Islands around Helsinki
In the summertime, one should take advantage of the archipelago and its islands.
A must-see place is situated just a fifteen-minute boat ride from downtown. Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland), a sea fortress is nowadays a Unesco heritage site and definitely worth a trip for the history enthusiasts. Its caves and cannons and dockyards are certain to entertain kids as well.
Building the fortress was commenced by Sweden in 1748 to defend Helsinki against the Eastern threat of Russia. At that time, Finland, as we know it now, was part of the Swedish Empire. However, for the founders what followed was a bit embarrassing. During the Russo-Swedish War in 1808, the bastion surrendered without a shot being fired. Reasons for that humiliating capitulation are still not entirely clear. Suomenlinna continued as a military base under new rulers, the Russian Imperial Government.
In the 19th century, life in Suomenlinna was rather eventful apart from the Crimean War (1853-1856) when British and French fleet appeared in front of Helsinki and bombarded the fortress causing considerable damage.
Come the 20th century and history changes gear. That meant turbulent and often tragic times for Suomenlinna. In 1906, Russian soldiers revolted against their officers but were quickly crushed. After gaining independence in 1917, a bloody civil war soon broke out in Finland between the Whites and the Reds. The White army prevailed, and Suomenlinna was turned into a prison camp. Conditions for the 8,000 or so detainees were horrible. Diseases raged, and many were executed.
During the Second World War, the island was home to Finnish submarines and artillery units defending Helsinki. The Finnish Naval Academy is still situated there. Renovations are continuing to this day and nowadays Suomenlinna with its art exhibitions, cafes and restaurants is a pleasant destination – and weather allowing, an ideal place for picnics and sunbathing.
Another definite island to visit when days are long is the open-air museum Seurasaari. On the other end of the wooden bridge leading to the island, you will find rural Finland as it used to be. Since 1909, old wooden houses, barns, even a church, have been transported and re-erected on the 42-hectare island. The buildings are open during summertime, and there are guides to tell you more. And if history is not your thing, you can always feed the squirrels and ducks or even enjoy the sun on the nudist beach! Seurasaari Midsummer festival is a real Helsinki tradition.
Founded roughly around the same time with Seurasaari lies a third island destination for the whole family, just a short trip from the Market Square - Korkeasaari Zoo, one of the oldest of its ilk in the world. Even if you don't wish to see caged animals, nature and its diversity make the place worth a visit. And in case you are not planning to wander in the Finnish wilderness, this is a chance to meet bears, reindeers, elks and wolves eye to eye together with other 150 species.
