25 Things to Do in Helsinki (Finland) for All Ages
From stunning natural landscapes to fascinating cultural landmarks, Helsinki (Finland) is a destination that has it all. But with so much to see and do, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate travel checklist featuring the top 25 must-see attractions and experiences that you won’t want to miss.
Information about Helsinki (Finland)
Helsinki, the capital of southern Finland, is located on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland and has a population of about 1.3 million. Helsinki is one of the most beautiful European destinations, with a unique nature and ancient history, which makes it a unique tourist destination for everyone. And whether you decide to visit Helsinki in the winter or in the summer, every season in this city will offer you interesting recreational activities. Helsinki mixes cultural, historical, and artistic diversity, and its most famous landmarks are the Finland National Museum of History, the Ateneum Museum of Finnish Classical Art, the Central Park, and Lenanmaki amusement park. In addition, Helsinki includes Suomenlinna Castle, which is one of the largest sea castles in the world. On its central avenue, Mannerhementi, are the majestic Parliament Building, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the red-brick Uspenki Cathedral overlooking the harbour.
A list of the best Things to do in Helsinki
Experience the best things to do that Helsinki (Finland) has to offer with our expertly chosen list of top-rated destinations. Our team has scoured visitor reviews and evaluations to bring you only the best options for your next adventure.
1- فيوريستوراتا
فيوريستوراتا – Opened in 1951, Fioristorata, a wooden roller coaster, is the proud jewel of Lenanämäki amusement park in Helsinki, Finland, and the most popular attraction throughout the park’s history. This ship has gained its wide fame due to its huge size and towering height, which makes you supervise all the city’s facilities in one of the most beautiful adrenaline-filled recreational trips.
Place address: Tivolikuja 1, 00510 Helsinki, Finland
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2- St. John’s Church
St. John’s Church – On the hill where the fire broke out in midsummer, St. John’s Church in Poonavuri is neo-Gothic and is the largest stone church in Finland. The church was designed by architect Adolf Emil Melander in 1891 AD, with a modern architectural style, and the excellent acoustics make it a favorite venue for concerts.
Place address: Korkeavuorenkatu 12, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
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3- Kamppi Chapel
Kamppi Chapel – Located in the town square, Kamppi Chapel offers a chance for peace in the midst of perhaps the busiest part of Finland. The curved shape of the small-scale church building allows space and views to flow into the urban surroundings. At the same time, the soft shape of the church’s interior embraces the visitor and gives them a sense of peace and tranquility.
Place address: Simonkatu 7, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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4- Senate Square
Senate Square – Senate Square and its surroundings are a unique and cohesive example of neoclassical architecture. The square is dominated by four buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, namely the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki, and the National Library of Finland. A statue of Alexander II stands ) middle of the square.
Place address: 00170 Helsinki, Finland
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5- Kallion Church
Kallion Church – Kallio Church is a Lutheran church located in the Kallio district of Helsinki. It was designed by Lars Sonck and represents National Romanticism with Art Nouveau influences. The church has a high ceiling with distinctive high walls engraved with many distinctive motifs, and it extends over a large area with two floors, upper and lower, and an antique wooden platform.
Place address: Itäinen Papinkatu 2, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
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6- Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral – The Uspensky Cathedral was completed in 1868 AD in the city of Helsinki, and it is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. It was distinguished by a unique architectural design that made it a legend in the world of architecture. The church, with its golden domes and red brick façade, is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian influence on Finnish history.
Place address: Kanavakatu 1, 00160 Helsinki, Finland
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7- Hakasalmi Villa
Hakasalmi Villa – The Hakasalmi Villa Museum is located next to the Finlandia Hall. This elegant building retains a tactile feel of the Empire style era and is one of the few buildings of its kind remaining in Helsinki. It is said that the most famous resident of Villa Hakasalmi was Aurora Karamzin, who lived there until her death. Today, the villa is a branch of the Helsinki City Museum with changing exhibitions.
