We, family of 4 with 1 teen, have a layover of 9 hours in Helsinki at the end of July. I want to visit an interesting place, preferably near the Vantaa Airport. I read that there is a bus no. 61 that goes to the Heureka Finnish Science Center. Is it advisable to visit the place when we can only afford to spend a maximum of 5 1/2 hours there? If we do visit the place, my concern is getting stranded there going back to the airport. Would cabs be easily available in case I need them? Where else can we possibly go besides the science center?
Places to visit near the airport in Helsinki on a layover
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Why wouldn't you go into Helsinki? It's 35 minutes by bus, and Helsinki has excellent public transport.
See: http://www.helsinki-vantaa.fi/to-and-from/bus-service
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/583
This place is brilliant and well worth a visit. What world heritage area isn't?
Thanks for both of the recommendations.
My concern with going to Suomenlinna is that in order to get there we have to ride the ferry. I will feel ucomfortable having only one mode of transportation to get us out of there. If we miss the scheduled ferry pick-up, there would not be any other option but to wait for the next. Whereas in the city center, there will be a number of ways to go back to the airport.
I think we may go to Helsinki. But which area of the city should we go down in?
For my take on things to do in Helsinki see:
http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/helsinki-rain-and-shine/
and the following post.
You are better going right downtown around the Market Square area and the walking about
to see the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, the Esplandi and the Train station with the square beside it.
Some lovely buildings here.
At the Senate Square make sure you go inside the lovely White Cathedral, the most photographed building in Helsinki!!!......it is free to go inside
I can understand you not wanting to take the ferry to Soumenlinna Island, but the ferry returns every 20-25 minutes though.
For lunch or a snack you can eat right at the market square at one of the many places.
Where is market square in this map?
http://www.visithelsinki.fi/sites/visithelsinki.fi/files/files/Esitteet/EN/printable_helsinki_map_2013.pdf
The market square is at number 88.
Number 79 is the White Cathedral at SenateSquare.
the main places are listed poorly here !!
There are 2 more things that I found online that made me comfortable visiting the Helsinki City center.
1. It has the WLAN connection that will give people the opportunity to use a safe and secure internet connection from their smart devices. It's free of charge and does not require signing in.
http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/come/welcome-helsinki/experience-wireless-helsinki
2. The streets are patrolled by the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau’s Helsinki Helpers.
http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/come/welcome-helsinki/helsinki-helpers
Way to go Helsinki!!!
Thanks Percy.
I do not think you will have to worry about too much about anything in downtown Helsinki.
pick out 6-8 places you want to see in the downtown area and just wander around sightseeing !
you pick the places and we can tell you where they are at .!!
I don't know yet what there is to see in the downtown area. I was hoping to visit some attractions near market square, go to market square for lunch, then continue visiting some more attractions in the opposite direction.
Here are some places you can look up.
market Square building.... At the market square. go inside, smells heavenly with all the
Baked goods inside and many other items.
Market Square Building is a Red and Yellow Brick building.
city hall, Swedish Embassy, Royal Palace.
uspenski cathedral
esplanade walkway ( tree lined).
Swedish Opera House
stockmann department Store.
Walk down Mannerheintie Street.
see the Train Statiion and Square.
See the Senate Square, walk up the steep steps to the White Cathedral.
go to the Rock Church...take a quick taxi ride to the Church, it is not far from the Market Square.
this should give you some item to look up as to what you might want to see about the Market Square.
all the places I mentioned are walking distance from the Market Square.