There are many galleries and museums in Helsinki, and magnificent sculptures to be seen in the public squares. In the Atheneum, you will see collections of paintings by Akseli GallenKallela, Albert Edelfelt, Eero Jarnefelt, Juho Rissanen and other famous Finnish artists. The National Museum houses a large collection of the works of these masters as does the Museum of the City of Helsinki, and the Taidehalli. The museums also contain sculpture by Finland's outstanding sculptor, Waino Aaltomen, by Jussi Mantynen and others. There's a Permanent Design Center at Keskuskatu 3, Helsinki.

The Finnish Ballet Company of the Finnish National Opera, which includes the excellent prima ballerina Margaretha von Bahr, gives performances in the Opera House, except in summer.

The important banks with U.S. affiliations are: Pohjoismaiden Yhdyspankki, Helsingin Osakepankki, Kansallis-OsakePankki. The banks and most hotels will cash traveler's checks.

January 1 (New Year's Day); January 6 (Epiphany); May 1 (Spring Feast and Labor Day - Student Festivals); The Saturday closest to June 24 (Midsummer's Day and Finnish Flag Day); First Saturday of November (All Saints' Day); December 6 (Independence Day); December 25 and 26 (Christmas and Boxing Day). Added to these are Easter, Ascension Day and Whit Sunday.