20 Best Things to Do in Helsinki, Finland (2026)

We spent a full month living in Helsinki as a family, which gave us time to experience the city quite differently than we would have during a quick weekend visit (though my brother and sister-in-law came for a few days, so we tested a “What To See in a Weekend” in Helsinki itinerary, too).

We visited plenty of landmarks, explored museums and libraries, took ferries to nearby islands, tried a traditional Finnish sauna, rode roller coasters, ate some delicious local food, and discovered a few quirky hidden gems.

Helsinki is not a city that overwhelms you with famous attractions.

It doesn’t have Vienna’s endless procession of palaces or Munich’s beer halls and monumental squares. Helsinki is… quieter and more understated.

Helsinki also is an extremely easy city to explore with kids in tow. Public transportation is excellent, the city center is compact, playgrounds are everywhere (literally), and a lot of Helsinki’s best museums, libraries and public spaces are free.

This guide pulls together our favourite things to do in Helsinki, along with practical tips, family-friendly attractions, free activities, hidden gems and an easy international day trip.

For more photographs and details, I’ve written separately about:

Okay, let’s jump in!

Best Things to Do in Helsinki at a Glance

Best overall attraction: Suomenlinna

Stairs and ladders leading from Löyly sauna into the Baltic Sea

Aito outdoor sauna and wooden terrace at Löyly Helsinki

Best uniquely Finnish experience: Löyly sauna

Best free attractions: The National Library of Finland, Oodi Central Library, and the Winter Garden

Best things to do with kids: Linnanmäki, Linnanmäki, Linnanmäki…

Best hidden gems: The National Library, Winter Garden, and the roof of Amos Rex

Best place for coffee: Café Regatta

Best half-day outing: Suomenlinna

Best day trip: Tallinn, Estonia

My favourite Helsinki experience: Hearing Finlandia performed inside the Rock Church

How Many Days Do You Need in Helsinki?

I’d recommend spending at least three full days in Helsinki.

With two days, you can explore the city center and devote half a day to Suomenlinna. Three or four days will give you time to add a sauna visit and a museum without rushing from one place to another.

With five days, you could also visit Seurasaari (a beloved open-air museum), spend a day at Linnanmäki, and take a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia.

We spent a month in Helsinki and appreciated being able to explore it slowly. Helsinki is definitely well suited to relaxed travel.

Must-See Helsinki Landmarks

Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square

Helsinki Cathedral is the landmark most people associate with Helsinki.

The enormous white cathedral sits above Senate Square. It’s one of the most recognizable views in all of Finland and an obvious place to begin a Helsinki itinerary.

The cathedral’s interior is comparatively low-key, especially if you’ve seen lavish Catholic churches in Central Europe. Still, it’s worth stepping inside when it is open.

Senate Square is also within easy walking distance of several other attractions, including the National Library of Finland (literally across the street), Helsinki City Museum (a 3-minute walk), and Uspenski Cathedral (a 10-minute walk).

Our tip: Stand near the bottom of Senate Square to photograph the full cathedral, then climb the steps for a different perspective over the square.

There’s also an optical illusion of sorts where it looks like a solid wall from certain angles below AND looks like a sheer drop from certain angles at the top.

Uspenski Cathedral

A short walk from Market Square brings you to Uspenski Cathedral.

This red-brick Orthodox cathedral looks completely different from Helsinki Cathedral. Opening hours can be limited by services and special events.

Even when the building is closed, the surrounding terrace offers great views over the harbour and central Helsinki.

Finnish salmon soup with potatoes and dill beside the Helsinki waterfront. — I really enjoyed my traditional salmon soup from a stall in Kauppatori.

Helsinki Market Square

Helsinki’s waterfront Market Square—usually called Kauppatori—is one of the liveliest places to visit.

Depending on the season, vendors sell berries, vegetables, baked goods, fish, hot meals, souvenirs and traditional Finnish products.

It’s also a transportation hub. Ferries to Suomenlinna and other local islands leave from this general area.

