The average temperature in efficient, elegant Helsinki hovers around 43°F (6°C), but this does not mean visitors need expect a chilly welcome. The funky Finns, known for their hip and happening sense of style, design and association with high technology, know how to warm hearts and minds in their modern, cosmopolitan capital.<br /><br /> The city, spread across a cluster of promontories and peninsulas, is almost 500 years old. Its clean, wide avenues are lined with buildings echoing centuries of architectural excellence from Gothic through Art Deco to cutting-edge contemporary. It all fits together in total harmony with nature, which invades the urban environment with green spaces when it is not blanketed in snow. Trees, flowers, hares, squirrels, pheasants and even the odd elk are often spied in the myriad parks in the centre of the city. On the whole, the city is surrounded with crisp, unpolluted air and the bright blue waters of the Baltic Sea.<br /><br /> Despite the cold climate, the invigorating outdoors beckons in Helsinki even in the middle of winter. Recreation takes the form of ice skating, skiing, ice-fishing, sailing, cycling, soaking in saunas, or during the short-lived summer, sunbathing. After the action, sit tucked in a rug outside one of the many street-side bars sipping hot <em>gloggi</em>(spiced wine) and watch the wintry world go by. The city is also ideal for walking, with the sights all concentrated in the central area beneath the towering cathedrals.<br /><br /> The great outdoors is also the setting for Helsinki's numerous festivals and fairs, like the May Day Carnival, the Baltic Herring Festival, the Helsinki City Marathon, the annual Samba carnival and the midsummer festival, to name but a few. Events do move indoors when it comes to the city's rich cultural life, featuring some of the world's finest orchestras and choirs, rock concerts, film festivals, the Finnish National Opera and Ballet performances, and the output of countless theatre and dance troupes.<br /><br /> Whether visited as a snowy winter wonderland or scenic sun-splashed cityscape with almost permanent daylight, Helsinki is a unique destination that will delight the heart of any traveller.<br /><br />

Suomenlinna Fortress

Address: Helsinki

Admission: EUR 7 for adults, concessions available. Open daily 10am-6pm during summer and 10.30am-4.30pm during winter.

Telephone: (295) 338 410

The historically significant Suomenlinna fortress is not only a major military monument worthy of the UNESCO World Heritage List, but also home to about 800 Finns who live in the renovated barracks. The entire site is a fun, multi-faceted attraction for Helsinki residents and visitors. The fortress, built during Swedish rule in the 18th century, is situated on an island at the entrance to Helsinki's harbour.<br /><br /> The fortification became a strategic military shipyard with one of the biggest dry docks in the world, comparable to the fortress at Gibraltar. Apart from admiring the architecture, there is plenty to experience at Suomenlinna, which contains six museums, galleries, restaurants and cafés, several parks, beaches and nature areas. Guided walking tours are offered and there are always events taking place like exhibitions, jazz shows and theatrical performances, particularly during summer.<br /><br />

Senate Square

Address: Helsinki

Architecture buffs will enjoy sitting in a café admiring the buildings surrounding Helsinki's lively Senate Square, renowned for some of Europe's finest examples of the neoclassical style. But you don't need any knowledge of architecture to enjoy this lovely square, which has a great atmosphere and is one of the central meeting places of the city. The square is dominated by the city's main landmark, the Lutheran Cathedral, designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and consecrated in 1852.<br /><br /> The interior is as perfect as the exterior design, and is open to the public daily for no charge. Other buildings on the Square designed by Engel are the Government Palace, completed in 1822, and the University buildings (1832). The square is a thrilling place to be on New Year's Eve as this is where the locals come to celebrate with singing, dancing and brilliant fireworks displays. There are bus and walking tours of Helsinki departing from the square, which is a good starting point for exploration of the city.<br /><br />

Uspenski Cathedral

Address: Pormestarinrinne 1, Katajanokka Helsinki

Admission: Free

Telephone: (098) 564 6200

Many have compared Helsinki to the beautiful Russian city of St Petersburg (a close neighbour across a strait of water), and the exotic red-brick Orthodox cathedral Uspenski, designed by Aleksei Gornostayev of St Petersburg in the mid-1800s, cements the Russian connection. The cathedral sits atop a rocky outcrop on the Katajanokka peninsula opposite the fish market, fronted by a statue of Tsar Alexander II, as a memento of Russia's occupation of Finland until 1919.<br /><br /> The magnificent Byzantine edifice is topped with a characteristic golden onion dome, and the interior is opulently decorated with valuable icons. The cathedral is beautifully situated and very eye-catching as it can be seen from many places in the city. There are wonderful views of Helsinki from the hill. Parts of the church are off-limits when there is not a service being conducted but there is still plenty to see in this ornate cathedral. Flash photography is not allowed inside.<br /><br />

