Finland's capital city is the northern most metropolitan area in the world. Here the vernal equinox truly brings a change to the land. Throughout the season the temperatures will slowly but steadily rise from an average of 1 to 7 degrees in April, up to 14 degrees in May. This makes it the perfect season to go sightseeing around the city.

Senaatintori (Senate Square)

This square in the heart of the city has a lot of neoclassical architecture and is surrounded by Helsinki Cathedral, the government palace and the university. The cathedral is one of the most iconic sights of the Finnish capital. It was build in the nineteenth century in honour of Russian Tsar Nicholas I, the grand duke of Finland. It is a Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, which is locally known as Helsingfors domkyrka.

Hernesaari Bay

Hernesaari is located in the southern most part of the city centre of Helsinki. With its cafés, restaurants and terraces it is the perfect place for a delicious lunch with a view of the Gulf of Finland. Here you will also find Löyly, one of Helsinki's public saunas.

The Löyly complex includes a traditional Finnish smoke sauna, two other wood-heated saunas, a year-round terrace and a restaurant. The increase in temperature in Spring make that classical Finnish combination of a sauna and an open-air swim a little less intimidating.

Rock Church

Temppeliaukio Church is Helsinki's most unique church. It was excavated from solid rock which has giving it a distinct architecture and great acoustics. The church hall is covered with a dome which is lined with copper and is supported by the rock walls through reinforced concrete beams. All this makes it not only an active Lutheran church but also a tourist attraction and a popular concert venue.

National Museum

The Finnish National Museum presents the country's history from the Stone Age to the present day, through objects and cultural history. The museum has two permanent exhibitions: Prehistory and Story of Finland.

What we now call Finland was first settled 10.000 years ago, the Prehistory exhibition takes you back in time show what life was like back then. The Story of Finland exhibition focuses on the country's recent history and doesn't shy away from poking a little fun at the nation's peculiarities.

Parliament House

Finland's 200-seat parliament gathers here. The impressive building is a perfect representation of 1920s Classicism, which main façade includes 14 Corinthian columns. The building was constructed between 1926 and 1931, since then it has been the scene of many key moments in the nation's history.

An annex on the left side of the actual Parliament, nicknamed the Little Parliament, operates the Visitor's Centre. Guided tours are arranged on the weekend and on Tuesdays and Fridays one can watch the Parliament in session from the public balcony.