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Tip: From Market Square, take the ferry
to Suomenlinna. While waiting for the ferry, watch the boats go by in
the harbor – big cruise ships, racing sail boats, car ferries, coast
guard boats, fishing boats, fire boats. Bring a picnic and make a day of
it. If you've rented bikes, this is a good place to bike around. |
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At the Visitor's Centre, you can pick up maps (very
helpful, as there are several islands and numerous museums), plus the ferry
timetables and calendar of special events. Also at the Visitor's Centre,
stop to see the Suomenlinna Experience, a multimedia show with translations
in English. Older kids will enjoy the show, about how the fortress was built
and the cannonball attack by the English navy in 1855. |
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King's Gate – The best spot on Suomenlinna is
the star-shaped ramparts and bastions around the King's Gate. Here there
is a whole warren of embankments and passages to explore in out, tunnels
to run through, huge cannons to climb on. Stand on the ramparts at the southern
tip of the island, facing out into the Baltic Sea, where you can imagine
the English and French ships aiming their cannons at the fortress. |
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Throughout the islands there are grassy areas for picnics,
and near the King's Gate, there are picnic tables. A small playground with swings and climbing structures is located near the Officer's Club.
Near Piper's Park, there's a tiny cove and sandy beach where kids
can wade in the water. |
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Coast Artillery Museum is located in big old brick
building that was the powder magazine in 1776. It has big guns, old cannonballs,
and a pictorial history of the role of fortress in different wars over the
centuries. |
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Tour the submarine Vesikko. Built in 1933, Vesikko used
in World War II against the Russians. After the war, it was only Finnish
submarine that wasn't scrapped after the war. It's a small submarine,
but you can get a sense of lying in a cramped bunk over the torpedo tubes. |
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The Doll and Toy Museum has a lovely collection of
old fashioned 19th century dolls, beautifully displayed with Victorian furniture
and tea sets and teddy bears (including one bear riding an old fashioned
bicycle). The café has delicious hot chocolate. |
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Tip: The ferry, entrance to Suomenlinna, Suomenlinna Experience, the submarine Vesikko, all are free with the Helsinki Card. |
