Why should you travel to Helsinki?
❣️ Helsinki (Helsingfors) will have a special place in my heart now forever.
With only around 600 000 inhabitants, this capital city has it all. Nightlife, cultural restaurants, history, nature, saunas, you name it! 👯♀️
It's absolutely incredible how well the city has incorporated nature in its landscape and how sustainable they try to be. From cheap shared bike services to getting back some money after recycling cans, you really feel good in this city. 🚲
I would recommend to spend a weekend in Helsinki to fully absorb the atmosphere, but because of its size, it's also okay to just spend a couple hours here before travelling further into Finland. ⏳️
What you NEED to know about Finland before your trip!
I covered this topic in a separate post on my Loving life with Misha Blog!
Get familiar with Finnish people, traditions & more truly helpful information before your visit, no matter how long it may be.
Check it out in the link below ⬇️
Accommodation in Helsinki
I recommend finding your accommodation for Helsinki ASAP because Finland is know to be quite an expensive country & the prices can get quite high. 🏘
When finding accommodation, I usually cross-reference a couple of sites including:
Tours of Helsinki
Do you have limited time in Helsinki? Consider going on a tour of all the main attractions with a guide! 👩💼👨💼
1️⃣ My favourite type of tour are "Free walking tours". You tip the guide according to their performance at the end of the tour, therefore you know EXACTLY what you're paying for! And the sum is up to you of course. The only disadvantage is that they have fixed dates & times for each tour, so you do not have that much flexibility.
2️⃣ If you're looking for a more flexible, half-day or couple hours long tour, check this ones out! They are both private & reasonably priced.
3️⃣ Another favourite in Helsinki is visiting the fortress & island Suomenlinna. This tour takes you both through Helsinki & the island in approximately 5 hours! The fee includes a public transport ticket.
The staples of Helsinki Must-sees! ✅️
Check out the unique cathedrals, café Regatta, the Central Railway station, the Central Library & the Old Market Hall. Click through all of these places to view more information about them❣️
Helsinki Cathedral
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You cannot miss the famous white cathedral in Helsinki. No, truly, there is no way to miss it, you will always end up there one way or another.
This majestic cathedral is just a couple of metres away from the Helsinki harbour on the Senate square and also from the second most well known cathedral, the beautiful brick orthodox one, Uspenskin Cathedral. Don't miss either of them on your next trip to Helsinki! ⛪️
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Uspenski Cathedral
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Just a couple of metres away from the iconinc white cathedral in Helsinki lies Uspenski Cathedral. You can enter this orthodox church and a helpful & knowledgeable tour guide is free to assist you.
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Temppeliaukion Church
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This is another cathedral worth visiting, but it’s not so easy to find. This is because the church is literally built into stone! The Temppeliaukio Church is a unique architectural building, but unless you are enrolled in the church, you will have to pay a small entrance fee (5 euros) to see its true beauty.
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Rautatientori - The Helsinki Main Train Station
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The Helsinki railway station is in the heart of the city. The magnificent building has been voted one of the most beautiful train station in the world. Just look at the enormous statues - during covid they were decorated with masks and during Finnish football of hockey championships they are dressed in the Finnish colours (white and blue).
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Cafe Regatta
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This picturesque cafe right outside of the city centre will make you fall in love with Helsinki.
The cafe is set right next to the sea, so it looks like a little lighthouse almost. There is a fireplace where you can roast marshmallows or make sausages. Seating is outside, so dress warm when trying this adorable cafe in winter! Order a hot chocolate or coffee (no lattes or such, they only offer coffee with or without milk) and don't forget about the kanelipulla! Kanelipulla (kanelbulle in Swedish) is a typical Finnish dessert, we know it as cinnamon buns and let me tell you now, they are so delicious you won't be able to say no to them! 🥧
🚲 Take a bike from the city centre to Regatta and bike along the beach, visit the Temppeliaukio church in a cave and the monument on the way.
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Helsinki Central Library Oodi
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Loose yourself in the architectural wonder, the Central Library Oodi. You can enter the building for free and walk around it to fully take in all its shapes and curves.
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Vanha Kauppahalli - The Old Market Hall
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Mere minutes away from the Helsinki Harbour, immerse yourself into the Finnish culture this time by trying typical Finnish foods in the Old Market Hall.
If you are looking for a market with fresh produce, fish, meat but also souvenirs and restaurants, check out Hakaniemi Market, only a couple minutes away by public transport.
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Esplanadi
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Walk along the main Helsinki promenade & discover its statues and shops! The promenades often hosts different events & celebrations.
