Suomenlinna Walking Tour: A Guide to Helsinki’s Island Fortress

Suomenlinna is one of the world’s largest sea fortresses, and it sprawls across a series of six small islands. On this walking tour, I’ll show you around, and share the rich history of the island that’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. I’ll point out the Jetty Barracks which were designed to accommodate 250 soldiers in peacetime, the Suomenlinna Church which was once an Orthodox garrison church and is now an Evangelical-Lutheran church, and the Great Courtyard where you’ll find Augustin Ehrensvärd's grave. As you make your way around the island, I’ll tell you about the Mortuis Memorial Stone, the Military Museum of Manes and the 1918 Prisoner-of-War Camp Memorial which marks the spot where 8,000 prisons were held.

Along the way, you can look forward to:

• Seeing the defence wall and hearing how it’s been utilized both in war and today
• Hearing about the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, which manages this UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Listening to the story of Augustin Ehrensvärd, whose mission during the war was to increase the artillery’s capacity and to expand Hamina city’s defences
• Visiting one of the oldest operational dry docks in Europe
• Passing by the Bastion Hårleman, part of the island’s outer ring of defences
• Finding out why the artillery laboratory is called a ”disciplinary company”
• Reliving King Adolf Frederick’s first time walking through the King’s Gate in 1752
• Learning about the submarine Vesikko which was launched from the Crichton-Vulcan dock in Turku and used during World War II

While this two-hour tour is perfect for those who want to find out more about the island fortress’ history, we’ll also share some interesting facts about Helsinki and Finland with you. Did you know, for instance, that there are more saunas than cars in Finland?