Suomenlinna

The island was amazing! It is one of the best places you can visit when in Helsinki. Take a 20mins ferry to Suomenlinna (you can buy the tickets directly on the port) and spend a day or half a day discovering the island. Walk around in nature and enjoy peaceful moments. There are a few restaurants/ cafes (not that many) if you want to spend a whole day.

A beautiful historic island just off coast of Helsinki. There are lots of guided tours available, but decided to go the DIY route. The ferry operates regularly from the port, and uses normal public transport tickets. There are maps and guides on the island and it is very easy to walk around. We went in February when the sea was frozen, watching the ferry break through the ice was an adventure in itself.

You could easily spend all day here. There’s lots of stuff to explore across the islands, as well as two museums (military history and history of Suomenlinna). The views from the fortress are spectacular as well. For metal fans, King’s Gate is where Nightwish filmed their music video for Over The Hills And Far Away.

If you love history and nature, this is a "must visit" for you. Take a ride on a ferry, ca 15 min from Helsinki and spend a day on this island. I suggest taking your time, the whole day, if you want to explore the island. There are cafes and restaurants, if you get tired or hungry. There is a supermarket, where you can get coffee and warm pastries. There are museums which are defenitely worth visiting. Walk along the shore and enjoy amazing views. Go explore the tunnels for sure, if you dare. Have a picnic if you wish. There are so many things you can do and see. The guide is also available. WCs are everywhere. It is easy to spend the whole day there and swith off the rest of the world.

Beautiful day out with the kids (8 & 9). We spent hours walking and playing in the snow. The ferry takes about 20 minutes, buy HSL tickets at the terminal (straightforward). Visitor center is informative, friendly and welcoming staff, too! They had a scavenger hunt for the kids. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and restrooms scattered around the island to sit down and relax if you want.

Visiting the island of Suomenlinna was one of the most special experiences of my trip to Helsinki. The atmosphere there is truly unique, where the history of its fortress walls and cannons blends perfectly with nature and the stunning views of the Baltic Sea. I loved getting lost along its cobblestone paths and discovering hidden tunnels; it feels like stepping back in time. It is the ideal spot for a long walk, a relaxing picnic, or simply disconnecting from the city buzz. A total must-visit that leaves you wanting to come back for more.

Great place to visit. The views are very pretty even in winter time. There are lots of different views, you can walk on top and inside the walls. There are some museums and even a small beach to use (if you go in the summer time)

Definitely recommend to visit this island - it was a very scenic ferry ride through the frozen Baltic sea! The blue route takes you all the way through fortifications and to the other end of the island. You can see how locals live here among fortifications and old military buildings. There are quite a few museums you can visit as well.

Suomenlinna is a must-see for any visitor to Helsinki. The ferry to this island fortress is simple to locate at the main pier, and it runs reliably on its 20-minute schedule, late into the night, so returning is easy as well. There's something for everyone to enjoy along Suomenlinna's scenic walkways, whether you're a history buff or casual tourist, with many vista walks and building sites to explore. Take your camera, enjoy a meal there, and check out the shops too (I particularly loved the gorgeous photo/narrative book by local Tim Bird, available in the main gift shop). Suomenlinna is simply an exceptional UNESCO heritage site!

Beautiful island that you can get to in about 20 minutes on the ferry from Helsinki. Great walking spot with cafes and restaurants as well. There are people that actually live on the island so there are residential areas. Beautiful views and a great half day spot to visit from Helsinki. Also you can take the ferry to other islands but the schedule is pretty spaced out.

This was a very special experience for me. I happened to be there when they had a choir singing at the church at the fort. Beautiful Nordic music. So special. It was a free concert. This sea fortress is a UNESCO world heritage center. Getting there is easy, the ferry takes about 15 mins & ferries run until 2am every 20mins. Buying the daily transportation card gets you access to the ferry. The ferry is easy to find, right by where the cruise ships dock. You can't miss it. Note that museums & tours on the island close early but you can still enjoy the island. There are cafes, restaurants & a grocery store on the island. I highly recommend doing this instead of walking around downtown Helsinki.

Visited recently in Helsinki on vacation. It was a beautiful boat ride at sunset (which hits early in the winter). The fortress itself had much to do and was beautiful, but given the cold weather, we did not explore much as we weren't properly dressed. We did visit the visitor center which had a bathroom and a small room with museum type information and history. It was nice to learn a little more about the fortress. They also had a grocery store with hot coffee and drinks to keep warm. I'd like to visit another day when the weather is warmer on a summer trip to Finland.

