Schmap Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Our apologies: your internet browser is not yet fully supported by our Schmap online guides. If you continue, pages in this guide may display or function incorrectly.

Would you like to continue anyway?

Schmap.com supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 and above
Firefox 1.5 and above
Safari 3 for Pc

MAC

Safari version 1.3 and above
Firefox 2 and above

Helsinki - Olympic Stadium - National Opera
Download the Schmap Helsinki Guide
With Schmap 2.0 you can:

Browse this Schmap Guide on your PC, online or offline.
View Schmap Guides for 200 worldwide destinations.
Bookmark places of interest, plan trips and take virtual tours.
Custom print your own full-color travel guides.
Publish and share schmapplets with your favorite places
Enjoy many more unique Schmap features.

Helsinki Home
Schmap Helsinki guide and map

We now cross over the Helsingintie street and approach the winter gardens, which we pass on the left by taking Hammarskjöldintie street. When the Olympic Stadium looms right in front of us through the trees, we turn to the path on our left. After a short stroll, the statue of famous athlete Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala can be seen on the left. We now leave the park and cross the square in front of the Olympic Stadium and head for the statues of Paavo Nurmi and Lasse Viren, two of Finland's most famous athletes. From here, we continue our walk on Paavo Nurmen katu street towards the National Opera. We go across Helsingintie street again, now facing the majestic National Opera building. We now turn left and then right at the corner of the building, ending up back by Töölö Bay.

As we pass the Finnish National Opera building with its mighty curving glass wall, the next thing we see is the gorgeous Hesperia Park. The park's footpath is lined with lovely willows. When we reach the other end of the park, we find a simply wonderful little artificial stream that flows down the rockface next to the Finlandia Hall. This brook flows down to a lighted little pool, from where the water then flows to the Töölö Bay. There is also a little bit of sandy beach next to the Finlandia Hall, which is nice for just sitting and admiring the scenery or for watching the mallards and swans that swim on the bay.

Right next to the park stands the mighty Finlandia Hall. Its white exterior befits the park as well as the open areas that start in the building's shadow. We walk around the Finlandia Hall by taking Karamzininkatu street, and walk up to Mannerheimintie road. On our right is the Hakasalmenhuvila, an attractive old villa. Looming on the left-hand side is the castle-like National Museum. We turn our backs on it, and see the mighty granite ParliamentBuilding on our right. We now follow Mannerheimintie road all the way to Mannerheiminaukio Square, passing as we go the glass Sanomatalo building on our left and a lovely small park on our right. On Mannerheiminaukio square stand the statue of Mannerheim and the art museum Kiasma. We turn left from the square, towards the Railway Station, which we walk through, and end up on Rautatientori (the "Railway Square"). On the right looms Ateneum art museum and on the left the National Theatre building, towards which we begin walking, passing the statue of Aleksis Kivi as we go. We then turn to Itäinen Teatterikuja alley and end our tour in the lovely Kaisaniemen Puisto.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Finnish National Opera (Suomen Kansallisooppera)

Glorious sight framed by trees and water

58 Helsinginkatu
P. O. Box 176
Helsinki, Southern Finland 00260
Finland
+358 (0)9 4030 2211 (Box Office)
http://www.operafin.fi

Completed in 1993, this is one of the greatest works of modern Finnish architecture with a sense of spaciousness and light throughout. There is an outdoor amphitheater facing a park and the opera building often hosts small art exhibitions. Performances sell out quickly. There's free chamber music in the foyer on Saturday and the Alminsali hall hosts smaller operatic, ballet and jazz performances.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Hakasalmen Villa

Neo-Classical museum villa 2 Karamzininkatu
Helsinki 00100
Finland
+358 9 169 3444
http://www.hel.fi/kaumuseo This Neo-Classical villa, designed by German architect Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann, is one of Helsinki City Museum's premises. Commissioned by Carl Johan Walleen in 1843, the city bought it from his stepdaughter Aurora Karamzin in 1896. The museum has been recently renovated. Café Cara-Melle is in this museum, which can be reached on trams 4, 7A and 10. Tickets cost EUR3.36 for adults and EUR1.68 for concessions. Children can get in for free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Hesperian Park

