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37°F / 2°C
(Passing Clouds. Chilly.)
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Parks, Statues, and Architecture
Our tour begins at the Old Market Hall. Opposite the hall stands the Sundman house, a design of C.L. Engel from the 1830s. At the corner in front of the Sundman house we turn right onto Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu street. After walking a few blocks we can see Kasarmitori, a tree-lined square, on our left. One side of the square sports the building of Kaartin Kasarmi, based on Engel's design and rebuilt after being destroyed in air raids. At the corner of the building we turn right, to Kasarminkatu street, and after a few metres turn left to Rikhardinkatu street. After a little walk we arrive in front of the Rikhardinkatu Public Library, an architecturally significant building standing on the right side of the street. From the corner of the library we turn left to Korkeavuorenkatu street. The Esplanade Park is now directly behind us. The left side of the street sports a number of beautiful old apartment buildings, the loveliest of which is the Art Nouveau Phone Company building designed by Lars Sonck.
After a little walk we can see a small green area, Koulupuistikko Park, on the right-hand side of the street. In the middle of the park stands the statue Topelius ja Lapset, (Topelius and the children), sculpted by the maker of the famous Havis Amanda, Ville Vallgren. The statue was completed in 1909 and brought to the park in 1932. Next to the park is a greater park, Johanneksen Puisto, (St. John's Park). In the winter, the park hosts the most popular skating rink in the city. The park is also home to the Gothic St. John's Church, one of the city's most beautiful and popular churches. We pass the church on the right side, leave the park and arrive on Laivurinrinne street. We turn left and follow the street, which soon becomes Laivurinkatu street, and walk on until Tehtaanpuisto Park, a park located on the right side of the street. Behind the park stands Mikael Agricola Church a design by Lars Sonck that had to have its distinctive tower removed during the war to prevent enemy planes from using the tower as a landmark.
After following Laivurinkatu street to the south side of the park, we can see a small park across the street. This is Eira Park. We walk past the park to Armfeltintie road, from which we turn right to Rehbinderintie road. We have now entered the parklands of the district of Eira, the home of old Jugend-style houses. After a short walk we arrive at Engel Square, the centre of Eira, which we go around until spotting a lovely yellow house slanting down the hill. Down the hill stands the statue of the author Juhani Aho, a former resident of Eira. After passing the statue and the bushes surrounding it, we turn left to Armfeltintie road, from where we quickly turn right, onto the slightly curved street Juhani Ahon tie. After a short walk, we come to yet another Ville Vallgren statue, the Albert Edelfelt memorial. The statue used to stand in front of the Ateneum, but was moved to its current spot in 1976. At the end of the road, we turn right to Laivurinkatu street. On our right are the charming statue Metsäkauris (Deer), and the fabulous Villa Ensi, one of the city's most sought-after residences.
We have thus finally arrived at the seaside, at Fredrik Ursin Park. Far away on our right looms the Monument to the Seafarers with its undying flame. We follow Laivurinkatu street until we reach the shore path, Merisatamaranta. We continue along this path to our left. The path then turns into Ehrenströmintie road, which signals our arrival in Kaivopuisto Park. After a short walk, we can see a path leading to the park on our left. We take this path until we meet a cliff face. On top of the cliff stand Ursa Observatory and the A.E. Nordenskiöld Memorial. We go on with the cliff on our right until we come to the end of the small clearing we have been following. Here, we turn to a path leading right. This path will lead us to the famed Kaivohuone. We continue onwards across the opening, over the Iso Puistotie road, passing the fountain Kalastava Karhu on the left. We climb up Kaivohuoneenrinne street to the fine district on top of the hill, where we turn right to Itäinen Puistotie road. On our right stands the park's oldest existing villa at Itäinen Puistotie 7. We soon turn left to the curving road Kalliolinnantie, which passes both the Mannerheim Museum and the Cygnaeus Gallery. After taking the loop around this road we turn right to Itäinen Puistotie again, passing the glorious Marmoripalatsi (Marble Palace), designed by Eliel Saarinen and the Catholic St. Henry's Cathedral. We continue down the road to Ullankatu street and up to Tähtitorninvuori. We turn right at Tähtitorninkatu street and walk on to the famous Statue of the Shipwrecked. After taking in the lovely scenery we turn back towards the park and walk over to the Observatory designed by C.L. Engel. The building stands on a site that provides the city's best view, a panorama of the whole city. We go down the hill and to the right, passing the German Church and the Memorial to the Habsburg Shipwreck. We then arrive at Eteläranta street and walk back down to the Old Market Hall where we started.
