Interesting Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Helsinki

September 1, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 3165 Views

Helsinki, also known as Hersingfors, is the capital of Finland. Helsinki has been nicknamed Daughter of the Baltic. The city was originally founded in the year 1550 by King Gustav I. Earlier it was occupied by Tavastians till the 13th century. You will find revenants of their civilization at several places to visit in Helsinki. The National Museum of Finland is the best Helsinki tourist attraction to learn about this period of the regions history. During the second crusade, Tavastians were defeated by crusaders who occupied the region. There are still things to see in Helsinki pertaining to the invasion. The city is rebuilt 1812 by Russian Tsars. It has since been the capital of Finalnd since then. Helsinki was intended to be an imitation of St. Petersburg of Russia. You can also enjoy cultural aspects of Finland during Helsinki sightseeing including art, crafts, dance, music, food, festivals and so on. There are numerous art galleries and art museums among places to see in Helsinki. The city is also renowned for its architecture. The Congress building, National Museum, Kallion Kirko Church, Pohjola Insurance Building, Finnish National Theatre, and Kansanvaistusseura Foundation are all popular Helsinki sights to admire architecture.

The city is surrounded by several small and large islands close to the port in Gulf of Finland. You will be able to get ferry rides for many fun things to do in Helsinki, Finland. Suomenlinna Island is among Helsinki top attractions. The island is a beautiful Helsinki sight by itself, but there are more treasures to explore on the island. The biggest Helsinki tourist attraction to visit on the island is Suomenlinna Fortress. This used to be one of the most dominating presence along the shores of Baltic. The star shaped fortress is best place to begin Helsinki sightseeing on the island. Other Helsinki attractions on Suomenlinna include a museum built in a submarine called Veskiko, Military Museum of Manes, and Suomenlinna Church.

The city is located at the southern end of Finland right opposite to Tallinn of Estonia. It is one of the important ports of Finland, you can visit Helsinki directly from Tallinn, St. Petersburg, and Stockholm. These cities are close enough to consider Helsinki day trips as well. You will be able to enjoy several top things to do in Helsinki, Finland even in a days time. Many of Helsinki attractions are located close to the port. You can also enjoy many best things to do in Helsinki in winter close to the port. Being a coastal city in northern part of Europe, the weather is pretty interesting for Helsinki travel in winter months. You will get to see a few Helsinki sights which are exclusive to winter season in coastal areas and at the island. One of the popular adventurous and fun things to do in Helsinki in winter is enjoy ice covered beaches and taking a dip in ice-cold water. You should not engage in this activity if you haven’t done it before at other places. The water can be dangerously cold. Other best things to do in Helsinki in winter include ice skating and cross-country skiing.

You would need several days to enjoy top things to do in Helsinki, Finland. If you have both time and money at your hand you can combine tour of Tallinn in Estonia, St. Petersburg in Russia, and Stockholm in Sweden along with Helsinki travel.

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Table of Contents

A Complete 2 Days Trip Itinerary for Helsinki Tourist Attractions

There are numerous things to do in Helsinki, but if you are there for limited time, these are the most popular places to explore.

Day 1

1. Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma

This museum houses Finnish National Gallery’s collection of Contemporary Art. This building itself is considered a wonderful modern architectural marvel. You will need 2 hours to explore the various works of contemporary arts exhibited here.

2. The Parliament House (Eduskuntatalo)

This building was built in 1931 and is especially known for its pink granite exterior structure. You should check out the library and visitor’s center inside this building while exploring it. The entire tour would take about 30 to 45 minutes.

3. The National Museum of Finland (Kansallismuseo)

The national museum is one of the most important places to visit in Helsinki. The museum covers the history, culture and traditions of the land and the various people who lived here. You will need at least 2 hours for Finnish National Museum.

4. Temppeliaukio Church (Temppeliaukion kirkko)

This church is one of the most interesting Helsinki tourist attractions. The church was built from a wall of rocks. It was designed by Timo Suomalainen and Tuomo Suomalainen. You will need 20 to 30 minutes for this church.

I suggest you should get your entry ticket of Temppeliaukio Church in advance.

5. Hietaniemi Cemetery (Hietaniemen hautausmaa)

This place is both a historical tourist attraction as well as a leisure spot for locals and tourists who visit Helsinki. The cemetery is situated inside a huge park and sits close to the beach. You should keep aside an hour for this destination during Helsinki travel.

6. Sibelius Park and Monument

The park is named after renowned Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. One of the biggest Helsinki attractions, known as the Sibelius Monument, is also a part of this park. You will need an hour to explore this park.

