|
|||
|
|
||
| Helsinki (Helsingfors) | |||
 |
Helsinki in summer is just magical, where you can hear the cry of sea gulls or the "bark" of the birch trees. It's a small-scale city, spread out on islands in the Gulf of Finland. Helsinki isn't terribly old, so you won't find yourself weighed down with a long list of museums and churches to visit with your kids. Instead, you can enjoy the beauty of sunlight sparkling on the water as you cruise through the archipelago. |
| Tip: Get a five day Tourist Ticket that is good on any bus, tram and ferry to Suomenlinna, and admission to Linnanmaki amusement park. The Helsinki Card is also good for transportation around the city as well as admission to the Helsinki zoo, the ferry to Suomenlinna, discounts on museums and shopping. | |||
 |
|||
 |
Market Square – Start your visit at the open air market at Market Square on the South Harbor. In summer, watch people selling salmon and potatoes from their boats, munch on a bag of fresh strawberries or cherries, or kids can shop for a warm fur hat or wooden toy. Grab a sandwich from the Old Market Hall and sit out on the stone dock to watch the boats in the harbor. | ||
|
Take a boat ride – From the Market Square, there are four or five boat rides. Several boat lines go on sightseeing cruises around the islands of Helsinki (cruise lasts about 1 or 1 ½ hours). Or, take a paddle wheeler or waterbus to the Helsinki Zoo. This is also where you get the ferry to Suomenlinna. From Linnanlaituri quay, boats leave for the medieval town of Porvoo (a day trip). | ||
 |
|
Seurasaari – Seurasaari is only minutes from the
center of Helskinki, but once you cross the bridge to the island, you'll
find yourself in 18th and 19th century rural Finland. Tip: Free with the Helsinki Card |
|
| Step into an elegant manor house, a tenant farm, a wooden church, a grain store, a stable. In the farmsteads, you'll see looms for spinning, wood stoves to keep warm through the long winter, long wooden tables and benches where the family gathered for meals. | |||
| Wander on paths through the green leafy woods, past ponds with ducks, and swans, or shallow beaches where you can dabble your toes. Look for wild strawberries tucked away in the grasses (you might even disturb a wild hare napping in the grass…) | |||
| Bring a picnic or splurge on a traditional Finnish lunch in the restaurant (there are picnic tables and swings near the restaurant). Seurasaari is not to be missed. | |||
 |
|
Lake Toolonlahti and Hesperianpuisto Park – Lake Toolonlahti is the perfect spot to kick back and relax for a couple of hours. In the park, there's a playground and tiny sandy beach where toddlers can splash in the water, plus a little waterfalls and stream to play in and rocks to climb on. Look for ducks and their ducklings, paddling around the reeds. At the southern end of the lake, you can rent pedal boats, row boats or kayaks – great fun to boat around the lake, into the reeds, close to the big fountain in the center. Also, it's just a peaceful walk around the lake too. | |
 |
|
Linnamaki Amusement Park and Sea Life Aquarium – The Linnamaki amusement park has delighted Finnish families for generations.
Little kids will enjoy the monorail and little train, or miniature pool
where they can paddle around. Older kids will get a gasp out of the roller
coasters and water rides, especially the Hurjakuru, where you float on a
rushing river past a waterfall. Sea Life Aquarium has tropical fish from
coral reefs, a sea horse exhibit, fish swimming in and out of an "underground
shipwreck," and a circular tank glowing with silvery schools of fish
from the Baltic Sea. (The Aquarium is a good place to duck into during a
summer rain shower). Tip: Free with the Helsinki Card |
|
 |
|
Sibelius Monument and Park – Jean Sibelius is Finland's best loved composer, famous for his symphonies that evoke the Finnish landscape. The Sibelius Monument is like a huge bunch of frozen organ pipes, and in the benches next to the monument, you may find musicians playing. | |
 The
surrounding park is delightful – there's a small playground with climbing structures, and lots of trees and paths to simply expend some
energy. Or, you can take a walk down along the water or enjoy the small
but nice miniature golf course (on Mechelingatan). |
|||
|
Ride the circle tram – Take the 3T (or 3B reverse direction) circle tram around the city. Pick up the tram in Market Square, it goes in a loop, you can hop on and off as you like. Ask for a map of the 3T Tram at the Helsinki Tourist office. | ||
|
Swimming – In summer, you can chose from big swimming pools or the long sand beaches on the islands. | ||
| Swimming
Stadium (next to the Olympic Stadium) -The Swimming Stadium has pools
for everyone, little wading pools for toddlers, big waterslides, a sauna
for adults. Bring your suits, you can rent towels. |
|||
| Or,
do what local Helsinki families do, head for the beach at Uunisaari.
Take the boat from Merisatamantori (close to the big Kaivopuisto Park).
The beach has shallow water for little kids, swings and play structures.
There's plenty of places to picnic, or grab a bite at one of the cafes. |
|
Fun food – |
||
In summer, try fresh strawberries and cherries from the open air stalls, and delicious ice cream from kiosks and cafes (a local specialty is buckthorn berry ice cream). |
|||
|
Shopping – |
||
You'll find delightful things to buy in Helsinki – carved wooden animals, (bear, moose and reindeer), little angels, dolls, fur hats and sweaters, and adorable moose (dressed in sweaters, socks and scarves). As we were buying our moose, the vendor asked where we were from. When we said that we're from California, she said, " A long trip for the moose!" |
 |
 |
||
Make life easy with the Helsinki Card, an all-in-one card for ferry and entrance to Suomenlinna, Linnamaki amusement park, Seurasaari open air museum and more, plus transportation around the city. 1, 2,or 3 day passes: |
|||
 |
Helsinki Card |
||
travel for kids | finland | helsinki |
 |