Student groups

Suomenlinna is a popular place for student groups. You can move around the fortress by yourself, but the best way to enjoy the trip is to participate in the ready-made programmes and guided tours provided by local experts. The Ehrensvärd Society and the Camp School Centre, run by the Hostel Suomenlinna, offer ready-made programmes.

Even if you do not book a ready-made programme, your programme should be planned beforehand and the group should move around together during the visit. There are many dangerous and unfenced fortifications and cliffs in the area, and students should not be allowed to roam freely around the fortress. You should allow at least half a day for the visit as Suomenlinna is large and there is plenty to see.

You should always dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. The cold wind from the sea makes the temperature seem much colder than on the mainland, especially in May, when the surrounding sea is still cold. Bring torches, as the winding tunnels within the walls are dark but interesting places to explore.

Programme packages

The Ehrensvärd Society offers various guided and themed tours as well as an orienteering quiz, in addition to combination packages covering everything Suomenlinna has to offer. School groups may also book an complete camp package from the Ehrensvärd Society, including, for example, museum visits, guided tours, meals and water bus transport.

The programmes offered by the Suomenlinna Hostel Suomenlinna introduce the nature of the islands, camping in the area as well as adventures in the historical surroundings. In addition, groups may include a visit to one of Helsinki’s popular class trip destinations in their field trip programme. For schools in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the camp centre offers shorter trips, for example 24-hour trips with a one night stay, or educational programmes focusing on the nature or history of Suomenlinna, lasting for the duration of a normal school day. The Camp School Centre offers packages that include accommodation and meals in addition to the programme.

Museums

Suomenlinna offers the possibility to enjoy exhibitions in six museums.

• Open throughout the year: The Suomenlinna Museum
• Open upon request throughout the year: The Ehrensvärd Museum and the Toy Museum
• Open during the summer season: The submarine Vesikko, the Customs Museum and the Manege.

Food and drink

Student groups can dine in the restaurants in Suomenlinna. Meals should be booked in advance. Cafés and restaurants will provide more information on the available meal packages. Visitors may enjoy their packed lunches in the yellow picnic shed, dating from the period of the Russian rule.

Accommodation

Accommodation is offered by Hostel Suomenlinna, close to the ferry.

Transport and tickets

The Helsinki City Transport ferries run to Suomenlinna throughout the year. The ferries depart from Kauppatori square, in front of the Presidential Palace. In addition to the ferries, JT-Line operates a waterbus to Suomenlinna from May. The waterbus departs from the Kolera-allas area of Kauppatori to Tykistölahti in Suomenlinna. More…

If you are travelling to Helsinki with a large group, you can purchase a Helsinki City Transport tourist ticket for everybody in advance. The tickets and the invoice for the tickets are sent to you by post. Tickets should be ordered in advance, at least a week and a half before the trip. For more information and instructions on ordering tickets,
please contact Helsinki City Transport by calling +358 (0) 9 472 2249 or by e-mail: lippupalvelu.hkl( at )hel.fi.

Waterbus tickets can be booked directly from the JT-Line office by calling +358 (0) 9 534 806. You can also buy waterbus tickets from the Ehrensvärd Society as part of another Suomenlinna programme, tel. +358 (0) 9 684 1850.

Planning your day at Suomenlinna

Below are some suggestions on planning your day and time in Suomenlinna:

• crossing to Suomenlinna: approximately 15 minutes
• widescreen show in the Suomenlinna Museum: approximately 25 minutes
• guided walking tour of the area: 1.5 hours
• guided theme tour/museum workshop/adventure tour for children: 1.5 hours
• meal time: 45 min
• visit to a museum: approximately 30 minutes per museum

More information

The staff at the Suomenlinna Visitor Centre will be happy to help you with any questions you may have concerning the planning of your trip. Contact the Visitor Centre by calling +358 (0) 9 684 1880 or sending an e-mail. You may also want to check out the Frequently asked questions on this website.