Things to do in Helsinki – 21 attractions and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Helsinki was the start of one of our longer road trips. After first driving around Åland, we island-hopped with the camper van and then took ferries and small boats to Helsinki. This is where our journey around the entire Gulf of Bothnia began – but first we stopped to discover the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

This article contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you book through our links - at no extra cost to you.

Things to do in Helsinki – our best tips

Helsinki was the start of our road trip around the entire Gulf of Bothnia, along the west coast of Finland to Tornio and then from Haparanda through Sweden to Stockholm. But first we stopped to discover the Finnish capital – and here we have collected 21 of our best tips for things to see and do in Helsinki.

1. Visit Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna, or Suomenlinna in Finnish, is a historic naval fortress on several islands just outside Helsinki and one of Finland's World Heritage Sites. The fortress began to be built by Sweden in 1748, later became a Russian naval base and passed to Finland after the country's independence.

We visited Suomenlinna on a freezing but glorious winter day, and the short boat ride from the Market Square was already part of the experience. Out on the islands, we walked among old walls, cannons, tunnels and historic buildings – with a couple of much-needed coffee breaks to thaw out along the way.

Here you can follow the blue route through the fortress and see, among other things, Suomenlinna Church, the old dry dock, the Great Courtyard and the King's Gate. Plan on spending several hours, as the area is considerably larger than you first think.

Our experience: Suomenlinna is not just an attraction but an excursion. We have experienced the place in winter, when it was much quieter than during the high season, and would love to go here again in the summer.

READ MORE: Suomenlinna in Helsinki - sea fortress with Swedish history

2. Check out Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square

Helsinki Cathedral, with its white facades and green domes, is one of the city's most recognizable buildings. The church is located high above Senate Square, and the wide steps in front of the cathedral have become a classic meeting place in the heart of Helsinki.

The cathedral was completed in 1852 and was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, who also left his mark on several of the buildings around Senate Square. Here, among others, are the University of Helsinki and the Government Palace, making the square one of the city's most impressive architectural environments.

Take a few minutes to walk up the stairs in front of the church. From there you will get a nice view of Senate Square and at the same time a completely different feeling for the center of Helsinki.

3. Be fascinated by the Temple Square Church

The Temple Square Church is one of Helsinki's most special sights. The church is carved directly into the mountain, and above the raw rock walls, a large copper dome floats, letting in daylight through a band of windows.

The church was inaugurated in 1969 and designed by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. The combination of rock, copper and light creates an environment that feels completely different from a traditional church – and the special acoustics mean that concerts are also held here.

4. Hang out at the Market Square

Located right on the water, the Market Square is one of the places where Helsinki feels most alive. Here, stalls selling berries, vegetables, fish, Finnish specialties and souvenirs coexist, while ferries and excursion boats come and go right next to it.

Feel free to sit down with a coffee or something to eat and just watch the world go by for a while. From here you can see both the harbor and the Uspenski Cathedral, and it is also from the Market Square that the ferry leaves for Suomenlinna.

5. Shop and eat in the Old Market Hall

Right next to the Market Square is the Old Market Hall, Vanha Kauppahalli, which has been a part of Helsinki's food scene since 1889. Behind the beautiful brick building, small shops and eateries await with fish, cheese, pastries, coffee and Finnish delicacies, among other things.

It's a perfect stop when you're still wandering around the harbor - go in, stroll between the counters and take the opportunity to eat something. Here you can get a much better picture of Finland than through yet another historical calendar.

6. Join a guided boat tour

Helsinki is surrounded by the sea and archipelago, and a boat trip is a great way to experience the city from a different perspective. From the water, you pass islands, beaches and different parts of Helsinki that are difficult to discover from land.

We went on a guided boat tour through the Helsinki archipelago. There was both a café and a bar on board, so we could sit down with a drink while Helsinki glided past outside.

The guide provided information about the places we passed, although the engine noise sometimes made it a little difficult to hear everything. But it didn't really matter – for us the boat ride itself and the views were the big bonus.

Our experience: If the weather is nice during your visit, we would love to spend a couple of hours at the sea. Helsinki is a city that benefits from being seen from the water.

On board the boat we travelled, there was a bar/café and a loudspeaker voice telling us about the places we visited, in Finnish and English. When the engine was running it was a bit hard to hear, but regardless it was a nice trip!

7. See art and architecture at Amos Rex

Amos Rex is one of Helsinki's most exciting art museums, and is just as interesting for its architecture as it is for its exhibitions. Large parts of the museum are underground, while the rolling hills and domes of the Glass Palace Square have become a modern landmark in the city.

We have visited Amos Rex ourselves and were given a guided tour of the museum. The exhibitions vary, so the experience may be completely different the next time you come – which is also part of the charm.

Helena's advice: Don't miss the area above the museum. Walk around the domes of the square and look down through the skylights – Amos Rex really starts before you even step inside the door.

