Helsinki, the modern and cosmopolitan capital of Finland situated on the Baltic Sea, is a city with over half a million residents. Helsinki offers lots to see, do, and experience year-round. Discover the maritime appeal, unique design and architecture attractions, exciting food culture, great shopping opportunities, and over 3,000 lively events held each year. Feel the cultural influences from both the East and West, meet the friendly locals, and enjoy the slow rhythm of urban Helsinki.
Helsinki is unique among Northern European cities. The lifestyle in the second-most northern capital city in the world is full of contrasts and activities in the form of hundreds of events and friendly people. Helsinki’s identity has been formed by cultural influences from both the East and West.
The archipelago that surrounds Helsinki with hundreds of tiny islands creates an idyllic environment for cruises, for example.
Over 450 years of history, several architectural layers and the impact of different periods can be clearly seen in Helsinki. Finnish design has also made the country’s capital city world famous.
The beauty of the surrounding nature blends seamlessly together with high-tech achievements, while old traditions mix with the latest contemporary trends. The city centre has many beautiful parks, and the nearby forests offer an ideal setting for peaceful and quiet walks.
Helsinki’s rhythm is laid back yet at the same time refreshingly active in terms of both the number and quality of restaurants and nightclubs.
Everything is nearby – Helsinki is a pocket-sized metropolis that is ideal for visitors!
Helsinki is a great city to wander around in, and many attractions are located within walking distance from the town centre. But, if you need to rest your legs or maybe don’t have much time, the tram is an excellent option! It will take you around the city in an effective way and you will be able to see many interesting things along your journey.
Amos Rex
Helsinki Cathedral
Suomen valokuvataiteen museo K1 / The Finnish Museum of Photography K1
Villa Hakasalmi
Worker Housing Museum
Tram museum
Burgher’s House
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Ateneum Art Museum
Temppeliaukio Church
The National Museum of Finland
Uspenski Cathedral
Tori Quarters
Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Allas Sea Pool
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Helsinki City Museum
Didrichsen Art Museum
Löyly
Kunsthalle Helsinki
Helsinki City Theatre
Seurasaari Island
Espoo’s islands and archipelago
The Finnish Aviation Museum
Vantaa City Museum
Finlandia Hall
Ainola - The Home of Aino and Jean Sibelius
Helsinki Art Museum HAM
Nuuksio National Park
Porvoo
Military Museum´s Manege and Artillery Manege
Haltia The Finnish Nature Centre
Ehrensvärd Museum
Artsi - Vantaa City artmuseum
Korjaamo Culture Factory
Lake Tuusula
Helsinki Archipelago
Theatre Museum
The Finnish Museum of Photography
Tamminiemi
Music Museum Fame - Finnish Music Hall of Fame
Galleria Mafka&Alakoski
Exhibition Centre WeeGee
Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Hotel and Restaurant Museum
Cirko – Center for New Circus
Design District Helsinki
Lahti Sports Centre
EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Helsinki Zoo
Natural History Museum
Vallisaari
Suomenlinna Museum
Museum Card
Hartwall Arena
Helsinki Nature by Fatbike
Helsinki Citycopter - Helicopter Sightseeing Tours
REDRIB ICE EXPERIENCE
Swimming Stadium
Royal Line
Kumpula outdoor swimming pool
Summer day in the wilderness
Mushroom hunting
Winter wonderland hike
Winter archipelago excursion
Vuosaari Paddling Center
Berry picking and wildlife
Yrjönkatu swimming hall
An exciting day trip to Kouvola is waiting for you!
Autumn day in the wilderness
Helsinki by Kayak
Snowmobile tour in Helsinki archipelago
Design Walk Helsinki
Luxurious Baltic Sea Roundtrip Cruise
City of Hyvinkää
Eckerö Line Day Cruise to Tallinn
Treetop Adventure Huippu
Free Walking Tour
Mental Walk – Guided Tour In Former Psychiatric Hospital
Bus & Boat Combination
City Center Walking Tour
Royal Line Sightseeing Cruise
Hop-On Hop-Off CityTour
Royal Line Dinner Cruise
Smuggler´s Dinner Cruise
Historical Sightseeing Cruise
Royal Line Lunch Cruise
Day Cruise to Tallinn
Guided tour at Suomenlinna
Guided tour at Vallisaari
Foxtrail
Cannon sloop Diana´s public sailings
Guided Smaku-walk in Porvoo
Helsinki Card
Helsinki City Pass
REDRIB Experience
Päijänne National Park
Church of the Cross
Sibelius Hall
Foxtrail - Play with the city
Limousine Service Ltd.
VisitEDUfinn Ltd.