7. Mannerneimintie Street

This street is popular among tourists for Helsinki sightseeing as there are many buildings and structures of historical significance along this route. It is a great road to take for a long walk when you visit Helsinki. You will need about an hour to explore it.

Day 2

1. Ateneum Art Museum

This museum is the most important Helsinki attraction for Finnish Art. You will get to see numerous sculptures, paintings, artifacts and other exhibits from different time periods while exploring this art museum. You will need a couple of hours for Ateneum.

2. Helsinki Cathedral (Helsingin tuomiokirkko)

This cathedral is one of the most significant landmarks in the city. Built with Neo-Classical style of architecture, it is a fascinating structure to explore among Helsinki tourist attractions. You will need about an hour for this cathedral.

3. Senate Square (Senaatintori)

Situated close to Helsinki Cathedral, this square is among the oldest parts of the city. You would need about 30 minutes for this square and to see various historical and cultural landmarks around it.

4. Upenski Orthodox Cathedral (Uspenskin katedraali)

This is the largest orthodox church in all of Europe. The architecture of this cathedral shows influence of Russian design elements in its facade as well as interiors. You would need 30 to 45 minutes to admire various aspects of Upensku Cathedral.

5. Market Square (Kauppatori)

As the name suggests, this square is home to a huge market, the largest one in the city. It is popular for shopping, street food, local delicacies and several other food related things to do in Helsinki. You will need about an hour for the Market Square.

6. Suomenlinna Island

This island is among the most popular places to visit in Helsinki. The Castle of Finland, which is one of the biggest Helsinki attractions, is also situated on this island. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore and enjoy the various offering of this island.

I suggest you should book a guided tour of Suomenlinna Island.

If you plan to visit Helsinki for more than 2 days, do check our exhaustive list of all the places to visit and things to do in Helsinki in the section below.

Things to do in Helsinki

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Museum
Suomenlinna Fortress
Temppeliaukion Church
Helsinki Cathedral
Uspenki Cathedral
Museum of Contemporary Art
Ateneum Art Museum
National Museum of Finland
Seurasaari Open Air Museum
Design Museum
Kamppi Chapel
Amos Rex Contemporary Art Museum
Parliament House
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Helsinki City Museum
Sinebrychoff Art Museum
Finnish National Gallery
Finnish Museum of Natural History
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Finnish National Opera & Ballet
Alvar Aalto House Museum
Museum of Finnish Architecture
Mannerheim Museum
President’s Palace
Kallion Kirkko Church
St. John’s Church
Gallen Kallela Museum
Didrichsen Art Museum
Military Museum of Manes
Hietaniemi Cemetary
Submarine Vesikko Museum
Aviation Museum
Vanha Kirko
Nayttelykeskus WeeGee Museum
Kunsthalle Museum
Porvoo Cathedral
Finnish Museum of Photography
Studio Aalto Architecture Museum
Suomenlinna Church
Sederholm House
Suomenlinna Museum
Helsinki Tram Museum
Three Smiths Statue
Church of St. Lawrence

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Helsinki

Sipoonkorpi National Park
Kuusijarvi
Lammasaari Nature Reserve
Uutela Forest
Liesjarvi National Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Helsinki

Linnanmaki Amusement Park
Helsinki Zoo
Korkeasaari Zoo
Sky Wheel Helsinki
Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden
Heureka Science Center
Sea Life Helsinki Aquarium
Allas Sea Pool
Yrjonkatu Swimming Hall
Flamingo Entertainment Center
Helsinki City Hall
South Harbour
Helsinki Casino
Fazer Visitor Experience Center
Kaapelitehdas Cultural Center
Helsinki Winter Garden
Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki
Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo Art Center
West Harbour
Finnish National Theatre

Shopping in Helsinki

Market Square
Hakaniemi Market
Flamingo Entertainment Center
Hietalahti Flea Market
Galleria Esplanad
Kammppi Shopping Mall
Kluuvi Shopping Mall
Itakeskus Shopping Mall
Stockmann Mall
Sokos Department Store
Forum Shopping Center
Old Market Hall
Aleksi 13
Itis Shopping Center
Verkkokauppa.com Store

Beaches & Islands in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Island
Seurasaari Island
Vallisaari Island
Hietaranta Beach
Toolo Bay
Pihlajasaari Beach
Lauttasaari Island
Lonna Island
Issosaari Island
Kuninkaansaari Island
Jatkasaari Island
Mustikkamaa Island
Laajasalo Island
Pihlajasaari Beach
Kulosaari Island
Norra Ungsholmen