In addition to a permanent post-impressionist art collection, the premises host various exhibitions, often focusing on contemporary and experimental artists. There are very nice and helpful guides on site!

8. Stroll in Esplanade Park

Esplanade Park, or Esplanadi, is a green lung in the heart of central Helsinki. The long, narrow park stretches between the city's shopping district and Market Square and is lined with beautiful buildings, shops, restaurants and cafés.

Take a stroll through the park, sit on a bench or combine it with a visit to the Design District and the surrounding neighborhoods. During the summer, the Esplanade is especially lively, with outdoor cafes and people gathering in the park.

9. Admire the Uspenski cathedrals

With its red brick, green roofs and golden domes, Uspenski Cathedral is one of Helsinki's most characteristic buildings. The Orthodox cathedral is located high on a cliff on Katajanokka and is visible from several parts of the harbor area.

Completed in 1868, the cathedral is a clear legacy of the period when Finland was part of the Russian Empire. Be sure to step inside and see the richly decorated interior with icons, paintings and gilded details – a stark contrast to the much brighter and more austere Helsinki Cathedral.

Outside the church, it is also worth stopping for a while. The location above the harbor offers nice views of the Market Square and central Helsinki.

10. Experience Finnish sauna culture

Going to Finland without at least thinking about a sauna is almost like going to Italy and skipping the pasta. Saunas are an important part of Finnish culture and there are millions of saunas around the country – in private homes, by lakes, in hotels and in public bathing facilities.

There are several opportunities to try the tradition in Helsinki. Two well-known options are Löyly by the sea and Allas Sea Pool in the city center, where you can combine sauna bathing with swimming. There are even much more unusual sauna experiences in the city.

We haven't been to a sauna in Helsinki ourselves, but Peter has all the more experience of sauna culture from our travels in Finland and Estonia. He has been beaten with birch bark, participated in sauna rituals and afterwards jumped into an ice bath. Helena usually just opens the door, takes a picture and quickly disappears back out again – she simply thinks it's far too hot.

Peter's tip: Dare to try more than just sitting in the heat for a few minutes. A dip in really cold water after the sauna is an experience your body will never forget. It's insanely cold at first – and then amazing.

11. Discover Helsinki Central Library Oodi

The Oodi Central Library, Oodi in Finnish, is much more than a library. The spectacular building in the middle of Helsinki houses books, of course, but also workspaces, meeting rooms, workshops, a café and various spaces for creativity and socializing.

The building opened in 2018 and has become a modern landmark with its undulating wooden facade and large glass areas. Feel free to go all the way up to the top floor, where the bright library room and terrace offer great views of the area around Medborgartorget.

We think Oodi is a great example of something Helsinki is really good at: combining beautiful architecture with places that are actually used by the people who live in the city. So you don't have to be a bookworm to enjoy a visit.

12. Check out the Sibelius Monument

In Sibelius Park stands one of Helsinki's most famous works of art, created in memory of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The monument consists of over 600 steel pipes that together form a wave-shaped sculpture that almost looks like a giant organ.

There is also a portrait of Sibelius next to it, and it is fun to walk around the monument and see how it changes depending on which side you look at it from. When the wind blows through the steel pipes, different sounds and tones can also be created.

13. Coffee at Café Regatta

Café Regatta is a small red wooden house right on the waterfront and one of Helsinki's most charming cafes. It looks more like a small summer cottage than a café and is just a short walk from the Sibelius Monument.

We stopped here for a coffee and immediately fell in love with the cozy atmosphere. The coffee and blueberry pie tasted especially good with the view over the water, and this is the kind of place where you'll want to stay a little longer than you originally intended.

Our experience: Combine Café Regatta with the Sibelius Monument. They are close to each other and together it will be a much more pleasant little excursion than just going out, photographing the monument and going back.

14. Swim at Allas Sea Pool

Allas Sea Pool is located in the heart of Helsinki, right by the harbor and Market Square. Here you can swim outdoors with views of the sea, boats and the city skyline – even though you are right in the city center.

The facility has both heated and seawater pools, as well as saunas, and is open for much of the year, making the experience just as enticing on a chilly Helsinki day as it is in the summer.

What makes it special is above all the location. One minute you're strolling around the Market Square, and the next you can be lying in a warm pool and watching the Uspenski Cathedral rise above the harbor.

15. Discover the design district and Finnish design

Helsinki is known worldwide for its design, and here you will find Finnish classics side by side with small, modern design shops. The Design District has a large number of shops, galleries, studios and cafes spread over several blocks in the city centre.

Name as Marimekko, Iittala and Arabia are some of the most famous examples of Finnish design. Here you can browse everything from Marimekko's colorful textiles and clothing to Iittala's glass and classic homewares – but also discover lesser-known Finnish designers.

You don't even have to be looking to shop. For us, it's just as much a part of Helsinki to look at the colors, shapes, architecture and how design pops up everywhere in the city.