A short, cheap, ferry trip across the water for Helsinki harbour is this interesting island fortification. Building started in 1748 and has been used on various war footings since that time. Dotted around the, somewhat tiring, pathways of the island are many old relics in shape of cannons, derricks etc etc. A wonderful few hours wandering with, thank goodness, a few bars and restaurants. Well worth a visit and, even better, if you are lucky enough to enjoy good weather as we did.

If you're in Helsinki, this is a must do. Take the boat over (either one) and grab a map from the visitor center when you arrive. There are many different museums to enjoy -- we liked both of the military history museums which provided great information and a variety of exhibits. Unfortunately the library was closed the day that we went but that looked interesting too. We walked our way to the ramparts in the south and had beautiful views of the water. There are several restaurants scattered around the area as well, just check the opening times (and dates) if you have one in mind.

A really wonderful stop worth making while you're in Helsinki...plenty of museums and beautiful vistas. So much happened in Finnish history during the last 200 years and this island was a pretty consistent witness to that history. Come here to learn more, or just to enjoy a stroll accompanied by what seems like endless birdlife.

June 2012. We find a couple bikes on Suomenlinna. Tough old clunkers that have what the Finns call sisu. Guts. It's what you need when you live a whisker south of the Arctic Circle and Russia is your next door neighbor. They say sisu is how Finland kept its independence even though it was invaded by both the Soviets and the Germans during WW2; and how it pulled itself out of its economic crisis in the early 1990's when unemployment topped 20%. I take a ride around the island. It's early evening, so all the day trippers are gone and I have the place to myself. I roll past the rusty cannons and grass-covered bunkers that date from the Swedish occupation and both World Wars. Three centuries of fortifications that have finally outlived their usefulness. It's not that Finland doesn't have anything to defend against these days. It's that stone walls and watch towers just don't cut it anymore. I bump and rattle to the far end of Suomenlinna where I find the King's Gate, the monumental 18th century entrance to this island fortress. It's the island's most picture postcardy location, with its massive drawbridge and its big stone arch and its cannon holes. A good location for some period drama featuring guys on horseback wielding crossbows and wearing chain mail. A marble slab reads "Posterity, Stand Here Upon Your Ground and Never Rely on Outside Help," which is as good an expression of Finnish sisu as you're likely to find, even if the plaque was put there by the Swedes. I pedal through the gate. At practically any other point in the long history of this island, it would have been very unwise for some nerd to storm the King's Gate on a clunker bike. But that's the funny thing about posterity. The past has no say in the matter. No vote. I ride through the gate in the long light of a June evening and no one can stop me.

My husband and I visited Suomenlinna because it was included in our Helsinki 24 hour pass. We arrived at the docks to take the ferry across to the island. We only stayed for a couple hours as we had limited time while in Helsinki. I would recommend a half a day here and bring a picnic lunch. It is cheaper and there are some beautiful areas within the islands to take all in. Once on the island, there are a few museums. You can get into the museums for free if you have the Helsinki pass. If you don't, you can pay a small fee. I would not recommend paying a fee to go to any of the museums because none of them were spectacular. The toy museum was not that great but they had an amazing smelling cafe. Think hot cinnamon buns smell!! We didn't have anything since we were about the head back.

This historical place is a must see when visiting Helsinki! A beautiful getaway and chock full of military history. While many of the museums, shops and cafés are closed throughout the winter season, it is still wonderful to just wander around and drink in the beauty of this place. I only got to see the submarine from the outside, as my visit was in December, but even so it was worth the visit. Check their website to find out which museums are open during your visit. There's also a small convenience shop near the ferry dock, so you don't have to rely on expensive café food but can just grab a quick sandwich on your way. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing and be ready to walk a lot, there's just so much to see. The old forts, churches and tunnels are amazing to explore.

Was fun to just go wander around the island. The signs were mostly helpful, but not entirely. We ended up a couple times at dead ends when following a path. The King's Gate was sorta anti-climatic. After all that walking, that's it? Did we miss something? It is not recommended to take a stroller here. Just way too much cobblestone. You're much better off wearing a small child. The stroller did score a free ferry ride for one of us adults. If you're traveling on the public transportation in Helsinki (HSL) with a stroller, then the adult rides for free. HSL does ferry service to the island for like 5 Euros round trip. So our family of 3 got round trip from the island for 5 Euros. That was nice! Skip the brewery - soooooooo expensive. And you have a view of nothing. The back of a building.

