Highlights

• Helsinki Cathedral and Senator Square
• Sibelius Monument
• Hietaranta Beach
• Parliament House
• Old Market Hall
• Presidential Palace
• Uspenski Cathedral
• Temppeliauko church in the rock
• Tokoinrata Parkrun
• Suomenlinna Fortress and island
• SkyWheel Helsinki
• Suomen Kansallismuseo with prehistoric artifacts
• Finnish National Opera and Ballet
• Helsinki Olympic Stadium
• Korkeasaari Zoo
• Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
• Ateneum Art Museum
• St. John’s Church
• Architecture & Design Museum

Before you go

• Weather varies between the seasons, so check the weather report for how to pack
• Daylight hours also vary a lot from midnight sun in the summer to mostly darkness in winter
• Tipping is generally not expected
• Alcohol laws restrict when and where you can buy so check opening times; also taxes make alcohol relatively expensive
• Shops may have reduced hours on Sunday
• Restaurants tend to close on the earlier side, so pay attention to opening times
• Credit cards are widely accepted and you may never need to use cash
• Budget appropriately as Helsinki is expensive
• Several museums are free and some have a free day once a month, so check websites
• Try a Finnish Sauna, as these are part of the culture- you may need to reserve in advance

Transport

• Helsinki airport is the largest airport in Finland
• Helsinki has an extensive tram, train, bus and metro network. The train from the airport to the central station is quick (less than 30 minutes) and affordable
• Once you are in the city centre, it is also easy to walk around
• Taxis, Uber and Bolt are available and it’s best to compare prices
• To visit Suomenlinna, you can take the public ferry, which runs year-round. It is affordable and takes just 15 minutes

Accommodation

• In Helsinki, I stayed at Hotel Katajanokka, a former prison located close to the Skatuddens Terminal for ferries. We loved the rooms, which are converted cells. The building is bright and some of the old prison is visible in the restaurant area.
• On another trip, I stayed at the Hotel Fabian in the Kaartinkaupunki area. It is slightly closer to the city centre, shops and restaurants. Very comfortable room and friendly staff.
• As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB

Food

Snacks

For pastries and baked goods, I enjoyed the rhubarb pastry from Gateau Citycenter and other baked goods from Kanniston Leipomo and Bakerika.

Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market) is a great place to find snacks and also Finnish goods to take home such as dried reindeer, sausages, cheeses, Sea buckthorn or cloudberry jam, and much more.

Restaurants

Restaurant Zetor is a traditional Finnish restaurant with a variety of dishes including fish and reindeer. It has a very cosy, homey feel.

SOUP+MORE Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market) is a great place for lunch. Within the market hall, there are many other places to eat including Vietnamese food.