Helsinki
Granite, sea and a fortress island
Helsinki packs a lot into a compact, walkable centre: the Esplanadi and Market Square, the Parliament, Oodi Library, and the Rock Church, carved straight into the granite. Then there's the Sibelius Monument, where steel organ pipes rise out of the rock.
The highlight was the ferry to Suomenlinna, an island fortress I could have wandered all day: grass-roofed bunkers, old cannons facing the sea, and a church that doubles as a lighthouse. Senate Square and the Cathedral closed out the trip, half-wrapped in restoration scaffolding but impressive all the same.
Havis Amanda fountain at Market Square
Kappeli café on the Esplanadi
Parliament House of Finland
Instruments you can borrow at Oodi Central Library
Book Heaven, the top floor of Oodi Central Library
Temppeliaukio Rock Church from the outside
Inside Temppeliaukio Church, carved into solid rock
Copper dome and rock walls of Temppeliaukio Church
Portrait of Jean Sibelius at the Sibelius Monument
Sibelius Monument in Sibelius Park
Tall pines in Töölö, on the walk back from the Sibelius Monument
Harbour ferry at Market Square, Uspenski Cathedral behind
Valkosaari (Blekholmen), seen from the ferry to Suomenlinna
Allas Sea Pool and the SkyWheel on the South Harbour
SkyWheel and Uspenski Cathedral from the water
Helsinki skyline and Cathedral from the sea
Viking Line ferry in the harbour
Arriving at Suomenlinna by ferry
Old wooden boats in the Suomenlinna Museum
Inside the Suomenlinna Museum
Fortress walls across the water, Suomenlinna
Ehrensvärd's tomb in the Great Courtyard, Suomenlinna
Old cannons beneath the trees, Suomenlinna
Coastal artillery gun at Kustaanmiekka, Suomenlinna
Grass-covered bunkers on Suomenlinna
Rocky coastline of Suomenlinna
Turf-roofed stone powder magazine, Suomenlinna
Cobbled street on Suomenlinna
Café Silo on Suomenlinna
St. John's Church spires across the water
Suomenlinna Church, which doubles as a lighthouse
Valkosaari (Blekholmen) under stormy skies, from the ferry back
Helsinki Cathedral above Senate Square, under restoration
Helsinki Cathedral wrapped in restoration scaffolding
Statue of Emperor Alexander II in Senate Square
Senate Square from the Cathedral steps
Senate Square panorama
Altar of Helsinki Cathedral
Organ of Helsinki Cathedral