Place

Finnish National Opera

Located by the Toolo bay, the National Opera House of the country is given utmost importance for it revives the culture and history of Finland in theater and film making. The Opera house is owned by the state and is in perfect condition for visitors and Helsinkians to visit occasionally for upcoming performances. It is equipped with the latest technology, has two spacious auditoriums and a 120 member orchestra. The Opera House opened in 1933.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

Address: Helsinginkatu 58 FI-00251, Helsinki Phone: +358 9 4030 21

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Annantalo

Activity

Helsinki’s Cultural Office runs this special program for children to keep them entertained during their holidays. Annantalo is an art center that is filled with children learning basic art techniques, attending small exhibitions, workshops and dance performances.

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Children’s Museum

Museum

This is part of the Helsinki City Museum that holds exhibitions with and for children. To keep them engaged, the Museum holds exhibitions under attractive names like Guinea Pig, where children are told about the animals found in Helsinki. There are colorful displays of cows and fish and children are allowed to have sensory experiences as well, for example they are taught and shown how to milk a cow.

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Kids and Teens- Finnish Opera

Activity

The National Opera runs special programs for children featuring exciting stories and documentaries to promote learning and creativity.

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Helsinki Zoo

zoo

Located on the Korkeasaari Island, Helsinki Zoo is the biggest attraction for children in Finland. The Zoo covers hundreds of acres of land and has a collection of animals and birds. Children love looking at the animals while they feed them and marvel at their size and colors! Many engaging activities have also been developed for kids in the Sea Life section of the Zoo such as having your child’s birthday celebrated there!

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Esplanadi Park

Park

Esplanadi Park is located right in the center of Helsinki with lush green lawns that are crowded by both locals and tourists in the summer months. The park also offers a picnic place for people to get together and spend the day out with friends and family.

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Senate Square

Palace

Senate Square is the most popular destination within Helsinki. It was built by a famous Russian architect, Carl Ludvig Engel(1778-1840). Today the Senate Square houses concerts, events and a site seeing tour. The Square occupies a huge area and has a number of monuments and important buildings located on all four sides.

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Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum

This Museum has all the contemporary work of Finnish artists and those from neighboring countries. The place also hosts various exhibitions around the year to entertain tourists and to display the cultural and historic side of Finland. The museum building itself is a work of art and is worth a visit on your trip to Helsinki. Entrance fee for adults is 7 Euros while for students it is 5 Euros. Visitors under 18 are admitted free of charge and the first Wednesday of each month is free for all from 5pm to 8 pm! Opening times: Tuesday 10am to 5pm; Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 8 30pm; Monday closed. Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2, Phone: +358 9 1733 6501

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Tennispalatsi

Plaza

This complex is a cultural center located in the Kammpi area of the city center. The place houses a lot of shops, a multi Cineplex called ‘Finkino’, an Art Museum, Tennis Palace and the Museum of Cultures. Tennispalatsi has had a rich history in the sports arena as well. Back in 1938 it was constructed as a center for the Olympic Games held in 1940 and later was the ground for a few basketball games in the 1952 Olympics.

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Three Smiths Statue

Statue

Rich art is depicted in every alley way and intersection of Helsinki. The Three Smiths Statue is a famous sculpture carved by Felix Nylund at the intersection of the two most famous streets of Helsinki, Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie. The statue was attacked in the war in 1944 and damaged areas are still visible. Within the city, The Three Smiths is a popular meeting place for people.

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Statue of Mannerheim

Statue

Situated along the Mannerheim Street in the heart of Helsinki is this statue of the great Finnish Military leader, Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim. The statue is a very famous cultural landmark for Helsinkians.

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Sasso

Sasso offers one of the best Italian 3 course meals in town. The Italian culture of enjoying food and wine while chit chatting is evident here at Sasso, so if you’re looking for a quiet evening this is not the place to be. The chef holds back nothing in perfecting the order you place. The wine collection is also one of the best in Helsinki so make sure you order one for starters or the main courseYou will certainly leave with good Italian memories once you visit Sasso!

