Helsinki, Finland Photo Gallery
Mikael Agricola Church-The church, named after Bishop Mikael Agricola, who created the basis for the literary Finnish language, and one of the most actively used churches in the country. The tower is 338 ft, but the 98 ft spike-like upper part was lowered inside the tower to prevent enemy pilots from using it as a navigation point.
These apartment or condos were in a very nice area near the port and our bus tour said that they were expensive.
Loyly Helsinki-A unique sauna & restaurant by the Baltic Sea. One of Time Magazine´s “World's 100 Greatest Places”. I really wish I had made reservations here ahead of time, because it would've been a great way to spend part of the day.
Riding through an old industrial section of Helsinki.
Helsinki has an extensive tram system, which we would've used if not for the HOHO (Hop on Hop off) bus that we rode around the city.
Kolmikulma (literally meaning "Triangle"), also known as the Diana Park, is a small, rectangular triangular-shaped park located in the Kaartinkaupunki district.
A nice street with interesting architecture.
A street along Esplanade Park, a large park in central Helsinki and dates back to 1818.
The popular Esplanade Park, fondly referred to as "Espa" among locals, is the most famous park in Finland and the green heart of Helsinki.
Kappeli was built in 1867 in the middle of Esplanadi, in the heart of Helsinki. It was the place to be – and the place to be seen. It started out as a place where people came together, and it has stayed that way ever since. Today, Kappeli offers a unique restaurant experience.
Runeberg Park-There is a large statue of the town's famous son, the poet Runeberg.
A pedestrian street with Stockmann, a famous Finnish department store established in 1862, on the left.
As we were riding through this area, the bus recording was bragging about how green Helsinki is, which may be true, but all I saw were all these wires going everywhere.
Helsinki Central Station is the main station for commuter rail and long-distance trains departing from Helsinki, Finland. About 200,000 people "pass through the station" every day, half of whom are train passengers
A bronze equestrian statue of Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim, a general in the Finnish Civil War in 1918 and field Marshall in WWII.
Women & Children-Here, Beier's art comments on the history of Western art, in which women and children are often depicted as helpless, naked and anonymous – unlike the men in equestrian statues.
One part of the Sibelius Monument by Eila Hiltunen, which is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957).
Part 2-Titled Passio MusicaeIt, consists of series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern. The monument weighs 26 tons & measures 28 ft × 34 ft × 21 ft. Hiltunen's aim was to capture the essence of the music of Sibelius.
A side view of Passio MusicaeIt and the garden.
The gardens were pretty here.
Our breakfast spot, Cafe Regatta, a café in the Taka-Töölö area of Helsinki. The café building is a small red log cabin that has been located in the same place on the shores of the Taivallahti bay, for 135 years.
Brian has his coffee and cinnamon roll.
We could've roasted marshmallows or sausages, but were full after the cinnamon roll.
The cafe had many eclectic decorations.
They also had canoe and kayak rentals, but as usual, we didn't have time for that.
Beautiful Taivallahti Bay.
The Töölö Rowing Stadium-Originally constructed for the 1940 Summer Olympics, that were cancelled in the wake of what became known as World War II. We saw this from our breakfast view.
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium is the largest stadium in the country. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952 Summer Olympics. It is also the home stadium of the Finland national football team. I love seeing bits & pieces of Olympic history around the world.
A glimpse of Töölö bay & Linnanmäki amusement park. The proceeds from this amusement park go to support child welfare.
People eating breakfast at Hakaniemi market square.
Hakaniemi Market Hall where you can buy a wide range of products. It opened in 1914.
Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral located at the Senate Square. The church was originally built from 1830 to 1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. It was also known as St Nicholas's Church.
On Senate Square, the main building of the University of Helsinki. A statue of Emperor Alexander II on a pedestal, surrounded by figures representing law, culture, and peasants, is located in the center of the square.
Senate Square with the Government Palace on the left and the Sederholm House, the oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757 in the corner.
Completed in 1833, the building originally served as Hotel Seurahuone and was an important cultural facility hosting many premieres. The city purchased the building in 1901 and, after the hotel moved out in 1913, renovated it as a city hall.
One of the marinas in the city.
Uspenski Cathedral is a Greek Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox cathedral and the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland.
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, picture books, and a comic strip by Swedish-speaking Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson, that the Finnish love and are quite proud of.
In 2021, Verstas Architects completed the Helsinki Biennial Pavilion to serve as the entry point to that year’s Helsinki Biennial art festival.
Kauppatori Market Square-An open space offering you a vivid atmosphere. You can find here a lot of stalls with food, souvenirs, fruits and vegetables, handmade gifts and handicrafts etc.
The Stone of the Empress was erected in 1835 in the Market Square to commemorate the Empress Alexandra's (the German-born wife of Nicholas I), first visit to Helsinki.
A cross at the Rock Church. The church is actually excavated directly into rock formations and covered with a huge copper-lined dome, making it a landmark like no other.
The roof of Temppeliaukio Kirkko, an unusual-looking Lutheran church nestled between granite rocks.
A main feature of the building is its roof, a flat 24m diameter dome supported on radial concrete beams. On the inside, the dome is clad in an unoxidized copper thread. measuring 13.5miles in length.
The exposed rock walls earned it the alternative name “The Church of the Rock.” To contrast the heaviness of the materials, skylights surrounding the dome create a play of light and shadows and a feeling of airiness.
Brian and I enjoyed our visit here. We wish we could have listened to the organ to enjoy the acoustics of this place.
Our selfie in Temppeliaukio Kirkko.