Helsinki, Finland: Travel Feature

Bearing that in mind, it was no surprise as we wandered around the city that we could see some striking similarities to the beautiful city of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. For starters, the city is located on the water, with a thriving harbor that's often a stop for cruise liners, and a number of its top attractions are located on the outlying islands.

One of those attractions is the Suomenlinna Fortress, established to guard the entrance into the city. It's a pleasant 15-minute ferry ride away from the mainland and when you arrive, there are many places to visit, including a series of museums, looking at the history of the island, military history and even dolls and toys -- quite a combination. The latter is fascinating and even contains one or two familiar Disney faces! You can experience life below the water on the Submarine Vesikko, the only surviving sub from the Finnish fleet that served in World War II, and there's even a church to explore.

By the early 1800s, this island was home to more than 4,000 people, making it the second biggest city in Finland. As you walk around the place today, it's impossible to imagine that. Even with hundreds of tourists touring the sights, it still seemed deserted and was a wonderful retreat from the hustle of the city.

Back on the mainland, the hustle is never more evident than at Market Square on the harbor front. It is home to a fish market from Monday to Saturday and it's safe to say that we've never seen fish like this before! It's also the place to browse for souvenirs and Finnish handicrafts and gives you a good idea of daily Finnish life. Nearby are some of the city's main civic buildings, with the City Hall, Cathedral, University and the Palace of the Council of State - home to the Prime Minister's office and some of the main government conference rooms - all looking on to the same square. It's quite a sight to see so many major buildings so close together and everywhere you turn in the square is another photo opportunity.

There are more photo opportunities just a few streets away, but you'll have to work for this one. It's a trek up a hill and stairs to reach Uspenski Cathedral, but it's worth it to see the exquisite detail of the building and to take a look inside at the stunning interiors. This is very much a leftover from the days when Helsinki was part of the Russian empire. It was the Russians who decided to build an Orthodox cathedral here and they didn't do the job by halves, as this is now the largest of its kind in the western world, with 13 golden domes. Inside, look up, and you'll see a huge blue dome decorated with golden stars. It's like looking up into the night sky and is exceptionally calming.