Temppeliaukio Church: was carved out of bedrock on site, as can be clearly seen from the walls of its interior. This church is one of the most visited of Helsinki’s attractions and was first opened in 1969. In addition to being a religious institution, it is also a popular venue for concert performances, due to its natural and excellent acoustics.

Senate Square: the Neoclassical architecture of Senate Square comprises four buildings that were designed as a cohesive unit from 1822-1852 by Carl Ludvig Engel and include Government Palace, Helsinki Cathedral, the Finnish National Library and the University of Helsinki’s main building. The most famous building in Finland is the Helsinki Cathedral, which celebrated its 150th anniversary just a few years ago.

There’s also a popular covered market a few hundred feet away, where you will find many souvenirs such as dried reindeer meat and Finlandia vodka.

Sibelius Monumentti (Sibelius Monument): is a monument to the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. During the period of Russian rule, which was often repressive, Sibelius used his music as a form of rebellion, creating works that became synonymous with patriotism and independence: 'Finlandia' became the national symbol in the struggle for a return to self-rule. Most Finns consider a visit to this monument as a pilgrimage of sorts.

Helsinki Zoo: animals indigenous to Finland’s arctic tundra as well as those more at home in a tropical rainforest are all represented at this excellent zoo. Around 200 animal species reside here and are surrounded by a natural environment of more than 1,000 plant species.

The tropical section has a variety of species native to the Amazon, Africa and Asia and the Borealia showcases the Northern Coniferous Forest. Rare arctic species can be seen here, such as the European forest reindeer, the Musk ox, Polar fox and Snowy owl, during the summer as well as the winter months.