Surroundings, Helsinki

The fortified islands of Suomenlinna (Swedish Sveaborg) are a part of Helsinki which seems remote but is in fact easy to reach by ferry (same ticket as for buses and trams) which takes only 20 minutes.

Within the territory of Vantaa, where Helsinki was originally founded in 1550, are Helsinki's international airport and the Heureka Science Center (opened in 1989).

8km/5miles east of Helsinki (leaving by way of Itäväylä, the Porvoo road) is the suburb of Herttoniemi, with the Topelius Museum, commemorating the poet Zachris Topelius (1818-98).

To the east of Helsinki lies the island of Korkeasaari (Swedish Högholmen), with a zoo and a restaurant. It can be reached either by motorboat from the North Harbor or on a footbridge from Mustikkamaa recreation area.

To the west of Helsinki is the island of Seurasaari (Swedish Fölisö), which is linked with the mainland by a footbridge. It has an interesting open-air museum, with old peasant houses, a church from Kiruna (1686) and other timber buildings. The island is reached by way of Mannerheimintie, then Linnankoskankatu, right into Paciuksenkatu and left into Seurasaarentie, which leads to the bridge. Nearby, at Meilahti 7, is an old timber house now occupied by the Friends of Finnish Handicrafts, with an exhibition of Rya carpets and other textiles at which visitors can watch the weavers at work.

A side trip can be made from Fiskari to Lohja (19km/12mi on Road 51), with the headquarters of one of the largest Finnish companies. St Lawrence's Church (15th century) is built of undressed stone; the interior is almost completely covered with excellently preserved 16th century wall paintings.The landscape of Lohja has many manors and gardens as well as Lake Lohja.

22km/14mi from Ekenäs is Salo, on Road 1 (Turku-Helsinki). In the southern district of Uskela is a stone church (1813) by C. L. Engel; from the hill on which the church stands there is a fine view of the town.

The Lakeside Blues Festival has been held in late June and early July since 1977.The week-long festival includes street shows, free concerts, events for children, and even restaurant performances.The center of the festival, however, is the park on the shores of Lake Tuusulanjärvi, where extensive events are held to entertain the whole family.The festival grows each year in size and in importance.

Hvitträsk, built between 1901 and 1903 of logs and natural stone, was a home and studio for the architectural team of Eliel Saarinen and Armas Lindgren. It also served as the boyhood home of world famous architect Eero Saarinen, who became well-known in the United States. Hvitträsk is surrounded by a beautiful English-style garden on the shore of Lake Vitträsk.

This is the home of the composer Jean Sibelius and his wife Aino. It was preserved as it was during their lifetime.