If you are looking for an active holiday with music festivals, nature experiences like skiing, hiking and boating, city breaks and shopping opportunities to name but a few, Finland is an ideal choice. But Finland is more than this; it is churches and fortresses, amusement parks and gardens, as well as museums and art galleries that are a ‘must’ while visiting Finland. There are around a thousand museums in Finland, of which one-third are professionally run.
Helsinki at the very heart of Finland, boasts over 80 great museums, which are the most popular in Finland, including Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, National Museum of Finland, Ateneum Art Museum, Design Museum, Museum of Natural History and others. In most museums visitors will find cafes, gift shops and even restaurants, not mentioning the huge variety off exhibits, shows and events for both children and adults. It’s simply impossible to include all Finland museums in one post; however, we have chosen those that in our opinion are the best. Be sure to visit and enjoy the many wonderful works of art that are to be appreciated highly!
National Museum of Finland (Suomen Kansallismuseo)
Welcome to the impressive National Museum of Finland, a fine getaway where you learn all about Finnish life in different periods, from prehistoric times to the present. Looking a bit like a Gothic church with its stonework and tower, the museum was built in the early 20th century (1916) and fully renovated in 2000. The exhibition is truly enormous, so prepare at least three hours or more to fully get acquainted with works in all six parts.
Significant is the Treasure Troves – a collection of coins, orders, medals, silver artifacts and jewelry that will keep your breath away. Also interesting are the Realm, dedicated to the development of Finnish culture from the Middle Ages to the early 1990s, a Land and Its People, which is about Finnish folk culture of the 18th-19th century and the 20th Century showcasing Finland’s international culture and independence. Designed by Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen in national-romantic style, the museum also features an information center, a library, a museum shop and an auditorium.
Finnish National Gallery (Valtion Taidemuseo)
Finnish National Gallery is a cultural institution and the largest art museum organization in Finland that is host to three semiautonomous museums, including the Ateneum Art Museum, the Kiasma (Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum (Museum of Foreign Art), displaying sculpture, painting, print and graphic art.
Ateneum Art Museum is where visitors will find many national treasures, including works by Finland’s golden age and modern masters (Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela). Art consists of paintings from the 18th century rococo portraiture to modern day paintings. You will also find sculptures by Van Gogh sure to delight.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma gears itself toward stimulating every sense thanks to its ingenious design and the amazing exhibition. Designed by Steven Holl, the museum was opened in 1998 and showcases the contemporary art collection of the Ginnish National Gallery founded in 1990. With Kiasma there is a hope to confirm that art, architecture and culture come together and are all integral parts of the city and landscape.
Sinebrychoff Art Museum houses an extensive collection of foreign paintings and has a stunning collection of foreign miniatures and porcelain. Located in Bulevardi in a beautiful palace designed by Jean Wik in 1842, the museum offers a place for imagination and the ability to imagine by taking the visitors through different time periods. Do not miss out the Empire room, which is a uniquere-creation that drips with chandeliers and opulence. On the first Wednesday of each month you can visit the museum free of charge.
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