According to the World Happiness Report, Finland has been deemed the happiest country in the world for six years in a row – and if you’ve ever been to the nation’s capital city Helsinki, it’s clear to see why.
Sitting on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki is a fresh and vibrant city that is perfect for a winter getaway.
Walking around this iconic city, you’ll be captivated by its enchanting atmosphere and friendly locals who are more than happy to welcome you to their home.
One of Helsinki’s many highlights is a distinctive landmark that watches over the popular Senate Square.
Instantly recognisable by travellers arriving by sea, Helsinki Cathedral has become the symbol of the city, and the beautiful green-domed building is open to visitors for a voluntary €5 (£4.31) fee.Â
Just a fifteen-minute walk away, located in the centre of the city, is the mysterious-looking Kamppi Chapel of Silence.
As the name suggests, the chapel is a place for visitors to experience true peace and quiet – but the feeling inside the uniquely shaped structure is far more impactful than travellers may expect.
Sheltered away from the expected hustle and bustle of a European capital city, the Kamppi Chapel of Silence offers an atmospheric escape from the crowds.
Alone with one’s thoughts, you don’t have to be a spiritual person to appreciate the powerful tranquillity of this remarkable place.
Another of Helsinki’s striking places of worship is the Temppeliaukio Church, otherwise known as the Church in the Rock or Rock Church.
Again, as the other names might suggest, the Temppeliaukio Church is built directly into solid rock, and from the outside resembles something of a Bond villain’s lair.
Completed in 1969, the unique copper-domed church has a capacity of 750 people and is ethereally lit by breathtaking beams of natural light.Â
Entry to the church is €8 (£6.91), which may seem quite expensive at face value, but it is entirely worth it. There is really nowhere else on Earth quite like the incredible Temppeliaukio Church.
Elsewhere in Helsinki is the beautifully green Sibelius Park. Named after Finland’s most famous composer, Jean Sibelius, the park features a number of trees and ponds and is an ideal place for a picnic and a stroll.
The park is also home to the impressive Sibelius Monument, a wave-like structure consisting of 600 hollow steel pipes that elegantly capture the essence of the composer’s music.
A trip to Helsinki, and Finland in general, would be incomplete without a visit to a sauna. The most notable and well-known public sauna in Helsinki is Löyly.
The wooden, water-front structure is home to three separate saunas as well as a swimming pool and restaurant. Admission for a two-hour sauna visit at Löyly is €23 (£19.84), which includes a towel, seat liner, shampoo and shower gel.
Source: express.co.uk