Getting to the Suomenlinna fortress

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Getting to the Suomenlinna fortress is part of the Suomenlinna experience!

The non-stop small ferry trip to the Suomenlinna fortress

Use the zoom button on the map to give you an idea where you are.

Instructions: This map has got green people who look like they are going on a hike. Now locate where it says: "Olympia terminal (Silja Line)." or in Finnish Olympiaterminaali.
Locate the green hiker around the road called Ehrenströmintie. Zoom into where the hikers are, near the green sign marked E12. This is where you can park your car for a reasonable rate in Helsinki.

Next locate the a Blue Boat icon near the other green hikers. At the edge of the top of the map. That is where you will catch your ferry to Suomenlinna. The "Olympia Terminal" and "Suomenlinna Ferry" points are within walking distance, a nice 15 minute scenic walk.

Just follow the orange line until you reach the JT-Line terminal. Scroll down to see how we did it...

View Walking 15 minutes before catching our ferry to Suomenlinna in a larger map

Getting to the Suomenlinna Fortress. Let's get walking

Looking out over the Finnish gulf toward Suomenlinna fortress

Over the horizon -Suomenlinna.

We start off by parking our car near the Olympia terminal (Silja line)

On a August day the parking is reasonably priced and after 19.00 free of charge.

Looking the opposite direction toward Helsinki center.

Turning 180 degrees from the previous picture we look toward the city of Helsinki. The bow of a Silja line cruise ship.

We walk in a group toward the main city square market. A bicycle path and pedestrian walkway are to the left as we walk on the right.
We begin walking toward Kauppatori. That is where the ferry leaves for the Suomenlinna fortress. The left side is for cyclist, Right side...pedestrians! Follow-the-leader through Kauppahalli.

The Helsinki Kauppahalli.
The fresh Finnish foods at Kauppahalli looks so goood--- cheeses, wines, Dark Finnish Rye Bread, Fish --even fast food! and so we walk through Wanha Kauppahalli on our way to catch our ferry. Kauppahalli is open daily from 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 4pm.

Out of Kauppahalli we come and arrive at the "Market Square." It looks like there may be some signs of our ferry to Suomenlinna.

We see a sign... Cardinal Marine Add in Kauppatori.

Can this be our ferry to the Suomenlinna fortress? This one offers...Take a look closer look at this...sightseeing cruises,island wedding transportations, Saunas, Business events, VIP cruises. Nope! not this one...let's go to our next sign.

Sunlines Ferries in Helsinki Finland at Kauppatori

Sunlines Ferries in Helsinki Finland at Kauppatori

How about this sign?
Sunlines offer a 1.5 hour guided tour taking you past the Suomenlinna Sea fortress. Cruise by the Archipelago's and Korkeasaari Zoo. See the many ships at port, like a real Finnish ice-breaking vessel... Here are the departure times and prices... find the yellow/red ball at the beginning of the route. We'll go on to find just the ferry that gets us to Suomenlinna. Sunline routes and where we are.

The sign from where you catch the ferry to Suomenlinna sea fortress

This is our !!SIGN!! Phew! This is where we catch our ferry to Suomenlinna.
Ferries to Suomenlinna run every 20 minutes. At least JT-Line Ferries(water busses)do! ...and now we get aboard the JT-Line Ferry to Suomenlinna.

It even says: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.

Now we are on board the ferry. How about a snack or drink on your way?

If you want to shop for food while at Suomenlinna the islands have s SIWA grocery food store,with a decent variety of fresh foods. Fresher compared to lot's of other grocery stores.

In case you cannot wait, below deck you can buy all kinds of snacky foods and drinks... that is at a premium price.

Drinks

On the top deck...gorgeous weather...nothing but sun! There is shelter from the elements on the lower deck.
The sign from where you catch the ferry to Suomenlinna sea fortress
Our ferry has space for many more people so Rosa enjoys the whole bench to herself.

If you are the type of person who likes water, Suomenlinna is surrounded by water. The water around Suomenlinna is alive and moving.

Visit the museums...eat out...Go to a concert. Just walking around to cover all the sites may take 5 or more hours, if you walk really fast.

To just get a taste of the fortress, you need a minimum of 3 hours. However if you don't want the inconvenience of crowded ferries, catch the ferry to Suomenlinna later in the afternoon instead of the morning.

Ahead we go... A red cottage near Suomenlinna ...The cottage is out in open water...no trees around. Firmly built on a rock foundation.

...7 minutes after sailing from the harbor...we see a red cottage before landing near Iso Mustasaari, one of Suomenlinna's larger islands. You will notice this cottage on the right(starboard) side. The red paint on the cottage is super high-quality house paint. Some paints in fact the one we used on our house survives the frost, sun, and you only need one coat every ten years.

See a picture by picture view around our ferry to Suomenlinna shortly after sailing.

Or...

Go on our picture tour on the island's of Suomenlinna.

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