Helsinki is Finland’s cosmopolitan capital and the place many visitors choose to concentrate their visit, with its reputation for cutting edge design and contemporary entertainment the main allure. See itinerary ideas
Historical occupations by Sweden and Russia have left Helsinki with a hotchpotch of styles and influences ranging from the neoclassical architecture of the Lutheran Cathedral and the Russian style Uspenski Orthodox Church.
The city’s architecture contributed to Helsinki earning the title of Design Capital of the World 2012. In fact, so creative is the city that it has its own Design District. There’s a cosmopolitan edge to Helsinki too, with hip bars, restaurants and clubs providing the buzz behind the urban façade.
Outside the city, cruise to the nearby islands to see the Suomelinna Fortress, a World Heritage site whose defensive position protected Helsinki for generations. Altenatively, take to a bike and explore the country roads of the Uusimaa, with the potential to cycle all the way to the southernmost tip of Finland and the lookouts on Hanko Cape.