Vantaa city in Finland. Vantaa (Finland): what to see and where to stay
Vantaa is a city in southern Finland, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. In fact, it is an integral part of Helsinki, but administratively independent locality, the fourth most populous city in Finland. Vantaa - far from it tourist town. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting here at least once in your life.
Vantaa (Finland): airport and more
Many travelers are familiar with this city. After all, this is where the main airport of the country, Helsinki-Vantaa, is located. Finland receives about 7 million tourists annually. And most of them begin their acquaintance with this northern country specifically from the city of Vantaa. But few people stay there for a long time, naively believing that there is nothing to see here.
Vantaa is a satellite city of the Finnish capital with a population of about 200 thousand people. It was founded in the middle of the 14th century, exactly two hundred years earlier than Helsinki. The Royal Postal Road, which connected Stockholm with St. Petersburg, passed through the city. It was laid by the ancient Vikings.
The modern city of Vantaa in Finland serves as a kind of business center. Thus, it is here that the representative offices of many Finnish companies are located: the country's main air carrier Finnair, the largest dairy concern Valio, the famous manufacturer of paints and varnishes Tikkurila and others. By the way, the latter company borrowed its name from the name of one of the districts of Vantaa.
Finland can be proud of many talented scientists, athletes and musicians who come from this small town. Among them are the philosopher and mathematician Jaakko Hintikka, the drummer of the mega-popular rock band Lordi Sampsa Astala, the famous racing driver Mikka Hakkinen and others.
How to get to the city? If you are planning to travel to Finland by plane, this is most likely where you will land. By the way, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was recognized as the best in Northern Europe in 2013. It handles about 90% of all international flights in Finland.
How to get from Helsinki to Vantaa? The most convenient way to do this is by high-speed train, which departs from railway station capital approximately every 20 minutes. In addition, Helsinki is connected with the satellite city of Vantaa bus routes(No. 415, 451 and 620N). Travel time is about 40 minutes. A taxi ride from the Finnish capital to the city of Vantaa will cost 50 euros.
Where to stay: Vantaa hotels
Finland is a country with a fairly developed tourism industry and hotel business. According to statistics, skiing, medical, cultural, historical and environmental tourism are very popular here. Of course, the country is ready to offer its guests wide choose hostels and apartments.
However, tourists need to be prepared for fairly high prices for accommodation in Finland, and, in particular, in Vantaa. So, the average cost hotel room in this country is 106 euros (as of 2012).
In the city of Vantaa the most popular, according to reviews Russian tourists, are the following hotels: Hameenkyla Manor, Hilton Helsinki Airport, Holiday Inn Helsinki, GLO Hotel, Hotel Cumulus, Avia Apartments. Prices for standard rooms in budget hotels in Vantaa (two or three stars) start from 3,000 rubles, in luxury hotels (four or five stars) - from 5,500 rubles and above.
What is interesting about the city of Vantaa?
Vantaa is not only an airport and headquarters large companies. Here the tourist will find a lot of interesting things for himself. The main attractions of Vantaa are popular science complexes, museums, parks, recreational centers and ancient temples.
Near the railway station there is a city local history museum with rich exhibitions. He was located in the old beautiful building made of red brick, designed by the architect Karl Edelfelt. In Vantaa, you should definitely visit the old church from the mid-15th century. This is one of most popular places for weddings throughout Finland!
In the vicinity of the city there is unique village Sotunki. By going there, you can see with your own eyes the real rural life of Finland. There is a sculpture park, a tractor museum, and an animal farm for children. In addition, the village organizes regular ecological walks through forests and lakes.
Science can be simple!
One of the main attractions in Vantaa is the Heureka Science Museum. It is located in the city's Tikkurila area. At the time of its opening (1989), it was the only popular science center in all of Scandinavia.
The interactive museum “Eureka” sets itself one single goal - to develop in children (and adults too) a genuine and lively interest in science. It contains over two hundred exhibits from various fields of scientific knowledge. Among them are both the simplest and very complex models. Each visitor can personally participate in one of the scientific experiments here.
The Eureka Museum houses a first-class planetarium and arboretum, as well as a magnificent collection of minerals and rocks from the Scandinavian Peninsula.
