Tuomiokirkko Cathedral

Overlooking Senate Square, Tuomiokirkko is the city’s Lutheran and most iconic cathedral. It was built between 1830 and 1852, based on plans by architect Carl Ludwig Engel, who also designed the surrounding square. With its striking white façade, the cathedral is a stunning example of neoclassical architecture, blending perfectly into the historic square. Its design was inspired by Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, which itself was modelled after London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Originally named Saint Nicholas Church, in honour of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, it was renamed Tuomiokirkko—meaning “great church”—in 1917, when Finland gained its independence. With six Corinthian columns at its entrance and a striking green dome overhead, the cathedral is one of Helsinki’s top attractions, welcoming over 350,000 visitors each year. Feel free to take a look inside—its interior may be modest, but it’s remarkably elegant, with an 18th-century altarpiece, a curved organ, and beautiful statues.