Top Free Things To Do In Helsinki

Living in or even just visiting Helsinki can quickly eat into your budget, thanks to the expensive transport, accommodation, and restaurants. However, there is a lot to be seen and enjoyed throughout the city for free, including the natural landscapes, untouched public parks, fascinating architecture, and rich cultural sites. Here are some of the ways to experience Helsinki without spending a cent:

Hietaranta Beach

You probably don’t picture yourself spending a lazy afternoon lounging on a beach in Helsinki, but during the summer, the temperature can climb over 30 degrees Celsius, which translates to perfect beach weather. Hietaranta is one of the most popular beaches on the city’s coastline, known for its clean and sandy shore, shallow and sheltered bay, and clear Baltic Sea water (which is safe for swimming). You can also find a lot of summer sports in the area, including beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, and miniature golf.

Museums

Malminkartano Hill

Climbing the rainbow stairs to the top of this 90-metre hill, the highest point in Helsinki, provides panoramic views of the entire city and its surrounding region. It is an excellent spot for a picnic, jogging, dog walking, or mountain biking. The hill is a little less accessible during the winter, especially during heavy snow, but if you can make it to the top, it is the best place in town for sledging.

Central Park

It is surprisingly easy to get back to nature even in the middle of Finland’s capital city. Central Park is spread over 10 km and contains everything, from landscaped gardens to primeval forests. Here, you can do practically anything you would otherwise only be able to do in the countryside, such as hiking, bird watching, nature photography, or just escape from the city for a while.

Kaartinkaupunki and Ullanlinna

Each of Helsinki’s neighbourhoods has a charm of its own, but these two are exceptional. Among the oldest and wealthiest parts of the city, the Jugend and Gothic architecture found here is slightly different to the Art Nouveau style which makes up the rest of the city. The Kaivopuisto hill overlooks the south harbour and creates a romantic scene at sunset. Just wandering down the streets to see the beautiful buildings or window-shopping in the classy boutiques is a perfect way to spend the day.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.