Suomenlinna Castle
- Address:Helsinki
- Hours:Most attractions open 10am - 6:30pm in Summer, 10am - 4pm in Winter
- Admission:Free. Attractions in the area may have admission fees
10:08 PM Saturday, May 26
Passing clouds. Mild.
7 day forecast »
An ideal day or half-day trip from Helsinki is to pack a picnic and take the regular ferry to the island fortress of Suomenlinna Castle. A great deal of Helsinki's history was shaped here - the UNESCO World Heritage Listed fortress was founded by the Swedes in 1748 to protect against the Russians, but following a prolonged attack, Sveaborg was surrendered to the Russians in 1808. The Russians then used it to protect the shipping channels to St. Petersburg. In 1917, after the Russian Revolution, Finland declared independence and took back Suomenlinna, using it for the military until 1973 when it passed over to the citizens of Finland.
Suomenlinna is made up of 8 islands, with 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) of fortress walls, 290 buildings and over 100 guns and cannons. These days there are 6 museums, 9 restaurants and 850 residents. Many locals like to picnic among the fortress ruins with a few drinks - it can get pretty boozy here on summer weekends.
Latest Reviews All Suomenlinna Castle Reviews »
I really enjoyed visiting Helsinki. Different buildings- a mix of both old and new. Lots of different things to do here. Very expensive city, however, there are supermarkets everywhere so you can pick up cheaper food (than buying at restaurants/cafes). Public transport is excellent, however expensive too. It is worth buying a day ticket, as it pays for itself in three rides. I only used the trams, which was very good to get around. The 3T tram is very good for sightseeing.
Continue Reading »
City tour using the Helsinki Card was excellent and the ability to use the card for public transport and discounts was most convenient.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
HKL ferries depart every 20 minutes from the passenger quay at the kauppatori. The Helsinki Card is valid for all ferries and attractions at Suomenlinna.
Do you have photos of this attraction? Be the first to share your photos with other travelers!
_d803-42.jpg)
_d803-87.jpg)
_d803-10.jpg)
