Suomenlinna is a highlight of any trip to Helsinki. Often nicknamed the “Gibraltar of the North,” this UNESCO World Heritage site is a massive sea fortress spread across six interconnected islands.
What I loved most about visiting Suomenlinna is that it doesn’t feel like your usual museum. It’s a living neighborhood where around 800 people live in former barracks and historic buildings. You take just a 20-minute ferry ride and end up in a completely different environment, which does not feel like a part of the city, but rather a secluded island.
If you’re wondering whether Suomenlinna is worth visiting, it absolutely is, even if you only have a short time in Helsinki. This is the one stop I don’t suggest skipping. Here is everything you need to know to visit Suomenlinna, including how to get there, what to see and do.
If you’re planning your visit, also check out my Helsinki 1-day itinerary with the step-by-step route.
Also see my detailed Helsinki travel guide for practical tips on transport, costs, and where to stay.
- When to Visit Suomenlinna
- How to Get to Suomenlinna from Helsinki: Choosing Your Ferry
- Option 1: Public Ferry
- Option 2: FRS Finland Boat
- Practical Details for Visiting Suomenlinna
- Suomenlinna Fortress Opening Times
- How Much Time Do You Need at the Suomenlinna Island
- Accessibility of Suomenlinna Island
- Suomenlinna History: Brief Overview
- The Sightseeing Route to Explore Suomenlinna
- Iso Mustasaari Island
- Suomenlinna Church
- The Military Museum
- Suomenlinna Museum
- Susisaari Island
- Submarine Vesiko
- King’s Gate
When to Visit Suomenlinna
While technically you can visit all year round, the islands are far more enjoyable during the warmer months. Summer is the best time to wander around the old fortress walls, explore the tunnels and enjoy the sun. Besides, Submarine Vesiko is only open during summer months.
Note that the islands are quite exposed to the wind, so it can feel much colder than expected, even on a sunny day.
You can visit in the colder months too, though I’ll be honest, wandering exposed fortress islands in Baltic winter is not really my idea of a good time. If you do go, warm layers are non-negotiable and the museums and cafés will be your main refuge to warm up indoors at times.
If you take my advice and are visiting in summer, you should note that the islands get crowded, especially the Blue Route (see more details on that below). So arriving as early, as you possibly would be the best strategy. That said, morning and evening hours can be chilly even in summer, so pick your poison.
How to Get to Suomenlinna from Helsinki: Choosing Your Ferry
Option 1: Public Ferry
The HSL ferry provides public transport connection to the mainland. Suomenlinna is actually a residential neighborhood with people living in these 18th-century buildings. So this ferry is a regular transport first and the tourist connection second.
Ferry departure locations: departure from the terminal near Market Square (Kauppatori). The ferry will get you to Sveaborg terminal.
Suomenlinna public ferry single ticket price: 3.30 EUR. The public ferry price is same as for the other transport types. You can purchase it at the ferry stop machines using your bank card or use the HSL official website or app. If you purchase a day pass for public transport, the ferry will be included.
Suomenlinna public ferry timetable: The timetable changes according to the time of the year and day of the week, as well as time of day. It can be every 15 minutes to every hour. Check exact timetable during your visit through the official website.
How long does the ferry to Suomenlinna take: about 20 minutes.
Option 2: FRS Finland Boat
Water boat departure locations: The boat departs from the same Kauppatori terminal, as the public ferry. It will get you to the terminal near King’s Gate.
FRS Finland water boat price: 10 EUR for the return trip. You can purchase your return ticket via GetYourGuide.
FRS Finland timetable: The boats normally operate from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm. The frequency changes according to season, so check on their website. Note that these boats are generally seasonal.
Practical Details for Visiting Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna ended up being my favourite part of the Helsinki trip, although maybe Oodi Library can compete with it a bit but for completely different reasons. The ferry ride over is lovely in itself, and the moment you step off and start walking the fortress walls with the sea stretching out around you, the city feels very far away even though it isn’t.
Suomenlinna Fortress Opening Times
The fortress is open 24/7, as it’s an open space. But the museums, cafes and other spots here have their own opening times.
Plus, your visit will depend on the ferry timetables.
How Much Time Do You Need at the Suomenlinna Island
There are plenty of things to do on Suomenlinna. I recommend spending at least 2-3 hours here. The islands aren’t very small and you will need time to explore.
With only a couple of hours on the Suomenlinna islands, I would focus on the outdoor areas and views rather than the museums. It’s best experienced through wandering around the fortress walls, seeing their views against the sea, checking out the courtyards and old barracks. That’s the real Suomenlinna anyway.