City of Vantaa located on a river called Ventaanjoke northeast of . The city is divided into six districts - Martinlaakso, Korso, Tikurilla, Hakunila, Myyrmäki, Koivukylä. The area occupied by the city is approximately 243 square kilometers (of which approximately 2 square kilometers are occupied by rivers and lakes). The population of the city of Vantaa is approximately 200 thousand people, of which 90% are Finns, and the rest of the population is of Swedish origin. The climate of the city is temperate continental. It is characterized by snowy but fairly mild winters and fairly warm summers.
Vantaa - video
Vantaa is a fairly large transport hub. This is where it is located largest airport- Helsinki-Vantaa. At this airport all international and domestic flights. In addition, it is the main preventive and repair base of the Finnish airline called Finnair.
There are more than one hundred companies operating at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which provide jobs for approximately 7,500 people. There is a luxurious salon for honored guests, the so-called “VIP President”.
130 airlines around the world fly from Helsinki-Vantaa to countries North America, Europe and Asia (of which 30 are scheduled and 100 are charter). The airport has premises that are used for congresses, meetings, exhibitions, and also has its own parking lot and hotel.
Sights of Vantaa
One of the attractions in Vantaa is Church of St. Lawrence. This medieval church, built of stone, is considered one of seven Evangelical Lutheran congregations in the city. The church is located quite picturesque place, which is called Tikurilla. The temple is surrounded by ancient trees, old buildings and mills. The construction of the church was carried out by “Master Perno”, who at one time built churches located in Porvoo, Sippo and Perno. In 1893, the Church of St. Lawrence was quite badly damaged due to a strong fire, but on the basis of the old foundation it was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style and in 1894 on Trinity Sunday the church was consecrated.
Another landmark of the city is Aviation Museum— National Museum of Special Importance. It is located near the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The museum's collection includes about 9,000 exhibits related to aviation, aviation magazines, 16,000 books and other printed aviation materials. On the territory of the museum there is a store where you can buy themed souvenirs, namely model airplanes, books, postcards and large-scale aircraft models.
Worth paying attention scientific and exhibition center "Eureka". It is especially popular among schoolchildren. The center presents technical entertainment and innovations, new achievements in science, and complex natural phenomena in a fairly accessible form. In “Eureka” you can not only watch, but also play. There is a unique wide-screen cinema, the name of which is “Berne”, the “Archimedes” restaurant, many large shops, a playground, a wonderful planetarium (where you can watch digital panoramic films), and a rock garden.
Restaurant "Royal Salmon" is interesting to tourists not only for its exquisite cuisine, but also quite interesting story. The restaurant operates on the site of an 18th-century inn; it was originally a wooden building, which over time turned into a stone one. Since 1912, new stone extensions were built on the courtyard grounds. All restaurant visitors can admire not only the picturesque scenery of the Vantaakoski rapids, but also the village barns and ancient mill ruins. The restaurant's menu features dishes from the Tikkurila region and traditional Finnish dishes.
1. The currency in the city is the euro; currency can be exchanged in banks and exchange offices. Banks open from Monday to Thursday at 8:00 and close at 15:00 (on Friday at 14:00). Exchange offices work from morning until late evening, seven days a week.
2. During their stay in the city, tourists are recommended to purchase medical insurance, because if you do not have it, you will be charged for the provision of medical services.
3. It is not customary to stop a taxi on the road in Vantaa - you need to order it by phone or use a special taxi stand. In the city, in addition to regular taxis, there are also airport taxis - they take several passengers at once.
4. The crime rate in the city is not very high, but you should be careful and keep a closer eye on your personal belongings, especially in busy places where pickpockets may be waiting for you. If you have become a victim of a crime, you should immediately contact the police.
5. Tipping in the city of Vantaa is not mandatory, but those who wish can leave 5-10% of the cost of the order in a restaurant, hotel, taxi, or for service in a restaurant. If you wish, you can also leave 1 euro to the receptionist for wardrobe services.
6. Pay attention to hourly changes. In Vantaa time is one hour behind Moscow.
Every day a dense flow of tourists from Finland and other countries passes through Vantaa, but they do not see Vantaa at all. The fact is that the Helsinki-Vantaa airport is located in this satellite city of the Finnish capital. It would never occur to most travelers that Vantaa could be interesting in its own right. But if circumstances call for you to stay in Vantaa longer than required to change flights, you will definitely have something to do here.
The first written mention of Vantaa dates back to 1351. The Royal Road, which was once used by postal couriers, passed through the territory of the current city. Today is the most important a tourist route for traveling through Scandinavian countries. The Royal Road runs from east to west along the old route laid by the Vikings. Mail carriages and messengers drove along it at full speed, bringing news from Stockholm to Turku and St. Petersburg. The same path was connected with the great castles of Turku and Vyborg. Part of the old road is still preserved: along it you can get to Vantaa from Espoo, and from Vantaa to Sipoo.
