Kaivopuisto

Kaivopuisto is Helsinki's most famous park, filled with sights. Its cliffs offer fantastic views of the city and archipelago. Kaivopuisto was founded in 1830, mainly as a spa facility for aristocrats. They also built Kaivohuone, still a popular place for relaxing, parties and dining. As the Crimean War and the 1850 cholera epidemic came along, the spa shut down and was later destroyed during World War II. Nowadays, Kaivopuisto is a popular place for strolls and summer picnics. On May Day this is the best place in the city, and thousands of people spend the day here. The park is used for many events, celebrations and free concerts.

Kaivopuisto and its surroundings contain a multitude of sights, such as the American, British and French embassies, Mannerheim Museum and Cygnaeus Gallery. Across the road that lines the shore is the popular cafe Ursula. People also use the shore for washing rugs. The park's two most famous landmarks are along Iso Puistotie street: Kaivohuone, and the Kalastava Karhu or "Fishing Bear" well. In the centre of the park stands the elegant Ursa observatory. Nearby is a bust of Nordenskiold, the explorer who discovered the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

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• Attraction Type: National Parks

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