If you want to visit the museums, sit at a café and see all corners, you’ll need at least half a day. It’s very easy to lose track of time here, especially once you start wandering off the main paths. So keep track if you need to be somewhere at a certain time.
Accessibility of Suomenlinna Island
Most of the routes are inaccessible for wheelchair users and difficult for persons with limited mobility. You will be walking quite a bit, and not always on smooth paths. There are gravel sections and uneven areas.
However, there is an accessible path specifically for wheelchair users, which is somewhat shorter than the Blue Route. You can either follow the provided map or signposts along the way.
Suomenlinna History: Brief Overview
Suomenlinna is a UNESCO listed sea fortress in Helsinki spread across several interconnected islands. Its 200 buildings were constructed over the years in the 18th century by the Swedes and its original name was Sveaborg. Aimed to defend Finland from Russia, it had impressive military fortifications. The irony is of course that in the 19th century Russians took over this fortress.
The Sightseeing Route to Explore Suomenlinna
This is the most popular route and gets genuinely busy in summer, especially around midday. This is the main reason to arrive early if you can. That said, the moment you step slightly off the main path, the crowds thin out dramatically.
There are cafés, restrooms, and small shops on the two major islands you will be exploring, so you don’t need to worry about facilities during your visit.
Iso Mustasaari Island
The first island you get to, once you get off the ferry, is Iso Mustasaari. If you need a morning coffee fix, try Café Silo. For food however, unless you have a bigger budget, do what the locals do and bring snacks for picnic.
Suomenlinna Church
Once you start the Blue Route, the first major building you will come up to will be the Suomenlinna Church. Built by Russians in the 19th century, it used to be an orthodox church and converted to a Lutheran one later on.
It’s worth a quick look, as the conversion from orthodox to Lutheran gives it an interesting mixed character. But we moved on fairly quickly. It’s small and there’s only so much you can see.
The Military Museum
Ticket price: 10 EUR with discounts for students and pensioners and free entry for children and other groups.
Opening times: 11 am – 6pm in summer, 11 am -4.30 pm the rest of the year.
If you are interested in the military history, including the armory and defense artifacts of the Finnish army, the Military Museum will be of interest.
We skipped this one, as military history isn’t really our thing. But if you’re interested in Finnish defense history, weapons, and armory artifacts, this would be worth half an hour or an hour of your time. The building itself is also historically significant.
Suomenlinna Museum
Ticket price: 10 EUR with discounts for students and pensioners.
Opening times: 10 am – 6pm in summer, 10.30 am -5.30 pm the rest of the year.
Suomenlinna Museum is the major museum on Suomenlinna, showcasing the history of the fortress. You can watch a documentary, then browse various objects from weapons to everyday items. You will also find models of the fortress here, as well as parts of the military ships.
If you only choose one museum to visit, this would be the one that gives you the best overview of the fortress.
Susisaari Island
Once you explore the Iso Mustasaari, you will cross the bridge to the main island – Susisaari. The main route will lead you to the King’s Gate the shorter way. However, if you have time and energy, I recommend exploring the island in more detail. Namely, move towards the western side of the island after crossing the small bridge.
This area is quieter, more scenic, and offers better views of the open sea. You can take great pictures and enjoy watching the sea. Besides, if you divert your route, you will find interesting hidden tunnels you can explore.
This part was my favorite. We just wandered around and took different paths near the seaside and inland without following any set path. It was a lot of fun seeing various interesting details that most visitors don’t look for.
Once you are done wandering here, move towards the eastern side.
Submarine Vesiko
Ticket price: combined with the Suomenlinna museum: 10 EUR
Opening times: Only from May to September 11 am -6 pm
Vesiko is a submarine which survived World War II and currently serves as a war museum. It’s a compact museum, which you can explore within a few minutes. It’s fascinating to see how small the living quarters were. Plus, you will see a number of objects used by the navy.
It’s a quick visit, but quite memorable if you haven’t been inside a submarine before.
King’s Gate
After this continue walking until you reach King’s Gate, one of the most photogenic spots on the island.
The gate itself is interesting up close, but honestly what stopped us here were the views of the fortress walls stretching out toward the sea on either side. It’s one of the best photo spots on the whole island and worth taking your time at.
With the King’s Gate, you will complete the major spots that are notable on the islands. If you are interested, you could still explore the smaller islands, however, this would not be possible if you have only one day in Helsinki.
From the King’s Gate you can either take the FRS water boat or return to the Sveaborg terminal (about 20 minutes’ walk away) to take the public ferry.
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