- General Information
- Helsinki is Finland's capital and largest city with 658,000 inhabitants
- City combines modern and historic architecture with beautiful open spaces
- Located on southern peninsula surrounded by hundreds of tiny islands
- Bordered by Gulf of Finland, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen
- History
- Founded in 1550 by Swedish King Gustav Vasa as trading post
- Became Finland's capital in 1812 under Russian rule
- Modernized in Empire style by Finnish and German architects
- Experienced significant growth during 19th century
- Climate
- Winter temperatures average −5°C, sometimes dropping to −20°C
- Summer temperatures around 20°C, pleasant with late-night sunsets
- Autumn develops slowly with moderate temperatures
- Climate influenced by maritime winds and sea conditions
- Transportation
- Central Railway Station serves as main transportation hub
- Metro system operates two lines from Espoo to eastern suburbs
- Tram network covers city center, buses cover rest of city
- Helsinki Airport serves international flights 20 km north
- Ferries connect to Tallinn, Stockholm and other destinations
- Practical Information
- Official bilingual city with 86% Finnish-speaking majority
- English widely spoken, especially among younger generations
- Public transport divided into four zones for different areas
- Taxis expensive, prices deregulated since 2018