Market Square

Address: Helsinki

The Market Square in Helsinki, known locally as Kauppatori, is the central meeting point of the city. The space is sandwiched between the sea and a row of impressive historic buildings which include the City Hall, the Swedish Embassy and the Presidential Palace. Trams and waterbuses converge on the square, where visitors gather to watch the changing of the bulkily clad guard at the Palace and admire the Havis Amanda mermaid statue at the west end of the Square in front of Esplanade Park.<br /><br /> There is a longstanding tradition of displaying old American cars in the square on the first Friday of every month, which is fun for car enthusiasts. The square is also a departure point for the ferries that travel to Suomenlinna, and it is possible to hire private vessels for sailing trips out to other nearby islands in summer.<br /><br /> Every year in October the Baltic Herring Festival, the oldest recurring festival in Helsinki, sets up in the square and this is a particularly great time to visit as lots of food and craft stalls spring up and, of course, there is plenty of herring to sample.<br /><br /> Seagulls have become something of a menace in the Market Square, swooping down to snatch food of all kinds from the hands of unsuspecting tourists.<br /><br />

Temppeliaukio Church

Address: Helsinki

Telephone: (092) 340 5940

This awesome and unique piece of architecture, the Temppeliaukio ('Church in the rock') was designed by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and carved out of solid granite as recently as 1969. It has become one of Helsinki's most famous attractions, its rock walls roofed over with a massive concave copper ceiling, which gives it excellent acoustics and makes the roof seem like an enormous sun.<br /><br /> Although it is not very impressive from the outside - it still feels like part of the rock that surrounds it - the interior is magnificent and quite the opposite of the dark, cave-like place you would expect when looking at the rock-hewn building. It is an unusual place of worship but clearly a spiritual attraction and no matter what your beliefs this artistic church will surprise and perhaps inspire you. The church is often used as a venue for musical events due to its wonderful acoustics and there are sometimes piano recitals in the afternoons; if you visit during one of these performances you can leave a donation to show your appreciation. English services are occasionally conducted on Sundays at 2pm.<br /><br />

Seurasaari Open Air Museum

Address: Seurasaari Island Helsinki

Admission: EUR 9 June to August, EUR 6 May, September and October. Concessions available. Monday to Friday 9am-3pm, Saturday to Sunday 11am-5pm mid-May to mid-October.

The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum allows visitors to step back in time and glimpse the traditional way of life in the Finnish countryside, and all this in the heart of the capital city, Helsinki. Situated on a lovely green island accessed from the mainland via a footbridge, the museum consists of a collection of cottages, farmsteads, rural churches, manor houses and other old buildings, all preserved and relocated from their original sites around the provinces of Finland.<br /><br /> The 87 buildings currently on the museum site have been arranged to form a complete replica of a country district, reflecting what life was like in various levels of rural society between the 18th and 20th centuries.<br /><br />

National Museum of Finland

Address: Mannerheimintie 34 Helsinki

Admission: EUR 10 for adults, concessions available, free between 4pm and 6pm on Friday. 11am-6pm Tuesday to Sundays, closed Mondays and public holidays.

Telephone: (295) 33 6000

History enthusiasts will enjoy the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki, which depicts Finnish life from prehistoric times to the present. Housed in an impressive Romantic style building, which looks a bit like a castle, the museum's permanent exhibition is divided into different sections, including the 'Treasure Trove', a display of coins, medals and weaponry. The archaeological section features some rare Stone Age finds.<br /><br /> Also interesting are the folk costumes, textiles and furniture displays that make up Finland's cultural heritage collection. The Workshop Vintti offers an exciting interactive approach to history, letting you sit on a throne, saddle a horse or build an authentic Finnish wall. Other highlights include the section on the Vikings and the exhibition on jewellery through the ages in Finland. One common criticism of this otherwise popular museum is that there is not adequate coverage of the Finnish wars, which may be a disappointment to military history lovers. The museum has regular temporary exhibitions as well as the extensive permanent collection but these usually carry an extra cover charge.<br /><br /> The rich history of the Finnish are relatively unknown to outsiders, which makes this museum especially intriguing. The museum also has a café and shop.<br /><br />

