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 Cacti, palm trees, rockeries and glasshouses |
1 Hammarskjöldintie Helsinki 00250 Finland +358 9 166 5410 http://www.hkr.hel.fi/viher/ta... |
The City Winter Garden's greenhouses and the surrounding park constitute one of the city's best—known sights. The winter garden is known especially for its exotic palm trees and cacti, as well as its rockeries. The famous greenhouses housing the palm trees were donated by J. J. Lindfors, and this is commemorated with a bust sculpted by Walter Runeberg. The winter garden does not have greenhouses as elegant or beautiful as the University Botanical Gardens boast, but the huge variety of plants contained within, and the lovely terraces in front of the building more than make up for that. The appearance of the greenhouse is also enhanced by the 1868 sculpture of Kullervo Puhuu Miekalleen (Kullervo Addresses his Sword), which stands in front of the building. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lucas Rocha  |
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Stunning park in a central location |
58 Helsinginkatu Helsinki 00260 Finland |
Gorgeous Hesperia Park is considered by many to be the city's most beautiful park. It is cut off on one side by the Finnish National Opera building and on the other side by the Finlandia Hall. The rolling grassy fields and the willows lining the footpath At night, mood lighting gives the park a unique feel. The latest addition is the monument to President Kekkonen, a lovely pool illuminated by a row of hand-shaped lamps. There is a little artificial stream next to the Finlandia Hall, and a small sandy beach. The park is one of the main venues for the annual Night of the Arts during the Helsinki Festival, usually used for children's entertainment. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: gm fonseca |
 Photo: gm fonseca |
 Photo: Mika Karjalainen |
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For people who love the Père Lachaise |
20 Hietaniemenkatu Helsinki 00100 Finland +358 0 228 1600 |
The unusual Hietaniemi Cemetery is within walking distance of the city centre, right next to a beach. It is divided into four parts: a Lutheran cemetery, an Orthodox one, a Jewish and an Islamic one. The very lush, park-like area is popular for strolls amongst people, red squirrels and various kinds of waterfowl. The Lutheran cemetery is divided into two areas. The magnificent older part is the final resting place of a number of famous people, including C. L. Engel, the man who designed a large part of the city, and world-renowned architect Alvar Aalto. Finland's best-known artist Gallen-Kallela, authors Mika Waltari and Topelius and six Finnish presidents were also buried here. There are separate sections for National Theatre actors and the Finnish martyrs; the latter are commemorated by students each Independence Day. Helsinki Expert arranges two-hour tours of the Jewish cemetery. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Sameli |
 Photo: Slava Smirnov |
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One of Helsinki's most beautiful parks |
Kaisaniemi Helsinki 00100 Finland |
Kaisaniemi Park, behind the National Theatre, is among the most beautiful parks in Helsinki and dates from the 1880s. It was named after Kaisa Wahllund, owner of a very popular café in the park. Students, fans of the park since the opening of the café, still cherish Kaisaniemi as their own. Early in the morning of May Day, the park fills up with students who, celebrate the day with song. The central landmark of the park is the small lake, and there are also several statues in a range of styles. Right in front of the park is Esirippu, a memorial to actress and theatrical impresario Ida Aalberg designed by Raimo Utriainen. Near the main entrance stands Convolvulus, a 1931 sculpture of a young girl by Viktor Jansson. On a steep slope dotted with trees is Nuori hirvi, a realistic statue of a young elk, which blends quite nicely into its surroundings. The park extends all the way to the lovely boulevard on the banks of Kaisaniemi Bay and to the historical Pitkäsilta bridge. The University Botanical Gardens are in the middle. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: niskavuorenheta |
 Photo: meeri quinn |
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Popular, historic park |
Kaivopuisto Helsinki 00140 Finland |
Kaivopuisto is Helsinki's most famous park, filled with sights. Its cliffs offer fantastic views of the city and archipelago. Kaivopuisto was founded in 1830, mainly as a spa facility for aristocrats. They also built Kaivohuone, still a popular place for relaxing, parties and dining. As the Crimean War and the 1850 cholera epidemic came along, the spa shut down and was later destroyed during World War II. Nowadays, Kaivopuisto is a popular place for strolls and summer picnics. On May Day, this is the best place in the city, and thousands of people spend the day here. The park is used for many events, celebrations and free concerts. Kaivopuisto and its surroundings contain a multitude of sights, such as the American, British and French embassies, Mannerheim Museum and Cygnaeus Gallery. Across the road that lines the shore is the popular café Ursula. The park's two most famous landmarks are along Iso Puistotie street: Kaivohuone, and the Kalastava Karhu or "Fishing Bear" well. In the centre of the park stands the elegant Ursa observatory. Nearby is a bust of Nordenskiöld, the explorer who discovered the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Anna Amnell |
