Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the churches—ending at the underground Temppeliaukio Church. In the afternoon, dive in-
to Finnish culture in the open-air folk museum or take a walk in Kaivopuisto Park. Enjoy a
cup of coffee at the recommended Café Kappeli before sailing away.
Like most big European cities, Helsinki (pop. 602,000) has a compact core. The city's nat-
ural gateway is its main harbor, where ships from Stockholm and Tallinn dock. At the top
of the harbor is Market Square (Kauppatori), an outdoor food and souvenir bazaar. Nearby
are two towering, can't-miss-them landmarks: the white Lutheran Cathedral and the red-
brick Orthodox Cathedral.
Helsinki's grand pedestrian boulevard, the Esplanade, begins right at Market Square,
heads up past the TI, and ends after a few blocks in the central shopping district. The broad,
traffic-filled Mannerheimintie, a bustling avenue that veers north through town past the
train and bus stations, begins at the far end of the Esplanade. For a do-it-yourself orient-
ation to town along this route, follow my “Welcome to Helsinki” self-guided walk. The
“Tram #2/#3 Tour” also provides a good drive-by introduction to the main sights.
Tourist Information
The friendly, energetic
main TI,
just off the harbor, offers great service, and its brochure
racks are fun to graze through. It's located a half-block inland from Market Square, on
the right just past the fountain, at the corner of the Esplanade and Unioninkatu (May-Sept
Mon-Fri 9:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 9:00-18:00, Oct-April closes two hours earlier, free Internet
access, tel. 09/3101-3301,
www.visithelsinki.fi
). Pick up a city map, a public-transit map,
and the free
Helsinki This Week
magazine (lists sights, hours, concerts, and events). Also
consider these free brochures: the scenic #2/#3 tram route/map,
Helsinki on Foot
(which
