The Finns know the legendary fortress as Suomenlinna, the Swedes – as Sveaborg, and the rest of the world – as the main tourist attraction of the Finnish capital and one of the most impregnable sea forts in all of Scandinavia. Its sound walls and massive bastions stand on several islands at once. Once, they defended the borders of the Kingdom of Sweden, which included present-day Finland. Hence the name Suomenlinna, which means "Castle of Finland".

Nowadays, the Fortress of Suomenlinna can be called a historical museum complex. It comprises as many as 6 museums, including the main museum of Suomenlinna, which works throughout the year. Others are open only during the tourist summer season.

The permanent exhibition of the museum is dedicated to the history of the medieval fort from its foundation in the 18th century to the present day. It displays models of the entire citadel, old photographs, and engravings, as well as portraits of the fort's founder and many prominent personalities. And if you are interested in the history of Suomenlinna's founder, Augustin Ehrensvard, you can visit the museum named after him as it is also located in the fortress.

It is better to start exploring the giant fortress with the Suomenlinna Museum: see the exhibits and watch a short documentary about the fort, which is available in 13 languages. The film repeats every half hour. Weapons and shells found during excavations deserve special attention. Then you can pop into a souvenir shop and a small restaurant serving Finnish cuisine, which are also located on the ground floor.

The historical museum building stands by the strait, just a few minutes' walk from the main fortress pier. This place is completely different at various times of the year: in winter, the harsh Baltic winds blow here, and every summer the international "Viaporin Tuoppi" regatta takes place. Besides, in the summer, the fortress hosts opera days and theatrical performances on the stage of the summer theater.