Historic Site · Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a sea fortress composed of eight islands, of which six have been fortified. Built 1748.
Photo: Migro via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Helsinki, Finland |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | 1748 |
| Area | Area: 26.41 km² |
| Coordinates | 60.1436° N, 24.9844° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Suomenlinna is known for
Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a sea fortress composed of eight islands, of which six have been fortified.
About Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a sea fortress composed of eight islands, of which six have been fortified. Located about four kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the city center of Helsinki, Finland, Suomenlinna is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site. Construction of the fortress began in 1748 under the Swedish Crown as a defense against Russia.
History
Early on in the Great Northern War, Russia took advantage of Swedish weakness in Ingria (sv: Ingermanland) and captured the area near the Neva River as well as the Swedish forts, Nyen and Nöteborg, built to protect it. In 1703, Peter the Great founded his new capital, Saint Petersburg, in that easternmost corner of the Gulf of Finland. In the approach to it he built the fortified naval base of Kronstadt.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Suomenlinna website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Helsinki |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Helsinki Malmi Airport (HEM) |
| Distance from the airport | 7.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) · Helsinki (Vantaa), Finland · 12.1 miles away
- Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) · Tallinn, Estonia · 50.7 miles away
- Turku Airport (TKU) · Turku, Finland · 96.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Finland
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Suomenlinna?
Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a sea fortress composed of eight islands, of which six have been fortified.
Where is Suomenlinna located?
Suomenlinna is in Helsinki, Finland. Its coordinates are 60.1436° N, 24.9844° E.
How do I get to Suomenlinna?
The nearest town is Helsinki, and the nearest airport is Helsinki Malmi Airport (HEM), about 7.7 miles away (straight line).
When was Suomenlinna built?
Suomenlinna was built 1748.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suomenlinna — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1292442 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://www.suomenlinna.fi/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.