What is life like on Suomenlinna?

Who lives in Suomenlinna and how many residents are there?

Suomenlinna has around 800 residents and about 400 jobs on the islands. Suomenlinna is a district of Helsinki that is open to everyone every day of the year.

Suomenlinna transferred from military to civilian administration in 1973, when the Governing Body of Suomenlinna was established. Since then, the islands have become a regular residential area, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Residents live in buildings from different eras of the fortress, and the same islands also host museums, a school, a shop and an open prison.

For visitors, this is evident in that there is no entry fee or gate to Suomenlinna: you walk into the district just like any other Helsinki neighbourhood. The history of the fortress from 1748 is covered in the guide Suomenlinna history.

There are six fortified islands: Susisaari, Kustaanmiekka, Iso Mustasaari, Pikku Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari and Särkkä. The ferry arrives at the north shore of Iso Mustasaari, and the Suomenlinna Centre and the open prison are also on this island, the latter in the eastern part. Kustaanmiekka is the southern tip of the fortress, where the King's Gate is located.

What kind of houses do people live in in Suomenlinna?

The islands have around 200 buildings from different eras. The Governing Body of Suomenlinna manages just over 300 apartments, and there are also 15 privately owned apartments.

The apartments are in the fortress buildings. The most famous example is Noah's Ark (Suomenlinna C54), completed in 1771 and considered Finland's first apartment building.

The most important thing for visitors to know is simple: the houses and their courtyards are people's homes, even though they are located in a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Is there a school and a shop in Suomenlinna?

Yes. The island has a primary school for grades 1 - 6 and a K-Market Suomenlinna. There is no ATM, but the shop offers a cash withdrawal service with purchase.

Everyday essential services are available on the island. K-Market Suomenlinna is at Suomenlinna C 6, 00190 Helsinki. As there is no ATM on the island, cash can be obtained from the shop's cash withdrawal service with purchase if needed. Public toilets are open year-round.

• Restaurants and cafés: in summer all are open, and many serve year-round.
• Luggage: there is no luggage storage on the island, so leave large bags on the mainland.
• Bicycle: there is no bike rental, and bringing your own bike on the ferry costs extra. Cycling is only allowed on roads, not on the ramparts.

Is there a prison in Suomenlinna?

Yes. Suomenlinna Prison is a 100-place open prison for men, located in the eastern part of Iso Mustasaari.

The open prison is part of Suomenlinna's daily life today and is not a tourist attraction. It is located in the eastern part of Iso Mustasaari, while the Blue Route runs from the main pier past major sites such as the church, the Great Courtyard and the dry dock to the King's Gate.

The islands’ prison history is longer. After the 1918 Civil War, a prisoner camp for the Reds was established in Suomenlinna, and according to suomenlinna.fi, at its peak there were around 8,000 prisoners. More details about this and other phases of the fortress’s history can be found in the history guide.

How do Suomenlinna residents travel to the mainland?

On the HSL ferry, which is part of Helsinki’s public transport. It runs from Market Square every day of the year, roughly from 6:00 - 2:20, and the last ferry leaves Suomenlinna at around 2:00 am.

For residents, the ferry is just like a bus or tram elsewhere in Helsinki: the journey from the east side of Market Square, near the Presidential Palace, to the main pier takes about 15 minutes, and a regular AB ticket is valid. Even in winter, departures are every 40 - 60 minutes, and in summer, several times an hour. Check the day’s departures in the HSL Journey Planner. There is also a service ferry, M/S Ehrensvärd, which runs on weekdays from Katajanokka to the east shore of Iso Mustasaari, but it has only a small passenger cabin.

An underwater service tunnel from Kaivopuisto to Suomenlinna was built in 1982 for heating, water and electricity. It is used only for emergency, official and maintenance tasks and is not open to the public. In summer, you can also reach the island by FRS waterbus, which departs from a different pier and operates with its own tickets; the differences are summarised in the guide ferry or waterbus.

Return trip from Keisarinluoto pier, return from King's Gate or Artillery Bay and Lonna on the same ticket, according to the listing.

Waterbus to Suomenlinna: return from Market Square · 20 - 25 min each way · free cancellation

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Can you stay overnight in Suomenlinna and is camping allowed?

Accommodation options: Hostel Suomenlinna and Villa Silo are open year-round, and a sauna-equipped beach cottage is available from spring to autumn. Camping is not allowed.

Overnight stays on the island are possible, and since the ferry runs until around 2:00 am, you can spend the evening in the city and return to Suomenlinna late. However, camping is prohibited, and making fires is banned everywhere all year round. The ban also applies to barbecues and camping stoves. Picnics with your own food are allowed.

For those arriving by their own boat, there is a guest marina on Susisaari. It is open from late spring to the end of September, with 40 berths, a maximum boat weight of 20 tonnes, the marina is chargeable and has no fuel. There are no other marinas for guest boats in Suomenlinna.

If you stay overnight on the island, remember that you can reach it at night by HSL ferry. The last departure from Market Square leaves at around 2:20, and the waterbus only runs in summer on its own schedule. Check the last evening departures in the HSL Journey Planner before heading into the city.

Is there a beach in Suomenlinna?

Yes. There is an official city beach between Kustaanmiekka and Susisaari. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Kustaanmiekka also has the endpoint of the Blue Route at King's Gate, so you can combine swimming with a walk. In summer, the waterbus stops at the King's Gate pier, making the return to the city possible without walking back to the main pier.

• Fishing: angling is free, but a fishing management fee is required for lure fishing.
• Dogs: must be on a lead and are not allowed in playgrounds or on beaches.
• Picnics: are allowed, barbecues are not.

How can a visitor take residents into account?

Follow the Blue Route and public roads, keep your dog on a leash and cycle only on roads. Remember that the courtyards and houses are people's homes.

The Blue Route runs from the main pier to the King's Gate in about 30 - 45 minutes and passes the main sights, so following it you will see the essentials of the fortress without needing to detour into residents' yards. Allow at least 1 - 1.5 hours for the whole visit. Tips for the route can be found in the guide what to see in Suomenlinna.

If you want to hear the stories of the islands from a guide, a private guided walking tour lasts 1.5 hours according to the listing and is led by an official Suomenlinna guide. It starts at the main pier, which you reach by HSL ferry; the ferry is not included in the tour. The Helsinki Card is also valid, according to suomenlinna.fi, on the ferry and in all Suomenlinna museums.

Official Suomenlinna guide and your own group: meet at the main pier under the blue-and-white umbrella when you arrive by HSL ferry.

Private guided tour: tunnels, ramparts and dry dock · 1.5 hours · free cancellation

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