Helsinki: A Wonderful and Diverse City to Visit

Helsinki, a fascinating city with its very own archipelago, is the capital city of Finland. This modern city offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle that has something for everyone. The seasons provide a fresh change from the days of summer with their seemingly endless days of sunshine and warmth to the days of winter and their blankets of snow.

Perhaps the best way to tour Helsinki is to acquire a Helsinki card, available in durations of 24, 48, and 72 hours. With this card, you gain free entrance into museums and other sights, have access to unlimited public transportation, as well as a few other perks. The card comes with a guidebook and map of the city. It also includes discounts for various sightseeing tours, events, and the airport bus.

The Helsinki Expert Guided City Tour, available in both Swedish and English, begins at the Olympia Terminal. This 1 hour and 45 minute tour takes sightseers to the most interesting parts of Helsinki including the Senate Square, Opera House, Temppeliaukio Church, and the Presidential Palace.

You can also tour Helsinki from the comfort of a double-decker bus. Perks of this tour include the following: available in 8 languages, ticket valid for a full 24 hours, unlimited getting on and off the bus during the ticket's time of validity. Other tours exist, including tours of many of the establishments that are located in the city.

Something is always happening here, in Helsinki, including concerts, cultural events, and artistic exhibitions. Throughout the year, this city hosts various concerts, celebrations, fun runs, recitals, contests, and more.

A list of some of the most popular sights to see is included below:

1.
The Helsinki Zoo is home to an eclectic variety of animals that range from those who originate in the tropical rainforest to those that come from the arctic tundra.
2.
Korkeasaari Zoo, dating back to 1889, is also home to animals that come to us from the tropical rainforest and ranging to those of the arctic tundra. At least two hundred animal species can be found at the 200 along with almost one thousand varieties of plants. It is open seven days a week, though the hours vary.
3.
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma is home to contemporary art, special exhibitions, and performances in dance, drama, music, film, and more. It is closed on Mondays.
4.
Sea Life Helsinki features an amazing opportunity to step inside a giant ocean tank filled with crabs, sharks, starfish, rays, and more through a transparent tunnel. It is open seven days a week.
5.
Senate Square is a delightful conglomeration of four buildings designed with neoclassic architecture and dating back to the early to middle 1800s. The buildings include the Government Palace, Helsinki Cathedral, the National Library of Finland, and the main building of the University of Helsinki.
6.
Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress, one of the world's largest, dates back to 1748. Open year round, no entrance fee to the park, and a multivision show are only some of the highlights of this sea fortress.
7.
Linnanmaki Amusement Park Despite all of the modern rides that range from scary and exciting to tame and pleasant, the wooden roller coaster is still a crowd pleaser. Games, entertainment, arcade halls, and more add to the day's fun that can be had here.
8.
National Museum of Finland showcases a portrayal of Finnish history with numerous artifacts and collections.
9.
The Ateneum Art Museum has Finland's largest collection of art. Pieces include Finnish works of art from the 1750s all the way up to the 1960s. Western art is also showcased from the time period between the 1800s and the 1950s. It is closed on Mondays.
10.
Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, located in the Katajanokka section of Helsinki, dates back to 1868. It is a magnificent structure with golden cupolas, red bricks, and more. Its design clearly shows an influence from the Russians.
11.
Temppeliaukio Church, is a must see on anyone's list. An amazing church, carved from bedrock, it showcases many concerts due to its amazing acoustics.

Helsinki might date back to 1550, but it has a lot of modern conveniences to offer along with a taste of its historical past. Be sure to plan several days for touring this magnificent city that offers a multitude of interesting sights to see.

References
1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki
2. http://realtravel.com/da-15309-helsinki_attractions