Place address: Mannerheimintie 13 B, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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8- Havis Amanda
Havis Amanda – The Havis Amanda Fountain was unveiled in Helsinki’s Market Square in 1908 AD, and it is the most famous work of sculptor Ville Vallgren, and this work came as a result of the desire to raise Helsinki’s status as the capital of Finland by commissioning a piece of public art from Vallgren, who lived in Paris at that time the time. The fountain was unveiled with minimal fanfare, but quickly became a source of great public controversy, due to the “indecent female form” and lack of understanding of the art among the public. Despite its stormy start, it has since become one of Helsinki’s best-loved public sculptures, and a symbol of this maritime city.
Place address: Kauppatori, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
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9- Equestrian statue of Marshal Mannerheim
Equestrian statue of Marshal Mannerheim – The equestrian statue of Marshal Mannerheim is located in the heart of Helsinki, and is one of its most important landmarks. The bronze statue is 5.4 meters high and is elevated on a 6.3-meter-high granite platform. Mannerheim has been a symbolic figure in Finland since the Finnish Civil War in 1918 AD, and his positions were strengthened in the 1930s and during World War II.
Place address: Mannerheiminaukio 2, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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10- Hietaranta Beach
Hietaranta Beach – When you visit Helsinki in the summer, you can go to this beach to enjoy the beautiful weather and swim with your family and friends. You can enjoy a game of volleyball, sunbathe on the chairs, or use the sauna available to you. In winter, this beach is ideal for a romantic picnic or a long stroll on the sand. Whatever the weather, don’t miss this serene and wonderful beach!
Place address: Hietaranta Beach, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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11- Hesperia Park
Hesperia Park – The Garden of Hesperia is a wonderful green area where factories and villas once stood. The park includes a 2.2 km recreational path suitable for bicycles and various picnics, in addition to a group of distinctive recreational facilities that are suitable for all family members, as safe play areas, wooden benches for seating, water pools and fountains.
Place address: Mannerheimintie 40, 00260 Helsinki, Finland
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12- Amos Anderson Art Museum
Amos Anderson Art Museum – You will easily find this Amos Andersson Museum of Art in downtown Helsinki, and it is the largest art museum in Finland. This place was built in 1913 by Amos Anderson as a home for himself, and it was opened as a museum available to the public in 2018. This place is divided into many different galleries, so that you can find beautiful modern paintings and modern artifacts, and you will find yourself surrounded by dazzling and beautiful colors. Otherwise, it offers an entertaining crime mystery activity, and provides you with ample place on the outdoor terrace to sit when the weather is sunny.
Place address: Amos Rex, Mannerheimintie 22-24, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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13- Market Square
Market Square – This square is bustling from spring to autumn with vendors and their various stalls, tourists and locals. In this market, you can find various types of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat of various kinds, delicious cheeses, and many other products. Other than that, there are many Finnish artifacts and souvenirs, and one of the traditions of this market is the sale of old American cars on the first Friday of every month at attractive prices. You can wander around this open market and buy everything you want, or enjoy the stunning view of this place from the Baltic Sea.
Place address: Market Square, Eteläranta, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
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14- Lauttasaari
Lauttasaari – The natural island of Lautsari makes a great base for all kinds of activities, and the area has enough residents to make sure it doesn’t lack any services. The island is characterized by a distinctive natural formation of green spaces overlooking the most beautiful panoramic views of the city, and tourists come to this island in search of rest away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Place address: Lauttasaari, Helsinki, Finland
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15- SkyWheel Helsinki
SkyWheel Helsinki – The Helsinki Sky Wheel is a ferris wheel in the center of Helsinki that entered operation in 2014. It is a modern observation wheel that provides a 360-degree view of the heart of Helsinki and its surroundings, cultural attractions and historic buildings. It is about 40 meters high and has 29 blue and white gondolas, leather seats and glass floors.
Place address: Katajanokanlaituri 2, 00160 Helsinki, Finland
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16- Sports Museum of Finland
Sports Museum of Finland – Sport is the most inclusive phenomenon in Finnish society, and the fully renewed permanent exhibition of the Finnish Sports Museum tells the stories of sports that helped build our nation. The new exhibition includes diverse and unique audio-visual content that guides the visitor from one story to another and from one emotion to another: from the Olympic Games in Helsinki to the world of e-sports, from excitement to disappointment to joy for victory.
