By Pamela Nandi | Oct 26, 2019
TIME OF STAY: JANUARY to DECEMBER
Finland (Finnish: Suomi, Swedish: Finland) – one of the Nordic countries in northern Europe that boasts vast areas of wild nature. Excited to share my experience during my stay related to work for the first time in a Nordic country.
BEST TIME OF VISIT: MAY to SEPTEMBER
DESTINATION 1: Helsinki
MY ARRIVAL: Flew from the city of New Delhi, India to Helsinki by Finnair (one STOP flight duration of 7 hrs). Checked-in to the service apartment arranged by my employer at Helsinki during late afternoon.
I spent a year in Finland living like a local, by landing during the coldest and longest season that lasted until the end of April in the country’s capital – Helsinki, overlooking the Gulf of Finland for a few months and another few months of the year in Espoo – Finland’s second-largest city.
A modern city drenched with urban vibes and teaming up with its iconic landmarks, maritime heritage and neoclassical architecture adds an extra dimension to its history.
Admire the top Helsinki attractions in my neighbourhoods –
I started exploring the city from its central avenue Mannerheimintie, that leads into the city centre, flanked by the Stone Age buildings holding beautiful examples of Finnish history.
Helsinki has a lot to offer, and the ones that proudly just stands out in the Helsinki’s skyline are the cathedrals. So get your cameras ready to explore the rich history of Helsinki, flanked by some most photographed famed cathedrals overlooking the city centre.
Uspenski Cathedral
The name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word ‘uspenie’, which denotes the Dormition. The spectacular ornate red-brick Cathedral next to my neighbourhood in the Katajanokka overlooking the harbour in Helsinki on the hilltop at the west end of Market Square showcases the Russian impact on Finnish history. An Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki and largest Russian Orthodox church in Western Europe dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Helsinki Cathedral
Another iconic landmarks of city, is the gorgeous white biggest cathedral church in Finland. Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighbourhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki, built from 1830-1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.
St. John’s Church
Designed in Neogothic style by the Swedish architect A. E. Molander, built-in 1893. Greatest Lutheran stone church in Finland with a 2,600 seating limit. Generally called ‘Johannes Church’.
Senate Square
Another interesting place to discover is the Senate Square (Finnish: Senaatintori, Swedish: Senatstorget) – the main square of Helsinki since the 17th century crowned by Helsinki Cathedral. A place of gathering for national and academic festive services and a popular summer tourists sight.
Market Square
City’s main tourist destinations and a centre of trade for hundreds of years to immerse into the traditional Finnish delights is the famous Market Square, located at the eastern end of Esplanadi and bordering the Baltic Sea to the south.
Keisarinnankivi (The Stone of The Empress) Public Memorial at Market Square
Erected in 1835 in honour of the wife of the Russian Emperor Nikolai I Alexandra Feodorovna with a gilded ball on top that symbolizes the Earth and a two-headed eagle with an emblem of the Grand Duchy of Finland – a lion.
Havis Amanda at Market Square
The fountain with a female figure ringed by four sea lions sculpted by Ville Vallgren in 1906 in Paris, and erected at the Market Square in 1908 and a centrepiece for all celebrations.
And not to miss some of the captures of merciless chilled winter in Helsinki.
Port of Helsinki
The city is marked with unique qualities and one of them is the gleaming white busy scenic harbour with a natural seaport ringed by cruise ships. One of the busiest passenger ports in Europe. Its main cruise lines are the Finnish traffic brands – Viking Lines and Silja Lines.
Whether it’s an iconic winter season or a sunbathed summertime, one of the greatest advantage of visiting Helsinki, is its location on the Gulf of Finland. Board a cruise and enjoy what it has to offer at your leisure. The delicious food at the different style of restaurants, entertainment, beautiful view of the archipelago, great shopping opportunities with affordable sea prices at the cruise are to die for.