Historical Helsinki
This tour starts in the middle of Senate Square, by the statue of Alexander II. The square is surrounded on all sides by stunning buildings. Right in front of us stands the elegant Lutheran Cathedral, on our left, the yellow University main building, and on our right, the Senate Building. When we turn our backs on the Lutheran Cathedral, we come face to face with a row of eighteenth-century houses, the most famous of which is the Kiseleff house, standing on the corner closest to the University. We now begin our tour by walking to our left toward one corner of the square and turn left to Aleksanterinkatu street. On our right stands the blue Sederholm House, the oldest stone building in Helsinki. Right next to this is the dark auburn residence of the Mayor. After a short walk we can see a small park on the left side of the street, behind which stands the Gothic House of Nobility, a popular concert hall. After we have passed the park, we walk past several historic buildings until we reach the shoreline. On our right looms the majestic Uspenski Cathedral with its gilded domes.
We now continue left, following the shore path. On our right we can see the parklands of Tervasaari, a popular summer restaurant island. After passing Rauhankatu street on our left, we can see the charming Renaissance-style apartment building designed by Sebastian Gripenberg and Magnus Schjerfbeck in 1899. After this row of buildings we can see the lovely Liisanpuistikko Park on our left. In the park stands a Civil War Memorial. We walk across the park, pass the memorial on our left and arrive at the corner of the Maurinkatu and Liisankatu streets. To our right stands a group of red brick buildings and to our left, next to the park, stands the delightful decorative building that houses the Svenska Klubben.
We continue left to Liisankatu street and turn right at the next corner, to Meritullinkatu street. We then turn left to Kulmakatu street, from where we turn left to Kristianinkatu street. On our left stand a number of old buildings. A small street leads to the buildings' inner courtyard, where we find the oldest wooden building in the city centre, the Burgher's House. Back on Kristianinkatu street, we walk on and turn left to Oikokatu street. Oikokatu street bends in the middle at a right angle. This corner sports a pretty Jugend-style school-house dating back to 1905. At the end of Oikokatu street we turn left to Snellmaninkatu street and then right, back to Liisankatu street.
We soon arrive on Unioninkatu street, turn left and continue walking with our back toward the district of Kallio. On our right we can see the sculpture Äidinrakkaus (Maternal Love), standing in the middle of Varsapuistikko Park. After walking a little longer we can see some Neo-Classical buildings on our left, as well as two sculptures: Portinvartija (The Gate Keeper), by Helena Pylkkänen and Päivänsarastus (Dawn), by Wäinö Aaltonen.
We now turn left onto Rauhankatu street. On our right stands the oldest Orthodox church in the city, the Church of the Holy Trinity, designed by Engel. A little further on we find something to look at on both sides of the street. On our left stand the beautiful buildings of the National Archives and on our right stands the mighty Bank of Finland and its side courtyard featuring a fountain by Eila Hiltunen, the sculptor who designed the Sibelius Monument. We then turn right to Snellmaninkatu street. On our right stands the Bank of Finland and the statue of J.W. Snellman, and on our left is the charming House of Estates, a building of immense importance in Finland's political history. We turn right at the corner and move behind the Lutheran Cathedral to Kirkkokatu. From here we turn left next to the Church of the Holy Trinity and end up standing next to the University Library, one of the city's most beautiful buildings and one of Engel's main pieces of work. We then walk down the cobblestone street back to Senate Square.