 Photo: Toni Viemerö |
 Photo: Jari Kirvesoja |
 Photo: gm fonseca |
 Photo: Sami Niemelä |
 Photo: Marco Amoroso |
 Photo: Luciano |
 Photo: Paul Mison |
 Photo: Anna Amnell |
 Photo: Sin Shoo GOH |
 Photo: Juan I. Cubilla |
 Photo: Lela |
 Photo: Jari Latvala |
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A beautiful place for a stroll |
2-3 Meilahdentie Tähtitorninmäki Helsinki 00250 Finland |
Meilahti Arboretum is a beautiful park a short distance from the Seurasaari open—air museum. The purpose of the arboretum is to introduce people to plants such as trees and bushes, used in landscaped areas. There are lovely flowerbeds and other vegetation, and this is the perfect place to get to know more about flora or just unwind. The arboretum is very user—friendly; there are guideposts at convenient intervals, and tags next to individual plants. The footpaths are perfect for a relaxing stroll and offer plenty of nice views. The flora in the arboretum includes both typically Finnish and more unusual plant varieties. Some date back to 1967. The arboretum also has an extensive collection of rose bushes. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
 Observatory surrounded by parkland |
20A Siltavuorenpenger P. O. Box 14 Helsinki 00170 Finland |
Tähtitorninmäki (Observatory Hill) is a delightful park as well as one of the city's best panoramic locations. When you climb up the hill from the direction of the Market Square, the first thing that catches your eye is the memorial to the Hapsburg shipwreck victims, designed by Gunnar Finne in 1939. Right next to the memorial is the German church. If you follow the path closest to the shore, up the hill, you'll come to the bronze Statue of the Shipwrecked, a well-known landmark designed by Robert Stigell in 1897. There is also a great view from the statue over to the Market Square, Katajanokka and the Suomenlinna sea fortress. Tähtitorninmäki got its name from the Tähtitorni, Observatory, which stands upon it. The observatory was designed by C.L. Engel and built in 1833. The top of the hill offers a great view all over the city. The most famous sight is probably what greets your eye when you stand in front of the observatory and look straight down Unioninkatu towards the district of Kallio. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Niklas Sjöblom |
 Photo: Niklas Sjöblom |
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Park yourself here! |
3-5 Bulevardi Helsinki 00120 Finland |
The Old Church Park is one of Helsinki's most beautiful parks. Its elm trees provide a haven for people to rest under during their hectic days. In the eighteenth century, the park housed a cemetery, the final resting place of thousands of people up to 1918. In 1710, half the population of Helsinki was buried in the park—victims to the plague. Monuments in the park commemorate some of the soldiers buried here, and there is the famous statue of Finnish activist and children's writer Elias Lönnrot, the man who compiled the national epic Kalevala. Emil Wikström sculpted the statue in 1902. The most important feature of the park is the Neo-Classical Old Church, the oldest existing church in Helsinki, designed by C.L. Engel and completed in 1826. In addition to the Old Church, Engel designed a stone gate for the park's main entrance in 1928. The gate is inscribed with some memorial words for the plague victims buried in the area. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Harri Paavolainen |
 Photo: James Perkins |
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Stunning place to relax and learn |
44 Unioninkatu Helsinki 00170 Finland +358 9 1912 4453 http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/en... |
The University Botanical Gardens are a park within a park — an area of leafy trees, small footpaths and beautiful flowers and bushes. It is also the home of Finland's greatest botanical collection. The gardens came to Helsinki when the university changed locations after the great fire of Turku. The gorgeous greenhouses have been restored several times over the years, most extensively after the 1944 air raids. The gardens, designed by St. Petersburg architect Franz Falderman in the 1830s, are best known for their gorgeous C. L. Engel—designed main greenhouse, the central dome of which looms elegantly on the Kaisaniemi horizon. It is home to numerous tropical plants (cacti, orchids, royal water lily, cocoa), whereas the outdoor plants are from more temperate climates. The garden's main entrance is on Kaisaniemenranta, a boulevard that follows Kaisaniemi Bay, which is lined with old Empire—style wooden houses. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Maxim Dolgobrod |
 Photo: hugovk |
 Photo: Laura I. Kansanen |
 Photo: Daniel Stone |
 Photo: smugglersuk |
 Photo: Karri Ojanen |
 Photo: Hannah Frank |
 Photo: Sanam Petri |
 Photo: Taneli Ruda |
