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05 July 2023 / 16 Comments

What to do in Helsinki - 30 sights and experiences

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What to do in Helsinki? This Nordic capital offers a lot of design and architecture, and is also a great summer city with outdoor cafes and boat trips. Here are all our top tips for things to see and do in Helsinki.

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Helsinki

Helsinki is a nice city to discover. We have been here several times before, but never looked around properly. This time we travelled here with the motorhome, and had a little more time to look around.

Att göra i Helsingfors

Helsinki is located in the southern part of Finland.

What can you do in Helsinki?

So what can you do in Helsinki? This is a city that can be visited in both summer and winter and has a lot to offer. Here are our top tips.

1. see Helsinki Central Station

Whichever way you arrive in Helsinki, it is likely that sooner or later you will pass the Central Station. The station is a landmark of the city, and every day 200,000 travellers pass through this location.

Att göra i Helsingfors - centralstationen

2. take the tram

The tram goes around much of Helsinki, and is the perfect way to get around! The ticket is also valid for the bus, metro, commuter train and the ferry to Suomenlinna.

Att göra i Helsingfors - spårvagn

3. Discover Helsinki by bike

Would you rather get around on your own? Then you can cycle or ride an electric scooter. If you're travelling by caravan, you may have your own vehicles. Otherwise, there are plenty of bikes and scooters for hire.

Att göra i Helsingfors - cyklar

4. Take a tour by Hop on Hop Off bus

Another way to get around is to book a ticket for a Hop On Hop Off bus. Tickets are available at the harbour and the bus runs quite frequently during the tourist season. This can be a way to get between places of interest, while being guided by headphones.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Hop On Hop Off

5. Join a guided boat trip.

Helsinki is located by the sea, surrounded by islands, and it's nice to look around by boat. Excursion boats leave from the South Harbour, and a 1.5-hour loudspeaker-guided boat tour costs around 200 kr/person.

Att göra i Helsingfors - sightseeing

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!

Att göra i Helsingfors
Att göra i Helsingfors
Att göra i Helsingfors

6. Visit Suomenlinna

When construction of Suomenlinna began in 1748, Finland was part of Sweden. During the Finnish War of 1808, the commander of the fortress decided, for unknown reasons, to surrender to the Russian army. Finland became part of Russia and the fortress became a Russian naval base. When Finland became independent, Suomenlinna was renamed Suomenlinna in Finnish, meaning 'Finland's castle'. 

The castle, which is about 15 minutes outside Helsinki by boat, is very interesting to visit. We have been here once before, in winter, and can highly recommend a visit.

Sveaborg
Sveaborg
Sveaborg

7. Go on a cruise or Island Hopping.

In addition to guided boat tours and boat trips to Suomenlinna, there are many other cruises and boat trips available, especially in the summer. For example, you can go on an evening cruise, pizza cruise, dinner cruise or party cruise, or take a boat trip to Korkeasaari Zoo or Porvoo. With FRS Finland, you can also go island hopping on the way to Vallisaari.

Att göra i Helsingfors

8. Check out Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square.

Helsinki Cathedral, located on Senate Square, is one of the city's signature buildings. The church was built in the mid-19th century and the architect was Carl Ludvig Engel.

When the church was inaugurated in 1852, it was named St Nicholas Church after Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. When Finland became independent in 1917, this Russian-sounding name was changed to the Great Church, and when the Diocese of Helsinki was founded in 1959, it became Helsinki Cathedral.

Att göra i Helsingfors - domkyrkan

Below the church is Senate Square, which is surrounded by three more monumental buildings designed by C.L. Engel. These are the Prime Minister's Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library. In the centre of the square is a statue of Alexander II.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Senatstorget

9. Admire the Uspenski cathedrals

Uspensky Cathedral is the main church of the Orthodox Church in Helsinki. Built in the mid-19th century, the cathedral is one of the most visible signs of Russian influence in Finnish history. Today the church is a popular tourist attraction, with even more visitors than Helsinki Cathedral.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Uspenskijkatedralen

10. Hang out at the Health Square

Located in the South Harbour, Market Square is perhaps the most famous square in Helsinki. Here you'll find plenty of stalls selling food, delicacies and handicrafts. In this square you will also find the Empress Stone, which was erected in 1835 to commemorate the first visit to Helsinki by Nicholas I's wife Empress Alexandra.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Salutorget

