Finland Guide
Helsinki and the south
Gallen-Kallela Museum
Address: Gallen-Kallelantie 27, a few kilometres northwest of the centre on the Tarvaspää peninsula
Opening time: Mid-May to Aug daily 10am–6pm; Sept to mid-May Tues– Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 10am–5pm
Price: €8
Website: www.gallen-kallela.fi
The Gallen-Kallela Museum is housed inside the Art Nouveau studio of the influential painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931), who lived and worked here from 1913. Sadly, it's a bit of an anticlimax, lacking either atmosphere or a decent display of the artist's work. There are a few old paints and brushes under dirty glass coverings in the studio, while in an upstairs room are the pickled remains of reptiles and frog-like animals collected by Gallen-Kallela's family. Inscribed into the floor is a declaration by Gallen-Kallela: "I Shall Return". Unless you're a huge fan, it's probably not worth the bother. To get there, take tram #4 from the city centre to the end of its route (on Saunalahdentie), then walk 2km along Munkkiniemi on the bay's edge to a footbridge which leads over the water and towards the poorly signposted museum. Alternatively, bus #33 runs from the tram stop to the footbridge about every twenty minutes.