Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
honors hard work and cooperation. Towering above the smiths is the Stockmann depart-
ment store. Then (at the Ylioppilastalo stop), the round, white Swedish Theater marks the
top of the town's graceful park—the Esplanade—which leads back down to the harbor
(where you began this tour). From here, you'll loop through a colorful and artsy district.
Funky and Artsy Shops:
The cemetery of the church (which dates from 1827)
on the right was cleaned out to make a park. It's called the “Plague Park,” recalling
a circa-1700 plague that killed more than half the population. Coming up, funky small
boutiques, cafés, and fun shops line the streets (stops: Fredrikinkatu, Iso Roobertinkatu,
and Viiskulma). After the Art Deco brick church (on your right), the tram makes a hard left
(at the Eiran Sairaala stop, for a hospital) and enters a district with Art Nouveau buildings.
Look down streets on the right for facades and decorative turrets leading to the Baltic Sea.
Embassy Row and Back to Market Square:
After the Neitsytpolku stop, spy the
Russian Embassy (on left), still sporting its hammer and sickle; it was built to look like
London's Buckingham Palace. Across the street is the Roman Catholic church, and beyond
that (on the right), a street marked “no entry” leads to an embattled US Embassy. Returning
to the harbor, you'll likely see the huge Tallink Silja ship that leaves at 17:00 each even-
ing for Stockholm. Its terminal (the appropriately named Olympiaterminaali) was built for
the 1952 Olympics, which inundated Helsinki with visitors. Across the harbor stands the
Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral. Then, after passing the cute brick market hall (with several
great little eateries), you'll arrive back at Market Square, where you started.
Near the South Harbor
▲▲
Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral
—This house of worship was built in 1868 for the
Russian military back when Finland belonged to Russia.
Uspenski
is Russian for the As-
sumption of Mary. It hovers above Market Square and faces the Lutheran Cathedral as
Russian culture faces Europe.
Cost and Hours:
Free; Mon-Fri 9:30-16:00, Sat 9:30-14:00, Sun 12:00-15:00,
Kanavakatu 1.