The Royal Route leads to Vantaa through wooden bridge 1876 (on the Vantaa River in Vantaankoski) and a stone bridge from the 1890s. (via Kerava to Hakkila).
One of the most interesting places in Vantaa is the Eureka Science Museum. Opened in 1989, it was the first of its kind in the country and continues to be Finland's leading popular science museum.
How to get there
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is located right in the city and receives flights from dozens of airlines, including from Moscow and St. Petersburg. By train from the center of Helsinki to Vantaa it takes about 20 minutes.
Search for flights to Helsinki (closest airport to Vantaa)
Entertainment and attractions in Vantaa
One of the most interesting places in Vantaa is the Eureka Science Museum. Opened in 1989, it was the first of its kind in the country and continues to be Finland's leading popular science museum. Museum exhibitions are located not only in the main building, but also under open air around it, and the total number of exhibits exceeds 100 pieces. The museum cannot be called purely for children: here you can see both simple popular science installations illustrating the interesting laws of the universe, and exhibits that, from a theoretical point of view, to this day it is not very clear how they work. Eureka has its own planetarium, botanical garden and mineralogy department with a national collection of specimens.
The legendary Formula 1 driver Mika Häkkinen was born in Vantaa.
Another interesting object Vantaa is the Royal Road, along which the route of postal couriers once ran. Today it is the most important tourist route for travel through the Scandinavian countries. The Royal Road runs from east to west along the old route laid by the Vikings. Mail carriages and messengers drove along it at full speed, bringing news from Stockholm to Turku and St. Petersburg. The same path was connected with the great castles of Turku and Vyborg. Part of the old road is still preserved: along it you can get to Vantaa from Espoo, and from Vantaa to Sipoo.
The historical parish village of Helsinki, located in Vantaa, is very interesting. This is one of the best preserved villages with churches in the region. Once a week during the summer season, group meetings take place around the village. sightseeing tours, but at other times you can explore it with a guide by reservation. And in general, the Vantaa River, which gave its name to this entire area, with its valley and adjacent lands represents the largest untouched cultural landscape in the entire capital region.
Modern amusement park SuperPark in Vantaa
There is also an interesting church in Vantaa that definitely deserves attention. St. Lawrence Church is not only the oldest building in the Helsinki region, but also the most popular church for weddings in Finland. In the country-famous church on the street. Chirrikoti often hosts concerts and other events.
Behind cultural life Vantaa has several galleries with changing exhibitions and theaters. For example, Gallery “K”, two theaters in Vantaa or the Tikkuril Theater.
There are also several museums open in Vantaa. The Finnish Aviation Museum boasts several historical aircraft, as well as a selection of photos and documents related to the history of flights. Vantaa City Museum occupies the oldest station building in Finland, built back in 1861 by Karl Albert Edelfelt (former Tikkurila station on Hertaxenti Street). Rotating exhibitions are held here. The Agricultural Museum displays artifacts from the ancient Helsinki Parish Village. And in Art Museum Vantaa in Miirimäki hosts temporary exhibitions of a variety of contemporary Finnish and foreign art.
Vantaa's full-fledged attraction is Entertainment Center"Flamingo". The largest in Scandinavia, it brings together under its roof many restaurants and specialty shops, as well as a hotel and spa (adults only), a cinema, a park water activities, bowling alley, golf center and health center.
There is an adventure park called HopLop for children in Vantaa.
As for those who came to Finland primarily because of nature, there is a center for them in Vantaa active tourism"Kuusijärvi". Here, both Finns and foreign visitors are offered a huge variety of outdoor activities, including saunas and beaches, ice swimming, hiking and wilderness treks, group sports classes, etc.
Popular hotels in Vantaa
Vantaa area
The village of Sotunki is located approximately 7 km from Vantaa. Here, in a small river valley, ancient trees, roads and farms have been preserved. On the territory of this cultural village there are several attractions united by a common theme. national history and culture. The Nissbacka Manor Sculpture Park is a collection of works by Professor Laila Pullinen, exhibited in the former granary building of the manor, as well as in the surrounding open-air area. These are bronze and granite sculptures, as well as graphics and drawings. The collection is open for inspection in summer months on Wednesdays and Sundays. Another sculpture park in Sotunki, Parque Leonardo da Vilu, offers visitors the opportunity to discover steel works by contemporary artist Risto Vilunen, as well as other sculptors, and is also open in the summer.
