Temppeliaukio Rock Church

Temppeliaukio Church was quarried out of a granite outcrop in a residential part of Helsinki and opened in 1969, designed by the architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. Inside, the walls are left as raw rock, and a broad copper dome rests on a ring of skylights that fills the space with natural light.

The rock gives the church remarkable acoustics, and concerts are held here regularly. Most visitors spend half an hour taking in the unusual design.

As a working church, it closes to visitors during services and private events, so we check opening times when planning your Helsinki day. Pair it with the Sibelius Monument, a striking steel sculpture of organ-like pipes in a park nearby, and a coffee in the design district.