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Helsinki

Ice Skating
Cross Country Skiing
Suomen Latury Skiing School
Pirkkola Sports Park
Paloheina Ski Park
Herttoniemi Sports Park
Brahenkentta Ice Skating Field
Helsinki Ice Park
Paddle boarding

Sightseeing in Helsinki

Sibelius Monument
Senate Square
Esplanadi Park
Korkeasaaren Elaintarha Island
Kaivopuisto Park
Havis Amanda Statue
Sibelius Park
Rautatientori City Square
Central Park
Kaisaniemi Park
Hesperia Park
Haaga Rhododendron Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Helsinki

Shelter
Fleuriste
Fisken pa Disken
Cafe Ekberg
Juuri
Fazer Cafe
Meripaviljonki
Olutravintola Pikkulintu
B-Smokery
Roastery Coffee Bar
Gastro Kallio
Skiffer Liuskaluoto
Naughty BRGR
Lentava Lehma
Muru
Putte’s Bar & Pizza
Wild Cafe
Gron
Saslik
Vorschmack
Vinkkeli
Baskeri & Basso Bistro
Story Cafe
Sapas

Where to Stay in Helsinki?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Helsinki. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Helsinki.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Helsinki

How to Reach Helsinki?

By Air

The best option for Helsinki travel is located 18 kms north of the city. Helsinki Vantaa International Airport. You can get direct flights to visit Helsinki from several major European cities and a few cities in Asia and Middle East. You do get several transport options to travel to Helsinki from the airport. The cheapest options are public buses and trains to reach the places to visit in Helsinki. Train takes about half an hour to reach the city, you will find more info about the train in any Helsinki travel guide. During day time, trains run every 10 minutes to visit Helsinki. Though night schedule is quite dicey. You will find a kiosk at the station to buy ticket for Helsinki travel.

If you are choose bus to visit Helsinki from the airport, it will take about 40 minutes to reach the city. You can purchase the ticket of public buses from bus driver for Helsinki travel. If you are looking to go directly to Helsinki tourist attractions, you will have to get a cab from the airport. The bus also gives you opportunity for Helsinki sightseeing along the route. Cab on the other hand give more freedom of movement, but they are expensive at the same time.

By Road

Train network in Finland is quite efficient. You will easily get direct trains to visit Helsinki from all major cities from Finland. You can also get connecting trains for Helsinki travel from Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.

Bus travel is little more widespread, albeit more time consuming for places to visit in Helsinki. You can get a direct bus for best things to do in Helsinki, Finland from major cities of the country. You also get bus from St. Petersburg to visit Helsinki.

Being the capital of Finland, you can enjoy several routes to visit Helsinki. Some of the major routes for Helsinki travel are E18, E75, and E12. Route E18 connects places to visit in Helsinki directly to St. Petersburg in Finland. The Russian city is popular for Helsinki day trips and vice versa.

By Water

Helsinki is one of the biggest ports of Finland. There are several ferries connecting Helsinki tourist attractions with various cities with ports facing the Baltic Sea. You can get ferries for Helsinki travel across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn and St. Petersburg. You can also visit Helsinki via ferry from Stockholm, Travemunde, Rostock, Gdynia, and St. Petersburg. One great aspect about ferry rides to visit Finland is that you can begin Helsinki sightseeing even before arrival. The harbor itself is one of the biggest Helsinki tourist attractions. The harbor is also included among Helsinki travel guide of many small and large cruise ships traversing the Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea. You will be able to make Helsinki day trips with several cruise tours. Majority of them would also include Helsinki travel guide on board.

Image Reference

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma – Angelo Giordano / PixaBay
The Parliament House (Eduskuntatalo) – Melinda van den Brink / Flickr
The National Museum of Finland (Kansallismuseo) – Hans Permana / Flickr
Temppeliaukio Church (Temppeliaukion kirkko) – James Diewald / Flickr
Hietaniemi Cemetery (Hietaniemen hautausmaa) – Rob Hurson / Flickr
Sibelius Park and Monument – AI Leino / PixaBay
Mannerneimintie Street – Marit Henriksson / Wikimedia Commons
Ateneum Art Museum – Ted McGrath / Flickr
Helsinki Cathedral (Helsingin tuomiokirkko) – Tapio Haaja / PixaBay
Senate Square (Senaatintori) – Richard Mortel / Flickr
Upenski Orthodox Cathedral (Uspenskin katedraali) – Nord-bei-Nordost / PixaBay
Market Square (Kauppatori) – A.Davey / Flickr
Suomenlinna Island – Jori Samonen / PixaBay