Finland is celebrating its centennial this year, and Helsinki is getting its long-overdue moment in the sun. The Nordic capital has plenty to recommend it, but too often it’s overlooked by travelers: Foodies head to Copenhagen, shoppers to Stockholm, outdoorsy types to Oslo, and Helsinki is relegated to stopovers and return trips once the other hotspots of Northern Europe had been exhausted.
But for anyone who loves great design, Helsinki should rank near the top of your to-do list. The city is home to architectural masterpieces like the Finlandia Hall overlooking T??l?nlahti Bay, an imposing marble concert space created by Alvar Aalto, the father of Finnish Modernism. Five years ago the World Design Organization named the city a World Design Capital, and the subsequent programming has given rise to notable projects like the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, Kulttuurisauna, and the Design Driven City initiative, which aims to further promote the city as a center of design. That translates to great museums, striking buildings, top-notch shopping, and a city that’s every bit as cosmopolitan and captivating as its Nordic neighbors.
Any art-and-architecture-focused visit to Helsinki should begin with a trip to the Design Museum, in the heart of the city's Design District. The museum's permanent collection tells the story of how this small Nordic country came to be a trailblazer, with glasswork and ceramics of Kaj Frank, one of Finland's most prominent designers, bent-wood Artek furniture by Alvar Aalto, and even the original 1992 Nokia cellphone. The surrounding Design District is the creative soul of the city, where talented young designers have set up shop in the neighborhood's Art Nouveau buildings. Founded in 2005 as a hub for the city's creative community, the district now has over 200 shops, ateliers, galleries and studios to explore. Standouts include Samuji, Samu-Jussi Koski's carefully edited collection of clothing and homewares, and Lokal, photographer Katja Hagelstam's concept store showcasing work by Finnish artists.
Market Square, near the harbor, is a prime spot for people-watching and a bite to eay . Just steps from some of Helsinki's oldest quarters, including Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral, it's a bustling scene of tourists, locals, buskers, and seagulls clamoring for fallen morsels. Graze your way through the brightly colored tent stalls (don't miss the array of smoked fish, a Finnish favorite) and then head to Story Caf? in Old Market Hall for sea views and top notch food--including what is perhaps the best salmon soup in town. A recent makeover pays homage to the historic building, marrying contemporary design lines and custom furnishings with heritage details such as the vintage wire fish traps that hang from the ceiling. From here, wend your way up the leafy Esplanade Park, an elegant promenade where Finland's most recognizable brands--like Marimekko, Artek, and Iitalla--have opened their flagships.