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La Petite Maison

One of the more upscale and modern French restaurants in Helsinki, La Petite has delicious French food and the way it’s presented makes it even more mouth watering. The chefs and staff are highly trained in making customers feel welcome. The restaurant has the best collection of wines that will leave you wanting more!

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Yume

Yume has introduced Helsinki to a new way of dining with exquisite flowers, a very sophisticated dining hall and an elaborate wine and steak list. Just sitting in the restaurant makes you feel peaceful and close to nature. Japanese food is served at its best at Yume with a choice of tailoring your own appetizers and main courses by selecting which spices and herbs you prefer. The Japanese culture of ‘mix and match’ is highly promoted and diners are encouraged to create their own meals.

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Restaurant Walhalla

This restaurant is atop a hill on the island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki. The place has a touch of elegance and class amidst the fortified island that has had a dark past. Walhalla has a lot of Finnish specialties to serve. Needless to say the best quality ingredients are used and food is prepared to perfection. Among the most famous dishes are salmon soup, reindeer, lamb and grilled duck.

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Chez Dominique

One of the best restaurants in Helsinki in terms of food and décor is Chez Dominique. The place offers excellent French food prepared by the world renowned chef Hans Välimäki. Such specialties include Duck confit, Smoked Tuna, Roasted Turbot and lobster. Inside, the décor and placement of tables is sophisticatedly done. Reservations are a must as there is little competition for Chez Dominique and so there is usually a full house on weekends. Cuisine: French Address: Richardinkatu 4, Helsinki Phone: 09/612-73-93

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Havis

One of the largest restaurants in Helsinki is Havis. High ceiling and wooden panels add much beauty to the dining hall; it is tough to decide between having your meal in the hall or the spacious airy terrace. Havis prides itself for the use of fresh sea food that is prepared to perfection. Reservations are a must. For further details visit the URL below.

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G. W. Sundmans

The setting of G.W.Sundmans is one of elegance with 19th century Finnish paintings lined on the walls and a mansion like look that is set beautifully overlooking the harbor. The best quality ingredients are used to prepare food that is finger licking good and people keep coming back to enjoy Chef Jarmo Vähä-Savo’s famous cuisine. Specialties include fried Sweetbreads; sugar cured salmon and apple pie.

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Gallery Restaurant Wellamo

One of the posh dine-ins in Helsinki, Gallery restaurant is situated on the Katajanokka Island and is visited mostly by prestigious people. The restaurant is very charming and has a white and brown décor which oozes class. Specialties include sautéed white fish, lamb and grilled rabbit.

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Farouge

Arguably the only Lebanese restaurant in Helsinki, Farouge has the best home made “baklava” in Finland. The dishes offered are exquisite and are made from rare herbs and spices that are hardly used in Western foods. Apart from food, Farouge offers excellent customer service. The staff is friendly and well trained and can make menu recommendations based on your preferred tastes. Main course meals may vary from 20 to 38 euro.

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Cella

A very casual place where the chef himself serves the dishes, Cella was opened in 1969 as a traditional Finnish restaurant that would offer spicy dishes at a price of around 10 to 20 Euros in the Kallio district. There is also a summer terrace that is filled up during summer months and reservations may be required. The environment inside is cozy yet a bit noisy as the place is not all that big. A fine collection of wines can also be found at the bar.

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Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Helsinki

Budget Hotels

Another one of Helsinki’s reasonable choices, Radisson is located in the city center and has all the basic amenities installed in all rooms such as central conditioning, room service, free Wi-Fi, laundry and dry cleaning. The building overlooks the Kaisaniemi Park and is a few minutes’ walk away from Grand Casino Helsinki and the Finnish National Theatre. All 291 rooms are decorated in warm colors and give a very homely feeling to the visitor. Its prime location attracts most people in peak seasons and the place is usually booked by business travelers. A standard room for one night costs around 160 Euros. Additional services: sauna, conference rooms, parking at 30 euro for a day, fitness center, discounts for children and a round the clock coffee bar.

