repertoire of Helsinki City Theatre includes, apart from drama, musicals full of verve and excitement. The Savoy Theatre is a well known venue for world music concerts. The Swedish Theatre of Helsinki is also well known for the high quality of its repertoire.
Attractions for the whole family
There are a number exciting family targets which have a variety of things to offer, such as Sea Life Helsinki, Korkeasaari Zoo and the Tropicario with its tropical animals. All these are very popular with young and old. In winter the Icepark skating rink at the Central Railway Station has become hugely popular, not only thanks to the skating rink but also thanks to the many entertaining events which are arranged there.
Suomenlinna
Constructed in the 18th century, Suomenlinna is one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world. You may venture into the tunnels on your own or on a guided walk. Apart from the fortress, there are several history-steeped museums and pleasant cafés and restaurants. There is a regular municipal ferry and waterbus service from the Market Square.
Seurasaari
A popular destination for tourists is the superb Seurasaari Island with its open-air museum where visitors can explore the wood architec-ture of the Finnish provinces. In the vicinity there are several popular attractions, such as President Kekkonen’s home museum Tamminiemi, Meilahti Art Museum, Tomtebo folk art centre and several idyllic cafés.
A choice of museums and exhibitions
Apart from a rich variety of galleries and ex-hibitions there are more than 70 museums in Helsinki. Some of the most important include the Finnish National Museum,the Ateneum art gallery, the Kiasma museum of contemporary art, Korjaamo gallery and the recently renova-ted Museum of Natural History.
Getting around in Helsinki
It is advisable to leave your car in a car-park because getting around in Helsinki is easy thanks to the smooth operation of public transportation. In the city centre walking is the best alternative. Sightseeing tours on water-buses enable visitors to see the city from a dif-ferent angle. A fresh breeze and the beautiful archipelago are a worthwhile combination. Guided tours are operated for example by Helsinki Expert and Open Top Tours.
Shopping in Helsinki
Shopping opportunities in Helsinki are the best in Finland. Apart from the traditional shopping streets it’s worth your while to visit the bouti-ques of young designers in the Design District area of the Punavuori district and those in the Kamppi Shopping Mall.
Have a good time in cafés and restaurants
There is a lively café culture in Helsinki. In summer many restaurants and cafés occupy the pavements with their tables and chairs. On the terraces of Pohjoisesplanadi street and in Esplanadi park you can enjoy a drink while listening to free-of-charge outdoor concerts. The bars and clubs of the city offer something for everybody. The more trendy places popular with culture and media people can be found in the Kamppi and Punavuori districts. In the city centre, near the Railway Station, there are pubs for the common people, more modest but with a warm and cheerful atmosphere. The culture-minded older generation prefers restaurants in the Töölö district while those preferring a youthful alternative atmosphe-re prefer Kallio, a former working people’s district. Restaurants provide virtual gourmet trips to Asia, Mexico, India and Southern Europe. Helsinki-Menu restaurants offer a menu of delicious seasonally changing Finnish specialties.
Annually recurring events in Helsinki
JANUARY
Matka/Caravan Fair, Helsingin Messukeskus
Matka is the biggest tourism event in Northern Europe. www.finnexpo.fi
Winter Circus Tuike (Twinkle)
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth, Kaapelitehdas
Stable Elf’s Christmas Path, Helsinki Zoo
Season of Light, Senate Square
FEBRUARY
Vene - Båt, Helsinki International Boat Fair, Helsingin Messukeskus
The Boat Fair is the number one boating event in Finland. www.venemessut.fi
Winter Fest, Linnanmäki
Amusement Park Rides and activities
MARCH - APRIL
American Car Show, Helsingin Messukeskus
American cars present themselves at Messukeskus. www.fhra.fi
Seurasaari Open Air Museum
A variety of events on Easter Saturday. www.seurasaarisaatio.fi
Via Crucis, Senate Square
Via Crucis, the road of the cross pageant from Kaisaniemi Park to Senate Square www.helsinginseurakunnat.fi
Helsinki Beer Festival, Kaapelitehdas
MAY
1.5. May Day
Student and national celebrations, including traditional picnics in Kaivopuisto Park
Helsinki City Run, the Olympic Stadium Helsinki
Beer Festival, Kaapelitehdas
Maailma Kylässä festivaali (World Village Festival), Kaisaniemi Park
JUNE
12th of June: Helsinki Day
The birthday anniversary of HelsinkiThe whole city celebrates the birthday an-niversary of Helsinki with plenty of programs for people of all all ages. www.hel2.fi/helsinkipaiva
Helsinki Week
The programme consists of hundreds of performances and events of various kinds culminating with the Helsinki Samba Carnival www.helsinkiviikko.fi
Traditional Province Days
One of Finland’s main provinces presents its traditions with a three-day event on Senate Square (not in 2010)
Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfire Celebration, Seurasaari
Apart from the lighting of the midsummer bon-fire there are traditional folk dances, traditional Finnish games and a Midsummer wedding. www.seurasaarisaatio.fi
Tuska Festival, Kaisaniemi Park
The biggest metal music festival in Scandinavia. www.tuska-festival.fi
JULY
Helsinki Cup
An international junior football tournament with teams from all over the world. www.helsinkicup.fi
Jazz Espa
Jazz concerts in Esplanadi Park.
AUGUST
Helsinki City Marathon, OlympiastadionThe beautiful marathon route follows the shoreline of the Baltic. www.helsinkicitymarathon.fi
Flow Festival, Suvilahti power station area
Urban music from jazz to soul and hiphop, from indie rock to folk and electronic music. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi
Art goes Kapakka, program in bars and pubs
Ten days of unique and diverse types of city culture. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi
Helsinki Festival
The largest culture festival in Finland offers music, dance, theatre, pictorial art, cinema and city events. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi
SEPTEMBER
Habitare, Helsingin Messukeskus
The largest furniture, interior decoration and design fair in Finland. www.habitare.fi
Love and Anarchy film festival
OCTOBER
Helsinki Design Week
Carnival of Light, Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Carnival of Light invites people of all ages to come and enjoy the programme, light and the autumn atmosphere of Linnanmäki. www.linnanmaki.fi
Baltic Herring Market
The oldest traditional event in Helsinki on the Market Square
Helsinki International Horse Show, Hartwall Arena.
NOVEMBER
Karjala Tournament, Hartwall Arena
An international ice-hockey tournament with Finland, Russia, Sweden and Tcheque Republic. www.karjalaturnaus.fi
Helsinki Motor Show, Helsingin Messukeskus
Helsinki Motor Show presents the newest car models. www.finnexpo.fi
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth: Winter Circus
November – January. The show bursts with imagination and wild circus visions. www.hurjaruuth.fi
DECEMBER
13.12. Lucia Parade from Helsinki Cathedral
Old Student House Christmas Fair
In Vanha ylioppilastalo
St Thomas Market, in Esplanadi Park
Handicraft, needlework, gift articles, traditional Christmas delicacies
31.12. New Year Celebration on Senate Square:
Concerts, fireworks, music
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