Market Square is admittedly touristy, but the waterfront setting makes it worth visiting. We enjoyed walking through, looking at the food stalls and watching ferries come and go.

Tip: Keep an eye on your food. Helsinki’s seagulls are ambitious creatures with no respect for personal property!!

Old Market Hall

Just beyond Market Square, the Old Market Hall offers an indoor alternative for sampling Finnish food.

There are stalls selling fish, bread, cheese, meat, pastries, soup and prepared meals. (You can also get things like reindeer jerky and caviar.) Prices are not especially low, but it’s an atmospheric place to explore—particularly on a rainy or cold day.

The Old Market Hall isn’t very big so you don’t need to set aside a big block of time. (It fits naturally into a walking route that includes Market Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Uspenski Cathedral.)

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

If you only have time for one major Helsinki attraction, I’d suggest Suomenlinna.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site occupies a group of islands just offshore from central Helsinki. Construction of the sea fortress began in the eighteenth century, and the islands have been controlled by Sweden, Russia, and Finland.

Suomenlinna is a mixture of fortress walls, military buildings, museums, private houses (there’s even a public library and a school!), restaurants, walking trails, and tons of waterfront views.

Oh, and there’s a submarine!!

The ferry ride from Market Square takes about 15 minutes and is part of Helsinki’s public transportation system. (A valid HSL ticket for the correct zones includes the Suomenlinna ferry.)

It’s free to walk around the islands, though most of the museums and special attractions charge admission.

Our kids really enjoyed exploring various stone tunnels. A phone flashlight is useful, and closed-toe shoes are also a good choice!

Allow at least half a day. Suomenlinna is a lot bigger than I thought it would be and you’ll enjoy the outing more if you’re not rushing.

The islands can also be noticeably colder and windier than central Helsinki. Bring an extra layer, even when the mainland feels comfortable. I was COLD both times.

You can see lots more photos and practical details in my complete post about visiting Suomenlinna with kids.

Temppeliaukio Church—or the Rock Church

Temppeliaukio Church is one of Helsinki’s most… unusual buildings.

Better known as the Rock Church, it was excavated directly into solid rock. Natural stone walls surround a circular interior capped by a giant copper-lined dome.

Tourists have to pay to enter, though worship services are free (but ONLY in Finnish and no photography is allowed during services) and some concerts or public events can provide other cool opportunities to experience the building.

We attended two free musical recitals inside the church and heard Finlandia performed live. It was one of my favourite experiences while in Helsinki!! (The kids wouldn’t agree with this; mileage on classical music with kids will vary!)

The church’s acoustics are a major part of its appeal, so check the official Rock Church website for concerts and opening hours before your visit.

Best Things to Do in Helsinki with Kids

Oodi Central Library

Oodi is technically a library, but calling it “just a library” feels wildly inadequate.

This enormous building functions as Helsinki’s “public living room”. In addition to books, Oodi has recording studios, gaming rooms, musical instruments, sewing machines, workspaces, meeting rooms, 3-D printers, and all sorts of equipment for creative projects.

The children’s area is huge (it even has a microwave for warming up your own food and tables for eating), and the upper floor has comfortable seating, giant windows and an outdoor terrace overlooking central Helsinki.

If you don’t want to bring your own food, there’s also a cafe and restaurant.

We went to Oodi multiple times during our month in the city. Even if you rarely visit libraries, you should put Oodi on your Helsinki itinerary.

Helsinki City Museum and Children’s Town

Helsinki City Museum is right beside Senate Square and is always free. (I got a special kick out of the “stroller parking.”)

The museum explores Helsinki’s history through photographs, everyday objects and recreated spaces. It’s not very big, making it an easy addition to a day in the downtown core.

Families should head to Children’s Town, an interactive section of the museum where kids can explore historical rooms, play shop and imagine daily life in Helsinki during earlier generations.

The activities skew younger, but Indy still found some things to enjoy.

Because admission is free and the location is convenient, there’s no real downside to stopping in—even if you only stay for a few minutes.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park

Linnanmäki is Helsinki’s amusement park and one of our family’s favourite things from the entire time we spent in Europe.

