Local area

The Market Square is Helsinki's most international and famous market. The booths here sell traditional market foods and treats, as well as handicrafts and souvenirs. There is also a heated café tent where you can comfortably sip steaming hot coffee even on the coldest days in winter

Finlandia Hall in Helsinki is the leading congress, event and entertainment venue in Finland. Centrally located, in park-like surroundings, Finlandia Hall is ideal for conferences and exhibitions, as well as for smaller meetings, concerts and light entertainment. A masterpiece by the world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, Finlandia Hall is worth a visit in its own right.

Finland's 200-seat parliament gathers in this impressive building representing 1920s Classicism. The facade of the building is made of red granite from Kalvola. The main facade includes 14 Corinthian columns. A Visitors' Centre operates in the Little Parliament (Arkadiankatu 3, open Mon-Fri 10-16), an annex on the left side of the actual Parliament building. At the Visitors' Centre you will find information about the Parliament. Here it is possible to watch videos about the Parliament or read br

Surrounded by park, the Opera, built in the beginning of the 1990's, is in the inner city and easily accessible by public transport. View from the main foyer over the sea and city centre. Performances six days a week as a rule: opera, ballet, premieres, concerts and other events. Main auditorium, intimate Almi Hall and impressive foyers. Guided tours by arrangement. From our hotel Opera is 30 mins by walking, 15 mins by tram. www.opera.fi

The Finnish National Theatre (FNT) is a professional theatre whose mission is to offer its audience the best in Finnish language dramatic art. Since its foundation, the FNT has featured a range of theatrical styles staging Finnish drama, extraordinary international plays, and major world classics. www.kansallisteatteri.fi

The National Museum of Finland illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the present day. Major archaeological finds, the historical, numismatic and ethnological collections have been put together for over 200 years. Workshop Vintti on the third floor is an interactive exhibition especially designed for children, where visitors can study the history of Finland and its culture using their hands and heads.

Olympic StadiumThe Olympic Stadion, built in 1938 was designed in functionalistic style by the architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti. The Olympic Games were held in 1952 in Helsinki. Today the Olympic Stadium hosts both national and international sporting events and concerts. You can reach olympic Stadium with trams 6, changeing to 10 or 4 in about 25 mins.

Kiasma is a museum of contemporary art under the umbrella of the Finnish National Gallery. Its primary role is to educate the public on contemporary art and to strengthen the status of art in Finland in general.The basic functions of the museum are organising changing exhibitions and augmenting its collection, along with research and presentation of the works. The primary focus in the museum collection is on Finnish contemporary art. The collection is also supplemented by commissioning new work.

Completed in 1868 in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history.

Quarried out of the natural bedrock, Temppeliaukio Church is one of Helsinki's most popular tourist attractions. The interior walls are created naturally by the rock. The church was designed by architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. Due to its excellent acoustics the church is a popular venue for concerts.

Helsinki Zoo Korkeasaari is one of the oldest zoos in the world (established already in 1889). In Helsinki Zoo you'll meet animals from the arctic tundra to the tropical rainforest. Approximately 200 different animal species reside in the Zoo, and there are almost a 1000 different plant species. www.korkeasaari.fi

Linnanmäki has entertained families since 1950. The amusement park has an enormous selection of fun rides, from ultra scary to more easy-going. The special wooden rollercoaster is over 50-years-old and remains the most popular ride. Linnanmäki also has many arcade halls with the latest games as well as an outdoor stage presenting entertaining performances. Take tram 6 and change to tram 3 at the Central Railway Station. www.linnanmaki.fi

Casino Helsinki in the center of Helsinki 's entertainment and nightlife area, offers versatile and high quality entertainment for adults. As all around the world, the Casino is besides playing an excellent place to spend time and enjoy a high quality program. The experience is also complemented with professional and versatile restaurant services.

Located in the centre of Helsinki, the Stockmann department store offers a wide selection of products from foods to top fashion and electronics across 538,000 square feet of shopping space. An exhibition hall on the 5th floor features sales exhibitions on varying themes. This summer’s exhibition, Feels like Finland, is dedicated to tourists and travellers, offering selected products from brands like Arabia, Iittala, Marimekko and Aarikka. www.stockmann.fi

The opening of the Helsinki Music Centre gave Helsinki an acoustically first-class concert hall as well as other facilities providing a wide range of musical experiences for people of all ages and a place to study music. The main users of the building are the Sibelius Academy, the Helsinki Philharmonic and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

A 40-meter-high ferris wheel opened in June 2014 at Katajanokka. Through the blue-colored condole windows you will see the city centre very well. It’s a good place to spot, for example, the Cathedrals of Helsinki and Uspenski and the Market square. Feel free to take photos. Entrance to the Sky Wheel is 12 euros for adults. The ride lasts approx. 12 minutes.

Ivana Helsinki is designer Paola Suhonen´s art, fashion and cinema brand, delicately mending Slavic rough melancholy and pure Scandinavian moods.