Helsinki Temples, Churches and Cathedrals

Helsinki's main Lutheran church located right next to the Senate Square. Designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and completed in 1852. Plain and simple on the inside, as per Lutheran tradition, the exterior has clear neo-classical influences and looks radiant on a summers day. Note that main entrance is not the one facing the main staircase, but is opposite the National Library on Unioninkatu as this was the most important street in Helsinki when the cathedral was built. Free to enter except from May to August where it is free after 18:00.

The Uspenski is the biggest Orthodox cathedral in northern Europe and was built during the reign of Alexander II in 1868. The church is markedly different to the Helsinki Cathedral in its design, with onion-shaped domes and the use of bricks as the main building material. The inside contains paintings and relics and is imposing in its stature and a total contrast with the simplicity of most other Helsinki churches. Free entry, but keep an eye on their opening hours. I'd recommend using their Facebook page as they update their opening hours better there than on Google (link below). CLOSED on Mondays Tuesday-Saturday 09:30-15:00 Sunday 12:00-15:00 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069882684847

Nestled behind the Helsinki Cathedral, we Helsinki's oldest Orthodox church. Designed by Carl Ludwig Engel in 1827, it is surprisingly simple compared to other Orthodox churches of the time. The colors of the exterior match the general design language of Engel's style and for that reason it often goes overlooked. Being small inside, it doesn't take too long to visit and worth your time. The opening hours are quite irregular, so check their website for more details.

The main church on the Suomenlinna fortress and a fascinating one at that. Originally built as an Orthodox church designed by the Russian Empire's top state architect, Kostantin Thon, the Suomenlinna church has changed immensely since its original construction. Throughout the 1920s, the church was transformed from a Russian Orthodox temple to a Lutheran one. This makes it the only church in Helsinki to have changed denomination and was only allowed to occur because Suomenlinna was a military garrison at the time. Opening hours are 12:00-16:00 Thursday to Saturday, however these may change in the summer or due to religious ceremonies. Entrance fee will be enforced starting in the summer of 2024.

Another Engel design located in a graveyard in the middle of the city. Built in 1826. The Helsinki Old Church was designed to be a temporary church while the Cathedral was built, but fate would have it that the population of Helsinki increased so much that the decided to keep it. It is one of the few Engel buildings which is made mostly from wood and its location away from other buildings was done on purpose for fire safety reasons. The church is quite simple inside, but an interesting architectural anomaly nonetheless. Open 4 days a week Tuesday to Friday 12:00-15:00.

This tiny chapel in the busy heart of Helsinki was designed as an oasis of tranquility and a place where one can escape the hustle of the city. The chapel is meant to be a place of reflection and offers mental health support services. It is constructed almost entirely out of 3 types of wood and stands at 11.5 meters tall. €5 entry fee and opening hours are 10:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

One of the biggest churches in Helsinki and located in the heart of the design district, Johanneksenkirkko provides a wonderful contrast to the Jugendstil architecture of the area. Originally a Swedish-speaking congregation, the church now serves both main language groups in Finland and is full on neo-Gothic touches. The church is made of bricks and wood which are unusual for Helsinki buildings of the late 19th century. Opening hours are daily from 12:00-17:00 and entrance is free.

Helsinki's main German-speaking Lutheran church built in 1861 to serve the Baltic-German community that lived in Finland. The church is lightly decorated inside, as per Lutheran tradition and is Gothic revival in style, similar to the Johanneksenkirkko just up the road.

Helsinki's first Catholic cathedral dedicated to St Henry and built in 1860 to serve Catholics in the Russian army as well as Catholic merchants. Much like other churches in the area, it is a Gothic Revival style building and was designed by Ernst Lorhmann, the same person who finished the work on the Helsinki Cathedral. Unlike most of the other churches in Helsinki, it contains stained glass windows which are beautiful in the summer light. It is dedicated to bishop Henry who was one of the first people to bring Christianity to Finland in the 13th century. Mass is held in Finnish, Swedish, English, Spanish and Italian and the church is open throughout the day.

A more modern church in the old industrial part of Helsinki and designed by my favorite Helsinki architect, Lars Sonck. The Mikael Agricola church is named after the man who brought Martin Luther's ideas to Finland in the 16th century and who also did the first translations of the Bible into Finnish. The church is early Functionalist in design and the spire (which stands at 97 meters tall) is retractable. The church is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 to 15:00 and Fridays 9:00-14:00.

