Senate Square

The Senate Square, in Helsinki

The Senate Square is the monumental and neoclassical heart of Helsinki, dominated by the white cathedral. The Helsinki audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this magnificent architectural ensemble, a jewel of the town.

The neoclassical ensemble of the White City

The Senate Square is the historic and monumental heart of Helsinki, one of the finest neoclassical ensembles of Northern Europe. Designed in the nineteenth century by the architect Carl Ludvig Engel, at the time when Helsinki became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, it is dominated by the white cathedral that sits at the top of a great staircase. All around stand other neoclassical buildings of great harmony: the Government Palace, the main building of the university, and in the centre the statue of the emperor Alexander II. This immaculate ensemble earned Helsinki the nickname of the White City of the North. It is the jewel and the symbol of the Finnish capital.

What to see

You admire the magnificent neoclassical ensemble designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, dominated by the white cathedral at the top of its staircase, surrounded by the Government Palace and the university, with the statue of Alexander II in the centre. The Senate Square is the jewel of Helsinki, the White City of the North. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Senate Square lies in the heart of Helsinki, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a public space open at all times, freely accessible; the surrounding buildings have their own uses and hours. The square is particularly beautiful illuminated in the evening.

Who designed the Senate Square in Helsinki?

The architect Carl Ludvig Engel, in the nineteenth century, when Helsinki became capital; this magnificent neoclassical ensemble, dominated by the white cathedral, earned the town the nickname of the White City of the North.

Where is the Senate Square?

In the heart of Helsinki, in Finland.