The Old Market Hall
1889 timber, cheeses and cafés.
Tuula Sipilä — CC BY 4.0 · Karin Beate Nøsterud — CC BY 2.5 dk · Coen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francisco Anzola from United States — CC BY 2.0
Helsinki's harbour, market and terminus in one place: Market Square on the southern quay is where everything begins — the Suomenlinna ferries and island boats, and the morning market under orange awnings: forest berries, mushrooms and fresh peas in summer, fried fish and salmon soup eaten at tent tables, wood and wool crafts for visitors. Around it stand the Presidential Palace, the City Hall and the Havis Amanda fountain, the city's emblem, and at the eastern end the timber Old Market Hall of 1889 with its cafés and cheeses — and gulls that steal food from your hand without shame. In autumn the Herring Fair brings archipelago fishermen and their boats to the quay. The natural start of a Helsinki day: market in the morning, then up to the two cathedrals, then the Suomenlinna ferry after lunch.
1889 timber, cheeses and cafés.
The city's emblem fountain — capped on May Day eve.
Finland's forests on a table.
Eteläranta, Helsinki
Havis AmandaHavis Amanda is a bronze fountain at the edge of **Market Square** on Helsinki's3 minutes walk4.5
Uspenski CathedralThe largest Orthodox church in Western Europe: Uspenski in red brick with thirte4 minutes walk4.7
Esplanadi ParkHelsinki's elegant street: Esplanadi is a long park between two avenues from 1815 minutes walk4.6
The University of HelsinkiThe main building of the University of Helsinki stands on the western side of **5 minutes walk4.5
Helsinki CathedralFinland's first picture: a white cathedral with green domes crowning a vast flig5 minutes walk4.7Berries in season and wool or wood crafts from the artisan stalls; cheap souvenirs are mostly imported, so check the label.