Helsinki stands on the south coast of Finland. The capital city faces into the Gulf of Finland and an archipelago of more than 3 islands. Highlights of the area include Seurassaari Island, which is home for an acclaimed open-air museum of historic buildings collected from all over Finland. Similarly, the intact island fortress of Suomenlinna, is a World Heritage Site reached by ferries from the main waterfront. Visitors who hire a car in Helsinki can easily tour around using a good road network. Further afield You'll find the huge Iso Omena covered shopping mall to the west and the extensive Puuhamaa children's amusement park to the north. Helsinki Airport is about ten miles north of the city.
If you hire a car here you can fully explore the waterside city and its attractions. Helsinki's highlights include the modern underground Temppeliaukio Church, the spectacular Sibelius Monument in a waterside park, Linnanmäki white-knuckle theme park and the acclaimed Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. The main waterfront is a lively place to discover boat trips, seafood stalls and pavement cafes. Around the city you can find the domed Cathedral, national museums of design, architecture, history and natural history, and the interesting, busy shopping streets around Erottajankatu. The monumental architecture of the Parliament House and main Central Station is worth discovering too.
