Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Seurasaaren Ulkomuseo
MUSEUM
Jun-Aug, 9am-3pm Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat & Sun late May & early Sep)
West of the city centre, this excellent island museum has a collection of historic wooden
buildings transferred here from around Finland. There's everything from haylofts to a man-
sion, parsonage and church, as well as the beautiful giant rowboats used to transport
churchgoing communities. Prices and hours refer to entering the buildings themselves,
where guides in traditional costume demonstrate folk dancing and crafts. Otherwise, you're
free to roam the picturesque wooded island, where there are several cafes.
There are guided tours in English at 3pm in summer. The island is also the venue for
Helsinki's biggest Midsummer bonfires and a popular area for picnicking. From central
Helsinki, take bus 24.
Mannerheim-Museo
MUSEUM
€10/free; 11am-4pm Fri-Sun)
This fascinating museum by Kaivopuisto (park) was the home of Baron Gustav Manner-
heim, former president, commander in chief of the Finnish army and Finnish Civil War
victor. The great field marshal never owned the building; he rented it from chocolate mag-
nate Karl Fazer until his death. The house tells of Mannerheim's intrepid life with hun-
dreds of military medals and photographs from his Asian expedition. Entry includes an in-
formative one-hour multilingual guided tour, plus plastic booties to keep the hallowed
floor clean.
Suomen Urheilumuseo
MUSEUM, TOWER
€5.50/free, tower adult/child €5/2; 11am-5pm Mon-Fri, noon-4pm Sat & Sun, tower 9am-8pm
Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun)
land's sporting hall of fame including the triumphs of runner Paavo Nurmi and ski-jumper
Matti Nykänen. Good simulations let you compete in the 200m against champions and
there's an exhibition about
pesäpallo,
Finland's baseball-like game. HI members get dis-
