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Located in Southern Finland, Helsinki is a city many have heard of but few visit. Helsinki is the starting point for many winter adventures. People quickly pass through this Southern city on the way to Finnish Lapland for epic adventures like dog sledding and visiting reindeer farms. But the city of Helsinki shouldn’t be skipped. There is so much to see in Helsinki that any trip to Finland should include at least a few days exploring Helsinki.
Helsinki is a very compact city with most sights in the city center easy to visit within a day or two. I would recommend at least 2 days to really soak in what the city has to offer. After that, hop on a train or plane and head North to explore more of the lush landscape that Finland has to offer.
Top 10 Things to See in Helsinki
Helsinki Cathedral
The Helsinki Cathedral is the most iconic landmark of Helsinki. This cathedral stands atop a hill in the city center and towers of the city below. It can be seen from many different parts of the city and from island in the archipelago. Adorned with green domes, the Helsinki Cathedral both blends in with Finland’s lush green forests and white snow covered winter landscape, but also stands out among the red brick buildings throughout Helsinki city. Walking through the Senate Square is the best way to see the Helsinki Cathedral from the ground. A climb up the 43 stairs in front of the cathedral will bring you to the entrance with a great view of the city behind you. The Helsinki Cathedral is free to enter and worth spending a bit of time walking through.
Vanha Kauppahalli Market
Located next to the Helsinki harbor, the Vanha Kauppahalli Market, or Old Town Market in English, is the perfect place to get an introduction to Finnish cuisine. The market is filled with stalls selling a variety of foods, many of which offer samples. I opted to try Finnish bread cheese dipped in both cloudberry jam and dipped in coffee (which I also bought from a coffee stand inside the market), reindeer salami on toast, minced bear on toast, and reindeer jerky from different stalls throughout the market. Additional vendors selling sit down meals, wine, and local fish could also be found throughout the market.
Outside the market were additional stalls selling full meals and souvenirs. Out here I tried a reindeer hot dog, moose meatballs, and salmon soup. I also found all of my souvenirs for the trip, all in one place!
Uspenski Cathedral
Located a short walk from the Old Town Market on the island of Katajanokka is the Uspenski Cathedral. This landmark is drastically different from the iconic Helsinki Cathedral. The Uspenski Cathedral is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral’s in Western Europe. Like the Helsinki Cathedral, the Uspenski Cathedral is topped with green domes and sits atop a hill overlooking the city. Admission into the cathedral is free.
Helsinki Central Train Station
The Helsinki Central Train Station is centrally located in downtown Helsinki. On the outside of the train station are statues of 4 men holding lanterns. These men are carved from huge granite statues and help light up the train station at night, and are very impressive to see. If you plan to take a trip to other parts of Finland or spend a day in a neighboring town, you’ll must likely find your self at the train station to catch a train.
Visit a Museum
Helsinki has so many museums. Before visiting I had not idea just how many museums were spread throughout the city. I opted to visit the Finnish Design Museum. There are many art museums throughout the city like Amos Rex or the Museum of Contemporary Art. On a rainy or gloomy day, having many museum options is a great way to get out of the cold for a few hours as the storm passes.
Cafe Regatta
This charming cafe sits right on the water in the Taka-Toolo neighborhood of Helsinki. It’s the perfect place to relax with a drink after a day of exploring. The cafe is small inside with just a few tables, but outside the cafe is set up for plenty of guests. There are various sitting areas with fire pits to keep warm. You can even buy hot dogs from the cafe and roast them yourself over the fire pits. The cafe sells delicious baked treats like Finnish cinnamon buns and has elaborate hot chocolate to drink. I opted for a mint hot chocolate with whipped cream and rainbow marshmallows and it was delicious! Along with food and drinks, the cafe also rents out canoes in the summer to paddle around the near by water.
Sibelius Monumentti
Also in the Taka-Toolo neighborhood, the Sibelius Monument stands in Sibelius Park a short walk from Cafe Regatta. The monument is dedicated to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The monument is made up of over 600 hollow pipes. It’s a fun spot to walk around, admire the hollow pipes, and even stick your head into and listen to the echo!
Suomenlinna Island
Suomenlinna Island is one of the best things to see in Helsinki. The island is a short ferry ride from the Old Town Market in Helsinki. The island contains an old fortress and is a great place to learn about Finnish history. Built in 1748, the fortress has been used to protect Helsinki from various neighboring countries like Sweden and Russia. The fortress has also been controlled by other countries like Sweden and Russia prior to Finland’s independence in 1973. Now, the island has ruins and museums open tot he public to come learn about the island’s past. There are also several beaches on the island and green spaces perfect for a summer escape from Helsinki to enjoy the island’s water and nature.
Boat around the canals
Helsinki is an archipelago made up of over 300 islands. With so many islands, the best way to see the area is by boat. Taking a boat tour of the Helsinki archipelago or Helsinki canals is the best way to see the abundance of islands that make up the city. There are a variety of boat tours available the visit different places and take different amounts of time. Use Get Your Guide or Tripadvisor to see what’s offered and book the best tour!
Try Local Finnish Foods
Trying local cuisines is always one of my favorite must do activities anytime I visit a new country. Eating is a great way to learn about the area and culture. In Helsinki, there are plenty of options for sampling local cuisines. The Old Town Market is a great place to find local foods to sample. For dinner, Helsinki has numerous restaurants serving only local foods like reindeer roasts and locally grown produce. A few must try foods while in Helsinki include: salmon soup, fresh seafood, reindeer, bear, boar, pastries, cloudberry, and bread cheese.
