Helsinki/South

South Helsinki is in this guide defined as the part of Helsinki south of the Esplanadi and Bulevardi streets. It also includes the archipelago south of Helsinki, such as the Suomenlinna islands.

The southernmost part of the Helsinki peninsula, this is a calm part of Helsinki with the city's most affluent residential areas (especially in the Eira district), probably more than half of the embassies and consulates in Helsinki and lot of greenery including the Observatory Hill and Kaivopuisto. If you're interested in upscale fashion and design shoppings and trendy cafés, this is where in Helsinki you should head. On the other hand, the western corner of this district has a more industrial character with the shipyard, warehouses and the famous Kahvila Suomi serving traditional Finnish food for workers in the marine industries since decades.

Beyond the coastline, lined by yachts in the summer, there are several small islands that have something to offer to visitors; from outdoor activities to exclusive eateries. The by far largest, best known and most popular is Suomenlinna — actually a cluster of four islands made connected by bridges. This former fortification is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but it's not just a tourist attraction, but home to several hundred inhabitants.

Get in
From the central railway station, bus station or central Helsinki in general, there isn't anywhere in southern Helsinki you couldn't get on foot within half an hour or so. Out of public transport modes, tram (1, 3, 6 and 10) are probably your best bet, though there are some bus lines (14, 18) too. If you wish to go to Suomenlinna, board the ferry from the Market square.

For yachts, customs clearing (if needed) is handled at the coast guard station; phone +358 295-426-310. There are guest harbours at Suomenlinna and Pihlajasaari.

Get around
If you aren't going by foot or bike, tram is the best alternative; line 3 takes you around southern Helsinki.

To get to Suomenlinna, take the from the Market Square.

See



 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg
 * Mannerheim Museum.jpg

Suomenlinna


If you see only one place in Helsinki in the summer, make it (Swedish: Sveaborg). The "Gibraltar of the North" was once the greatest sea fortress in the Baltic, built by the Swedish in the mid-1700s at great expense to protect their eastern flank. But when the Russians invaded in February 1808, the bulk of the unprepared and bankrupt Swedish army hastily withdrew, allowing the Russians to conquer Helsinki without a fight and besiege the fortress. With no reinforcements in sight, commander Carl Olof Cronstedt surrendered unconditionally two months later, and Finland was ceded to the Russians. Cronstedt's actions probably saved countless civilian lives, but King Gustav IV needed a scapegoat and sentenced him to death for treason; fortunately, the losing king was himself soon overthrown, and Cronstedt lived out his years gardening.

Today's Suomenlinna is still living in its own time with only old buildings, few cars, fewer than a thousand inhabitants and lots of old fortifications, catacombs and cast iron cannons. But it's not just a museum: the sprawling complex houses restaurants, cafés, theatres and museums, and is a very popular place for a picnic on a fine summer day, watching the vast passenger ferries drift by on their way to Estonia and St Petersburg. It was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique monument to European military architecture.

Entry to the island itself is free, but you need to pay for the ferry ride. The HSL ferry from Market Square is the cheapest and most convenient way of getting there at €5 for a 12-hour tourist return. The ferry is a part of the Helsinki local traffic, so if you have an HSL Day Ticket it includes ferry travel. The ferry runs approximately every half hour. On summer weekends the island is a popular picnic destination and you may have to wait for a long time as hundreds of people crowd the ferry terminal. In this case it may be worth it to use the more expensive private ferry company at the other end of the Market Square.

Guided tours of the island in English are available daily at 11:00 and 14:00 in Jun-Aug, and on Sa Su only at 13:30 the rest of the year, €7/person, and history buffs will want to drop into the Suomenlinna Museum at the Visitor Centre (€6.50).





Budget




Mid-range




Splurge




Go next

 * Central Helsinki
 * Southwestern Helsinki