Place address: Olympiastadion, Paavo Nurmen tie 1, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
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17- Art gallery Helsinki
Art gallery Helsinki – The Helsinki Art Gallery is a non-profit exhibition space founded by several Finnish artists and art associations in 1928. Here, at this gallery 5-7 major exhibitions and special events are presented annually, and the main focus of the gallery program is on contemporary art, as well as modern design and architecture.
Place address: Nervanderinkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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18- Jätkäsaari
Jätkäsaari – The island of Yatkasaari is located at the southwestern tip of central Helsinki facing the open sea. The area used to host a shipping port and later became a new residential area. Today, the island is considered one of the most important recreational tourism facilities, due to its modern facilities and distinguished services, and the general atmosphere of the island is calm.
Place address: Jätkäsaari, Helsinki, Finland
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19- Allas Sea Pool
Allas Sea Pool – Alas Sea Pool is a marine spa and wellness oasis located in the heart of Helsinki. Here, each visitor can reveal a different side of himself, as the resort provides a number of distinctive recreational facilities such as indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, massage and sauna rooms, and a huge garden that includes a complex of adventure and adrenaline games.
Place address: Katajanokanlaituri 2a, 00160 Helsinki, Finland
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20- Isosaari
Isosaari – Since the 16th century, the island of Isosari, a pearl in the outer archipelago of Helsinki, has become a landmark for sailors, a base for fishermen, and later a military base and research center. Since 2017, the island has been developed as a tourist and natural attraction. On the island, you will find two sandy beaches for sunbathing and swimming, three saunas, a restaurant, and a harbor for guests.
Place address: Isosaari, Helsinki, Finland
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21- Kaisaniemi Park
Kaisaniemi Park – Kaisaniemi Park is the oldest public-use park in Helsinki, established in 1812 AD. It is located next to the central railway station. It is a great place for recreation and hosts outdoor festivals and concerts, especially in the summer. The garden includes a large number of exotic trees, flowers and plants that are arranged as if they were paintings.
Place address: Kaisaniemen puistokuja, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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22- Päivälehti Newspaper Museum
Päivälehti Newspaper Museum – The Museum of Daily Newspapers presents the history of old media, new media, and the future of media as well as freedom of expression in Finland and in other countries. Besides general historical exhibits, the museum also tells the story of Finland’s largest daily newspaper, which has been published for more than 130 years. The museum aims to enhance the ability to interpret media, especially to encourage children and adolescents to read.
Place address: Ludviginkatu 2-4, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
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23- Helsinki Hall of Culture
Helsinki Hall of Culture – The elegant and distinctive Helsinki Hall of Culture, designed by the famous architect Alvar Aalto, opened in 1958. Many events are held in the hall throughout the year, such as pop and rock concerts, classical music concerts, in addition to a group of comedy shows, dramatic plays and many others.
Place address: Sturenkatu 4, 00510 Helsinki, Finland
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24- The Parliament House
The Parliament House – The 200-seat Finnish parliament meets in this magnificent building that is representative of 1920s classicism. The building was characterized by a unique architectural design, with a facade made of red granite from Calvula, and the main facade includes 14 Corinthian columns. It is possible to visit Parliament by booking a free guided tour.
Place address: Mannerheimintie 30, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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25- Museum of Finnish Architecture
Museum of Finnish Architecture – The Museum of Finnish Architecture offers rich new perspectives, discussion openings and meaningful experiences with architecture. The museum’s mission is to activate personal contact with the built environment and to provide tools for understanding architecture. The museum offers Finnish and international touring exhibitions, a permanent exhibition of 19th-century Finnish architecture, and a specialized public library and collections at your service as well.
Place address: Kasarmikatu 24, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
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Conclusion
Exploring Helsinki (Finland) is a journey that will take you through diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures, and captivating histories. Our guide has given you a taste of the must-see destinations and hidden treasures that await, but there’s always more to discover. Take the time to connect with the locals, try the local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the traditions and customs that make Helsinki (Finland) so special. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or enlightenment, Helsinki (Finland) has something to offer everyone. As you journey through this remarkable region, we invite you to let go of your worries and embrace the present moment. Take time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you, and allow yourself to be swept away by the magic of Helsinki (Finland) . We hope our guide has been a valuable resource in planning your trip, and we look forward to hearing about your travels. Until then, happy exploring!