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

Kaisaniemen Park

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

Kiasma Gallery of Art and Architecture

Museum of Contemporary Art 2 Mannerheiminaukio
Helsinki 00100
Finland
+358 (0)9 1733 6501
http://www.kiasma.fi/ Kiasma will fascinate anyone interested in contemporary art and architecture, with everything from installations, paintings and audio landscapes to lectures and performances in the museum's built—in theater. See Kiasma's homepage for further information, including the open hours.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: /Naakka
Photo: Paul Holloway
Photo: xmu
Photo: Sean
Photo: Sean
Photo: xmu
Photo: Jurek Durczak
Photo: Jennifer Boyer

Photo: Antti Jauhiainen
Photo: AfterFutureShock
Photo: Marcus Ekblom
Photo: Richard Harvey
Photo: Fu7ur157 I Pekka Toi
Photo: Novanto
Photo: Katie Chambers
Photo: robyk

Photo: Olga Trunina
Photo: Rebecca Littman-Smit
Photo: Julia Galkina
Photo: Paula Ikonen
Photo: Istvan Sajgo

Parliament

Majestic landmark of Helsinki 30 Mannerheimintie
Helsinki 00100
Finland
http://www.eduskunta.fi The Parliament, now a heritage listed building, was constructed in 1926—1931 after the design Oratoribus by architects Borg, Sirén and Åberg. This is Finland's only representative og 1920s Classicism. Its monumental exterior is characterized by 14 Corinthian columns, and is built of red granite. The building is made of Finnish materials, and it represents the unity of architecture, art, workmanship and industrial design. This is apparent in the decor as well as the 900 works of art on display, the most famous of which are the bronze sculptures in the Session Hall designed by Wäinö Aaltonen. Each of the five floors is unique, connected to the others by a white marble staircase and famous open lifts. Most important for visitors are the beautiful main lobby, the stately Session Hall and the awe—inspiring Hall of State. Guided tours are arranged on Saturdays and Sundays, and on weekdays in July and August. Tuesdays and Fridays you can watch the Parliament in session from the public balcony.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Alex Maneu
Photo: zache

Railway Station

Renowned architectural masterpiece Rautatientori
Helsinki 00100
Finland
The Railway Station is an important symbol of Helsinki, as well as an internationally renowned pearl of architecture. The building dates from 1914, and represents late Finnish Art Nouveau. It is the main work of famous architect Eliel Saarinen. The façade of the Railway Station, with its main entrance framed by a row of huge statues holding lanterns designed by Emil Wikström, is a familiar sight to all Finns. The pink—granite and copper structure with its famous clock tower is beautiful inside as well; old lamps and a beige colouring are complemented by original woodwork, creating a warm atmosphere. The Railway Station brings together many forms of travel: railway, metro and buses (on the square next to the station). Trams go right past the building as well. The shops and tunnels under the station offer bargain shopping opportunities and good connections to most of the city centre. The tunnels are a convenient route to take especially during bad weather.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Stian Jondal
Photo: Charanpal Dhanjal
Photo: Anton Särkkä
Photo: Petri Tuohimaa
Photo: Jenni Meriluoto
Photo: Kevin Pollard
Photo: David Harding
Photo: Philip Menke

Photo: Mikael Albrecht
Photo: annmariii3
Photo: Juha Heikkila
Photo: michelle
Photo: Geoff Stahl
Photo: Karel Moravec
Photo: Stéphane Lecorney
Photo: Geoff Stahl

Photo: StaneStane
Photo: samiru
Photo: Maria Manner
Photo: Paul James
Photo: jim proffit
Photo: Ramon Sadornil
Photo: Tobias Grosch
Photo: Phil Davies

Photo: Beth Goldner
Photo: Jarkko Karhunen
Photo: Proenski
Photo: Harri Haataja