Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors) is the capital of Finland. Situated on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the most populous city in Finland. The city of Helsinki was founded by King Gustav Vaasa in 1550. Helsinki was part of Sweden’s trade policy efforts in the Baltic Sea. The new city was strategically situated on the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland, opposite the city of Tallinn, with which it was to compete for lucrative eastern trade. However, the big plans did not materialize and for the first 200 years after its establishment, the role of Helsinki was smaller than planned. For more information on the history and historical landmarks, please refer to https://historia.hel.fi/fi (available in Finnish and Swedish only).
Given its proximity to the Gulf of Finland and its historical relevance, the city has many archipelagos and important cultural landmarks. For more information, please refer to: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/sights
The seaside of Helsinki offers a number of great avenues to look at as well. For more information, please refer to: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/sights
