About Helsinki is a young city by European standards, but what it lacks in medieval history, it makes up for with stunning design, a deep connection to nature, and an easygoing vibe. Founded in 1550 on the Gulf of Finland, it remained a small coastal town for centuries before becoming Finland’s capital in 1812. What makes Helsinki unique is how effortlessly new and old coexist. Unlike its medieval neighbors like Tallinn or Stockholm, Helsinki’s charm isn’t in ancient castles or cobblestone streets but in its neoclassical elegance, modernist architecture, and laid-back atmosphere. Senate Square, with its grand buildings inspired by St. Petersburg, tells the story of its Russian past, while…