Bay Tour
The tour of Helsinki's shore begins on the boulevard at Kaisaniemenranta, from which we turn right into the University Botanical Gardens. Right in front of us is the symbol of the gardens, the wonderful greenhouse, which we pass on the right, thus entering the actual gardens. We now turn left, leaving the greenhouse on the left and the gardens' small pool on the right. After a short walk, a lovely pink building can be seen on the left side of the path. After a few more minutes, we have reached Siltavuorenkatu street. We now turn left, facing Pitkäsilta bridge and the district of Kallio. Using the historical Pitkäsilta Bridge, we move from Kaisaniemenranta to Pitkänsillanranta, where the sights include looking at the leafy greenness of the opposite shore and the gorgeous buildings looming above. The street changes from Pitkänsillanranta to Siltasaarenkärki as we are surrounded on three sides by the waters of the bay. This street gives way to Säästöpankinranta street. Here, the nicest sights are the parks that can be seen on the other side of the bay and the fountain in the middle of the bay. As the fountain shoots its water into the sky, the sun shining above reflects off it, causing a shimmering rainbow to appear.
Standing at the end of Säästöpankinranta street, we see on our left the famous Ympyrätalo (Circular Building), and right in front of us the popular Hakaniemi Square and great Hakaniemi Hall. If we stand right at the edge of Siltasaarenkatu street, we can look left and see the fabulous Kallio church. You may even be able to hear the church bells playing their distinctive melody, a tune by Jean Sibelius. You can take a quick stroll to the church and back. We will then continue our tour around Eläintarha Bay. This area, Tokoinranta, is known not only for its architectural sights, such as the modern Helsinki City Theatre building, but also for its green park areas, which play host to a whole range of celebrations during the year. Most Helsinkians know Tokoinlahti nowadays by the tent that is erected there during the annual Helsinki Festival. The tent is the venue for a host of performances from top Finnish and international artists.
From Tokoinranta, you can follow Eläintarhantie to the bridge, over the railway tracks and then to another street, Linnunlauluntie. This way you can continue your walk and stroll through the parks surrounding Töölö Bay. The first thing we see are the old villas at Linnunlaulu. These romantic wooden houses located in the shadow of mighty trees or on top of rocks set the mood for a nice stroll through the woods. A sandy walkway leads us to an open park, and continues onward right next to the bay. On the right, you can see the heavily-trafficked Helsinginkatu street, on the other side of which stands the City Winter Gardens.
As you stroll along the footpath, you can stop to enjoy the sight of the fountain in Töölö Bay, to breathe in the fresh air that blows across the bay, or to admire the Opera House or Finlandia Hall, which loom on the other side of the bay.
We now cross over the Helsingintie street and approach the winter gardens, which we pass on the left by taking Hammarskjöldintie street. When the Olympic Stadium appears in front of us through the trees, we turn to the path on our left. After a short stroll, the statue of famous athlete Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala can be seen on the left. We now leave the park and cross the square in front of the Olympic Stadium and head for the statues of Paavo Nurmi and Lasse Viren, two of Finland's most famous athletes. From here, we continue our walk on Paavo Nurmen Katu street towards the National Opera. We go across Helsingintie street again, now facing the majestic National Opera building. Next, we turn left and then right at the corner of the building, ending up back by Töölö Bay.
As we pass the Finnish National Opera building with its mighty curving glass wall, the next thing we see is the gorgeous Hesperia Park. The park's footpath is lined with lovely willows. When we reach the other end of the park, we find a simply wonderful little artificial stream that flows down the rockface next to the Finlandia Hall. This brook flows down to a lighted pool, from where the water then flows to Töölö Bay. There is also a little bit of sandy beach next to the Finlandia Hall, which is nice for just sitting and admiring the scenery or for watching the mallards and swans that swim in the bay.
Right next to the park stands the mighty Finlandia Hall. Its white exterior befits the park as well as the open areas that start in the building's shadow. We walk around the hall by taking Karamzininkatu street, and walk up to Mannerheimintie road. On our right is the Hakasalmen Huvila, an attractive old villa. On the left side is the castle-like National Museum. We face away from the villa to see the mighty granite Parliament Building on our right. We now follow Mannerheimintie road all the way to Mannerheiminaukio Square, passing as we go the glass Sanomatalo building on our left and a lovely small park on our right. On Mannerheiminaukio square stands the statue of Mannerheim and the art museum Kiasma. We turn left from the square, towards the Railway Station, which we walk through, and end up on Rautatientori (Railway Square). On the right stands Ateneum, the art museum, and on the left, the National Theatre building, toward which we begin walking. Passing the statue of Aleksis Kivi, we then turn to Itäinen Teatterikuja alley and end our tour in the lovely Kaisaniemen Puisto.
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