The 27 Best Things to See and Do in Helsinki

Probably the first place that travellers will see when arriving in the old town of Helsinki will see – if you’re not too busy savouring a delightful cup of famous Finnish coffee – is the harbour and Market Square. This port area is one of the epicentres of life and commerce in town, and a veritable landmark of Helsinki as a whole. It’s here that locals gather to sell their best products, presenting fresh fish and Finnish specialties like reindeer horns, handmade jewellery, wooden mugs, and reindeer hides. The Baltic Herring Market at the beginning of October is the best time of year to visit the square, and the nearby Market Hall is open all year round for local flavours and unique souvenirs.

Kamppi Chapel of Silence is a sanctuary of quietude in the midst of Helsinki’s lively city centre. The chapel is tiny yet warm and calm, and the thick wooden walls, made of Nordic spruce, work to enhance the depth of the silence inside. Stepping into the main room reveals wooden benches and a fascinating altar holding a thin, metal cross and a bowl. What’s more, the building is constructed in an amazing circular shape that represents the height of architectural innovation in true Scandinavian style.

A swell pub and a delicious restaurant with an atmosphere set to bold combinations of rock fusion and contemporary jazz music, Juttutupa’s history goes all the way back to 1884, giving it the distinction of being one of the oldest joints in town. It was once even the host of revolutionary socialist meetings led by Vladimir Lenin, while today it entertains crowds of local patrons and travellers alike, who enjoy dishes such as juicy burgers and pizza at the long, communal dining tables.

There is arguably no better place to understand how exactly the city of Helsinki became what it is today than the City Museum, which won Finland’s Museum of the Year award in 2017. In five separate buildings on the Cathedral Square, a complexity of exhibitions range from traditional Finnish costumes to displays of 19th-century home décor, complete with early prototypes of refrigerators and irons. The centre also takes a look at the cultural life of the city and the incredible female presence in the political and economic environment of the last century. Virtual reality technology combined with old photographs also allow visitors to feel as if they have literally stepped back in time to Helsinki’s past.

Revealing a year-long explosion of colourful plants from right across the globe, the Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden is an exuberant oasis of life right in the middle of the city. Its history is worth mentioning, as it is the oldest scientific garden in all of Finland, inaugurated by the botanist Peter Kalm in Turku in the year 1678, finally being transferred to the care of Helsinki University in 1829 as a result of a major fire. The garden is home to a whopping 800 species of plants in total, and is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or to escape the Finnish winter.

Suomenlinna, the ‘Fortress of Finland’, is located on a series of small islands just 20 minutes away from Helsinki’s south harbour by ferry. It is a fine example of a fortified military structure, hailed by UNESCO for its cultural magnitude. Initially named Sveaborg when Finland was a part of the Swedish empire, it represented a major strategic point that was important for control of the city and defense of Southern Finland. Don’t miss the impressive dry dock, a real technological feat of engineering, and don’t leave without exploring the island’s greener parts or the impressive museums.

With a profound accumulation of boutiques, workshops, antique shops, galleries, and restaurants, there are plenty of opportunities to discover the unmistakable simplicity of minimalistic Finnish design in this district in southern Helsinki. In short, the Design District unravels the subtle power of Scandinavian design and décor though awe-inspiring collections of handmade products, simple-cut clothing shops, and functional architecture alike.

Café Ekberg, widely regarded as the oldest and classiest café in Helsinki, and indeed all of Finland, dates back to 1852 and boasts a large, 90-seat guest room for the pleasure and delight of its patrons. Don’t leave without sampling the on-site patisserie’s Napoleon cake, which can either be sided with a strong coffee or a delicious hot chocolate with a wisp of creamy foam. It’s a great place to enjoy an early start, or a late wind-down, with abundant breakfast options, oodles of handmade pastries, biscuits, and cookies.

For the Finns, the sauna represents a place of meditative refreshment; a divine delight dating back to the Viking period. Besides the obvious stress relief, there is a multitude of health benefits on offer: it improves cardiovascular performance, helps weight loss, soothes muscle and joint pain, and helps with insomnia. Kotiharjun Sauna is one of only three traditional public saunas left in Helsinki, and is an excellent spot to experience Finland’s sauna culture, where locals and visitors alike sweat it out side by side.

Towering over the city are the huge white towers of the Lutheran Cathedral, the icon of the city which features on practically all of its advertising and merchandise. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The city’s most unique church is built directly into its surrounding rock. The walls of the chapel are made from solid granite in beautiful black, brown and red speckled patterns. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

A large square flanking the cathedral with a statue of Alexander II in the middle, and a popular place for buskers. Making up the other sides are the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and Sederholm House; the oldest surviving building in central Helsinki dating from 1757. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Many people forget that there is more than one cathedral in Helsinki. The orthodox Uspenski Cathedral is the largest in Europe and is notable for its red brick façade and shining golden onion domes. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

This park contains a monument to Finland’s most famous composer Jean Sibelius, which is made to look like a pipe organ. The park is a good central location to relax and listen to some live classical music. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Just off the coast of the Katajanokka district you can see part of the navy fleet of ice breaker ships, designed for sailing through tough Arctic ice, docked for summer maintenance. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Anyone wishing to learn more about Finland’s history or culture should definitely visit the main building of the National Gallery. It contains thousands of paintings and works of art by Finnish artists in a beautiful Victorian building. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The classic wooden buildings of this museum complex have been restored to provide a glimpse into what life was like in pre-industrial Finland. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Located on its own island, this zoo allows you to see many Finnish species such as bears and moose, as well as animals from all over the world including lions, leopards, red pandas and monkeys. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

Next to the Linnanmäki Amusement Park is Sea Life Helsinki, an aquarium full of ocean creatures including sharks, octopi, rays and local Baltic Sea fish. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The National Theatre building is a notable part of Helsinki’s art-nouveau architecture and for being the first Finnish speaking theatre. The statue of novelist Aleksis Kivi at the front pays homage to his part in popularising the Finnish language in literature. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

A must visit for any book lovers. The National Library is full not only of millions of books but also stunningly beautiful decoration, the perfect place to spend the afternoon reading. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

This indoor market on the south harbour is not only an important historic site and another beautiful building, but an ideal place to shop for local produce – particularly freshly caught fish from the surrounding ocean. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The former manor home of Marshal Mannerheim is now a museum paying tribute to his life. It includes his medals and hunting trophies among other personal effects. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

One of Helsinki’s lesser known art museums, Didrichsen contains mostly contemporary art including works by Picasso, Moore, Edelfelt, Kandinsky and Miró. It also has an outdoor sculptor garden. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The most historically important museum in Finland contains artwork and artefacts ranging all the way from the prehistoric to modern period. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

This striking black granite church on the top of the Kallio cliffs is a notable landmark of the Kallio district. Recommended by Jessica Wood.

The perfect place to re-awaken that childhood spirit is at one of Helsinki’s five Moomin Cafés, the latest emerging trend in Finland. Based on the characters of the book series written and illustrated by Tove Jansson, Finland’s national treasure, the Moomins are distinctive hippopotamus-like characters who had life-long exciting adventures. The cafés serve Moomin-themed drinks and snacks, with Moomin artwork on the walls, small shops selling merchandise, and play areas with copies of the Moomin books for children. The tasty treats and cuteness of the characters are sure to strike any visitor! Recommended by Jessica Wood.