We had 24-hour public transportation passes for zones A and B, so the ferry ride was included. The 15 minute journey on the water is great, with beautiful views of Helsinki. The island is amazing. Wear good shoes, grab a free map when you exit the ferry, and explore beyond the "blue line" indicated on the map. Lots of fun. Lots of places to stop and grab a snack or a refreshment along the way. It's important to remember that it's not just a tourist place, but that people actually live on the island. Don't bother them by walking on their properties! Really enjoyed it. Hope you do too.

A must if you're visiting Helsinki. Absolutely beautiful park to explore on a sunny day or, if it's raining, there are museums as well. A short 15 minute ferry from Kauppatori will take you to this four island cluster that is the fortress of Finland. Explore the military barracks, king's gate, beautiful parks and take in the history and scenery. Just note that it's quite hilly so wear comfortable shoes. Entry to the islands themselves cost just a single ferry trip, your transportation pass covers it but the museums charge small entrance fees. There are also cafes along the way if you get tired and need a coffee, pastry or beer. A great place to explore.

I think when people come to visit helsinki, this would be one of the places that should visit. I got to know this place from one of my colleague who actually from Finnland. after my hubby and I arrived in the city, the weather was good, so we decided to pay a visit to the island. There are many ways can get to the island, couple different tourist line and a public line. We went with the regualar public tranpot to the island. the ticket station just next to the boat, if you already got a day ticket fot the city, you don't have to get any extra ticket for the boat. I think the boat come each 20-30 mins, wasn't sure. it wasn't a huge trip from the city to the islands. but it sure was a wonderful and beaufitul trip. I enjoyed the view and love every moment with it. I also saw quite a lot soldiers on the way, I think this is some military training school on one of islands of suomenlinna. Suomenlinna belongs is one of the World Heritages, there are six islands in total. This isn't just a tourist place, local also like to come here and spend there time. It originally called Sveaborg or Viapori, it means Fortress of Svea, Suomenlinna was use later that. After we landed, we went to the right side directly, just wanted to explore the place by ourselves. Which I think the area we walked around was for the military training, we also went the other island behind this. I surprised that there are actually appartment for living on the island. we went behind the apartment and walk abit on the bay, it was really beautiful and romantic there, I also saw a small lighthouse. We went back and start to walked from the pier and turned left this time, we saw many houses this time and a church on the hill. The were couple cafe on the way and the infomation center. we pick one to have break, suomenlinna was much bigger than I expected it would be. after the break, we went on and we saw the defent wall that got left behind. it was like looking at the history live. it was amazing to be able to walked around them. we also saw the Augustin Ehrensvärd's grave in the middle, and somes abandoned tunnels, not much left inside, but cool to walked around. we were quite lucky. durin our visit, there were live music concert of the guard band, it was quite a cool show, we enjoyed it, although we don't speak finnish. overall, I think Suomenlinna is a brilliant place to visit if you every visit Helsinki, this is place shouldn't miss.

Suomenlinna is a must if you are visiting Helsinki. Translated it is called something like the castle of Finland and it is a short 15 minute ferry ride from town, which only costs €5 return. Suomenlinna is a collection of four islands all linked together, there is a well marked blue route which takes you to all the main sites. There is an old army barracks, a church which doubles as a lighthouse, a museum and the King's Gate on the main route. Slightly off the main route is a Toy Museum, which the wife loved but is a decent place to grab a drink in the cafe. The whole place seems like a museum of Finnish life. Definitely worth checking out.

An amazing walk which you should not miss when being in Helsinki. You get there by boat paying a normal public transport ticket. It takes maybe 15 minutes to get there and the ride is pretty as you see Helsinki from far away along some small islands. The island itself has multiple museums, cafés and restaurants. It is perfect for a picnic as there are large green areas. I would suggest when you arrive to go to the left and not right over the bridge to the other island as this is a prohibited military area and you will just end up coming back. There is a nice walk tour. Take a map from the information centre or from a museum. In this way you can keep track where you wanna go and what you wanna see. There is an old submarine on the way which you can enter with about 2 euros and there are lots of cannons near the coast which you can investigate. We had a coffee at cafe Piper which was very cute and at a nice location. Enjoy the scenery and take a walk around!

This is a must-visit location when in Helsinki. I came on a super rainy day, and I still really enjoyed exploring the island. They also offer tours for people who want a more structured visit. There is a lot to see on the island: lots of museums and cool sites to see. To get to the island, you will need to take a quick ferry ride. The fare is pretty reasonable, and if you get a 24 hour tourist pass on the metro, the ferry ride to Suomenlinna is actually included in that pass.