The main church in the Kallio district and the tallest point in the neighborhood, the Kallio Church, built in 1912 and designed by Lars Sonck. Even though this church shares its architect with the Mikael Agricola Church, the design is of its period with strong National Romantic influences and goes to show the versatility of the architect. It is rumored that from the top of the bell tower it is possible to see Estonia on a clear day and the choral piece (written by Sibelius) chimes at 12:00 and 18:00 each day making it the most played song in public in Finland. The church is open 7:00-21:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00-19:00 on Saturday and Sunday, free entry.

This church is located in the Alppila neighbourhood, right by the Linnanmäki amusement park. The chuch was built in 1957 and is in a functionalist style, similar to the Olympic Stadium which isn't too far away. This church isn't usually visited by tourists meaning it is very off the radar. However, this means it has very irregular opening hours to the public, so I would recommend you have something else planned to visit in the area in case it is closed to the public.

One of the top 3 most famous and must see churches in Helsinki and unique in its design. The plans for this church originate in the 1930s, however it wasn't completed until 1969 under the supervision of Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. The church is literally dug into a large piece of granite and you can see the drill marks on the inside of the church. The granite provides excellent natural acoustics and the church is popular for events and concerts. It also features a copper 'floating' dome which has miles of copper wrapped around it, giving a warmth to the church's interior. This church has an entrance fee of €8 and free entry for Helsinki Card holders, Museum card holders, Helsinki City Pass holders and under-18s. Normal opening hours are from Monday-Saturday 10:00-16:50 (last entry) and Sunday 12-16:50 (last entry) however these may vary due to concerts and religious events.

Located not too far from the Rock Church, this Swedish-speaking church built in the 1932 is a great example of early functionalism. This church is open to the public during religious services and with prior agreement. Check their website for details or just pop over and try your luck!

Unlike many of the other churches on this list, the Kristuskyrkan is unique in that it is Methodist and Swedish-speaking. The design is interesting as it is predominantly made of bricks while having neo-gothic touches in its window and entrance shape, very unusual for 1928. The vestibule has a wonderful fresco designed by Carl August Henry Ericsson as well as small rose window and an impressive organ. Opening hours have not been published as of 2024, so you might want to contact the church directly to arrange a visit.

Located in between Taka-Töölö, this Lutheran church is interesting in that it is an example of a Nordic Classicism style church, designed in the 1920s and completed in 1930. It features many art pieces and an incomplete sketch on the altar wall which was done by Carl August Henry Ericsson, the same person who did the fresco in the Kristuskyrkan Methodist church. Tragically, Ericsson was killed in a car crash before he could complete the work, thus leaving it incomplete. This church is open to the public during religious services and prior arrangement.

This Russian Orthodox Church is located within the Hietaniemi Graveyard, not too far from Kamppi. It is a Russian-speaking church and is very small in its size with interior feeling more like a house than a church but this gives the temple a homely feel. Visits have to be coordinated with the church authorities, check their website for details.

Helsinki's oldest synagogue built at the beginning of the 20th century for the small, but present community of Jewish traders in Helsinki. The design of the synagogue is reminiscant of 19th centruy European synagogues with rounded arches, 3 floors and tall dome. To quote the synagogue itself: "The wall facing Jerusalem at the end of the central aisle is a vault (apsis), painted bright blue and decorated with golden stars. The vault contains a cabinet, the holy ark or Aron Hakodesh, covered with an embroidered curtain. The cabinet houses the Torah scrolls, the texts of Five Books of Moses. The sculptures depicting lions, other animals, and plants in a decorative folk art style that surround the cabinet were, according to tradition, brought from the first prayer room in Finland, which was at Suomenlinna Fortress. On the arch above the ark are sculptures of two lions carrying the Tablets of the Law, which are surrounded by Classical acanthus leaves and rose decorations. In front of the vault is a reader’s pulpit. Underneath the cupola in the middle of the hall on a raised platform is the reading table, the bimah, above which hangs a big chandelier. The interiors are preserved exceptionally well except for the balcony railings, which, however, have now been restored back to their original look. When the congregation centre was built in 1961, the main entrance of the synagogue was moved to the side wall." Entrance is only permitted to those of Jewish decent or those who have been invited by a member of the congregation. Contact the synagogue authorities for more information.

This Islamic Center and Mosque was founded by descendants of the first Muslims to settle in Finland who came in the 19th century and early 20th century from Russia and Crimea. The building itself is located in Punavuori and is from the 1960s. It is not an architectural masterpiece, but the presence of the Finnish Islamic Society is a nod to the small Muslim population that has lived in Finland for over 150 years and the cultural changes during the Russian period in Finland. Visits need to be scheduled by with the relevant Mosque authorities.