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Experience the Finnish SAUNA culture
A trip to Finland is not complete without at least one sauna session! 🧖♀️
It is very likely that you will have a sauna at your hotel or other accommodation as Finns usually have one sauna in every building. 🧖♂️
If you want a bit of an experience however, checkout these options ⬇️
Allas Sea Pool
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Located directly at the Helsinki harbour, three saunas and two outdoor pools await you. One of these pools is not heated and is the same temperature as the sea. This becomes a real challenge during winter but it is super doable and fun to jump in after a hot sauna session!
TIP: Sunsets are absolutely gorgeous from this spot!
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Löyly Helsinki
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Do you want more of a fancy experience? Try out the beautiful sauna! They also have access to the sea for a quick dip between sauna sessions!
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Sompasauna
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This is for the real adventurers! Sompasauna is a free sauna that is taken care of by a team of volunteers in Helsinki. It's location changes every couple of months and now it is located at Verkkosaarenkuja 6.
Beware, Finnish people are super used to go completely naked in and outside the sauna, so if this is something you cannot handle, I would recommend skipping this experience. The sauna complex always has an artsy feel, with lots of artwork, murals and even musical instruments to play on, it is truly an exceptional place.
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➡️ Are you travelling with a large group and would rather have a private sauna? Spice up your life by renting a SAUNA BOAT for a couple hours!
🛥 Not only do you have the sauna all for yourself, you can also have a picnic on the boat, jump into the cold, cold sea and get a boat view of Helsinki!
Helsinki Parks, Islands & Recreation 🌲
Helsinki is the city of parks, greenery, islands and beaches. Not what you would expect from a Northern city, right?
Along with this, cycling is extremely popular in Helsinki especially during the long summer days. If you are visiting Helsinki in summer, make sure to buy a bike pass - most of the time they are cheaper than the public transport and off course available 24/7. There is an abundance of bike stalls all over Helsinki, and you can use the bikes for 30 minutes at a time. Check out HSL app, the public transport in Helsinki, for their price list. 🚲
Islands around & in Helsinki 🏝
There are seasonal art/historical expositions in the many islands next to Helsinki. If there is one active while you're visiting, I definitely recommend giving them a look! It's an alternative way to discover the beautiful Finnish islands. 🎨
There are hundreds of islands along the Helsinki coast, however these are my favourite ones ⬇️
Suomenlinna
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Another must-do in Helsinki, spend a half day at the Suomenlinna island! You can get to the island using your metro card, as it is part of public transport. If you do not possess a metrocard, you can buy a ticket at the Helsinki harbour. Explore the island on your own, or join a tour of the island!
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Vallisaari
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A short boat ride from Suomenlinna or from the Helsinki Harbour, this island hosts a number of art exhibitions and other expositions throughout the year. If you want an afternoon away from the city, this is the place to be!
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Tervasaari
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Check out Tervasaari island for 360 views of the Helsinki skyline at sunset or sunrise, you won’t be the only ones!
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Mustikkamaa
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Northeast from Tervasaari, you will find the Mistikkamaa island and the Helsinki Zoo. You will find many Finns having picnics, sunbathing or swimming on the island in summer.
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Lauttasaari
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Borrow a bike and ride along Lautasaari, on the west Helsinki shore and discover a quiet but still lively part of Helsinki. You will find cafes, restaurants, beautiful views of the sea and beaches behind the green forests.
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Seurasaari
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The Seurasaari island is located north from the main city centre, but not more than a 20 minute bike ride away. This island has an open-air museum in summer months to experience what it was like in rural Finland during the olden days. This island is also know for its large celebrations of the longest day of the year, Midsummer.
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Famous Streets, Parks & Beaches in Helsinki 🏖
You will find parks scattered all over Helsinki. I can guarantee you, you will have one less than 500 metres from your accommodation.
Here are however the best known ones ⬇️
Huvilakatu
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Take a stroll through Huvilakatu Street and gaze at the colourful houses. You will then find yourself at Meripuisto park & sea port, a park connected to the much more known one, Kaivopuisto.
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Kaivopuisto
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Kaivopuisto is a hilly park with beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding islands.
Easily accessible from Helsinki Harbour, this park is a common place for students to meet up with their friends and play all sorts of games.
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Sibelius Monument
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On your way to cafe Regatta, stop by the Sibelius park to take a picture of the Sibelius monument. The park was named after Finland's greatest composer, Jean Sibelius.
