Helsinki

Helsinki is the biggest city in Finland and the capital. It sits on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, surrounded by many islands. People from all over Finland and other countries live there.

The city is known for its clean streets, friendly people, and lots of parks. It is also a place where many important events happen, like the Olympics and big music contests. Children can visit the famous Suomenlinna sea fortress, which looks like a giant castle on the water.

Helsinki is the northernmost capital of a country that is part of the European Union. It has a cool climate, with snowy winters and warm, sunny summers. The city is built on a small peninsula and has many parks and lakes.

In winter, the sun stays low in the sky, but in summer it can stay out for almost 19 hours a day! This makes it a great place to see both long winter nights and bright summer days. People also love to go ice skating on the frozen lakes during the cold months.

Helsinki’s story starts over 5,000 years ago, when the first people settled in the area after the ice melted. The city was officially founded in 1550 by a Swedish king as a trading town. In 1812, Russia moved Finland’s capital to Helsinki, and the city grew fast.

In 1952, Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympics, the first city in the world to host the games twice. Today, the city is famous for its design, clean streets, and friendly people.

Helsinki has a modern subway called the Metro, which runs under the streets and connects the downtown area with the suburbs. Buses, trams, and even boats help people travel to places like the island of Suomenlinna or the seaside district of Lauttasaari. Helsinki’s streets are clean and safe, and many people walk or bike instead of driving.

The city’s port is the busiest passenger port in the world, showing how many people love to visit. Helsinki’s parks, such as the 10‑kilometre‑long Central Park, are great places for families to play, have picnics, or watch the sunset over the water.