11. Shopping in the Old Market Hall

Helsinki's Old Market Hall has served as a market hall since 1889. The building offers a really charming environment, and here you can buy things like meat, cheese, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit and spices. You'll also find a few cafés and eateries here.

gamla saluhallen
saluhall
Att göra i Helsingfors - gamla saluhallen

12. Relaxing at the Allas Sea Pool

Allas Sea Pool is a really cool place, located just off the Market Square in the centre of Helsinki. In the middle of the city, with a view of the harbour and boats, you can swim in two heated freshwater pools and a seawater pool. There are also several types of saunas as well as a café, Seagrill restaurant and Allas Sky Bar.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Allas Pool
Att göra i Helsingfors - Allas pool

13. Walking in the Esplanade Park

Esplanade Park is a popular spot in Helsinki, especially during the summer months. Here you can enjoy the greenery, check out the sculptures and have an ice cream or a bite to eat. At one end of the park is the Swedish Theatre and at the other end is the Kappeli restaurant.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Esplanadparken
Att göra i Helsingfors - Esplanadparken

14. Learn about the city at Helsinki City Museum

The Helsinki City Museum tells the story of Helsinki. The museum, which is free to visit, has several different exhibitions and a number of interactive activities.

Att göra i Helsingfors - stadsmuseum
Att göra i Helsingfors - stadsmuseum
Att göra i Helsingfors - stadsmuseum

15. See art at Amos Rex

Amos Rex is an exciting art museum with interesting architecture. The museum is housed in premises from different eras, the newest part of which is underground, beneath the Glass Palace Square. In order to bring light into the exhibition space, the architectural firm JKMM built windows facing the square in a beautiful design that is almost a work of art in itself.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Amos Rex

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!

Amos Rex
Amos rex
Amos rex

16. Experience Candlelight Concerts

Candlelight Concerts are a series of concerts that offer a unique live music experience accompanied by thousands of candles. Some concerts highlight classical composers such as Vivaldi or Mozart, while others celebrate artists such as Queen, ABBA, Coldplay or Ed Sheeran.

The theme can also be something like film music, pop or jazz, and sometimes other elements are included such as ballet dancers or acrobats. The concerts take place in over 150 cities around the world, including Helsinki. Check out Candlelight Concerts for the current programme.

17. Get peaceful in the Chapel of the Battle.

The Kamppi Chapel is located on Narinka Square in the Kamppi neighbourhood. Opened in 2012, the chapel represents Finnish wooden architecture and was designed by the Finnish architectural firm K2S. You can pop in for a moment of peaceful silence in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, or you can just stop to admire the architecture.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Kampens kapell

18. Fascinated by the Temple Square church

Another religious site that is very special is the Temple Square Church from 1969. This church building, designed by architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, is completely embedded in the mountain. Its unusual architecture attracts many visitors every year. For €5 you can look around the church hall, and at certain times there are also guided tours. The building is also often used as a concert hall, as the rough surface of the rock walls provides good acoustics.

Att göra i Helsingfors - tempellatsens kyrka

19. Admire the Helsinki City Centre Library Ode

Another architecturally exciting building is the Oodi Centre Library. Located by Töölönlahti bay near the Kiasma art museum, the library was inaugurated in 2018 and was designed by Anti Nousjoki and others from ALA Arkitekter.

Att göra i Helsingfors - biblioteket Ode

20. visit the National Museum

The National Museum in Helsinki is a state museum that tells the story of Finland from the Stone Age to the present day. The museum hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as activities for children.

Att göra i Helsingfors - nationalmuseum

21. Enjoying the view from the Olympic Stadium tower

The Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, located in the Töölö district, is Finland's largest sports arena. It features the 72 metre high Olympic Stadium Tower, which can be visited for a fee of €6.5 per person.

Olympastadions torn

From the top you have a nice city view of the whole of Helsinki. 

Utsikt från Olympastadions torn

22. Check out the Sibelius monument

The Sibelius Monument is a memorial to Finnish composer Johan (Jean) Sibelius, created by sculptor Eila Hiltunen. The monument is located in Sibelius Park, a green and pleasant area with a promenade, café and ice cream parlour. The sculpture itself consists of more than 600 tubes welded together in a wave pattern. A smaller version of the sculpture can be found at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Sibeliusmonumentet

23. Coffee at Café Regatta

If you go to Sibelius Park, don't miss out on a coffee at Café Regatta. This is a super cosy and relaxed little café right by the water, where you can relax with a coffee and a blueberry pie. A nice break from city life!

