Last Updated: May 2026
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and its largest city, with 1.58 million people living in the greater metropolitan area. Situated on a peninsula along the Gulf of Finland with the sea on three sides, Helsinki has a uniquely maritime character — a city that has always been shaped by the water around it. It sits just 50 miles north across the Gulf of Finland from Tallinn, Estonia, making the two capitals among the closest in the world. Over the years, Helsinki has consistently ranked among the most livable cities on earth, celebrated for its clean environment, excellent public services, safety, design culture, and the Finnish concept of sisu — a kind of quiet, resolute determination that runs through the national character. From Tallinn, Estonia we crossed the Gulf to Finland for a full day of exploration.
