National Museum of Finland

The National Museum was built between 1905 and 1910 by Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen in the national romantic manner, a granite building with a tower whose entrance hall carries ceiling frescoes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela illustrating the Kalevala. Inside are the national collections: prehistoric finds, medieval church sculpture, coins, ethnographic material and the history of Finland from the Swedish and Russian periods to independence. The main building closed in 2023 for a large renovation and extension expected to run for several years, with parts of the collection shown elsewhere in the meantime, so what is open and where changes; the museum's own listings are the only reliable guide.

What you actually see

• Gallen-Kallela's Kalevala ceiling - the frescoes in the entrance hall.
• The national romantic building - granite and tower by Saarinen and partners.
• Prehistoric and medieval collections - the core national holdings.
• Finnish history galleries - the Swedish and Russian periods to independence.

When to go

Year round in principle, but the main building has been closed for renovation since 2023; check what is open and where before travelling. Two to three hours when accessible.

Honest expectations

The building has been shut for a multi-year renovation and reopening dates have moved. Substitute displays elsewhere are much smaller. Anything written about this museum before 2023 is out of date. Check the official listings rather than guidebooks.

Nearby

The parliament is south; Kiasma lies beyond it.