Café Regatta
café Regatta
Café Regatta

24. Have a drink with a view in Torni?

If you like to have a drink with a view, head to the top of Solos Soki Hotel Torni. The lift goes to the 12th floor, and then a staircase leads to the rooftop bar.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Torni

Don't miss out on a visit to the toilet while you're up here. The views from the toilet are awesome!

Toalett med utsikt

25. Combining food and rooftop bar at Beaky Basterd

Another place we liked is Beaky Basterd in the Jungmann building on Katajanokka. It has a relaxed rooftop bar at the top, where you can enjoy a drink in peace and quiet.

Beaky Basterd
Peter with our Finnish blog colleague Veera from Veera Bianca

On the roof bar there was no food service, but in the bar on the ground floor we ordered super good small pita bread with different fillings. Very good and nice!

Pitabröd med fyllning
Pitabröd med fyllning
Pitabröd med fyllning

26. shopping at Stockmann

Do you like to shop while travelling? One thing to do in Helsinki is of course to check out the Stockmann department store, which offers no less than 12 floors of shopping.

Att göra i Helsingfors - Stockmann

27. Buy Finnish design: Marimekko and Iittala

If you specifically want to shop for Finnish design, you can look up Marimekko, with its patterned fashion or glassware from the Iitaala. Further famous Finnish design can be found in the form of furniture by Artek and ceramics from Arabia.

Marimekko

28. check out the Moomin Shop

If you prefer to shop for nice Moomin stuff, the Moomin Shop is the place to go. We found this shop in Forum, at Mannerheimsvägen 20.

Moomin Shop

29. take a sauna at Löyly

If you like saunas, Helsinki is a great destination. There are a bunch of public saunas in the city, of which Löyly is probably the most famous. This sauna has a really cool design, but we were never there so you'll have to make do with a "general sauna picture".

You can also take a sauna at the Allas Sea Pool and several other locations in the capital. Perhaps the most spectacular option is to book the 'sauna carriage' on the SkyWheel Helsinki Ferris wheel.

bastu

30. Take a trip to the Fazer Visitor Centre

One excursion that we can highly recommend, if you like chocolate or pastries (and who doesn't?), is a visit to the Fazer Visitor Centre, located half an hour from the centre of Helsinki by car. Here you can book a guided exhibition tour, which turned out to be surprisingly interesting and enjoyable!

The exhibition space is sleek and modern, with plenty of interactive elements to entertain visitors of all ages. For example, it is challenging to guess the smell or taste of a caramel that is the "wrong" colour.

What was most interesting was to hear the story of the committed Karl Fazer, who dared to take different paths in life than what was expected of him, and to hear about all the creative developments that have taken place and are taking place around sustainability. At the end of the guided tour, which can be booked in Swedish and costs 15.5 euros/person, you get a goodie bag with tasty Fazer products.

Fazer choklad
Fazer besökscentrum
Fazer besökscentrum

The visitor centre also has a shop with all Fazer products, at a lower price than in regular shops. There is also a nice café where you can have coffee or lunch. For our part, it was a coffee and a good shrimp sandwich here.

café på Fazer besökscentrum

Bonus: Take the ferry to Tallinn

Once in Helsinki, it's also easy to cruise on to Tallinn, with Viking Line or Tallink Silja. Tallinn is of course not Helsinki, but it is also an exciting city to discover.

Viking Line

More things to do in Helsinki for culture and history lovers

There is of course even more to see and do in Helsinki than our suggestions. Here are some more tips for culture and history lovers.

  • Ateneum is an art museum (Brunnsgatan 2).
  • Design Museum is a specialised museum for Finnish design (Högbergsgatan 23).
  • Kiasma is a state museum of contemporary art. (Mannerheim Square 2)
  • Mannerheim Museum talks about the life of Gustaf Mannerheim and the history of Finland. (Kalliolinnavägen 14)
  • Music Centre is a concert hall and event centre (Mannerheimintie 13 A).
  • Swedish theatre is Finland's Swedish-language national theatre. (Norra esplanaden 2)
Att göra i Helsingfors - Ateneum

More things to do in Helsinki for nature lovers

Do you like nature best? Then you can find more suggestions for things to do in and around Helsinki here.

