Cosmopolitan Helsinki
While no one will confuse it with New York or London, Helsinki is the most cosmopolitan city in Finland and the home of people from all over the world. About nine out of 10 people in the city are native Finnish speakers. Thankfully, everyone understands English. Many residents, especially students, speak four or more languages.
With lush green parks and glistening waterways, Helsinki is a prime tourist destination during summer. Every part of town features relaxing open-air cafes where you can sit back and enjoy the view of the city’s lakes, forests and unspoiled wilderness. There are still small towns where people are surprised to run into tourists.
Founded in 1550, Helsinki has a population of around 560,000, but that figure rises to more than one million if you include residents of neighboring cities like Vantaa and Espoo.
Despite being the capital of Finland and an international metropolis, Helsinki feels like a small town because no skyscrapers or high-rise buildings line the landscape. The 18th and 19th century buildings that surround the bustling market square also add to the small-town feel.
While Helsinki has been the seat of Finland's economic, financial and cultural life and sets the trend for the rest of the country, the city is very different from the rest of Finland thanks to the strong influence of Russia and Sweden.
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