28 Best Sights in Helsinki, Finland

Finland's love affair with the sauna—one of the very few originally Finnish words that are internationally recognizable—has never diminished, but this very traditional national pursuit has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity, not least with a younger crowd. You are not obliged to sample this most Finnish of activities at the hugely popular Allas Sea Pool in the South Harbour, but a dip in one of the year-round pools built into the sea—one of which is heated—wouldn't really be complete without a visit to the mixed sauna (swimsuits and towels are available for rent). The Allas concept also embraces events and concerts and has food and drinks available from the separately managed Allas Cafe and Terrace (a prime harborside sun-trap), which serves breakfast to prework bathers and wholesome lunches.

Opened in 2018 beneath the newly renovated 1930s Lasipalatsi (Glass Palace), this impressive contemporary art museum with 24,000 square feet of subterranean exhibition space is the expanded new home of the Amos Anderson Art Museum, the 590-seat handsome Bio Rex cinema (restored to its 1930s glory), a café, and a restaurant. The roof of the sizeable exhibition hall is a series of giant domes with angled roof lights that frame surrounding views and light the galleries. From outside, the roof's gently rolling forms are part of a popular public square that beckons to children and skateboarders and serves as a very modern counterpoint to the 1930s functionalist surroundings. Originally dedicated to Finnish and Swedish art of the 19th and 20th centuries, the museum is now also focused on international contemporary art.

Showing impressive changing shows, including in recent years the likes of Gilbert & George and Yoko Ono, the Tennispalatsi (aka Tennis Palace, a name that hints at its former function) adjacent to the Kamppi Center mall is a must for visitors with an appetite for cutting edge modern art. The first-floor halls are dedicated to the museum’s collection of Finnish modern art and works of the beloved Finnish artist Tove Jansson, creator of the much-loved but peculiar Finnish Moomin characters. The building also houses one of Helsinki's main movie theater complexes.

The Helsinki City Museum is housed appropriately in five of Helsinki's oldest buildings opposite the Lutheran Cathedral on the southeast corner of the Senate Square. The main building, with free entrance, holds exhibitions on the history and culture of the capital. The museum is also a "parent" for various smaller museums across the city, namely the Villa Hakasalmi, the Tram Museum, the Burgher's House Museum, and the Workers' Housing Museum. The main museum includes an especially imaginative "Time Machine" exhibition based on a vast collection of historic photographs, inviting visitors to walk back through the city's history.

This large, shady, path-filled park close to the Baltic shoreline was once the site of a popular spa that drew people from St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and all of Scandinavia until its popularity faded during the Crimean War. All the spa structures were eventually destroyed (the main spa building was destroyed during World War II) except one, the Kaivohuone, now a popular bar-restaurant. From the Ursa Observatory at the top of the hill (a favorite local spot for winter sledding), sea views extend across the harbor entrance and islands including the Suomenlinna sea fortress. Across from the entrance to the Kaivohuone, take Kaivohuoneenrinne through the park past a grand Empire-style villa built by Albert Edelfelt, father of the famous Finnish painter who bore the same name. Built in 1839, it is the oldest preserved villa in the park. Many embassies—including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—and diplomats' residences are located on the eastern side of the park, one of Helsinki's most beautiful residential areas.

The steep steps and green domes of the cathedral dominate the Senate Square, and its silhouette is a classic emblem of the city. Completed in 1852, the cathedral is the work of German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who was commissioned to design a focus for the newly appointed capital during Russian rule and who also designed parts of Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Wander through the restrained but tasteful blue-gray interior, with its white moldings and the statues of German reformers Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, as well as the Finnish bishop Mikael Agricola. Concerts are frequently held inside the church, and the expansive square in front of it is a venue for national celebrations and gatherings. The crypt at the rear is the site of historic and architectural exhibitions and bazaars.

