Helsinki
[url=http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en]Helsinki[/url] (Finnish) or Helsingfors (Swedish) is the capital of [wiki=6f781c6559a0c605da918096bdb69edf]Finland[/wiki]. Founded in 1550, the "Daughter of the Baltic" has been the Finnish capital since 1812, when it was rebuilt by the tsars of Russia along the lines of a miniature St. Petersburg, a role it has played in many Cold War movies. Today, Helsinki pulls off the trick of being something of an international metropolis while still retaining a small-town feel. The best time to visit is in summer, when Finns peel off their overcoats and flock to outdoor bars and cafes to enjoy the sunshine.