The last city on my bucket list was Helsinki, the magnificent capital of Finland. Of course, I had to keep the capital of my exchange country as the last visited city. Compared to the previous trip, I spent only half a day in the actual city – the other half I spent it in the beautiful fortress Suomenlinna (or Sveaborg). I have to tell you, in advance, that this fortress (these islands) is really worth visiting and, if the weather is nice, it is really a good place for a picnic. But enough with the introduction, let’s get started with the actual places that are waiting to be discovered.

Suomenlinna fortress

Suomenlinna museum

What could be the best place to learn about the history of this impressive fortress if not from its own museum? It tells the story of how the islands became a fortress and a strategic place for three countries – Sweden, Russia and Finland. Don’t forget to also check the short film about the “Gibraltar of the North” that runs every half hour in the museum. It would help you get more insights into the amazing fortress.

Ehrensvärd Museum

The museum, dedicated to the life of nobility during the 18^th century, was the home of Augustin Ehrensvärd, founder of Suomenlinna. This house offers some interesting features, combining the housing features with defense structures, all under one roof. Some of them are really well integrated so that, if you do not know what you are looking for, you will definitely miss them.

Army museum

The third museum on the islands is the Army Museum. It tells the story of the Finnish defense forces, starting from a few centuries ago till modern times. Make sure you visit both exhibitions, as this museum spans over two entirely different buildings. Even though they do not have a photobooth, make sure you try on some of the military gear including the super heavy backpack and take some “green” pictures.

Defense bastion and King’s gate

At the other end of the islands from the point of arrival, there is the King’s gate, the old point of entry into the fortress. Around the gate, there is the defense bastion, a structure that is free to roam around at your pace, from top to bottom. Make sure you do not get lost as the defensive structures are built on different levels and they span over a good portion of the islands. And yes, you can visit the entire defensive structure, but I have to warn you that it will take more than one hour to move around – but it is worth it.

Suomenlinna church

The fortress also comes “equipped” with a small church and, if you are lucky enough to find it open (usually during the service hours), you can visit it. Even though it was built by the Russians in an orthodox style, it got converted to an evangelical Lutheran church, thus most of its original features are not visible anymore.

The city/the mainland

Bank of Finland museum

If you are interested in finding out more about Finland’s economy or just see old currencies, the Bank of Finland offers a museum that is free of charge. If you have time, I will recommend you visit it, not just because it is free, but also because it offers some interesting insights into the Finnish economy and the western economy, in general.

Ateneum

When it comes to art, the Ateneum in Helsinki offers an interesting and diverse collection of paintings (and some sculptures). If you are passionate about art or if you want to see some Finnish art, the Ateneum is definitely the place for you. Because they have such an impressive collection, I would like to challenge you to find a painting that resembles your current state of mind/mood. You will, for sure, find one such painting…all you need to do is look around.

Sea life Helsinki

I know I got you used to museums, but even though this is not a museum, it is a really cool experience. You have the chance to see different types of fish, some more exotic than the others, and to walk under a tank with sharks. It is a really amazing experience and you might even get a chance to see the feeding of different fish when, besides the feeding, the staff might also tell you more interesting facts about the nearby fish.

Helsinki is an amazing capital, offering many possibilities for a day trip as well as for a longer stay. If you want to spend only one day, I can suggest you check the weather and maybe spend the entire day at the fortress as there are a few ferries connecting the islands to the mainland every hour and you can enjoy a picnic or a hike.