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Linnanmäki
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Talking about parks makes me think of a different type of park… are you a fan of amusement parks?
Helsinki has an amusement park located on a hill very close to the city centre! The Linnanmaki Amusement park is open from May every year and closes once summer season is over (usually in October). It has rides for children & adults, usually offering evening discounts.
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Hietaranta Beach
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Explore the different Helsinki beaches!
Beaches in Helsinki are beautiful all year round - In summer, you can see them packed with Finnish people trying to get a tan, playing volleyball or having a picnic, in winter you can walk through them directly onto the frozen Baltic sea. It’s an indescribable experience. Finnish people even cross-country ski, ice skate or even play hockey on the frozen sea.
The best known beach in Helsinki is the Hietaranta beach, then the Mustikkamaa beach.
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Need to get some work done? ☕️Check out these cafes in Helsinki!
Finnish cafes usually have great wifi connection and excellent coffee!
Espresso House Kaivopiha
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Espresso House is the most popular coffee chain in Finland, something like Starbucks in the US. You will always find good coffee and food in this cafes, just expect higher prices.
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Roasberg
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This cafe is a bit more artsy & personal.
TIP: People in Finland usually go to cafes very nicely dressed, so follow the trend!
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Robert's Coffee Jugend
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Another great cafes, perfect for studying or working, only a couple metres away from the Helsinki harbour!
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Fazer Café Kluuvikatu
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Not only a cafe, but also a souvenir shop!
Looking for some delicious souvenirs for your friends and family? Check out the Fazer shop and cafe, where you can mix your own packet of fazer chocolate or make a custom wrapper.
If you’re looking for some magnets or other small souvenirs, walk along Esplanadi and pop into one of the small shops!
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Eating options in Helsinki 🍴
You will find some absolutely delicious meals in Helsinki, from different countries and cuisines. All these dishes however have one thing in common - they are quite expensive. 💰
These are my fave places to eat in Helsinki for budget travellers!
UniCafe Kaivopiha
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This university canteen is open to the public! Students have some serious discounts using the Finnish student card which has to be issued by your Finnish university, however the prices even without the prices are not bad & the food is great!
This place is also a great work-place, with cheap coffee & other students around you also studying.
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Restaurant Deliberi - Keskuskatu
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Despite being a classic restaurant (ravintola in Finnish), this place has amazing lunch-meal prices! Try the salmon burger & trust me, you will thank me! I kept on returning to this restaurant during my semester in Helsinki.
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Hesburger Kallio Helsinginkatu
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Try out Hesburger! This fast food chain is something like a mix of McDonalds and Burger King, but it quite typical in Finland and Estonia. They also offer breakfasts, lemonades, milkshakes and vegetarian options.
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Here are some more ✨️tips✨️on life in Helsinki!
Kamppi Helsinki
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The Kamppi shopping centre offers everything you need and more.
You will find the central bus station in the underground levels of the mall.
In the upper levels, you will find a number of exotic restaurants and fast food places as well as the typical ones.
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Amos Rex
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Helsinki has lots of museums where you can learn about the history of Finland, the natural history and of its culture.
There are also many art exhibitions and shows for rainy days, but my favourite one was Amos Rex. The building itself is a piece of art and is worth visiting regardless of the exhibition. It is located right next to the Kamppi shopping centre.
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VAPPU - 1st of May Student Celebrations
The streets, parks and shops get packed on the 1st of May! Why is that? It’s not because of sales or anything like that, it’s because of Vappu! 🎉
Elsewhere known as Labour Day, this national day is celebrated like crazy in Finland! Associated with the beginning of spring and summer, Finnish students take to the streets and basically have a huge day drinking session. Playing games, competing between schools, just to rejoin in the evening for clubbing and dancing, you will never see more people in the streets of Helsinki than at Vappu. 🎊
🥋 Students wear overalls with patches, each patch representing a student event they attended throughout their studies. Different study fields have different overall colours, so for example all students studying business or economics will have white overalls whereas students studying medicine will wear the colour green. This depends on the university as well.
🌞 Check the weather before you go to Helsinki!
But don't trust it 100%! Weather in Finland changes A LOT, so be prepared for everything, snow in the middle of summer or beautiful blue skies in the middle of winter! 🧭
I hope you enjoy Helsinki! 🤍
➡️Don't hesitate to contact me (on Instagram, email or through my blog) in case you have any other, more specific questions! I'll be more than happy to assist you in planning your trip & booking your accommodation in Helsinki! 💌
~ Loving life with Misha
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