Temppeliaukio Church

Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki's Töölö district (Lutherinkatu 3) was designed by the brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969. The sanctuary is built directly into the granite bedrock; the walls show the bare rock, and an ice-age crevice serves as the backdrop to the altar. Above it sits a copper dome resting on radial concrete beams, with daylight entering through a ring of windows and 180 skylights. Water seeping through cracks in the rock is led away through channels in the floor.

Its acoustics make the church a sought-after concert venue; according to MyHelsinki, it has hosted up to 400 concerts in a single year. These take place alongside services, so check the church's current visiting hours in advance. Enter quietly and allow about 30 minutes; the church is central and easy to reach on foot from the city centre.