Explore the fascinating fortress of Suomenlinna in Helsinki. Discover its rich history and stunning architecture while strolling through its picturesque landscapes. Immerse yourself in the charm of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where old-world charm meets natural beauty.
Plan your visit to Suomenlinna today and experience the magic of this historic Finnish gem.
Founded in 1748, Suomenlinna is one of the biggest sea fortresses in the world. It became Finland’s most popular attraction, built by Augustin Ehrensvärd by the Swedish crown to protect against Russian expansionism.
It was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique example of military architecture.
Suomenlinna was built on top of six islands (Kustaanmiekka, Susisaari, Iso-Mustasaari, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari, and Långören) and has been administered by civilians since 1973.
As you walk around the islands, you can sense that they have a unique feeling even though they belong to Helsinki. Almost a thousand people live on the islands, and 350 work there year-round. This fortress is not just a museum; it is a living community.
Suomenlinna is known as an unusual cultural location. The Nordic Arts Centre, established on the islands in the mid-1980s, led to an artistic presence there.
Several buildings have been converted into studios. During the summer, there is an art school for kids, and you can catch theater performances that draw quite a crowd.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Helsinki, look no further since we have some options: Scandic Paasi, Radisson Blu Plaza, and Radisson Blu Seaside.
Exploring Suomenlinna: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Whenever a place becomes a UNESCO World Heritage site, it becomes a common property of all humanity. Therefore, protecting it becomes a shared responsibility of all countries. Suomenlinna is one of these places, and it was listed in 1991 to preserve it for future generations as an example of how an 18th-century sea fortress used to look in Europe.
What to do at Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna is meant to be seen on foot, and since most of its roads are paved with cobblestones, we advise you to wear comfortable shoes. You will need it!
When you get to Suomenlinna, the first thing you must do is find the Suomenlinna Visitors’ Centre. There, you can grab a map and see the main spots on this island. There are also some guided tours; you can learn more about them at the Visitors’ Centre.
When we were there in September 2014, we followed the blue route. This route runs north to south via the main sights, a little over 1500 meters. If you follow it, you will see the Russian merchants’ quarter, Church Park, Great Courtyard, Piper’s Park, and the fortifications of Kustaanmiekka.
Even though we didn’t visit museums, six are on the island. The Suomenlinna Museum shows the fortress’s history, restoration, and present state, and it’s open the entire year. The others are only open during the summer years. What seems to be more interesting for you is the Military Museum’s Manege and the submarine Vesikko, a Second World War submarine used during the war.
There are also some cafés, restaurants, and even a brewery in Suomenlinna. Most of them are only open during the summer months, and you can learn which ones are open when you reach the Suomenlinna Visitors’ Centre.
How to get to Suomenlinna
The only way to Suomenlinna is by water. A ferry runs between the Market Square in Helsinki and the island throughout the year. This is how we got there, and the views were amazing!
Now, a little of Suomenlinna’s History
The fortress of Suomenlinna is a special place. It has served in defense of three different countries: Sweden, Russia, and Finland. The history of this fortress is split into these three pretty different eras, and you can learn everything about it below.
Suomenlinna under Swedish Rule – from 1748 to 1808
After the Great Northern War and the Russo-Swedish War, Sweden realized that the Russian Empire could easily overtake its forces in Finland. Based on this, Augustin Ehrensvärd was tasked with building a gigantic fortification to protect Helsinki from Russian ships.
The fortress was first named Sveaborg, after Sweden’s female personification. Its construction started in 1748 on the Susiluodot islands off Helsinki but was never quite finished. Even though they had over 7,000 people working on the fortress by 1755, Sweden’s constant participation in wars stopped the construction efforts. And, by the time of the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790, Sveaborg remained partially incomplete.
It wasn’t until 1808 that Sveaborg changed hands. Following a pact between Alexander I and Napoleon, the Russian Empire launched a campaign against Sweden and occupied Finland. Russian forces quickly took Helsinki. From the city, they started bombarding the fortress that, led by Carl Olof Cronstedt, surrendered in terms that remain unclear to this day.
Suomenlinna under Russian Rule – from 1808 to 1917
Viapori, the Finnish name for Suomenlinna back then, was a valued resource for the Russians. After the Swedish forces vacated it, much construction work started there. The sea fortress perimeter was expanded, and soldier barracks were built into the walls. Even an Orthodox garrison church, designed by Konstantin Ton, was established. He is responsible for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Grand Kremlin Palace, and the Kremlin Armoury in Moscow.
However, Viapori’s military importance declined over the years, and the Crimean War shattered the long period of peace following the transfer of power. Russia was at war against the Ottoman Empire, and it wasn’t alone. France and the United Kingdom were its allies and decided to engage Russia on two fronts.
Viapori was bombarded for 47 hours and severely damaged. The Anglo-French fleet couldn’t defeat Russian guns, so they kept sailing for Saint Petersburg.
After the Crimean War, extensive restoration work began at Suomenlinna. However, its importance continued to decline until the First World War. Then, the Russians turned it into the Naval Fortress of Peter the Great, designed to protect Russia’s capital, Saint Petersburg.
Following the Russian Revolution in 1918, the newly founded Finnish government took control of the fortress and renamed it Suomenlinna, the Castle of Finland.
Suomenlinna under Finnish Rule – 1918 to the present
When the Winter War broke out in 1939 against Soviet Russia, the Finnish forces stationed there included anti-aircraft and a submarine fleet. After the Continuation War, only a few military forces remained at Suomenlinna.
Since it was no longer considered practical as a military base, the Finnish Defense Forces announced they would vacate the sea fortress completely. In 1973, Suomenlinna was turned over to the civilian administration, and the only Defense Force still there was the Naval Academy.
To finish this article, we will use what we learned during the research.
George R. R. Martin, the man behind Game of Thrones, wrote a short story about Suomenlinna’s surrender as a college student. It is included in his book of short stories, Dreamsongs: Volume I.
Suomenlinna: A Must-See Destination in Helsinki
Suomenlinna C 40
FI-00190 Suomenlinna, FINLAND