Mikkeli - St. Michel, City of Manors and Gardens in the Lake Saimaa Region
Lahti - Gateaway to Finnish Lakeland
Cruise with one day in Stockholm
A day cruise to Tallinn
Planmeca Golf Areena Helsinki Oy
Kon-Tiki Tours / Kon-Tiki Finland
Länsi-Uudenmaan Lumo matkailu oy
The vibrant food culture and the diverse food-related events make Helsinki a fascinating culinary destination. Whether you're interested in fine dining or street food Helsinki is a city for your taste. Try local specialties such as salmon soup with rye bread, Karelia pies or cinnamon buns, enjoy maritime cuisine in idyllic island restaurants in the summer and stop for seasonal delicacies at the traditional market halls and market places.
Restaurant Bassi
Ultima
Ravintola Teatteri
The TRAY
Muru
Kultá Kitchen & Bar
Finnjävel Salonki
Finnjävel Sali
The Cock
Restaurant Elite
Holiday Bar
Salutorget
Restaurant Nokka
Tapahtumatalo Bank
Ravintola Töölönranta
Pastis
Kitchen & Table Helsinki
Restaurant Savotta
Restaurant Saaga
Restaurant Saslik
PurPur – Georgian Cuisine
Restaurant Savu
Stefan's Steakhouse
SMAKU Porvoo
Krog Roba
Bastion Bistro
Sue Ellen
Restaurant Savoy
Korjaamo Culture Factory
Goodwin The Steak House Helsinki
Restaurant Toscanini
Summer Restaurant Saari
Summer Restaurant Saaristo
Restaurant NJK
Ravintola Särkänlinna
Restaurant Sipuli
Kulosaaren Casino
Team Kitchen
Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet/Kuninkaan Kartano and Vanha Viilatehdas
Restaurant Scandic Meilahti
Enjoy your cup of coffee in classic cafés in the heart of the city or taste the latest coffee trends in hip neighbourhoods. Choose your own favourite from the diverse cosy cafés that can be found all around Helsinki.
Finlandia Café, Finlandia Hall
Ekberg Café
Café Piper
Café Strindberg
Cafe Regatta
Korjaamo Culture Factory
Café Esplanad
Café Carusel
La Torrefazione
Karl Fazer Café
Sis. Deli
Café Ursula
Kahvila Sävy
A wide range of clubs and bars in Helsinki offers something for everyone in terms of clientele, atmosphere and price. Find the most popular, trendiest and cosiest bars and nightclubs in the city centre as well as in the districts of Kamppi, Punavuori and Kallio.
Sky Room Helsinki
Brasserie Kämp
Klaus K Bar & Lounge
Korjaamo Culture Factory
Casino Helsinki
Siltanen
Ateljee Bar
Botta/Manala
Storyville
Apollo Live Club
Helsinki offers plenty of shopping opportunities year round. Visit Tori Quarters in the historical centre of Helsinki for a variety of charming design boutiques and craft shops. Fans of Finnish design, fashion and interior decoration should head out to the Design District, situated in the heart of Helsinki.
The main shopping streets include Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie and the streets Pohjois- and Eteläesplanadi around the Esplanade park that feature several famous Finnish brands such as Iittala, Marimekko, Aarikka and Pentik.
Especially for food shopping be sure to also visit the several market squares and cosy market halls of Helsinki, such as the Market Square and the Old Market Hall at the South Harbour, the Hakaniemi indoor market and the Hietalahti Market Hall and Hietalahti Square that during summertime hosts the city's best-known flea market.
Iittala Store
asuna
KATRI NISKANEN Store & Atelier
Koti Store
Design District Helsinki
Lapuan Kankurit Store & Studio
Shopping Centre Kämp Galleria
Lokal
Villisilkki
Tori Quarters
Marimekko
Karkkikauppa Sweetheart
OZ JEWEL
Helsinki offers plenty of choices for accommodation, from inexpensive hostels to luxury hotels. For a full list of accommodation outlets, please see www.myhelsinki.fi
Arriving in Helsinki
Helsinki can easily be reached from anywhere in the world.
By plane - Around 200 international flights a day arrive at Helsinki Airport, which is situated 19 kilometres from the centre of the city and can be reached by car in approximately 25 minutes. You can also take a taxi, the Finnair airport bus or the Ring Rail Line train to the Central Railway Station. A taxi to the city centre costs approximately 45 euros.
www.finavia.fi/en
By train - There are excellent train connections from Helsinki to all major towns in Finland as well as to Lapland. There is also a daily train service to St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Central Railway Station is a landmark unto itself in Helsinki.
www.vr.fi/en
By bus - Buses from all around Finland arrive at the central bus station from the largest cities approximately every hour.
www.matkahuolto.fi/en
By ferry - There are daily ferry services to Helsinki from Estonia, Sweden, and Germany. All these ferry companies offer the possibility to take a car with you. There is also a ship connection between Helsinki and St. Petersburg, (no cars permitted).
