Finland is a beautiful country in the Nordic zone. It is an ancient land with historical affiliation with different cultures and people migrating from other parts of Europe. It is home to many interesting traditions you can partake in whenever you decide to take a trip to the city. You can even follow the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 while in the country.
There are many areas to visit whenever you want to visit this Nordic country, and Helsinki is a perfect city for you to choose. It is where you’ll have access to some of the best parts of the country, and there are many activities to try. You can pick each of them when you try to visit. In that case, we’ve put together six activities you should consider when visiting the city.
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Visit the Helsinki Cathedral
One of the most exciting landmarks in Helsinki is the Cathedral soaring above the cityscape, and if you look at it at night from the water, it looks like it shines as a beacon covering the city. Your visit to the city won’t be complete if you do not go to the Helsinki Cathedral. The neoclassical architecture built in the mid-19th century is a perfect site for you to check out.
It was named the St. Nicholas’ Cathedral before it was renamed the Helsinki Cathedral after Finland gained independence from Russia. You can take a look around this historical building towering over the city. It has a perfect structural advantage that lets you have interesting moments with your loved ones, and you can enter the Cathedral to enjoy the serene.
Take a Trip to the Seurasaari Island
Another activity you should consider whenever you visit Helsinki is taking a trip to the Seurasaari, an open-air museum that sits north of the city center. It is a museum that brings together a different selection of Finnish structures from all over the country. It is open all summer, and you can visit to get enough information about the city.
When you visit this side of the country, you’ll get an exciting trip down memory lane as you learn about life and work in ancient Finland in the last four centuries. You’ll also find archaic manor houses, farms, old workshops, and cottages connected by different trails.
Uspenski Cathedral
Finland’s history is intertwined with Russia’s century-long engagement in the country, and many sights illustrate this engagement throughout the country. A perfect example of this is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe, and it sits on a rise in one of the upmarket areas in Helsinki.
The Uspenski Cathedral is an old architecture that you can visit as it has many interesting historical stories available to many visitors to learn about the country and its Christian roots. You can see beautiful and iconic paintings that make for perfect sightseeing.
Old Market Hall
You can also go to the Old Market Hall to get a wide range of things connected to the culture in Finland. The Market is open every day from Monday to Saturday, and it has been near the water in Etelaranta since 1889. It was the first permanent building for Helsinki’s markets as they used to be open-air and held in squares.
The Hall is a striking byzantine revival building that you can even check out even though you don’t want to buy anything from the Market. However, you can always give the different Finnish items a try.
Visit the Urban Sauna
Sauna is part of the Finnish culture, a word from the culture. You’ll find about three million of them in the country, many of which are available in Helsinki. Fortunately, many of them are open to the public, and it doesn’t matter if you’re visiting in the summer or the winter; you can visit any of the available Saunas close to you.
You can check the ones close to where you will be staying, and before you enter one of them, you should learn about the etiquette. Aside from that, you’re good to go and can enjoy the water’s warmth.
Attend the Crayfish Parties
To be part of this annual ceremony in Helsinki, you must plan your visit between late July and the end of August. You can join the people of the city to dress up in fine regalias and pack out to some of the finest seafood restaurants in the city. The season of crayfish and a historic event brings the entire people together.
You can enjoy the cuisines, entertainment, and other festive activities to make your stay in the city more exciting and fun. You can also join in on the various sing-along challenges as you take a shot of the best drinks and enjoy the different sets of rituals.