16. See Helsinki from Hotel Torni – even from the toilet

Hotel Torni rises in the heart of central Helsinki, and at the top you'll find the rooftop Ateljee Bar, where you can enjoy a drink with panoramic views of the city. From here, Helsinki's rooftops, churches and sea spread far below.

We went up to have a drink and enjoy the view, but soon discovered that one of the best views is actually in a much more unexpected place.

Peter's tip: Don't miss going to the bathroom while you're up here. The view from there is awesome – and it's probably one of the few times in Helsinki that you can recommend a visit to the bathroom as an attraction.

17. Find peace in Kampen's chapel

Amidst the shops, traffic and people of central Helsinki lies the Kamppi Chapel, also known as the Chapel of Silence. The distinctive wooden building with its soft, rounded shapes stands out from the surrounding modern buildings.

The chapel is designed as a place of tranquility in the middle of the city. Step inside for a while and leave the noise of Helsinki outside – the interior is simple, warm and almost completely stripped of the things you would usually encounter in a traditional church.

18. Discover the Helsinki City Museum

If you want to understand a little more about Helsinki without spending half a day at a large museum, the Helsinki City Museum is a good stop. Located right by Senate Square, the museum tells the story of the city's development and how life in Helsinki has changed over time.

It's not just about kings, wars and years, but also about the people who lived in the city, everyday life and the environments that shaped Helsinki. Plus, it's easy to combine the museum with the cathedral, Market Square and other attractions in the area.

19. Visit the atheneum

Ateneum is Finland's national gallery and one of the country's most important art museums. Located in the heart of Helsinki, opposite the Central Station, the museum houses a large collection of Finnish art alongside works by international artists.

Here you will meet some of Finland's most famous artists, including Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Albert Edelfelt and Helene Schjerfbeck. The grand 19th-century building alone is worth stopping by and looking at, even if you're not planning a longer museum visit.

20. Experience Skatudden and its Art Nouveau architecture

Katajanokka, or Katajanokka in Finnish, is located right next to central Helsinki and is an exciting area for those who like architecture. It is a large, continuous area of grand Art Nouveau buildings from the turn of the last century, often with towers, bay windows, nature motifs and imaginative details. 

One of the nicest streets to walk along is Lottsgatan, Luotsikatu, where colorful Art Nouveau houses stand side by side. Take a closer look at the facades, gates and windows – many of the houses have details inspired by Finnish nature and national romanticism. 

The Cape of Good Hope is easy to combine with the Uspenski Cathedral and the harbor area, so you don't need to make it a separate half-day. It's fine to make the walk part of the way back to the city center.

21. Step into the world of Chocolate at Fazer experience

Fazer is almost synonymous with Finland, and at the Fazer Experience Visitor Centre you can get really close to the classic Finnish brand. The visitor centre is located in Vantaa just outside Helsinki, next to Fazer's chocolate and biscuit factories.

We went on a guided tour and learned more about Karl Fazer, the company's history, the ingredients and how Fazer works with sustainability, among other things. The exhibition is modern and interactive and there is of course also the opportunity to taste a few treats.

After the tour, there is both a café and a large Fazer store – and we left with a goodie bag that hardly made the experience any worse. 😄

Our experience: Fazer Experience is a bit of a trip from central Helsinki, but if you like chocolate and Finnish classics, we think it's worth the trip. Guided tours are also offered in Swedish, and they should be booked in advance.

Best areas to live in Helsinki

Which area is best for you depends on whether you want to live in the middle of the sights, near the sea or in neighborhoods with a more local feel. Helsinki city center is relatively compact and public transportation works well, so you don't have to live right next to Senate Square to easily explore the city.

Centrum, Kluvit and Kamppi – best for first-time visitors

Here you'll be close to many of Helsinki's major attractions, restaurants, shopping and Central Station. A good choice if you're visiting the city for the first time and want to be able to walk to a lot.

Skatudden – close to the harbor and attractions

Katajanokka is a great place to stay if you want to live a little more quietly but still be centrally located. Here you are close to the Uspenski Cathedral, Market Square and the ferry to Suomenlinna, while the area is full of beautiful Art Nouveau architecture.

Punavuori and design district – for design and city life

Punavuori has a more local and creative feel with designer boutiques, cafes, restaurants and smaller shops. From here you can still walk into the central parts of Helsinki.

Eira and Kaivopuisto – for the sea and a slightly quieter neighborhood

If you prefer to wake up close to the sea, Eira and the area around Kaivopuisto are interesting. Here the pace is slower, with beautiful residential areas, parks and walking paths along the water.

Helsinki by motorhome

We stayed at Camping Rastila, which is located in the eastern part of Helsinki. This campsite is nice, and the location is fairly central for a campsite. Just outside the campsite, the metro goes into the city, so it's very easy to start from here during a visit.

More city guides nearby

Planning a trip to Finland? Here are more guides:

• Things to do in Mariehamn
• Things to do in Turku
• Things to do in Naantali
• Things to do in Rauma