Functionalism is synonymous with Helsinki, and nothing personifies this more than the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Opened to the public in 1938, the stadium has been home to various remarkable moments of Finnish sporting history and welcomed champions onto its grounds. One of the most iconic is the 1952 Summer Olympics, of which athletics, equestrian show jumping, and football were the main events and various countries made their Olympic debuts. Did you know that it reigned as the Olympic games in which the greatest number of world records was broken for decades until the Summer Games in Beijing in 2008?

Designed by architects Yrjö Lindergren and Toivo Jäntti, the stadium has not only been host to athletes but also to world-famous artists like Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Madonna and more recently, One Direction. Humans aren't the only ones who frequent this delightful stadium spanning a massive area, making it the biggest in Finland. A Eurasian eagle-owl (now fondly known as "Bubi"), took it upon itself to perch on a goalpost for a good ten minutes (inevitably delaying a Euro 2008 qualifying match), and the adoring residents of Helsinki naturally crowned it the city's Resident of the Year. While you're admiring the stadium, the stadium's tower stretches out into the sky for a good 72 meters, as if reaching for it. Don’t miss out on this iconic stadium while you’re in Helsinki!