Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace stands out for its yellow neoclassical facade overlooking the South Harbor. Originally built as a merchant house in eighteen twenty, it soon became the residence of the Russian Tsars during their visits to Helsinki. Tsar Nicholas the First lived here in a room specifically furnished to mimic his quarters in Saint Petersburg. After Finland gained independence, the building transitioned into the official residence of the Finnish president, housing the highest office in the country for over a century.