Santa Claus Village

Address: Helsinki

Many people choose to take an excursion out of Helsinki to visit Santa's Village, which is a popular daytrip encouraged by trains to Rovaniemi where it is located. It's Christmas every day of the year in the rather commercialised (but quaint) 'Santa's secret hideaway' in Lapland, northern Finland, where the redoubtable Mr Claus spends his time preparing gifts for the world's children, and meeting and greeting an estimated 500,000 delighted visitors a year.<br /><br /> Coincidentally, the valley inside the Arctic Circle where Santa's Village is set is shaped like an ear, so it is said that Santa can listen to all the children of the world. At the village all sorts of activities are on offer at Santa's office, the reindeer park and the Santa Park theme park, and of course you can use Santa's personal post office to mail a letter or card home with the coveted postmark. The highlight of any visit, though, is of course meeting the great man himself, and whispering your wishes into his friendly ear.<br /><br /> There are beautiful Christmas decorations on sale here as well and plenty of opportunities for present shopping. Santa's Village and Santa Park are located just a mile from the international airport of Rovaniemi (capital of Lapland), and is also accessible by bus or train from Helsinki.<br /><br />

Helsinki Zoo

Address: Mustikkamaanpolku 12, Korkeasaari Helsinki

Admission: EUR 12 for adults, concessions available Daily 10am-8pm in summer and 10pm to 4pm in winter.

Telephone: (09) 310 37900

Situated on the popular island of Korkeasaari, the Helsinki Zoo is one of the best family attractions in Helsinki and can be reached by bus, car or ferry during the summer. Home to about 150 different animal species and almost seven times that many varieties of plant life, the zoo makes a great stop for anyone travelling with children in Helsinki. The place is arranged in different habitats so that visitors move from one world to another through tundra, rainforest, mountains, wetlands, deserts and tropics. Each season also presents visitors with different experiences, ranging from autumn when the big cats get more active to greeting the newborns in spring.<br /><br /> Visitors can see Finnish wildlife like musk ox, reindeer and snowy owls, or more exotic flora and fauna from all over the world, including rare animals like the majestic snow leopard and the red panda. As part of its mission to preserve and protect biodiversity the Helsinki zoo breeds and raises endangered animals. The zoo, founded 120 years ago, also offers rest areas, restaurants, and souvenir shops and you can bring your own picnic and enjoy it sitting on the cliff tops with lovely views.<br /><br />

Helsinki Festival

Where: The Huvila Festival Tent at Hakaniemi, opposite the Helsinki City Theatre,Helsinki

When: 17 August - 2 September 2018

The Helsinki Festival showcases the best Finnish and international performing arts, drawing 300,000 people every year to a full programme of music, dance, theatre, popular and world music, cinema, and exhibitions. The festival, founded in 1968, takes place in a unique tented venue in the city centre. One of the most popular aspects of the festival is the Night of Arts when the city streets, parks, churches and galleries are given over to dance groups, orchestras and buskers.<br /><br /> The festival also features a Children's Festival. The mission of the festival is to make art of all kinds accessible to all people so tickets are quite cheap, and the Night of Arts is celebrated all over the city for the public to enjoy. The festival also runs for almost a month, in the pleasant summer season, which means that many visitors have the opportunity to experience this special event in Helsinki. Check the website for details on the programme for each year and ticket prices for different events. You can buy tickets online or at the festival venue.<br /><br />

May Day (Vappu)

Where: Market Square,Helsinki

When: 30 April to 1 May annually

Finns know how to have fun, and when they party they do so seriously. The best party of the year in Helsinki, particularly for students, is the May Day celebration. Although neighbourhoods throughout the city celebrate to herald the arrival of spring in their own way, the main event takes place in Market Square and along the Esplanade, where crowds gather in the early evening of 30 April (Walpurgis Night) to watch the statue of Havis Amanda adorned with a white cap.<br /><br /> Champagne is sprayed over the mermaid statue, launching the festivities, which take the form of an exuberant street party continuing well into the night. This is a genuinely fun and festive time to be in the city which comes alive after the long winter and the enthusiasm of the locals is infectious. Every year the festival takes place on the same dates.<br /><br /> For more information contact the Helsinki City Tourist and Convention Bureau.<br /><br />