The park is compact but packed with rides, ranging from little attractions for young kids to serious roller coasters.

Taiga, a high-speed launch coaster, was the undisputed favourite for our family. (It’s been ranked in the Top Ten coasters in the world!)

We visited Linnanmäki more than once and tried different ticket options. Current admission and ride-ticket policies can change from year to year, so check the official website before deciding whether individual ride tickets or wristbands make the most sense.

Linnanmäki is operated by a nonprofit foundation that raises money for child-welfare work, which is a lovely bonus.

You can read more about the rides, atmosphere, and our ticket strategy in my full post about visiting Linnanmäki Amusement Park.

Helsinki Tram Museum

The Helsinki Tram Museum is small, free and surprisingly delightful. I wasn’t expecting much, but we all had a lot of fun.

The museum contains quite a few historic trams, with some of them open for visitors to climb aboard. Kids can explore the interiors, sit in the driver’s seat and experiment with interactive controls. And my kiddos did just that!

You will not need hours here. We combined the museum with Café Regatta and the Sibelius Monument, creating an easy half-day outing.

Because it’s free, it’s particularly useful for families who want a low-pressure indoor activity.

Our complete route is in this post about Café Regatta, the Sibelius Monument and Helsinki Tram Museum.

Climb on the Roof of Amos Rex

Amos Rex is a contemporary art museum beneath Lasipalatsi Square.

Even without going inside the museum, you can enjoy one of Helsinki’s quirkiest public spaces: the bubbling, lunar-looking roof of the underground galleries.

The large curved mounds have windows and chimneys emerging from them, and visitors are encouraged to walk and climb across the unusual landscape. (Apparently, this space is popular with skateboarders, though I never saw any using it when we were around…)

Indy loved it.

The roof is free to explore, centrally located and a short walk from Oodi. It’s a fun photography stop and an excellent place to release some energy between more traditional attractions.

Check the Amos Rex website for current exhibitions and admission information if you want to go inside the museum.

Helsinki’s Best Libraries and Museums

The National Library of Finland

The National Library of Finland is directly across from Helsinki Cathedral—and I think it’s one of the city’s most beautiful interiors.

The library’s elegant reading rooms, columns, painted ceilings and enormous bookcases feel more like a palace than a public building.

It is free to enter, though visitors may need to leave coats and bags in the designated storage area.

Despite its central location, the National Library doesn’t seem to show up on most tourist itineraries. It was one of my favourite Helsinki discoveries and it’s an easy addition to a visit to Senate Square.

(This is a working research library, so the ambiance is quiet.)

Helsinki University Library

Helsinki University Library is another gorgeous public building, though its appeal is very different.

The interior has sweeping white staircases, curved balconies and a large oval opening connecting several floors.

It is conveniently located in the city center and free to enter. It was packed with university students, but I found an empty table and enjoyed reading my book for a while.

Bonus tip: The top floor balcony gives great views of Helsinki Cathedral.

I would prioritize the National Library and Oodi over this library, but architecture lovers might enjoy adding this stop.

You can see more pictures from both buildings in my post about visiting the National Library of Finland and Helsinki University Library.

Other Helsinki Museums We Visited

We visited HAM Helsinki Art Museum during a free-admission Friday. Part of the museum was closed during our visit, so the exhibits were limited, but still interesting.

There were some interactive options, too (and not just for kids… I thought the self-portrait section was so much fun as an adult)!

John and I visited the Architecture and Design Museum during a free evening and saw an exhibit related to the Moomins.

These can be worthwhile additions, particularly in poor weather, but I’d check current exhibitions before building an itinerary around either museum.

Best Free Things to Do in Helsinki

Helsinki can be expensive, but many of its best attractions are free.

