Finland travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

Suomenlinna or Viapori (Finnish), or Sveaborg (Swedish), is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands, today within Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The Sea fortress Suomenlinna is a unique architectural monument, a popular recreation area and museum. Although the island is located off the coast of Helsinki, it is part of the city. The Fortress was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991!

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress was built over 250 years ago and once had a population of 4600, larger than the population of Helsinki at the time. The Swedish crown commenced the construction of the fortress in 1748 as protection against Russian expansionism. All the effort didn’t hinder the Russians taking over in 1808. Finally in 1918 the Fortress became Finnish. Nowadays it is a popular park with museums, interesting flora and beaches.

Today, the island is inhabited by 1000 residents and so you will see some kids biking around. There is a big Visitor Center, which has a 25 minute “multi-vision show” and computers about the fortress.

There are plenty of nice spots for a picnic and you can also swim and sunbathe in various locations on the island – be prepared to walk a bit though. The trip to the fortress in Suomenlinna could be carried out by using the inter-island connecting motor boat from the Port in Katajanokanlaituri.

Turku is a post-modern city in Finland and today the city has a new library to celebrate for! The new city library in Turku is located at the historical centre of the city. The building is the latest addition to a block with the old library and several other historically valuable buildings.

The library has a functionally clear design. The public spaces are situated mainly on two floors surrounding the opening to the courtyard. The staff premises are located systematically on one side of the building facing the street. The first floor has a reception and lounge area, a children’s and youth section.

The building was made from concrete cast on site and fair-faced concrete was formed with vertical boards to achieve the rough feeling characteristic of the material. Glass was given a seminal role both in the outer architecture and the interior world. Transparency befits this type of building; a public library building should evoke the idea of openness.

Helsinki is one of the most vibrant and prosperous cities in the world with very high standards of living. With all its bays, inlets and shore islands, Helsinki is almost surrounded by water. The city grew up around a natural harbor overlooking the Gulf of Finland.

Helsinki’s offerings are seen best in summer, when the sidewalk cafes and the waterside markets are thronged by handsome, hardy people basking in the glow of plentiful daylight. As well as during this time visitors and residents gather on the steps of Senate Square to soak in the evening.There is summer sunlight in Helsinki 20 hours a day.

Helsinki may be the world’s second most northerly capital city, after Reykjavik, and it may be lapped by the Baltic, but it can feel almost Mediterranean on a fine August day, with soft, golden light bathing the pastel-colored Italianate buildings around Senate Square, a legacy from Russian rule in the 19th century, and ferries, cruise ships and trawlers filling in a lively marine backdrop.

Klaus K hotel is located on the three lined street Bulevardi in Helsinki very close to the cruise ship harbor, train station and less than 20 km to the Helsinki airport by car. The hotel is housed in a 19-th century structure and has really contemporary interior design inspired by the outlook of Finland.

The hotel consist ballroom for up to 120 people, a smaller meeting room and offers a wide range of class food & drinks for every guests specific moods.

But when you get tired from too much drinks and food, the hotel also offers refreshment procidures at the Helsinki Day Spa with an excellent variety of body treatments and beauty programmes. The Klaus K hotel owns 137 rooms, each one with custom beds, comfort designed workspace, air conditioning, LCD TV movies, CD/DVD players, games, easy high speed intenet access (wireless or wired), safe, bar, exclusive bath amenities, robe.