An aerial shot of Helsinki (Photo: Jussi Hellsten).

With Finland celebrating a century of independence this year, there’s no better time to drop in and soak up the charm of its seaside capital. Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) is mounting a major exhibition between March 3 and July 30 titled “Modern Life!”—drawing on the collections of five local institutions to chronicle the development of Finnish modernism from 1917–1968. One of the biggest sporting events on the calendar is the World Figure Skating Championships, taking place at Hartwall Arena from March 20 to April 2. Later this spring, Helsinki Zoo will unveil its three-hectare Finnish Forest, a rocky pine habitat featuring all the country’s large carnivores—except for wolves—alongside a host of endangered birds and small mammals. Helsinki is also gearing up for its annual birthday bash on June 12, with over 100 free events dotting the city for Helsinki Day. And if you’re planning a visit next winter, the Finnish National Opera and Ballet will premier Land of Kalevala, a spectacle that pays homage to Finnish history and culture, come November 3 (visithelsinki.fi).

Contrapunctus (1959) by Finnish artist Sam Vanni.

Ice skating in the heart of Helsinki.

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2017 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Helsinki Highlights”).