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Finland > Uusimaa > Helsinki

Helsinki

N 60°10.197', E 24°56.311'
2019-07-26
https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/
Our rating: 7.60
Overall rating:
Helsinki is a fairly young city, founded in 1550 by the Swedes. In 1812, it became the capital of Finland, which at that time was part of the Russian Empire. The kings rebuilt the city as a miniature St. Petersburg.

Helsinki will be especially interesting to the residents of St. Petersburg and the whole former USSR. This is the only example of a big city that went its own way after 1917, and not after 1990.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The main problem of the city is that it has no tourist recognition. After Western Europe, and even after Stockholm, Helsinki seemed to us gloomy and gray.

The city is flat, so do not expect the picturesque landscapes. Even in flat Athens and Nice there are a couple of high hills with panoramic views.

Though there are many promenades, green areas and public spaces, it is very convenient for walking. True, during two full days we did not a lot, did not visit islands and the Cathedral, so we will come again.

Started in the new Jatkasaari district, where we spent the night. Until 2008 here was a cargo port terminal and now construction of modern residential and office quarters is ongoing. It is planned that 17,000 people will live here.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Most of the buildings are residential. Recently, due to rising prices, they are being built higher and higher. But this is a pan-European trend: Vienna has already reached 9 floors.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Only in this area we found the real Scandinavia.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There are many embankments and green zones, a huge park in the form of the letter S is laid across the entire district.

Jatkasaari District Master Plan
Jatkasaari District Master Plan ©@


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

And, of course, every house in the area is different.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Pedestrian bridge.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There are picnic areas that are separated by tall grass.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

We spent the night in the high-rise hotel Clarion Hotel Helsinki (booking.com), which, unfortunately, disappointed.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There is no parking, the nearest one is 550 meters away. You can enter the parking lot only with a ticket that many people leave in the car. We saw a man who ran 550 meters to the reception desk, as he could not enter the parking and was late for the plane.

Entrance to the parking lot is under the foot bridge.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The window in the room is 1 meter wide! The city view is the following.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There is a transparent pool on the roof, which is visible from below and which is actively used by the hotel in ads. In reality, this is a large bathtub with at least 10 (!) people inside. It’s impossible to swim there, you take a photo and get out.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The promenade near the hotel at night.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Next we went for a walk along one of the embankments. Since Helsinki stands on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, there are a lot of embankments in the city.

Helsinki Route
Helsinki Route ©Yuriy Buriak

It is very well equipped and mostly there are park areas.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There are a lot of rock in the parks.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Two wooden buildings located on the islands are the Art Nouveau villas built in 1899 and 1900. Currently, they have restaurants which can be visited by the ferry.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

On the Market Square, where a fish fair usually takes place, there is a large public space with pools and a restaurant.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Here is also a ferris wheel which we can’t recommend due to tinted windows and not picturesque views.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There are more expensive VIP cabins and even one cabin with a sauna. During our visit, some daredevil used it in a 30-degree heat. He was even filmed by television.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Visited the Chapel of Silence of Kamppi, on Narinka Square. As you can guess from the name, you can be silent inside :)

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Also we went into the new library building. Although it is not only a library, but a large public space for parents with children, hobby rooms and a cafe.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The library is automatic.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

An interesting solution for sun protection.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Toilet in the library.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The library is located in a rather strange place. The buildings of various institutions were built here: a museum, a palace of congresses, a house of music, and between them a large and empty park was set up. Such a layout is typical for the republics of the former USSR or Berlin, but not for Western Europe or Scandinavia.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

The problem with large spaces is that they are not used a lot and require expensive maintenance.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

Also visited one of the most unusual places in Helsinki - Temppeliaukio Church, built in 1969. The church was cut down in a rock, right in the middle of the city blocks. Such rocks are common in Scandinavia, in Stockholm they are at every corner. You can walk freely on the roof, since it’s just a rock.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

There was a wedding in the church and we decided not to wait until all the guests leave. Will go inside next time.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

In the city center, many streets look like typical Kyiv, our native city. Just select any intersection and look at google street view, it will be a copy of a typical street in Kyiv.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

This is not surprising, since many houses were built under the control of the Russian Empire.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak


Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

But what is curious, even after becoming independent, Finland continued to built ugly soviet houses. Due to such a variety of architectural styles, Helsinki is not felt like a holistic city, neighboring Stockholm looks much more interesting and picturesque.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

This architecture is common in northern Sweden and Finland, where the climate is severe. But we were sad to see such buildings in the very center of Helsinki.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

To our great surprise, in supermarkets we found our favorite Borjomi water. It is almost impossible to find it in Western Europe.

Helsinki
Helsinki ©Yuriy Buriak

For two full days in Helsinki, we did not find something special how the city differes from others. Many famous cities have some symbols and famous views that can be seen in the advertising booklets. Are there such a views in Helsinki? May be only the cathedral, though it is not so famous.

We will remember Helsinki for its excellent infrastructure, modern architecture (which is not much), good parks and public spaces.

Getting there: Helsinki Airport is 18 kilometers from the city. From the airport you can take a train which has travel time 30 minutes (https://www.hsl.fi/en/ringrailline), buy tickets at the HSL ticket machine. From St. Petersburg, Helsinki can be reached by train in just 3.5 hours. You can also get by ferry from the following cities: Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden), Travemunde (Germany), Rostock (Germany), Gdynia (Poland), St. Petersburg (Russia). Use websites:
https://www.tallink.com/
https://www.tallinksilja.com/book-a-cruise
https://www.vikingline.com/
https://www.finnlines.com/
Tags, Finland: city

Tags, all countries: city
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