We came here in blizzard conditions because it's a FRESCA World Heritage Site and let me tell you I was impressed. They had everything here- an old army barracks, buildings that looked like they came out of a Wes Anderson film, a tomb of a man named Gustav who did important things, a church animorphed into a lighthouse, and even a cafe which boasted THE BEST hot chocolate on the whole island (also the only hot chocolate on the island). I can't wait to come back here in the summer time when all of the kids are running around playing Pokémon Go. Bring a jacket cuz it's windy!

If it's a nice and sunny day out, this is a good place to visit. You need to purchase a ferry ride from the market square to get to the actual island. (7 Euros covers the roundtrip cost.) I took a picture of the map and the only part that I thought was nice and worth going to was section A- Kustaanmiekia. The northern part was lame. The island seemed a bit confused. I wasn't sure if I was visiting a fortress or someone's neighborhood. Based on the pamphlet-- about 800 people live on this island. When we were walking around in the northern section, we stumbled upon a bunch of old buildings that were residential and a prison (which was closed off to the public.) There were random playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball court, and a lot of bike racks filled with bikes scattered throughout the island. For some reason, I pictured an old preserved fortress to be old and preserved. Seeing a clothing line with someone's towels on them ruined the experience for me. We ended up visiting one museum because we wanted to take a break from the heat, so we dug 5 out euros (each) to visit the Ehrensvard Museum. Definitely not worth it!! 10- 15 minutes of walking around a small apartment and it was boring. I also noticed that the "wallpaper" wasn't even wallpaper. It was simply a cloth hanging on the wall with a print. I believe if you have the Helsinki pass, I think the museums are included with this pass so go ahead and visit if you have the pass. But it's not worth visiting the individual museums if you're paying out of pocket for each one. I heard the main museum costs some money too and all they do is show a video. I don't want to be a "negative Nancy" during this whole review, so I will say that the 20 min ferry ride going to the island offers nice views. And if you walk the border of the island-- there are definitely some nice spots. You'll see lots of people sunbathing, swimming, and having picnics along the water. It's also a dog friendly spot, so if you're a dog lover-- you can bring your furry friends. We walked the entire island. It was a nice way to get some exercise, but if I were to redo my visit-- I wouldn't even bother going to that northern section. Stay in the southern portion of the island. You'll see the canons and walk the grounds of the old fortress. I would probably also do the walking tour. We accidentally crossed paths with a tour group and got a small preview of what was said. It seemed pretty interesting, so I would say the 4 euros would be worth it. The ferry comes every hour on the 30 at the King's Gate dock. (12:30, 1:30, 2:30, etc)

A short ferry ride of about a quarter of an hour from Helsinki, this has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. An UNESCO world heritage site, there are many interesting things for visitors, I particularly liked the toy museum, the Ehrensvard Museum and the Vesikko submarine (how on earth did they live and work in such a small space?!). If you buy the Helskini Card you get entrance to the museums included, it's well worth it

You definitely need to put this on your list of places to visit if you are ever in Helsinki. You can purchase your ferry ticket at the port and then be transported to the island. We went in February so it was blanketed with snow which continuously fell while we were there. It would definitely would have been easier to navigate the fortress in the warmer months. We came here with our 4 year old and had the stroller with us, it was a bit tough navigating the terrain but doable. I would have liked to explore the tunnels but with limited light and the inches of snow, it was bit hard to see and we were exposed to Mother Nature. There are quite a few cafes and restaurants that we could grab a quick bite. Our little guy had a great time playing at one of the playgrounds scattered throughout the island. We did see quite a few dogs being walked by their owners so it's a nice little get away from the city to reconnect with nature. I'm glad that we took the time to come over and explore a piece of history!

Suomenlinna is nice place to visit.I have recorded a video from suomenlinna in winter. It's really beautiful with the snow and everything.Ii really recommend visiting Suomenlinna Fort if you are visiting Helsinki. I used my go pro camera to record footage so sorry for not perfect quality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2ZZOWFqfsw&feature=youtu.be - Suomenlinna Fort

Cool fortress not too far away from the city, although taking a ferry (which is part of the transportation system) is required. The island isn't too big, and there are museums, cafes, and shops. There are also guided tours! I would recommend coming here to check it out; it's quite unique. They are also bunkers covered in grass - how smart!