During the summer season, Sotunki operates a small bed and breakfast with only two rooms.
Also on the territory of Sotunka is the Museum of Agriculture and Tractors, where you can learn not only about agricultural machinery, but also the methods that were used in the old days by a variety of Finnish artisans. Another similar museum, Orkola, tells the story of daily life on the farm and, in particular, the creation of products from birch bark. Here you can see a church boat made in 1927.
- Where to stay: The capital status of Helsinki gives you every right to say that if you want to travel around southern Finland, you can base yourself here for your entire vacation. The benefit of hotels and inns - for any choice. Close to the capital, but quieter - this is about Espoo. Porvoo has a peaceful and intimate semi-rural atmosphere, and local hotels match the mood. Vantaa hotels are a good choice for those who are flying through Finland with a stopover for a couple of days, but have already been to Helsinki. Lohja - “the city of a thousand apple trees”. To travel here in September, it is worth booking a hotel in advance - at the end of the month there is a big apple festival.
- What to see: Ideal - wave along the entire coast from
This is often the first place that people arriving in this area might encounter. beautiful country by plane, since this is where the largest is located.
History and culture of Vantaa Finland
An interesting point in the history of the city is that this area has some of the oldest records in Finland. Back in the mid-14th century, King Magnus II of Sweden issued a decree according to which one of the monasteries had the right to catch salmon on the river in order to deliver it to the royal table. At the same time, if we evaluate the antiquity of the city from the moment it received the corresponding status, then its age is less than 50 years, since Vantaa received this title only in 1972.
The ethnic component of the population is no less interesting. The fact is that people of different nationalities from all over the world live here. globe. Which is not surprising, considering that it regularly receives flights from more than one airline, whose planes fly to all corners of the planet. Availability has also stimulated the development of an extensive infrastructure designed to meet the needs of travelers for a variety of purposes, ranging from business visits and cultural tourism, and ending with transit flights. Already today a huge building has been built here, and, but the development in last years is just gaining momentum.
Attractions Vantaa Finland
First of all, of course, it’s worth saying a few words about the main attraction of the city -. Today this airport is considered one of the best in the world. In 1997, he even received recognition from many special publications and got into a kind of top that he never left. Of course, its main advantage is the wide selection of destinations to which flights depart from here. In total, from here you can reach more than 120 destinations without making a transfer.
Naturally, the city, which owes a lot to airplanes, could not do without its own. You can find it if you drive your car along the E18 or 45 highway and turn near the sign with the image of a brown square and a white monogram. Here you can learn in more detail about the history of the development of Finnish aviation, as well as examine about eighty aircraft belonging to different historical periods, as well as having different purposes.
If you prefer other types of entertainment instead of visiting museums, we recommend that you look into. In addition to the traditional swimming pools and other attractions that are offered in our water parks, here you can visit the SPA center, go bowling or even stay in a local hotel to have access to all kinds of pleasures. Just imagine, just down the stairs from your room, you can go to the cinema, play golf, go to a restaurant or night club, and, of course, take a swim.
For those who like to go shopping and buy a couple of beautiful things at an attractive price, you will also find interesting place – Shopping mall"Jumbo", which is one of the largest in the entire country. Moreover, it is located literally a couple of steps from ".
Connoisseurs of intellectual and cultural recreation will enjoy a number of museums, which are also attractions, since they are unique in many ways. Yes, you can look into science Center with interactive entertainment "Eureka". Although it is mainly intended for teenagers and children, adults will also find it interesting. Exhibitions of scientific achievements are regularly held here, aimed at visitors of all ages.
But the Vantaa City Museum is distinguished by the fact that it is located in a very unusual place- at the former railway station. Moreover, this place is not only unusual, but also one of the oldest in the city, since the building was erected more than 150 years ago. Here you can study in detail the history of the city's development, which the permanent exhibition will help you with.
If you get to the suburbs, we recommend checking out the village of Sotunki. There are a lot of interesting objects here. In particular, you can admire the beautiful Church of St. Lawrence, visit a couple of parks with many sculptures, and also get a closer look at the peculiarities of farming in. The Museum of Agriculture and a unique nature school and a farm open to the public, where you can interact with domestic animals, will help you with this.