Celebrating the sea & science

Head to Helsinki for the Tall Ship Races, a computer-theme playground and exciting additions to the South Harbour this summer

- Aruna Rathod

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for six years in a row.

The goal in Helsinki is to create a sustainable and open city for everyone, where opportunities and experiences – like nature and the sea – are within everyone’s reach. Two events that are free are Lux Helsinki, which was held in January and the Tall Ship Races for 2024. Helsinki is a rapidly growing and developing city, and its shoreline in particular is undergoing a major transformation now that industry moved out of the city centre.

The city’s shoreline is being opened up even more, and a new theme playground invites children to discover the world of computers while playing – without smart devices.

Celebrating the seaside

Helsinki has more than 130 kilometres of shoreline and more than 300 islands. In July 2024, almost 50 spectacular sailing ships will call on Helsinki, when the annual The Tall Ships Races returns to the Finnish capital from 4 to 7 July 2024. The event is expected to attract 500,000 visitors. The most spectacular ships will arrive from Poland, the largest of which is the nearly hundred-meter class A full-rigged ship Dar Mlodziez. There will be live music, panel discussions focused on the protection of the Baltic Sea, and interactive art among the public. The Tall Ships Races sailing event promotes the education and cooperation of young people regardless of nationality, cultural background, religion or social background. The City of Helsinki is sending one hundred young people between the ages of 15 and 25 to sail on the ships participating in the competition. The venue for the event will be the South Harbour, Market Square, Katajanokka, Kanavaranta and Pohjoisranta.