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Scandic Hotel Marski

Another one of Helsinki’s modern accommodations, Scandic Hotel has two of its buildings joined through a passage way. There are 289 units fitted with the most modern equipments and are furnished in dark wood that give the rooms a very businesslike air. The building dates back to 1962, however multiple changes and renovations have been made since then to suit modern times. Room rates vary with size but standard rates can touch 269 Euros, breakfast included.

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Sokos Hotel Presidentti

Sokos hotel is located in the commercial center of downtown Helsinki and gives a bird’s eye view from the Parliament House and Railway station. It has 494 units that are decorated in pastels and ooze warmth and comfort for visitors away from home. Being renovated in 2007, the hotel is one of the most modern in all of Helsinki. Room rates start from 200 Euros and include breakfast.

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Rivoli Jardin

Though small, the Rivoli Jardin believes in perfection. It has only 55 units but each is intricately decorated in hand woven rugs and hangings that give a warm yet stylish aura to the room. The hotel is most visited by business people who can afford to pay a whopping 240 Euros per night. However, excellent quality is guaranteed in everything, from room cleanliness to the perfectly sautéed greenhouse breakfast. If you plan to live in style and be close to all city center activities Rivoli Jardin should top your list. Address: Kasarmikatu 40, Helsinki FIN-00130 Phone: 09/68-15-00 Fax: 09/65-69-88

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Hilton Hotel Kalastajatorppa

An architectural dream, this Hilton Branch is built near the beautiful shores of Finland just 3 miles north west of the center. The core building dates back to 1937 but new and modern facilities have been added since, including a contemporary annex that houses the most advanced of technologies in Finland. The lobby together with the 238 units is tastefully decorated in panels and hardwood and provides breath taking views of the neighboring ocean. Because of its location, the hotel has been named “cottage of the fishermen”.

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Seurahuone Helsinki

Budget Hotels

Seurahuone started small in a cramped corner of Helsinki offering the most basic of services for visitors. It has come a long way since then and is now classified as one of the most expensive hotels in Helsinki. It is housed in a custom made building across the railway station and has 118 units all fitted with the necessary amenities. Though rooms are not very big, they offer great comfort and are decorated in good taste. Rates start from 235 Euros for double room per night with breakfast included.

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Hilton Helsinki Strand

Standing majestically at the edge of the water bay, north of the center, is the Hilton Helsinki. The hotel is designed in an octagonal shape and presents some of the best architecture of the local Finns. The atrium is decorated with plants and hand woven wall hangings that give a very sophisticated aura to the place. The 192 rooms are fully equipped with standard luxury amenities. More can be ordered through housekeeping. Hilton rates can touch as much as 360 Euros for a single night with breakfast. If you are in luck, you might get a beach view room for you to enjoy all your evenings taking in the tranquility of the sea!

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Palace Hotel

Located a few minutes from the market square in the center of the city is the Palace Hotel that overlooks the grand Presidential Palace in Helsinki. This hotel is built with sheer glamour and style coupled with extreme comfort and addictive breathtaking harbour views from the most expensive rooms in Helsinki. It has 39 units that are very thoughtfully decorated by the craftsmen. Standard room rates can reach 280 Euros and above and include breakfast and usage of all other amenities provided in each room.

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Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka

It is hard to believe that this beautifully decorated hotel in the city center was once a jail through the end of the 20th century. Today the hotel stands proud amidst a beautifully blossomed park and the dingy jail rooms have been converted to 106 spacious and well-decorated rooms that are equipped with a minibar, TV, Wi-Fi, central air conditioning, beverage maker, hair dryer and safe. Prices for a double room vary from 121 to 225 Euros. Additional services: bar, room service and laundry.

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Helka Hotel

A classic example of “no frills attached”, Helka hotel is a very reasonable place to stay in face of the sky high prices that most hotels set in Helsinki. Located in the heart of the city, Helka is a stone throw distance from Helsinki’s major attractions and monuments. There are 150 units in the 6 story tall building and each room has AC, TV, Wi-Fi, minibar and a safe. Rates for standard rooms for a night vary from 77 to 112 Euros including breakfast.