The Best Things to Do In Helsinki
A travel bucket list would not be complete without a visit to Northern Europe. If you’re contemplating visiting the region, one of the most worthwhile trips to experience is a trip to Finland.
While the famous Copenhagen and Stockholm are the first to come to mind when Nothern Europe is mentioned, a smaller and often overlooked area worth your time in Helsinki. What is Helsinki popular for?
As Finland’s modern and hip capital, it hosts a vibrant music scene and a thriving art and cultural community.
Every visitor will enjoy touring this small city. You can explore it on foot or by bike at your leisure. You can breathe in every natural space and historical architecture while letting the beauty of Helsinki re-energise your spirit.
If you’re thinking about things to do in Helsinki today, you're in for a beautiful surprise and an unforgettable experience. Helsinki promises a life-changing visit that will entice you to come back again and again.
Creating Your Helsinki Travel List
There are hundreds of things to do and places to visit in Helsinki. To get you started, here are some activities you shouldn't miss:
#1. Shopping in Helsinki’s Kauppatori
A trip won't be complete without a bit of shopping and the city's Kauppatori (Market Square) is your best bet. The paved and outdoor square is one of the well-loved markets in northern Europe.
With the Baltic Sea as its backdrop, you will often see boats lined at the water's edge. In winter, the market square turns into a white canopy of tents. After going around the many stalls, try snacking on some vegan versions of Leipajuust (bread cheese), Karjalanpiirakka (rice pies), and Korvapuusti (cinnamon buns). Just be careful because the seagulls enjoy plucking food from unsuspecting visitors!
#2. Get Lost in the Suomenlinna Fortress
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Suomenlinna Fortress was traditionally called the "Sveaborg” or the Castle of the Swedes. It was originally intended as a fortified base against Russian expansionism.
This sea fortress boasts an impressive 210-hectares of land with 200 buildings and almost 6 kilometres of protective walls. Explore in leisure the museums, take photos of the partially frozen Baltic Sea, chill in one of the many parks, and take a dip in a few of the fortress' hidden beaches.
One day is not enough to fully discover this stronghold. Still, it should be enough time for you to reconnect with nature and learn a thing or two about Finland, its fight to gain independence, and its military architecture.
#3. Head to Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
Reserve a day on your itinerary for East Helsinki and the island of Seurasaari. You’ll be amazed at being in this farmstead that comes complete with a manor house, old Finnish houses, a 1686 Kiruna church, and other buildings made of timber. Truly, this is an open-air museum in modern times.
If you want an intimate look at how the Finns live, a visit to this place is a must. This is where you will experience raw and traditional Finnish culture.
Once you’re in the area, you might as well drop by Meilahti 7, an old timber house that the Friends of Finnish Handicrafts now uses. While here, you can watch traditional Finnish weaving techniques.
Cap the day by lounging at the nearby cafes or with a late afternoon swim at the Seurasaari Beach.
#4. Go Red at the Uspenski Cathedral
Red is a colour that’s hard to miss especially when it’s in the form of an Eastern Orthodox cathedral-like the Uspenski Cathedral. Indeed, its intimidating and beautiful architecture boasts gold crosses, large domes, and relics that showcase Russia’s impact on Finnish history.
Its impressive facade is just a preview of the grand interiors. Upon entering, you’ll be impressed with its lavish decorations, huge vaulted ceiling, and abundant Eastern Orthodox icons.
Admission is free when you visit but be sure to display utmost respect while inside.
#5. Get Excited at Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Spending the day in a theme park is always a treat. However, having an adrenaline-filled day becomes an out-of-this-world experience when you do it in Europe – specifically in Finland.
Just to the east of the Olympic Stadium is the Linnanmäki Amusement Park where you can have Helsinki-style fun at the park’s giant wheel, water tower, and switchback.
The Television Tower is a short distance away and readily beckons tourists for being the best spot for admiring Helsinki's coastal skyline.
Operating since 1950, rides and attractions have been continuously improved and added to this park, much to the delight of locals and visitors.
#6. Bring Your Animal Instinct to Life at Korkeasaari Zoo
A day trip visiting a zoo and seeing all kinds of animals is always a welcome activity but it’s an entirely different experience when you head to Korkeasaari Zoo.
This is one of the oldest zoos in the world with an established reputation for having an incomparable breeding program for endangered species. Snow leopards, Siberian tigers, and Amur leopards were given a chance to increase in number again thanks to this zoo’s efforts.
The zoo itself is an island. Depending on when you visit, you can either take the ferry or the bus to reach the home of 150 animals and 1,000 plant species.
By learning about different species and their dwindling numbers, a visit to Korkeasaari Zoo can be a real eye-opener for anyone who visits. It’s certainly an unforgettable learning experience that can only come from meeting such rare and wondrous animals in person.
#7 Take a Day Trip to Tallinn, Estonia from Helsinki
Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and is full of intriguing attractions and hidden surprises. The old town itself has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, but it remains fully accessible to travellers today. It's small, so any traveller can get a great feel for the place in just a couple of days — check out my top 10 things to do in Tallinn, Estonia here.
Conclusion: Unforgettable Finland
This small country leaves a huge impact on anyone who dares to venture so far north. Its Nordic cuisine, stunning architecture, breathtaking sea landscapes, as well as long and cold winters, will leave an indelible mark that few other countries can compare to.
For those who think they’ve seen and experienced it all, Finland and its residents will leave you in awe and make you think twice.