Helsinki: Fortress Islands, Nature and Culture

Helsinki brings together an expansive island landscape, green spaces and distinctive architecture. Suomenlinna presents the city as a fortress spread across several islands; Seurasaari is known for its coastal landscape and wildlife watching, while Oodi combines contemporary Finnish architecture with urban uses.

Helsinki at a glance

• The Helsinki archipelago includes more than 300 islands.
• Suomenlinna extends across six separate islands and covers 210 hectares, with 200 buildings and six kilometres of defensive walls.
• An HSL ferry runs year-round from the Market Square to Suomenlinna’s main pier; the sea crossing takes about 15 minutes.
• Seurasaari is connected to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge year-round. The circular route is about 3.1 kilometres long.
• The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum has 88 buildings and is open from mid-May to mid-September.
• Korkeasaari Zoo is located on a Baltic Sea island not far from the city centre and is home to more than 150 animal species.

Suomenlinna: A fortress on six islands

Suomenlinna is a district of Helsinki and an extensive ensemble of buildings, islands and defensive walls. The fortress is an outstanding example of 17th- and 18th-century fortification principles, particularly the bastion system, while also displaying distinctive features of its own. Bastions are projecting parts of a fortification; the term helps explain the distinctive form of this historic architecture.

Guided walking tours lead to historic sites and offer insights into the fortress’s past and present. Tour dates vary by season. For the crossing, the approximate journey time of 15 minutes is a useful guide; timetables may change. The ferry service from the Market Square goes to the main pier of the island group.

Seurasaari: Coastal landscape and wildlife watching

Seurasaari offers a different focus: coastal forests, herb-rich forests with valuable flora, ponds and smooth rocks shape the landscape. It also includes a coastal meadow, which is a protected habitat type. The southern shore and the islets form a nature reserve. Seurasaari is also Helsinki’s most diverse habitat for bats.

In this peaceful recreational area, with its old trees, visitors can observe birds and squirrels at close range; sightings vary. The shores and islets provide nesting sites for various bird species. For a walk, the circular route offers a specific distance of about 3.1 kilometres. Stairs along the route can be avoided if needed. By comparison, Helsinki’s approximately ten-kilometre-long Central Park offers a different scale: this forest area stretches from Töölönlahti Bay in the south to Haltiala on the city’s northern border. Here, a circular route is being compared with the extent of the forest area, not with another route of the same kind.

Activities on the water also have different seasonal conditions. In summer, sea bathing is possible at the rocky, sandy beach beside the swimming facility. In winter, the facility is used for winter swimming and maintained by the Seurasaari Swimmers’ Association. Swimming conditions and seasonal operations may change. There is also a public grill at the festival grounds where you can grill your own food. The city regularly provides firewood; bring matches. Fire restrictions may apply when warnings are in effect.

Architecture, history and city experiences

The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum was founded in 1909. Its 88 buildings are characteristic of different regions and periods from the late 17th to the 20th century. Its seasonal opening period, from mid-May to mid-September, makes it a clearly defined cultural attraction to include in your travel plans. Seurasaari is also known for its Midsummer celebrations.

The Central Library Oodi combines contemporary Finnish architecture with service design. Oodi is an event venue and a versatile urban meeting place for reading, learning, working and relaxing. Helsinki Cathedral also tells the story of the city: completed in 1852 as the present main church of the Diocese of Helsinki, it was formerly known as St. Nicholas Church and the Great Cathedral, and is part of Helsinki’s Empire-era centre.

Korkeasaari Zoo and Seurasaari offer different kinds of wildlife watching. The zoo is home to more than 150 animal species; this number may change as the collection develops. Seurasaari, by contrast, is a place to observe birds and squirrels in a natural setting, though wildlife encounters cannot be predicted. The two places therefore offer different experiences of nature rather than the same kind of activity.

Experiences to help guide your hotel search

Choosing what to do can help define the focus of your trip: fortress history and guided tours, nature and trails on Seurasaari, or architecture and urban life around Oodi.

Discover more destinations: Billnäs, Raseborg, Svartå, Mäntsälä, Sipoo, Nurmijärvi.

Frequently asked questions about Helsinki

How long does the ferry to Suomenlinna take?

The HSL ferry runs year-round from the Market Square to the main pier; the sea crossing takes about 15 minutes. Timetables may change.

When is the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum open?

The open-air museum is open from mid-May to mid-September. It has 88 buildings characteristic of different regions from the late 17th to the 20th century.

What should you know about the circular route on Seurasaari?

The route is about 3.1 kilometres long. Stairs can be avoided if needed; this does not imply anything about the condition of the other paths.

What wildlife can you see in Helsinki?

Korkeasaari Zoo is home to more than 150 animal species; the number of species may change as the collection develops. On Seurasaari, you can observe birds and squirrels at close range, though sightings vary.

What is special about Oodi?

The Central Library combines contemporary Finnish architecture with service design. It is also an event venue and a meeting place for reading, learning, working and relaxing.

For the broader travel overview: Uusimaa.