So there are about 300 islands belonging to Helsinki. Which ones to visit?

 

In these 300 islands there are all sizes of islands. Some of them have easy access even by car, some you can reach by walking as there's a bridge, for some you need a small boat to access, and to some there are ferries running.

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Helsinki's archipelago is said to be the soulview of Helsinkians (it's not a word but that's we'd call it in Finnish). Also it's something so different that being in a forest: the animals, the plants, the sea wind, the rocks to sit on and watch the sea...

 

Helsinki's archipelago is totally it's own experience. You don't have to go far from central Helsinki, just 7 minutes ferry ride from Helsinki's riviera - Kaivopuisto - you'll reach Harakka saari. Nowadays it's known for being artsy place with artists studios but it used to be under The Finnish Defence Forces. As many of our islands. The island is filled with wild raspberry bushes which you can eat as much as you can, wild strawberries, even wild frogs and it's very children friendly - you can have a look what kind of fish live in baltic sea. Also there's an old wooden house which has been renovated as childrens play house and themed by the animals and plants living in the Baltic Sea from planktons to seaweed and fish. The best thing is that this island is almost always empty form people whne Suomenlinna, Vallisaari, Mustikkamaa etc. are packed during summers.  

 

Seasons do effect a lot. During summers popular islands to visit are historical Suomenlinna, Pihlajasaari with it's beaches, Lonna with it's restaurant and DJ events (very trendy place to go!), Mustikkamaa as well with it's beaches, adventure park and wild raspberries, Tervasaari with it's summer theatre... During late autumn, winter and spring Uunisaari is worth visiting. It's easy access by foot from Eiranranta. And year around it's nice to visit Seurasaari which is also outdoor museum. Also Helsinki zoo, Korkeasaari, is as well in an island. You can access Korkeasaari from Musikkamaa by foot, or take a ferry from Kauppatori. And in 2016 summer there was a new island opened for public: Vallisaari. It was used for military use before but now anyone can go there.

 

I'm against zoo's and last summer I visited Korkeasaari to realize again how animals shouldn't be locked inside cages. Especially if there are daily 600 screaming children passing by... So if you want to see animals, go and spot local wild animals!

 

Here's archipelago map for Helsinki (in English).