Whether you're a museum hound, design maven or jet-setting foodie, Helsinki's got it all. With fantastic museums like Suomenlinna and the Helsinki City Museum filling your brain, design depots like Arabia and Marimekko filling your suitcase and the toothsome offerings at the Kauppatori (market square) filling your belly, your visit to Helsinki promises to be filled with fun (though your wallet may be empty).
One of Helsinki's most popular destinations is Suomenlinna, a three-century old sea fortress spread out over six islands that offers visitors a host of fascinating museums, awe-inspiring battlements and some of the best picnic grounds Finland has to offer. More city history is in store for visitors to the city's green-domed Lutheran Cathedral, perched in Senate Square, or the Helsinki City Museum, where visitors can learn all there is to know about the world's northernmost urban area. And for anyone with a more artistic bent, the contemporary art offerings at Helsinki's sweeping art museum Kiasma are sure to please.
Finland is highly regarded for its design, a rich tradition that continues at stores like Arabia, which specializes in signature Finnish dishware, glassware, functional sculpture and pottery. Those seeking to pair their new dishes with some new Finnish duds need look no further than Marimekko. A one-time favorite of Jackie O.'s, this clothier specializes in simple, bold, colorful clothing, and even offers bedding and housewares.
With so much to see and do, you're bound to work up an appetite, and Helsinki's culinary offerings won't disappoint. The Kauppatori, or market square, offers visitors a bevy of toothsome treats, from traditional Finish goodies to fresh fruits and vegetables – though you might want to postpone gorging until after your trip to Helsinki's popular Linnanmäki Amusement Park, where you can scream your heart out on the notoriously rickety wooden roller coaster.
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