The best place to have a picnic with friends or to spend an afternoon. The view from the island is spectacular. It is small enough to walk all around it in a few hours. You take a ferry to go to Suomenlinna. It takes about 20 minutes. It will cost you a bus ticket to go and another one to come back. More info here and timetable http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/visitors_guide/how_to_get_there/ Bring a good jacket with you and look out for seagulls

Where do I begin with this large, sprawling island fortress? Well, it's a lovely island with plenty to see and several spots to stop for a snack. The trails meander all over the place, and one that I took put me right by an old ship yard. The little bunkers on the hills look like hobbit houses, but watch out - they did smell like urine.

This place is a must. We are from the US and we had visited the San Juan islands in Washington state. This place reminded us of that plus a cross between Normandy and San Juan Islands. Great history, great water bus service, lots to do on the island. Take a picnic (you can bring wine, beer, whatever you like). Swimming or sun bathing. It's a whole day adventure if you want it to be. Very relaxing and a nice change from busy tourist locales and shopping.

what a great fortress, look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suomenlinna for details but look on the island for your own impression ... uncomparable have had a short time frame and bad weather, but it was worth to see this fortress as a island-based defense monument. the beautifull thing is a mix of the building and the surface of the rock with different styles and colors down to the "beach". see my pictures. A similar building for defense you can find in my hometown known as "Fortress Peters Hill". Similar, because of the structure of the great walls (see only in german: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zitadelle_Petersberg oder via yelp = http://www.yelp.com/biz/zitadelle-petersberg-erfurt) It takes about half a day, to see the main worth things on this island. Don't forget a map, to find the way across, haven't had a network connection :-( and something to drink, if all the shops / cafés are closed and an umbrella :-)

Fun and short ferry ride over and a very pleasant day. Easy to traverse island. On a cold day, you're quite exposed to the elements, and not a ton to do. I liked the museum gift shop, and the simple barren beauty of the place. 4 stars in the summer, I would assume.

I love this place is summer for picnics. The animals will eat out of your hands. the view is spectacular. It is a very romantic place. If you want an exotic honeymoon, don't go to France or Italy. Stay on Suomenlinna and take in the sights in Stockholm and Helsinki.

A ferry approaches this island where a fort was made to repel invaders. Luckily, no battles were fought. Today, it remains a tranquil and beautiful place to walk, picnic, or enjoy a special time. We stalked a bridal party (!) - sorry, you were all too beautiful - and enjoyed seeing the bride and her groom in Naval uniform enter the church as the bell rang. We climbed through stone chambers to have a drink on a terrace. Then, pizza at a cafe. Wind sailers worked the thermals above us, and maritime sailers tacked steeply through the inlets. Such a treasure to have, ony minutes from the city.

This tourist attraction is great for a nice walk and trip on the ferry. Perhaps it would be more interesting during the summer, but in the winter it was pretty "bleh".

Somehow in the nine years I've been visiting Helsinki, I never made it to Suomenlinna until now... what a magical place! Perhaps not amazing compared to other European war memorials, but the island is so charming and beautiful that the fort itself just felt like a bonus. I love the residential areas that make you feel like you're in some kind of time warp, and the trails along the sea are gorgeous. Not the best place if you have trouble walking, as it is all either cobblestone or dirt/gravel roads over hills, but the trails are fairly easy in most places and it would be a great place to bring kids. I can see why picnics are popular here in the summer and I'll definitely be doing that next time I come to Finland during warm weather. The island is small but I don't think I'd ever tire of the sea views and grass fields!

Grab a picnic lunch from the Market Square stalls and get the ferry over for some real peace in the city. I didn't visit the multiple museums (there's a charge for each) but I wandered all over the island and went to the visitor centre. Note, the visitor centre has free wifi so download your messages then go and sit on the beach to read them. Don't wear flip flops as it's dusty cobbles and rocky cliffs; much better to wear trainers for this trip.

This is a pretty cool fortress. The ferry over is only 5 euros for a return ticket, which isn't too bad. I didn't spend a lot of time here, just a couple of hours, but I couldn't believe how big this place was. I thought it would be just an island with a wall and some cannons, but no. It's several islands, with lots of buildings. There are a few museums and info centres. The island is also home to about 600 people so there are personal residences and even a prison, which is operational. Kind of crazy, but I like it. There are also a few cafes and restaurants. I wish I had more time here, but I liked what I saw and the views of Helsinki from the ferry were pretty cool. While the ferry was full on the way there and back the Suomenlinna is big enough that there were several spots that felt completely private. I think biking here would be pretty cool to do in the summer. I liked what I saw, and if I could go back and spend more time here I would.