Our favourite free things to do included:

Helsinki Cathedral
The National Library of Finland
Oodi Central Library
Helsinki City Museum and Children’s Town (the latter is best suited to kids under 10)
Helsinki Tram Museum
The roof of Amos Rex
Helsinki Winter Garden
Walking around Seurasaari Island
The Sibelius Monument
Exploring Senate Square and the waterfront
Visiting Helsinki’s parks and playgrounds

Suomenlinna is also free to explore once you’ve activated a valid transportation ticket for the ferry.

Parks, Islands and Helsinki Hidden Gems

Helsinki Winter Garden

Helsinki Winter Garden is a free historic greenhouse filled with tropical plants, flowers and some really beautiful (but simple) water features.

The glass building dates to the nineteenth century and contains several connected rooms, along with fountains, seating areas and a koi pond (Indy’s favourite).

Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, making it a great spot for a picnic when Helsinki’s weather is uncooperative!

There’s no cafe inside, so pick up coffee or pastries beforehand. We saw people there drinking prosecco!!

The Winter Garden isn’t very big, but it’s peaceful, warm (I would love it in the winter), and very photogenic. You can see lots more about it in my detailed post about Helsinki Winter Garden.

Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum

Seurasaari offers a combination of nature, walking trails and Finnish history.

The island is connected to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge and is free to explore throughout the year. Historic buildings from different regions of Finland have been relocated to the island, creating an open-air museum.

Admission is charged to enter the museum buildings during its operating season, but visitors can walk around the island and see the exteriors for free. (That’s what we did.)

Bicycles are not allowed on the island, though strollers are permitted.

Seurasaari is a great choice when you want to escape the city without travelling far. Read more about our visit to Seurasaari Open-Air Museum.

Sibelius Monument

The Sibelius Monument honours Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

The sculpture is made from more than 600 hollow steel pipes arranged in a wave-like formation. It is enormous, a bit strange looking, and very quirky.

People can walk underneath the pipes and hear the sounds created when wind moves through the structure.

The monument sits in Sibelius Park, not far from Café Regatta and right beside a very fun music-themed playground. Combining all three makes the journey from the city center more worthwhile. (And the free Tram Museum is nearby, too.)

Café Regatta

Café Regatta is one of Helsinki’s most charming places to stop for coffee.

It’s inside a tiny red wooden cottage beside the water. The interior is incredibly small and packed with decorations, but most visitors sit outside around the tables and fire pit. (On a cold day, expect a wait for indoor seating.)

Coffee is cheap but simple (no fancy options); hot chocolate was NOT cheap but the experience was memorable. You can also buy food to cook over the outdoor fire.

You can see the complete outing in my post about Café Regatta, the Sibelius Monument and Helsinki Tram Museum.

Walk Along Huvilakatu

Huvilakatu is a residential street lined with colourful Art Nouveau houses.

The pastel buildings make it one of Helsinki’s prettiest streets and a popular photography location.

This isn’t a major attraction and doesn’t require a dedicated trip across the city. I’d only stop by if you happen to be in the area.

Also, this is a residential street: cars will be parked in front of the houses and people live inside them!

We followed our walk along Huvilakatu with time near the waterfront, where we found parks, walking paths and playgrounds.

Have a Traditional Finnish Sauna Experience

Aito sauna door on the waterfront deck at Löyly Helsinki

Rain showers in the communal shower area at Löyly Helsinki

Visit Löyly

Saunas are an important part of Finnish culture, so it felt appropriate to include at least one traditional sauna experience during our month in Helsinki.

Belle and I booked a session at Löyly, a modern sauna complex beside the Baltic Sea.

The public sauna area is mixed-gender, and bathing suits are required (if you don’t bring your own, you’ll have to rent one). Guests can move between different saunas and cool down outside… or take an invigorating dip in the sea.

I use “invigorating” because it sounds more appealing than “shockingly cold.” IT WAS SO COLD. And this was May!

The building also has a restaurant and large waterfront terraces.

Public sessions can sell out, especially during busy travel periods and on weekends, so reserve in advance and check current instructions regarding towels, swimsuits and session length (usually a two-hour maximum).

You can read all the details in my post about visiting Löyly, Helsinki’s iconic sauna.