Helsinki City Marathon

Where: The marathon starts and ends at the Olympic Stadium,Helsinki

When: 19 May 2018

Finland's popular annual Marathon event attracts thousands of runners from around the world, most probably because the race follows a particularly scenic course along the coastline in and around Helsinki. The race is run in summer but the sea breezes are generally the perfect accompaniment to the marathon as they keep participants cool. There is also a children's race on the same day which is great fun for spectators and little ones supporting their parents.<br /><br /> There is a festive atmosphere in Helsinki for the race which draws crowds of spectators. If you have the stamina, this is a glorious way to explore Helsinki! The marathon, like all races of its kind, is 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195km).<br /><br /> For those interested in Finland's running events there is also the popular Helsinki City Run, Finland's largest half marathon, which takes place on the same day. For more information on all running events in Finland check out the website.<br /><br />

Wife Carrying World Championships

Where: Rutakontie 21, Sonkajärvi,Helsinki

When: 6 - 7 July 2018

In the Wife Carrying World Championships held annually in the town of Sonkajärvi, men carry their wives on their backs over an 820 foot (250m) course comprising obstacles and even a water jump. The winner is awarded his spouse's weight in beer. Several types of carry may be practised, namely piggyback, fireman's carry or Estonian-style, where the wife hangs upside-down with her legs round her husband's shoulders, holding onto his waist.<br /><br /> The idea of the Wife Carrying Competition sounds like a joke and the event is meant to have humorous aspects but it also has deep roots in the region's history: in the late 1800s a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen tested his troops by setting a challenging obstacle course for them; the part about carrying a woman seems to be a reference to the common practice by these outlaws of raiding the nearby villages and abducting local women.<br /><br /> These days the women have to be willing! But men keen to participate don't necessarily have to be married, they can use any woman for the race so long as she is over 17 years old and weighs more than 49kg. One of the rules is that all contestants must have fun and there is also a prize for the most entertaining couple. Contestants can be of any nationality.<br /><br />

Bellevue

Address: Rahapajankatu 3 Helsinki

Food Type: Russian

Helsinki is renowned for its Russian restaurants, and probably the best of the bunch is Bellevue, which is reputedly the oldest Russian restaurant outside of Russia. It also claims to produce Russian favourites that are better than you will taste in the home country, and many gourmets tend to agree. Characteristics of Russian cooking are soups, black bread, pastries, caviar and fish dishes. Bellevue's menu contains all these, for example a menu featuring beetroot soup, Chicken Kiev and Baked Alaska, or try pot-roasted bear steak or roast fillet of reindeer. The ambience is pleasant, the décor unpretentious but classy, and the service friendly and efficient. Open Tuesday to Friday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday for dinner only.<br /><br />

Lappi

Address: Annankatu 22 Helsinki

Food Type: Local

For a taste of traditional Lapland cuisine in the heart of Helsinki, Lappi should be a definite dining experience on any visitor's itinerary. Finnish dishes, including reindeer of course, are served up on the rustic wooden tables in a warm, friendly 'log cabin' atmosphere. If you want to just pop in for a drink the attached Kelonkolo bar will give a sample of the ambience to be enjoyed in the restaurant itself, where specialities include dishes like grilled fillet of elk with turnip and red wine sauce. Reservations are essential at Lappi, so popular with tourists that its menu is printed in eleven languages. The restaurant opens Monday to Saturday for dinner.<br /><br />

Ask

Address: Vironkatu 8 Helsinki

Food Type: Local

The Michelin-starred Restaurant Ask serves organic fine dining in a quiet street of Kruununhaka and while it might seem unassuming from the outside, it's known as one of the best places to eat in Helsinki. The set menu changes weekly and features modern Scandinavian food carefully paired with biodynamic wines, some available exclusively through Ask. With only 22 seats, patrons need to reserve their tables far in advance to experience this exclusive eatery. Open Friday and Saturday for lunch and Tuesday to Saturday for dinner.<br /><br />

Gran Delicato

Address: Various locations Helsinki

Food Type: Café

Whether you're after a quick bite or a relaxed cup of coffee, Gran Delicato is one of the most popular delicatessens in Helsinki. The scent of fresh-roasted coffee pervades the air as customers linger over the stuffed ciabatta and baguette sandwiches as well as pastas, salads and other light meals. There are three locations across Helsinki, each with a slightly different atmosphere. Their flagship restaurant on Kalevankatu is a bit of a walk from the city centre, but worth it for the Greek spirit and great food.<br /><br />

