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Overview

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Helsinki The guide was updated: 2025-09-09

Helsinki is where the Baltic laps at granite shores and trams hum through streets lined with bold design and quiet charm. A city shaped by sea, sauna, and surprising contrasts, the Finnish capital balances raw nature with cool, clean modernity. Influences from East and West meet here, but the rhythm is all its own—unhurried, open, and thoughtful. Whether you're here for forests or flea markets, Helsinki has a way of drawing you in, slowly but surely.

Facts

Population:	686,595 (2025)
Currency:	Euro (€, EUR)
Emergency numbers:	112
Newspapers:	Helsinki Times (in English): www.helsinkitimes.fi Daily Finland (in English): www.dailyfinland.fi
Website:	www.myhelsinki.fi
Tourist information:	Helsinki Tourist Information Aleksanterinkatu 22-24, Helsinki Open Mon–Fri 9:30am–5:30pm, Sat & Sun 9am–4pm +358 9 31013300

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Section in Helsinki

Helsinki offers a mix of big experiences and everyday joys. You can dip into design, dive into history, or just soak in the local rhythm while walking through its neighbourhoods. Nature’s always nearby—whether it’s a shoreline path, a park in the middle of town, or a quick ferry ride to an island. Architecture swings from neoclassical elegance to bold modernism, and culture shows up in grand museums and quiet street corners alike.

Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral

This is the main church for Helsinki’s Lutheran community and part of the city’s Empire-style core designed by Carl Ludvig Engel. For locals and visitors alike, it’s a symbol of the city itself. Inside, it’s mostly a quiet spot for services, but you can also catch concerts here now and then. Even if you’re not religious, it’s worth swinging by to see the clean lines and that iconic green dome standing over Senate Square.

Allas Pool

Allas Pool

Right next to Helsinki’s Market Square, Allas Pool offers a mix of traditional Finnish sauna culture and modern urban vibes. Open year-round, it features a heated 25m pool at 27°C, a sea water pool that mirrors the Baltic’s temperature (ideal for winter dips), and a children's pool available during summer. The complex houses five saunas—three at pool level and two indoors—offering a chance to unwind with sea views.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

Just a short ferry ride from the city, Suomenlinna is a massive island fortress and one of Finland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s a lot to explore here—old walls, tunnels, cannons, museums, and a few cafés scattered around. The ferry over is worth it for the views alone, especially on a clear day. Around 800 people still live on the island, so it’s not just a tourist spot. Open year-round, and easy to reach from Market Square.

Temppeliaukio Church

Temppeliaukio Church

Also known as the Rock Church, this place is carved straight into granite in the middle of Helsinki. From the outside, it kind of looks like a grounded spaceship. Inside, the rough stone walls, copper dome, and skylight ring give the space a quiet, otherworldly feel. It’s still used for services, but you’re just as likely to catch a concert here, thanks to the natural acoustics, which are genuinely impressive.

Esplanade Park

Esplanade Park

Locals call it “Espa” — a green strip running through central Helsinki, flanked by old trees, statues, and a few cafés. It’s where people stroll, sit with ice cream, or watch the world go by. In summer, the open-air Espa Stage hosts free gigs, from jazz to folk. Bigger events like the Marimekko Fashion Show and midsummer celebrations also take over the park.

Kamppi Chapel

Kamppi Chapel

Right in the middle of Helsinki’s busiest square, Narinkkatori, Kamppi Chapel offers a quiet break from the noise. This curved wooden structure, completed in 2012, is designed for silence—no services, no sermons, just a calm space to sit. The interior, made of alder and ash, is warm and minimal. Photography isn’t allowed inside, which helps keep the atmosphere peaceful.

Tori Quarters

Tori Quarters

Between Senate Square and the harbour, the Tori Quarters blend Helsinki’s neoclassical past with its creative present. Once home to city offices, these 18th- and 19th-century buildings now house independent shops, Finnish design stores, cafés, restaurants, and bars. You’ll also find the Helsinki City Museum and a small art-house cinema here.

Uspenski Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral

Perched on a hill in the Katajanokka district, Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Completed in 1868, its red-brick façade and 13 golden domes stand out against Helsinki's skyline. Inside, you'll find a richly decorated interior with a gilded iconostasis and impressive chandeliers.

Market Square (Kauppatori)

Market Square (Kauppatori)

Right on the harbour, this year-round market is a popular stop for food stalls, local crafts, and souvenirs. In summer, it’s full of fresh berries, fish, and fried vendace; in winter, a heated café tent keeps things cosy. Ferries to Suomenlinna leave from here, and seagulls are always on standby—keep an eye on your snacks.

Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Oodi is a striking example of modern Finnish design and a space where people come to read, work, relax and meet. Located right in the heart of Helsinki, opposite Parliament House, the library offers much more than books—from studios and workspaces to a café, cinema, and sweeping city views from the top floor.

Sibelius Monument

Sibelius Monument

In Sibelius Park, you'll find a striking tribute to Finland’s most celebrated composer, Jean Sibelius. Designed by Eila Hiltunen and unveiled in 1967, the monument features over 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern, aiming to capture the essence of Sibelius's music.

Löyly

Löyly

Löyly is a modern seaside sauna and restaurant on Helsinki’s southern waterfront, with a sharp architectural look and front-row views of the Baltic. There are two types of wood-fired saunas, including a traditional smoke sauna, and you can jump straight into the sea all year round—yes, even in winter. The glass-walled restaurant serves Nordic-style dishes and drinks, and the big wooden deck is a prime spot to hang out on a sunny day. It’s open daily, and sauna slots book out fast in summer—worth reserving ahead.

Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool

Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool

Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool is a relaxed spot in a quiet Helsinki neighbourhood, just a short bus ride from the city centre. It’s great for swimming laps, chilling by the pool, or warming up in the sauna. Open during summer only, it’s a local favourite when the weather’s good.

Helsinki City Theatre

Helsinki City Theatre

One of the biggest theatres in Finland, this is where you’ll find everything from musicals and classic plays to contemporary drama and dance. The in-house Helsinki Dance Company adds variety to the programme, and there are regular performances in Swedish at Lilla Teatern, the theatre’s bilingual stage. If you’re into live performance, it’s worth checking what’s on while you're in town.

Korkeasaari Zoo

Korkeasaari Zoo

Korkeasaari Zoo, or Helsinki Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the world, and one of the few located on an island. Just a short ferry (in summer) or bus ride from the city centre, Korkeasaari offers a journey through diverse habitats, from northern forests to tropical rainforests. Home to around 150 animal species and 1,000 plant species, the zoo is dedicated to biodiversity and conservation in a unique natural setting.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park

Linnanmäki Amusement Park

Linnanmäki is Finland’s oldest and most popular amusement park, open since 1950 and located in the Alppila district of Helsinki. The park offers over 40 rides, from gentle carousels to high-speed coasters. Highlights include the classic wooden roller coaster Vuoristorata, operating since 1951, and Taiga, a steel coaster with two launches, four inversions, and speeds up to 106 km/h. Admission to the park is free, with rides requiring tickets or a wristband.

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