We flew into Helsinki after our Viking Cruise and checked into the Hilton Strand hotel. The Hilton is a 20-minute walk from the city centre which added to our daily steps count but we soon appreciated its quiet location!
The city is a mix of older Nordic and modern, almost futuristic architecture. It is surrounded by water with many lovely waterfront paths perfect for walking or cycling. The city prides itself on the purity of its drinking water – as we were so reminded many times by the hotel staff – and the quality of the air. It is a very walkable city and English is spoken widely – so very easy to navigate and enjoy although it can be an expensive destination as with Scandinavia generally.
We did our own walking tour visiting all the major attractions – not always electing to go inside to save time. As impressive as the older Cathedrals are – we had seen just so many of them on this trip so there was an element of Cathedral fatigue… The exception though was the Temppeliaukio Church – or “Rock Church”. It is a must see – this Lutheran church was completed in 1969 and was carved directly into a massive block of solid granite rock. It features a giant copper dome roof which is at ground level so looks like a huge, metallic flying saucer resting on the rocks from the outside. Another interesting building was the Kamppi Chapel – a tall oval structure made of wood standing directly in Narinkka Square in the middle of the city.
Generally, we found the modern contemporary architecture more interesting. The Helsinki Central Library Oodi is an amazing complex catering to a vast array of public services. It so much more than a library and is a breathtaking showcase of Finnish public design. The nearby Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the Amos Rex Art Museum, the Helsinki University Library were also impressive. The Sanoma House is a massive, futuristic, towering glass-and-steel commercial building with a truly impressive atrium where we had stopped for lunch at the Frazer Café.
Kaartinkaupunki is home to Helsinki’s two most famous and historic waterfront markets: the outdoor Helsinki Market Square (Kauppatori) and the indoor Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli). They sit right next to each other at the South Harbour. Geoffrey tried Helsinki’s favourite dish – salmon soup – which he proclaimed “the best”. Finnish salmon soup is simple, rich, and incredibly hearty. It is traditional to make the soup with large, tender chunks of high-quality fresh salmon, cubed potatoes, carrots, and leeks cooked in a buttery, creamy white broth served hot alongside a thick slice of heavily buttered Finnish rye bread or dark archipelago malt bread.
Please contact me if you are interested in knowing more about this destination.
Finnish salmon soup