Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki (must see)

The Ateneum Art Museum is one of Helsinki’s most important cultural landmarks and a key destination for anyone interested in Finnish art and national heritage. Located on Rautatientori Square, close to Helsinki Central Railway Station, it is one of the three museums that form the Finnish National Gallery, together with the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum.

Completed in 1887, the building's neoclassical, richly ornamented façade is worth admiring before you enter. Look for the busts of famous artists, including Raphael, and the four female figures supporting the pediment, each representing a classical art form—architecture, painting, sculpture, and geometry—all topped by a prominent Latin inscription translating to "Through concord small things grow.'' Above them, Pallas Athene, the goddess of art and wisdom, appears to bless the artworks below.

Inside, the Ateneum presents Finnish art from the 18th to the 20th centuries, including works by celebrated artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Albert Edelfelt, and Helene Schjerfbeck. These paintings and sculptures trace the development of Finnish art while also reflecting the formation of national identity, especially during the 19th century. The museum also holds around 650 international works, including a painting by Vincent van Gogh.

Alongside its permanent collection, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions, and Saturday workshops are available with admission. Before leaving, stop by the well-stocked museum shop for postcards and tasteful Helsinki gifts, or take a break in the bistro, which serves Finnish food in an inspiring setting.