Katajanokka Island Walk, Helsinki

Katajanokka Island Walk (Self Guided), Helsinki

Once a peninsula, Katajanokka is now a separate island close to Helsinki's downtown core. This is a fantastic place to come for a walk, so much so that you may never want to leave! It is connected to the mainland by a short bridge and is just a 2-minute walk from Market Square. This upscale neighborhood, once home to Finland's former president features some beautiful examples of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture.

Appreciate the gold onion domes of the 19th-century Russian Orthodox Cathedral, also known as Uspenski Cathedral. This deep-red brick structure is considered to be the largest Orthodox Church in Western Europe. As you wander through the area, take the time to look closely at some of the residences, in particular the attractive detailing and designs on their window frames.

Stop by the Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka which is housed in the former district prison of Southern Finland. The cells of this early 19th-century jail have been extensively refurbished and repurposed as guest rooms. Other architectural highlights to enjoy are the Merikasarmi complex of the Foreign Ministry and the Finnish headquarters of Stora Enso. At the southern end of the island is the harbor. The ice-breaker fleet is stationed here when it isn't churning up the frozen Baltic Sea.
How it works: A discovery walk features a route using which you can explore a popular city neighborhood on your own. This walk, along with other self-guided walks in over 1,500 cities, can be found on the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app's built-in GPS navigation functions allow following this walk route with ease. The app works both online and offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Katajanokka Island Walk Map

Guide Name: Katajanokka Island Walk
Guide Location: Finland » Helsinki
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Author: Helen
Uspenski Cathedral

1) Uspenski Cathedral

Katajanokan Kasino

3) Katajanokan Kasino

Merikasarmi Building

8) Merikasarmi Building

Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka

10) Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka

Port Katajanokka

12) Port Katajanokka

Scandic Hotel Grand Marina

13) Scandic Hotel Grand Marina

Stora Enso's Head Office

14) Stora Enso's Head Office

Stora Enso's Head Office

15) Stora Enso's Head Office

Walking Tours in Helsinki, Finland

Create Your Own Walk in Helsinki

Create Your Own Walk in Helsinki

Creating your own self-guided walk in Helsinki is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Finnish Souvenir Shopping Tour

Finnish Souvenir Shopping Tour

When in Helsinki, souvenir shopping can be an exciting adventure allowing you to bring home a memorable piece of Finland worth having in your household. Depending on your inclinations, these could include sauna bucket and ladle, traditional Finnish music instruments, hand-woven long-tufted rugs (ryija), Finnish vodka made from Arctic-grown berries, or something else.

Those in the know can give...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Helsinki Introduction Walking Tour

Helsinki Introduction Walking Tour

Helsinki was created as a trading town by Swedish King Gustav I in 1550, but it is believed that Swedish settlers had arrived here in the 1300s. Sometimes called the “Daughter of the Baltic,” Helsinki is a port town through and through. Its close connection to its Baltic neighbors, Sweden and Russia, has shaped its history for better and worse over the last 400 years. Both Finnish and Swedish...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Helsinki's Architectural Jewels

Helsinki's Architectural Jewels

Typified by Nordic minimalism and refinement, the architecture of Helsinki is shaped primarily by the early neoclassical style and a regional form of Art Nouveau called Jugendstil. Still, it is the later work by modernist architect, Alvar Aalto, as well as the thriving contemporary designs deeply rooted in nature and local craft that give Helsinki, as well as Finland in general, their current...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Helsinki's Historical Churches

Helsinki's Historical Churches

Because of Finland's former affiliations with neighboring Sweden and Russia, it's no wonder that the religious tapestry of Helsinki is dominated by Lutheran and Orthodox churches. Nonetheless, there are also some beautiful architectural expressions of other Christian denominations like Anglican and Catholic to be found in the city, each holding a special place in its religious narrative....  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Seurasaari Island Walking Tour

Seurasaari Island Walking Tour

Seurasaari Island in Helsinki is best known as the home to the popular open-air museum. This venue offers a glimpse into the life of Finland's countryside in various epochs, showcasing old, mainly wooden houses, some of which – once lived in by famous people in Finnish history – were transplanted to the island and thus became part of the museum.

Among the notable attractions here are...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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