  • Fölisön is an island with an open-air museum, which is popular for excursions.
  • Nuuksio National Park is a national park in southern Finland, about 40 kilometres west of Helsinki.
  • The Winter Garden is a plant paradise open all year round. (Hammarskjöldsvägen 1A)
Att göra i Helsingfors

More things to do in Helsinki for those travelling with children

Here are some more tips on things to do in Helsinki for families with children or teenagers.

  • Borgbacken amusement park is Finland's oldest amusement park with over 40 different rides (Tivoli Gardens 1).
  • Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki is a film experience with 4D technology (Skatuddskajen 2).
  • Eureka is a science centre for all ages. (King's Road, Vantaa)
  • High Holmen Animal Farm is a zoo with around 150 animal species and 1,000 plant species (Blåbärslandsstigen 12).
  • Central Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum. (Norra Järnvägsgatan 13)
  • Sea Life showcases various marine animals (Tivolivägen 10).
  • Sederholm House is Helsinki's oldest building, with exhibitions and activities for children.
  • The Tracing Museum is a railway museum. (Töölönkatu 51 A)
  • SkyWheel is a Ferris wheel in the centre of Helsinki (Katajanokkaja 2).
Spåramuseet

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

In Helsinki there are many hotels, bed & breakfasts and apartments to choose from. We travelled by motorhome, and can't really recommend any specific hotels. However, we did check out Hotel Katajanokka, which is located in an old prison and has a good location in Skatholmen.

Hotel Katajanokka

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.

Camping Rastila
Camping Rastila
Camping Rastila

More things to see and do around Helsinki

In the neighbourhood of Helsinki, we can recommend visits to the beautiful the city of Turku and in charming Naantali. We have also enjoyed visits to Tammisaari Camping Ekenäs and Solliden camping. Even more tips for Finland can be found below.

All our top tips about Finland. Click on the image!

Even more tips for things to do in Helsinki?

Have you visited Helsinki? Do you have any other tips on what to see and do in Helsinki? Let us know!

Frequently asked questions about Helsinki

Is it expensive in Helsinki?

The currency used in Finland is the euro, and the price level is generally slightly higher than in Sweden.

What not to miss in Helsinki?

Suomenlinna is one of Helsinki's main attractions. The castle is located 15 minutes from Helsinki by boat, and boats run all year round.

Can you speak Swedish in Helsinki?

Almost 6 per cent of Helsinki residents have Swedish as their mother tongue and more than that are proficient in Swedish. You cannot expect to be able to speak Swedish, but you can always ask. Otherwise, English works well.

Facts about Helsinki

  • Country: Finland
  • Landscape: Nyland
  • Population: More than 650,000 in the city and more than 1.1 million in the capital region (including Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa).
  • The name: From the parish of Helsinge and Helsingån (now Vantaa river). The origin of the name Helsinge is disputed.
  • Language: Finnish (80 %) and Swedish (6 %)
  • Currency: Euro
  • Read more: You can find more information at MyHelsinki

Travelling to Helsinki

  • Flight: You can fly directly to Helsinki from Stockholm and Gothenburg, for example with SAS, Finnair or Norwegian.
  • Ferry: Both Viking Line and Tallink Silja operate between Stockholm and Helsinki. There are also ferries from Åland.
  • Car/caravan: You can of course take a car or motorhome to Helsinki, either by ferry from Stockholm, or by driving from the west or north. For example, there are ferries from Kapellskär to Naantali and Umeå to Vaasa.

Getting around Helsinki

  • Go for a walk: Helsinki is a walkable city, and as long as you're not going too far, it's great to walk.
  • Cycling: You can cycle with your own bike, or rent a bike or scooter.
  • Car/caravan: Driving in the city centre is the hardest thing to do, but if you're going to visit places on the outskirts of the city, taking the car can of course be convenient.
  • Public transport: Trams, buses, metro, commuter trains and the ferry to Suomenlinna can be travelled with the same ticket. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at stations or through the HSL app.

