Wednesday 30 November 2016

Sightseeing in Finland

We have collected here some places to go and things to see if you have a day or a few to enjoy the sights of Finland. We focused on Turku and Helsinki areas; if you will be visiting other parts of Finland, you could ask for pointers on out Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/492419047634783/.

Note!


Please observe that Friday 6th of January is a public holiday in Finland. Sunday timetables will be in use for public transport, and many shops and other venues are closed. Nonetheless there are places that welcome visitors on this day too.


TURKU


The city of Turku's official website for tourism and travel information:

Turku castle (13th c.)


closed on Mondays (6.1.?)

Information on the main exhibitions (most medieval):

Noteworthy: on the same weekend as the Coronation (7.-8.1.), Turku Castle has a special event called Ritaripäivät (Chivalry Days) with re-enactors, dancers, handicrafters and other program. The castle is open on Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Aboa Vetus & Ars-Nova - museum of history and contemporary art


open every day (including 6.1.)

"Aboa Vetus is an underground area of ruins, where the genuine constructions tell the history of the oldest city in Finland. The exhibition halls of Ars Nova are located in the Rettig palace, a former residence completed in 1928. Contemporary art as well as the art collection of the foundation are presented here. The two galleries, Takkahuone and Omatila, located within the museum have their own exhibition program."

Turku cathedral and museum


open every day, but 6.1. is a holiday when churches may have special schedules.

Noteworthy: Displayed in the museum, among other things, are sculptures of saints as well as church silverware from the Catholic Middle Ages. The museum is not accessible during church services.


HELSINKI and nearby


The city of Helsinki's official website for tourism and travel information:

National Museum


closed on Mondays (is open 6.1.)

Noteworthy: National Museum has an exhibition of 16th century Italian paintings until 15.1.2017.

National art museum (Ateneum)


closed on Mondays (is open 6.1.)

Museum of modern art (Kiasma)


closed on Mondays (6.1.?)

Helsinki cathedral


open every day, but 6.1. is a holiday when churches may have special schedules.

Noteworthy: the crypt of the cathedral may be open around the time of the event (the information was not available when the list was created). It is an interesting space with art exhibitions.

Uspenski Orthodox cathedral


closed on Mondays. 6.1. is a holiday when churches may have special schedules.

Church of St. Lawrence, Vantaa



Noteworthy: a medieval church dating from 1450. It's possible to book a guided tour (Mon-Fri 9-15, likely not available 6.1.) in Tikkurila parish.

Suomenlinna



Noteworthy: some tourist services on the island are only open during the summer season, but there are services available in the winter as well.


HÄMEENLINNA


Hämeenlinna can be reached by train from Helsinki or Turku. https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/frontpage

The city of Hämeenlinna's official website for tourism and travel information:

Häme castle (13th c.)


closed on Mondays (is open 6.1.)