Being an adventure lover, I revealed few places by taking an easy and comfortable day trip by Viking Lines Cruises from Helsinki to Tallinn, capital of Esthonia.
Though Nordic winter is rough in Helsinki, to escape the city for a few days, visiting the Nordics neighbourhoods – capital city of Sweden, Stockholm and Russia‘s second largest city –St. Petersburgh. The journey was a sheer pleasure by staying overnight in the cruise.
And now its time to say goodbye to winters.The snow appears to have washed away gradually and welcome the spring season.
Winter is gone and its time for the Finns to celebrate the summer holidays very passionately. The Nordics midsummer is often seen as the beginning of warm summer weather. Bathed in summer sunshine the Finnish towns come alive. The Midsummer Eve during the end of June, the longest day of the year is the festive day in the northern parts of Finland.
While the sun is making its big comeback, lets explore the city on a lazy weekend.
Esplanade Park
A pleasant stroll through the green yards of the Esplanadi Park. Esplanadi, colloquially known as Espa, is an esplanade and urban park in downtown Helsinki.
The merciless winter chill is over and to explore its snow washed buildings, its interesting sacred architecture in the surroundings is another highlight. Immersed into its history spanning over 800 years, layered from multiple eras.
Finnish National Opera
Pass By Finnish National Opera (Suomen Kansallisooppera), Helsinginkatu opened in 1993, one of the finest modernist buildings in Helsinki.
Parliament House
Finnish National Theatre
The oldest Finnish speaking professional theatre in Finland established in 1872 located on the northern side of the Helsinki Central Railway Station Square.
Compass Square
Helsinki Central Railway Station
The main station for commuter rail and long-distance trains departing from Helsinki.
Stockmann
Stockmann Helsinki Centre is a culturally significant business building and department store located in the centre of Helsinki, the largest department store in the Nordic countries owned by the Stockmann corporation welcomes millions of visitors. The store offers a wide selection of quality products under one roof starting from fashion, cosmetics, Finnish design, souvenirs, home products, groceries, cafés and restaurants.
Sea Fortress Suomenlinna
On a sunny winter afternoon, I visited another Helsinki’s top tourist attraction – UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 25-minute ferry rides away from Helsinki ( 4 km southeast of the city center) Market Square to Sea Fortress Suomenlinna.
The 18th-century remarkable sea fortress stretches back to 1748, built during the Swedish era, listed as a one of the world’s largest inhabited island that sprawls across a series of six small islands.
The island recounts to military and maritime history, the battle of Suomenlinna fought in 1855.
During my stay in Finland, I was lucky enough to witness Helsinki celebrate its May Day and Helsinki Day.
May Day –
In Finnish, it is called ‘Vappu‘. One of the largest public holidays of the calendar year is the 1st of May, also known as a Labour day. A celebration for the working class has nowadays become a celebration for the students. Festivities begin on the eve of May Day in Helsinki on April 30th. The students gather at the Market Square to wash the statue of Havis Amanda, before putting a white cap on her head.
Helsinki Day –
The city founded in 1550, celebrates its birthday every year on 12thJune, – an annual celebration in Finland, with attendees exceeding one hundred thousand in the events. On this day, the Helsinki Medal is awarded to noteworthy citizens by the city council.
MY STAY: Stayed for few months arranged by my employer at a serviced apartment at Kauppiaankatu, central Helsinki.
DESTINATION 2: Espoo
After spending a few months in Helsinki, I moved to Helsinki’s second-largest city and municipality in southern Finland i.e. Espoo. Part of the Finnish Capital Region, along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen covered with flat valleys, low clay hills, the forest that reveals a connection with nature.
MY STAY: Stayed at a serviced apartment arranged by my employer at Leppävaarankatu, Espoo located next to the largest and most popular shopping centres in the Nordics – Sello Shopping Centre Espoo.
HELPFUL LINKS –
https://www.portofhelsinki.fi/en/passengers/international-cruise-ships
https://www.viator.com/Finland/d50-ttd
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