History of Helsinki

  • 1550: Helsinki was founded on 12 June this year, by Gustav Vasa, to act as a rival to the Hanseatic city of Reval (today's Tallinn), when Finland was part of Sweden.
  • 1561: Sweden conquered northern Estonia and Reval, reducing the importance of Helsinki.

18th century

  • 1703: The Russian empire and the founding of the city of St Petersburg affected Helsinki.
  • 1710: The plague killed two-thirds of the population.
  • 1713: The Russian army burned the city and Russian troops besieged the city until 1721.
  • 1741-1743: Sweden lost the Fredrikshamn fortress in the War of the Hats and started building a new large sea fortress outside Helsinki.

19th century

  • 1808: Sweden was drawn into war with Russia. Suomenlinna surrendered, the Russians captured Helsinki and Finland became part of Russia.
  • 1812: Tsar Alexander decided that Helsinki would become the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, replacing Turku, which was the largest city at the time.
  • 1827: After the Turku fire, the country's only university moved from Turku to Helsinki.
  • 1862: Railway connections were built to Hämeenlinna, and a few years later to St Petersburg.

20th century

  • The First World War: Three fortification zones were built around Helsinki, as part of the defence of Saint Petersburg.
  • 1917: Helsinki became the capital of independent Finland after the declaration of independence on 6 December 1917.
  • 1918: The Finnish Civil War began. The Reds took over the city and the government fled to Vaasa. In April, German troops captured Helsinki. The White Army, led by Mannerheim, arrived in the city on 16 April. After the Civil War, Suomenlinna served as a prison camp for Red prisoners.
  • The Second World War: Helsinki was bombed in several rounds.
  • 1982: Helsinki Metro opened
  • 2000: Helsinki was one of the cultural capitals of Europe.

You might also like:

What to do in Turku - 30 sights and experiences Att göra i Vasa i FinlandThings to do in Vaasa in Finland - 20 sights and experiences Att göra i Kristinestad i FinlandThings to do in Kristinestad - 15 tips for a Finnish wooden house idyll Att göra i Närpes i FinlandWhat to do in Närpes - 12 tips for the tomato town in Finland What to do in Jakobstad, Finland - 20 tips Att göra i KarlebyWhat to do in Kokkola, Finland - 17 tips

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05 July 2023 6:00
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  1. Ditte says:

    What a nice and useful list! We have covered most of it over the years and not least when I have been here on various work trips. Hotelll Torni we have stayed at and can recommend and also at Scandic Grand Marina (near the ferries) and Scandic Grand Central. They are also very good.
    Maybe you missed the ODE centre library, or maybe I didn't see it in your list, but it's definitely worth a visit.
    Wishing you a continued good journey.

    05 July 2023 - 14:44

    Reply

  2. BP says:

    Yes, how many times have I/we been to Helsinki over the years... Many times. Love that city and you listed all the gems perfectly! In addition, you had heavenly nice weather, which of course makes it easier:-)

    05 July 2023 - 20:18

    Reply

  3. bmlarsreseblogg says:

    We've heard so many positive things about Helsinki and it's almost as if we have to bring out the shame pillow when we admit that we've never been there. We have talked about at least going on a cruise there or a weekend trip, but maybe it's because we live on the other side of Sweden.

    05 July 2023 - 20:45

    Reply

  4. Berit says:

    Haven't been to Helsinki since 1956 so it's probably time to go there. Thanks for all the tips on sights.

    05 July 2023 - 22:05

    Reply

  5. Jossu says:

    I have never visited Helsinki, so very interesting to see what there is to see. I really love Finnish design, apart from the more famous Marimekko and Iittala, Pentik is my favourite.
    I had spent a lot of time in the Fazer shop, coming out with many bags of Omar toffee.

    07 July 2023 - 21:34

    Reply

  6. Marias memoarer says:

    So many good tips 😊 I can also recommend Villagatan/Huvilakatu, one of the city's most beautiful streets with its pastel-coloured house facades. And the cat café Helkatti 😻.

    10 July 2023 - 8:29

    Reply

  7. The Dreamteam says:

    Hello mates!
    What did it cost at the campsite in Helsinki?

    02 September 2023 - 19:59

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Hello Dreamteam! I think we paid around 43/euro per day incl, electricity, during high season. There are slightly cheaper places on a gravel pitch, but I think the price difference was not that big.

      02 September 2023 - 20:04

      Reply

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