Helsinki

Helsinki is the most easterly and arguably the most distinctive of the Scandinavian capitals — a city with a compelling blend of Nordic cool, Finnish design culture, Russian imperial grandeur (Helsinki was built as a Russian imperial city in the 19th century) and an extraordinary relationship with nature. The Finnish capital sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland, an archipelago of islands spreading out to sea, and residents combine urban sophistication with a deep attachment to the sauna and the forest. Senate Square, framed by the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral and the Government Palace, is one of Northern Europe's finest urban spaces. The Temppeliaukio Church (the Rock Church), carved directly into solid granite bedrock and topped with a copper-ringed glass dome, is one of the most remarkable pieces of architecture in Europe. The Ateneum (Finnish art), Kiasma (contemporary art) and the Design Museum represent the city's cultural depth. Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a Unesco World Heritage island fortress accessible by ferry, is a popular afternoon destination. Finnish design — Marimekko, Iittala, Arabia — is world-famous, and Helsinki's design district (the area around Iso Roobertinkatu) is excellent for shopping and galleries. The sauna culture here is sacred; Löyly, a public sauna on the waterfront, is outstanding. The White Nights of June and July offer almost 24-hour daylight. The Christmas season (December) is atmospheric. Helsinki is a gateway to Finnish Lapland, where aurora borealis viewing is excellent in winter.