www.eckeroline.com
en.tallink.com/en/book-a-cruise
www.sales.vikingline.com
www.finnlines.com
stpeterline.com/en
www.portofhelsinki.fi/en/passengers/arrivals-and-depa
Passenger Terminals:
Hansa Terminal, Vuosaari Harbour
Provianttikatu 5 00980 Helsinki
Katajanokka Terminal
Katajanokanlaituri 8 00160 Helsinki
West Terminal 1
Tyynenmerenkatu 8 00220 Helsinki
West Terminal 2
Tyynenmerenkatu 14 00180 Helsinki
Makasiini Terminal
Eteläranta 7 00130 Helsinki
Olympia Terminal
Olympiaranta 3 00140 Helsinki
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Website: www.finavia.fi/en
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Discover Helsinki
Discover Helsinki is an insider's guide to Helsinki, providing comprehensive and up-to-date information for visitors about events, sightseeing and how to get around the city.
Through the Discover Helsinki website and mobile application you can read regularly updated articles for practical tips and interesting information about Helsinki, find public transport and taxi services with ease, as well as obtain exclusive discounts at a wide range of stores and restaurants through the free mobile app.
Address: Itälahdenkatu 22B, 00210, Helsinki
Email: mari.jones@discoverhelsinki.fi
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Website: www.discoverhelsinki.fi
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Public Transport
With a single ticket you can hop on trams, buses, the metro and even the ferry to Suomenlinna. Day tickets available for 1 to 7 days allow unlimited travel on public transport. Buy your ticket in advance using the HSL app, from ticket machines or from sales points, including kiosks and several shops https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/sales-points. NB! Due to the corona virus situation, ticket sales is suspended at HSL service points in Helsinki Central Railway Station and Itäkeskus from 25 November 2020.
HSL area is divided into four zones, designated by the letters A to D, spreading out from the center of Helsinki. Buy a ticket for all the zones you travel through. In zones A, B and C, you always have to buy a ticket for at least two zones (an AB or BC ticket). NB! There are no one-zone tickets for zones A, B and C. An ABC ticket allows you unlimited travel in Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa.
When you search for routes and timetables with the Journey Planner, it tells you which ticket you need for your journey. https://www.hsl.fi/en
Helsinki Card holders can travel free of charge on public transport. Helsinki Card City includes free public transportation within the the travel zones AB, while the Helsinki Card Region can be used for traveling with the travel zones ABC. Helsinki Card Region can be used for traveling from/to the Helsinki Airport. https://www.helsinkicard.com/
HSL’s Service Point: Central Railway Station Metro Station, Mon–Fri 7.30 am–7 pm, Sat-Sun 9.30 am–5 pm.
Helsinki Region Transport www.hsl.fi/EN
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Telephone
Country code: + 358
Area code: (0)9
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Free WiFi in Helsinki
The city of Helsinki offers a free WLAN-service for residents and travelers alike. No passwords or registration required. Just look for "Helsinki City Open WLAN" from the available networks.
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Taxi
Taxis are easy to hail in the city centre except during the busiest periods. Taxi stands are conveniently located throughout the centre.
Taksi-Helsinki
www.taksihelsinki.fi/en
Lähitaksi
www.lahitaksi.fi/en
Kovanen
www.kovanen.com/en/
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Pharmacy
24-hour service:
Yliopiston Apteekki
Address: Mannerheimintie 96
Other pharmacies in the city centre:
Yliopiston Apteekki, Mannerheimintie 5, open Mon-Fri 7am-12 midnight and Sat-Sun 8am,-12 midnight
Apteekki Bulevardia, Bulevardi 13, open Mon-Fri 8:30am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm
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Electricity
220 V
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Helsinki is a lively and dynamic city with a fantastic selection of over 3,000 events held each year. The streets, parks and boutiques of Finland’s capital are filled with lively events throughout the frosty winter, the fresh spring, the easygoing summer and the cosy autumn – all the way through to the next New Year. Find out what’s on – something is sure to be happening in Helsinki all through the year!
Helsinki Design Week
Helsinki Christmas Market
Lux Helsinki postponed to 2022
Matka Nordic Travel Fair postponed to January 2022
Helsinki Cup Ltd.
Savonlinna Opera Festival postponed to summer 2022
Habitare Interior, design & furniture fair postponed to September 2021
Flow Festival will not take place in 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic
Helsinki Festival
Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy
Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair
May Day Celebration 2021 is cancelled to corona virus safety measures
Elämys Group
12.6. Helsinki Day
Seurasaari Midsummer Celebration
TUSKA festival 2021 will be cancelled due to corona virus safety measures