Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

The construction work began in the 1700s when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. The guns, still facing west on the ramparts at Kustaanmiekka, are a reminder of the period under Russian rule in the 1800s. Today, Suomenlinna is a city district with 900 residents. The sea fortress has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List to be preserved for future generations as an example of the European fortifi cation architecture of its time. Several signifi cant stages of historical development associated with the construction of fortresses and the dry dock can be seen on Suomenlinna.

Suomenlinna is only a 15 minute ferry ride away from the Market Square. The ferry is part of the city transportation system and runs year-round. During summer months the fortress can also be reached by waterbus service departing from the Market Square. In the fortress there are seven museums, guided walking tours, exhibitions and quality handicrafts. An important part of any visit to Suomenlinna is a good meal or a break at one of the cafés. The island has a selection of restaurants, charming cafés and its own brewery with a beer garden.The sea fortress is open all year round.

In winter visitors are captivated by the silence, the snow and ice and the stars of the night sky, unspoilt by the lights of the city. The Visitor Centre also serves tourists in the winter time together with the Suomenlinna Museum, one of the restaurants, the shop, kiosk and the youth hostel.

The Visitor Centre houses the island's tourist information as well as the historical Suomenlinna Museum where the "Suomenlinna Experience" widescreen presentation, covering the construction of the maritime fortress and the life in the garrison town is shown. The presentation is shown every half an hour in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, Russian and Japanese.