Lie Mi Kamppi

Address: Eerikinkatu 20 Helsinki

Food Type: Asian

With a wide variety of Asian and Vietnamese dishes, Lie Mi places itself on the culinary map of Helsinki with gusto. Located in the design district of the city, it's a popular place to grab a quick lunch. Try the traditional Vietnamese Pho with beef and meatballs or the Shanghai tacos with crispy pork. During lunch, a fresh salad bar is included in the price along with coffee or tea. The menu changes for dinner, and their Runeberginkatu location serves brunch on a Sunday. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.<br /><br />

Savotta

Address: Aleksanterinkatu 22 Helsinki

Food Type: Local

With Finnish delicacies like reindeer and bear on the menu, Savotta gives local fare an edgy twist. While the ground-level dining area looks out over the stately Senate Square, the downstairs space has been transformed into a showcase of the logging camps of Finland. As the restaurant carefully curates ingredients from small local producers, the menu changes regularly with the season, but look out for perennial favourites like fresh fish from the lake and the range of berries in both savoury and sweet dishes. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for dinner.<br /><br />

Helsinki may be cold, but the pulsating nightlife is enough to get this city hot and sweaty. With a number of trendy nightclubs, bars and pubs, visitors will have no problem making full use of the long, dark winter nights. Most of the nightlife in Helsinki is centred round Uudenmaankatu and Eerikinkatu, where bars and clubs abound and crossing from one to the other is a quick dash across the cold street. Finns love their tango music too so expect to find plenty of sultry dancing in restaurants, bars and even the streets during the summer months, with a few of the favourite outdoor dancing spots nearby the Vantaa area.<br /><br /> Head to the stylish bars in Uudenmaankatu 9 for a night out with the local trendoids and mingle with the ultra-hip, while sipping on designer beers and nibbling on tapas. Eerikinkatu 27 is the place to be seen working up a sweat to local techno music and a few bars here are synonymous with the gay scene of Helsinki. While in Simonkatu there are megaclubs, with some boasting up to three storeys, six bars and hundreds of Helsinki's hottest people partying the night away. For live music, Telakkakatu 8 is where some of Helsinki's hottest new bands showcase their talents, while Mikonkatu 15 is great for those looking for a heavy rock gig and a little moshing for good measure.<br /><br /> For a more cultured evening, head to Finlandia Hall for the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and other concert performances (this is the home of Sibelius after all). The Finnish National Opera performs regularly, and Helsinki's thriving jazz scene is personified in the UMO Jazz Orchestra, which plays at various venues around town.<br /><br /> For updated concert listings and gig guides, pick up a copy of the Helsinki Guide, available for free at most hotels and tourist centres.<br /><br />

Home to bustling market places, luxury boutiques and enormous department stores, shopping in Helsinki has its fair share of opportunities. They may not always be cheap, but the quality of the goods makes them worth their sometimes hefty price tags. Best buys in Helsinki include reindeer furs, Nordic wool, traditional wooden kitchen utensils and jewellery made out of Finland's national gemstone, spectrolite, which captures the magnificent blues and greens of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). You can also find liquors made from locally-grown cloudberries, cranberries, and Arctic brambleberries that make unique and special Helsinki souvenirs. Head to Itis in East Helsinki, one of the biggest shopping centres in Finland, where nearly 150 shops selling everything from clothing and shoes to sports equipment and cameras will keep you on your toes. The Sello shopping centre in Espoo in the west of the city provides a slightly less exhausting day of spending. The Stockmann department store on the Aleksanterinkatu, which has become somewhat of an institution in Helsinki, sells everything from electrical goods and clothing to make up and teddy bears. Shopping streets in Helsinki include Aleksanterinkatu, Eerikinkatu, Fredrikinkatu and Uudenmaankatu where boutiques and specialist stores can be found. Market Square at the eastern end of Esplanadi is undoubtedly one of Helsinki's most popular tourist attractions and a great place to scoop up some souvenirs, especially during the spring and autumn months when vendors selling fresh Finnish produce, souvenirs and trinkets abound and the mix of Finns and international visitors make this vibrant market electric. Petrolheads should visit the market on the first Friday of the month when a display of old American cars lines the seaside square, while October brings much excitement as the annual herring market festival takes place. Shops in Helsinki are generally open from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday while on Saturdays stores only stay open until 2pm and remain closed on Sundays.<br /><br />