What to Eat in Helsinki

Finnish food may not be as internationally famous as Italian or French cuisine, but we enjoyed trying local foods throughout our stay.

Finnish blueberry pie with wild blueberries from Old Market Hall in Helsinki.

Things to look for include:

Cinnamon buns
Cardamom buns
Blueberry pie
Salmon soup
Rye bread
Reindeer
Finnish chocolate
Salmiakki, or salty liquorice (disgusting, in my opinion, but beloved by most Finns)
Coffee—Finland takes coffee consumption very seriously

We sampled pastries and traditional foods at Market Square, the Old Market Hall and local bakeries.

Finnish funnel cake from Ekberg Bakery in Helsinki.

Ekberg, which dates to the nineteenth century, is a lovely traditional bakery and cafe. It is a good place to sit down for coffee and a pastry if your Helsinki itinerary needs a pause.

Best Day Trip from Helsinki

Take the Ferry to Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is a very easy international day trip from Helsinki.

Ferries cross the Gulf of Finland throughout the day, and the trip takes about two hours in each direction.

Tallinn’s medieval Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot.

It’s a long day, but it genuinely feels as though you’ve travelled somewhere completely different.

Book an early sailing to maximize your sightseeing time, and remember you’re crossing an international border.

You can see our itinerary, ferry experience and photographs in my complete guide to taking a day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn.

How to Get Around Helsinki

Helsinki has an excellent public transportation network of trams, buses, metro trains, commuter trains and ferries.

We used public transportation extensively (and almost exclusively) during our month in the city.

The HSL app is useful for planning routes and buying tickets. Helsinki’s system uses fare zones, so make sure your ticket covers the entire journey.

The central attractions are close enough to combine on foot. One efficient walking route includes:

Helsinki Cathedral
Senate Square
The National Library
Helsinki City Museum
Market Square
Old Market Hall
Uspenski Cathedral

Oodi, Amos Rex and the central train station also form a convenient cluster.

Farther attractions—including Seurasaari, Café Regatta and Linnanmäki—are easy to reach by public transportation.

Tickets need to be valid before boarding or entering the designated ticket area. You can usually tap on/off inside the public transit but make sure you do it immediately after getting on board.

Practical Tips for Visiting Helsinki

Group Nearby Attractions Together

Helsinki is compact, but its attractions are spread across several neighbourhoods.

Central landmarks: Helsinki Cathedral, Senate Square, National Library, City Museum, Market Square, Old Market Hall and Uspenski Cathedral

Modern Helsinki: Oodi, Amos Rex and the central train station

Western Helsinki: Sibelius Monument, Café Regatta and Tram Museum

Island outing: Suomenlinna

Prepare for Wind and Changing Weather

We frequently needed more layers than expected, especially on ferries and islands. A light rain jacket and an extra sweater are useful even when the forecast looks reasonable.

Check Seasonal Opening Hours

Some Helsinki attractions operate seasonally or change their schedules throughout the year.

Linnanmäki has a limited operating season. Seurasaari’s island remains accessible, but the open-air museum buildings have seasonal hours. Market stalls, ferries, and outdoor attractions may also operate differently outside the summer months.

Reserve Sauna Sessions in Advance

Popular public saunas can sell out. This is particularly true for Löyly and desirable evening or weekend sessions.

Book ahead!!!

Use Helsinki’s Free Public Spaces

Libraries, museums, gardens, playgrounds and parks were an important part of our experience.

Expect Helsinki to Be Expensive

Accommodation, restaurants and paid attractions can be costly.

We balanced this by taking advantage of free museums, libraries, playgrounds, parks and islands. We also bought food from grocery stores and planned picnics.

Popular Helsinki Attractions We Didn’t Visit

Even after spending a month in Helsinki, we didn’t see everything.

Popular attractions we skipped—or only saw from outside—included:

Ateneum Art Museum

Ateneum houses Finland’s largest collection of classical art. It would be a logical choice for travellers particularly interested in Finnish artists and art history.

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

Kiasma is centrally located near Oodi and focuses on contemporary art.

