By Terri Mapes
Scandinavia Travel Expert, about.com
An enjoyable holiday starts with a choice of a great destination. Suomenlinna Castle in Helsinki, Finland, has over the years made a great destination for both locals of Finland and for tourists from all over the world.
This Finnish castle
will give you a wonderful experience with lots of good memories to take
back home. It all starts with good planning and you will find yourself
there – enjoying the great beauty of Suomenlinna and marveling at the
castle’s great story....
History of the Suomenlinna Castle[post_ads_2]
Suomenlinna
Castle started as a fortress which was built by Swedes in their war
against Russians to act as a stronghold in 1748. Initially, it was
called Sveaborg, a Finnish name. However, in 1808, Russians took over
the fortress and modified it with their own constructions. The Finnish
government took over the castle in 1918 and changed its name to
Suomenlinna, which means "Castle of Finland."
The Beauty of Suomenlinna Castle
The
Suomenlinna Castle is in the islands of the South Coast of the Helsinki
City .Visits to the castle are open throughout the year.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too. Finland
experiences very cold winters but a visit during winter will give a very
different experience of the tour!
Bring flashlights! The castle
has scary tunnels which are very dark and so a flashlight will be
necessary for those who would want to explore them. They were used
during the Russo –Swedish war. There are strong stone gates and open air
museums with good documentaries of the history of the island. It has
wooden houses and the island has around 800 people who live there.
A Tour to the Suomenlinna Castle
The castle is found in Helsinki city in Finland. Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, bordered by Norway to the North, Russia to the East and Sweden to the West.
Getting to this beautiful castle is a journey in itself, which will start at the Helsinki City port,
which has a beautiful harbor since you can only access the castle by
ferry. It is a relaxing 20 to 30 minutes ferry ride which will offer you
a magnificent view of the Helsinki City and also the stretching seas.
You can get tickets for the ferry from ticket machines or even on board
for 5 Euros, which will be valid for 12 hours. (The local currency of
Finland is the Euro, just like many other countries in Europe.)
The
ferry makes stops at specific spots to allow the tourists to take
pictures and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding. The ferry
transportation is available throughout the year.
[post_ads_2]
Upon arrival at
the Suomenlinna Castle, the admission to the castle itself is free.
However, there are some charges for those who choose to visit the
museums and theaters for small fees.
When can you go?
For
tourists who want to visit the museums, the opening hours are from 10:30
-16:30, and the time zone is UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 during summer.
What else to do:
There
are outdoor theaters. It is a small isolated village but with
modernized and trendy restaurants, where you can enjoy local cuisines.
Guide walks are also available in Russian and English language. Carrying
with you packed lunch and snacks might be necessary.
Where to stay:
No
camping is allowed on this island but you can spend a night in
Suomenlinna. There are hotels which offer accommodation – even luxury
accommodation is available.
