The capital and largest city of Finland, Helsinki is a rich cultural hub filled with museums, galleries and theaters, including the Ateneum’s collection of nearly 30,000 masterpieces of visual art. When Russia took control of Finland from Sweden in the 19th century, Helsinki was rebuilt with a neoclassical city center featuring handsome boulevards, plentiful parks and expansive squares with spectacular architecture, most notably Senate Square.
You’ll want to be on deck when sailing in and out of the Åland Islands, as this Finnish archipelago of more than 6,500 islands is simply spectacular. Mariehamn is the capital, a picturesque, laid-back town of 11,000 residents with a hospitable islander lifestyle and a strong maritime culture. Mariehamn was once the home of the world’s largest fleet of oceanic sailing ships, and a stroll through the Maritime Quarter reveals boat building workshops and smithy and craft shops. Named Finland’s best museum in 2016, the Maritime Museum offers excellent insight into Aland’s maritime heritage.
