Instructions for filming and photographing

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where there are several official activities that should be noted when filming or photographing. When planning photography or filming sessions in Suomenlinna, you must bear in mind Suomenlinna’s special characteristics as a historic sea fortress, a place of residence and a destination for many kinds of visitors.

To protect the fortress and its valuable nature and to prevent any disturbance to the fortress’s residents or visitors, we have compiled these instructions for photographers and film crews.

The guiding principle when planning a photography or filming session is that you should act like you would like others to act, in order to ensure that all visitors to Suomenlinna can enjoy their visit.

Permission for photography is never granted for the tunnel of Suomenlinna. The tunnel providing the city infrastructure to Suomenlinna is intended solely for the technical maintenance of the tunnel and rescue vehicles. The tunnel is used only when absolutely necessary, and no media or the public is allowed in the tunnel. The Communications department of the Governing Body of Suomenlinna delivers photo and video material on the tunnel when necessary.

Photography and filming are allowed in outdoor areas if

• you don’t take aerial footage
• it does not require restricting access to any area
• it take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m
• the Antiquities Act is adhered to and soil, structures and nature at the fortress are not harmed
• roads and passages are kept accessible because they also function as service and rescue routes
• the ordinary activities or events at the fortress are not disturbed
• the privacy of residents is respected
• privacy in general is protected and photography or filming is not carried out in courtyards
• it does not take place in areas where official activities or authorities or the Finnish Defence Forces operate
• it doesn not take place in industrial areas, such as construction sites or the dry dock
• heavy photography or filming machinery, such as dolly tracks or cranes, are not used
• open fire, firearms and explosives are not used
• special arrangements, such as staff facilities, electrical arrangements and so on, are not required.

Adhere to

• Suomenlinna rules and regulations and these instructions
• attention, warning and prohibition signs and areas designated as prohibited
• service traffic and parking restrictions
• general guidelines on aerial photography and filming: in some parts of Suomenlinna, aerial photography and filming are prohibited due to official regulations.
  • Click here to see the map of prohibited areas (in Finnish)
  • Click here to read the aerial photography and filming instructions on the Droneinfo website

Photography and filming indoors

• Contact the owner of the premises or the entrepreneur operating in them to get permission.
• Photography and filming in Suomenlinna’s conference and banquet facilities is only allowed for the people who have rented the facilities in question.
  Click here to read more about Suomenlinna’s conference and banquet facilities.
• With regard to ferries, contact Suomenlinnan Liikenne. With regard to waterbuses, contact waterbus operator.
  • Click here to visit the Suomenlinnan Liikenne website.
  • Click here to read more about waterbus operator.

Important safety information

• Photographers and film crews move about in Suomenlinna at their own risk and are responsible of their own safety.
• Photographers and film crews must pay attention to their own safety and that of others.
• The fortress structures, walls and ramparts are in a number of places without fences.
• Even areas that seem safe may feature unexpected precipices.
• The ground in the fortress may be slippery, especially in the winter.
• Vessels may cause strong currents. When visiting the shoreline, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the sea traffic.

When permission is needed for photography and filming

Photography or filming sessions that do not meet the above-mentioned criteria can be arranged in exceptional cases only. In these cases, apply for permission with the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, which grants or refuses permission based on a case-by-case consideration. Permission can be granted for photography and filming sessions that contribute to the values of the World Heritage Site, such as supporting the local community, history or year-round tourism.

Apply for permission by filling in the form that opens when you click this link.

Fill in all the fields and provide as detailed information as possible. That will make the processing faster.

• Contact us at the latest 30 days before the planned session.
• Permission applications are processed in the order they are received. The decision is made at the latest within two weeks of the date when the form or required additional information, if any, is received. Please note, that the permission might take longer to handle during the summer holiday season.
• The Governing Body will provide permission recipients with information about, for instance, how to act in the fortress so as to prevent any harm to it and respect its value as a World Heritage Site, and how shooting schedules can be harmonised with other activities in the fortress (construction sites, events, other photography or filming sessions).

Successful planning!