Vanhakaupunki and Vanhakaupunki rapids

The place where Vantaa river flows into the sea was the place where Helsinki was founded in 1550. Despite its name "Old Town", don't expect to find any medieval buildings there, as the area was devastated by a fire and a plague outbreak and subsequently the city was moved south to its current location. Nevertheless, the site of where Helsinki was founded is marked by a small memorial and nearby there's the site of the city's first church, standing from 1550 to 1639. The nearby rapids are also worth seeing.

• outdoors
• history

Website

myhelsinki.fi (opens in a new tab)