Helsinki 赫尔辛基
July 27, 2026
After breakfast at the hotel, we walked to the ferry terminal to catch the public ferry to Suomenlinna. On the way, we heard the sound of a military band performing near Helsinki Cathedral. Senate Square had been closed off, and a Canadian military band was rehearsing for an upcoming performance. We stopped to watch for a few minutes before continuing to the ferry.
A pleasant 15-minute ride brought us to Suomenlinna, where we followed the recommended Blue Route around the island. The former sea fortress has been beautifully preserved and transformed into one of Finland's most popular attractions. The historic fortifications, scenic walking paths, and well-maintained parks made it an enjoyable place to explore. At the end of the route, we reached the iconic King's Gate. Rather than walking all the way back to the public ferry terminal, we took a private water bus directly back to the city center for a few extra euros.
We met our friends at Market Square and walked together to Senate Square. To our surprise, the grand staircase leading up to Helsinki Cathedral was packed with spectators enjoying the music festival. We watched the performances for a while before visiting the cathedral itself. Although elegant and historically significant, the interior of the cathedral is quite simple and understated compared with many of Europe's great cathedrals.
For lunch, we enjoyed salmon soup, one of Finland's most traditional dishes, at the Old Market Hall. It was good, though not quite as memorable as we had expected.
In the afternoon, we visited St. John’s Church before stopping by our friends’ “home away from home” nearby. We then returned to the hotel for a short rest before heading out again to meet them for dinner.
We took a pleasant walk through the botanical garden and the city on our way to the seafood restaurant. Dinner was excellent, and afterward, we ended the evening with coffee and cakes at Fazer Café, one of Helsinki’s most iconic and historic cafés. It was a relaxing and delicious way to wrap up another wonderful day in Finland’s capital.
2026年7月27日
在酒店用完早餐后，我们步行前往码头，准备搭乘渡轮前往芬兰堡（Suomenlinna）。才离开酒店不远，便听到赫尔辛基大教堂附近传来阵阵嘹亮的军乐声。原来元老院广场已封闭，一支加拿大军乐队正在广场上为即将举行的演出排练。大清早广场附近空荡荡，我们驻足欣赏了一会儿，才继续前往码头。
约15分钟后，渡轮抵达芬兰堡。我们按照推荐的蓝色路线（Blue Route）游览整座岛屿。这里曾是重要的海防要塞，如今已成为芬兰最受欢迎的旅游景点之一。岛上的古老炮台和防御工事保存完好，绿地、公园和步道规划得十分完善，历史遗迹与自然景观相得益彰。沿着步道一路前行，最后来到著名的国王门（King's Gate）。由于不想再步行返回之前的渡轮码头，我们多花了几欧元，搭乘私人水上巴士直接返回市区。
回到市区后，我们与朋友在市场广场会合，一起前往元老院广场。没想到这时候通往赫尔辛基大教堂的宽阔台阶上早已密密麻麻坐满了观众，大家都在欣赏音乐节的演出。我们也停下来观看了一会儿，随后进入大教堂参观。教堂外观庄严宏伟，但内部装饰十分简洁，没有欧洲许多著名教堂那样华丽。
午餐我们来到老市场大厅（Old Market Hall），品尝了芬兰最具代表性的传统美食——三文鱼汤。味道不错，不过并没有特别令人惊艳。
下午，我们参观了圣约翰教堂（St. John's Church），之后前往朋友在附近的异乡之家坐了一会儿。回到酒店稍作休息后傍晚再与朋友相约到一家海鲜餐厅共进晚餐。
一天的行程最后在Fazer Café结束。这是一家赫尔辛基最具代表性的百年咖啡馆之一，我们点的咖啡和蛋糕为这充实而愉快的一天留下了一个温馨的结尾。