Allas Sea Pool

Allas Sea Pool offers heated pools and sea-water swimming near Market Square. We chose Löyly for our main sauna experience instead.

Helsinki SkyWheel

The observation wheel near the waterfront provides elevated views over the harbour and central Helsinki.

Korkeasaari Zoo

Helsinki Zoo occupies an island and is reachable by bridge or seasonal ferry services.

Porvoo

Porvoo is one of Finland’s oldest towns and is known for its cobbled streets and colourful riverside warehouses. It’s a popular day trip from Helsinki, but we prioritized Tallinn.

Archipelago Sightseeing Cruise

A boat tour through the Helsinki archipelago would be particularly appealing during warmer weather.

Natural History Museum

My kids are Meh about natural history stops, so we skipped it, but I’ve heard good things!

Heureka

This is Helsinki’s main science museum and I was planning to go (it’s a bit of a trek out since it’s in Vantaa), but then a kiddo got sick so we never made it. I think I recall one night a week (or maybe it’s each month?) there’s reduced admission.

Kamppi Chapel of Silence

We saw the chapel’s very cool wooden exterior (it looks like Noah’s Ark) but didn’t go inside as adults now have to pay to enter. It’s centrally located near Amos Rex and Oodi, so it would be easy to add to that route.

Is Helsinki Worth Visiting with Kids?

Yes. Helsinki is a great family destination.

The city is clean, calm, and easy to navigate. Public transportation is straightforward, playgrounds are everywhere, and most attractions actively welcome kids rather than merely tolerating them.

Linnanmäki, Suomenlinna and the Tram Museum were particular family highlights.

Helsinki does not have as many internationally famous attractions as Vienna, Paris or London, but that might be part of the appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Helsinki

What are the very best things to do in Helsinki?

For a first visit, prioritize Suomenlinna, Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Market Square, the Rock Church and Oodi.

I would also include a Finnish sauna experience if your schedule and budget allow.

How many days should I spend in Helsinki?

Three full days is a good minimum for a first visit.

Four days will give you time to see the major attractions without rushing. Add another day if you want to visit Tallinn or Porvoo.

What are the best free things to do in Helsinki?

The National Library of Finland, Oodi, Helsinki City Museum, Children’s Town, the Winter Garden, Tram Museum, Sibelius Monument and Amos Rex roof are all excellent free attractions.

Helsinki Cathedral and Uspenski Cathedral are also generally free to enter when open.

Is Helsinki walkable?

Central Helsinki is very walkable.

Many major attractions can be reached on foot, but public transportation is useful for Linnanmäki, Seurasaari, Café Regatta and other sites outside the immediate centre.

Is Helsinki expensive?

Accommodation, restaurant meals and some attractions can add up quickly.

That said, Helsinki has a good selection of free libraries, museums, gardens, parks and public attractions. Grocery-store meals and picnics can also help keep costs lower.

Can you visit Suomenlinna with young kids?

Absolutely.

Kids will enjoy the ferry, tunnels, cannons, and open spaces to run around. Some routes are uneven, and the tunnels can be dark, so sturdy shoes and a phone flashlight are helpful.

Do you need to reserve a sauna?

YES!!! Advance reservations are strongly recommended for popular public saunas, particularly Löyly.

Check the sauna’s current rules regarding swimsuits, towels, session length and age restrictions before booking. Lots of hotels and private apartments will have accessible saunas as well, though, so that might be a free (or cheaper) option.

What is the best day trip from Helsinki?

Tallinn was our top choice because it offers a completely different architectural and cultural experience (and involves taking a ferry into another country).

Porvoo is a closer and less complicated alternative for travellers who prefer a shorter outing.

More European City Guides

Planning a longer European trip? You may also echildnjoy:

Your turn:

Have you visited Helsinki? What were your favourite attractions, foods or hidden gems?
What did we miss that should be added to a future Helsinki itinerary?

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Best Things to Do in Helsinki: Family-Friendly Attractions, Hidden Gems + Easy Day Trips

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