Opened at the beginning of 2019 and conceived as a gift to its citizens marking the centenary of Finland's independence in 1917, sleek, ultramodern Oodi, made of steel, glass, and wood, is much more than a conventional book-lending library, although it serves that function too. A huge, convivial living room for the people, Oodi houses two cafés, a kids' area, 3-D printers, sewing machines, computer workstations, a music studio, and a movie theater, as well as a fair collection of books and magazines. The view from the balcony on the top floor (closed in the slippery winter months) extends across a broad plaza—the "People's Square"—bordered by the Music Center and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, with Finlandia Hall also nearby. It is a manifestation of Nordic service planning at its finest, most imaginative and most elegant.

Seurasaari's old farmhouses and barns that were brought to this island, which is about 2 miles northwest of the city center, came from all over the country. Many are rough-hewn log buildings dating from the 17th century, a style that was a major inspiration to the late-19th-century architects of the national revivalist movement. All exhibits are marked by signposts along the trails; don't miss the church boat and the gabled church—and watch out for the very sociable red squirrels! Seurasaari is connected to land by a pedestrian bridge and is a restful place for walking throughout the year, with its forest trails and ocean views. You can walk there in about 40 minutes from the Opera House; follow Mannerheimintie northeast, then turn left onto Linnankoskenkatu and follow signs along the coast. Alternatively, take Bus 24 from the city center, in front of the Swedish Theater at the west end of Pohjoisesplanadi; its last stop is by the bridge to the island. It's free to enter and wander around the traffic-free island at any time of the year, but there is a cost to visit the museum buildings, and the ticket includes daily guided tours at 3 pm in summer. There is a naturist beach on the north side of the island, well shielded from public view. Plan on spending at least three hours exploring and getting to the museum.

It feels like another world, but the sea views and rugged shorelines of this sea fortress, Helsinki's top historical destination, are a 15-minute harbor ferry hop from the Market Square in the center of town. It's a perennially popular collection of fortifications, museums, parks, and gardens and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1748, Finland's Swedish rulers started to build the impregnable fortress, long referred to as the Gibraltar of the North, across a series of interlinked islands. Although Suomenlinna has never been taken by assault, it came under Russian governance with the rest of Finland in 1808 and came under fire from British and French ships in 1855 during the Crimean War. Today Suomenlinna makes a lovely excursion from Helsinki at any time of the year but particularly in early summer when the island is carpeted by wildflowers and engulfed in a mauve-and-purple mist of lilacs, introduced from Versailles by the marshal and founder of the fortress Augustin Ehrensvärd. Visiting the islands is free but the various museums, including a wonderful Toy Museum, a Military Museum, a Customs Museum, a historical Suomenlinna Museum, and the Ehrensvärd Museum, do charge admission. There are several cafés and restaurants on the islands, including the Cafe Silo in a former Russian merchant's house and a quayside brewery restaurant. Note that the only place to stay on the islands is the hostel near the city ferry jetty.

The Suomenlinna Museo is housed in the same building as the visitor center. exhibits cover the building of the fortress and the fleet and early life on islands; the ticket price includes the Suomenlinna Experience multimedia show.

Vallisaari (and its two immediate neighbors), originally outliers of the 18th-century Suomenlinna sea fortress, were closed to public access until recently due to their military functions. Now they are popular and rewarding destinations from May to September (and at other times, if you can befriend a private-boat owner). Water bus services run to the islands in the Helsinki archipelago, making the 20–25-minute voyage from a quay near the old Market Hall in the South Harbour to the two connected islands of Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari and to Lonna, the tiniest of the three with a fine restaurant and host of a summer jazz festival. On Vallisaari, the largest of the three, visitors must stick to the trails running through designated areas to protect the unique and beautifully wooded natural environment—as well as to avoid the site of historic munitions explosions. The trail leads to a viewing platform above the fortifications. The views are glorious, stretching back to the city across Suomenlinna and out to the open sea, and there is the occasional spectacle of cruise ships and ferries slipping through the narrow straits between islands. Vallisaari has a quayside café and bar, picnic benches, and a marina for visiting boats. Guided nature, history, and photography tours are available through Finland National Parks, which maintains and manages the island. One can reach the smaller Kuninkaansaari from Vallisaari across a short causeway and explore the old gun emplacements.

The Art Museum of the Ateneum is one of three sheltering under the Finnish National Gallery umbrella. The gallery holds major European works, but the outstanding attraction is the Finnish art, particularly the dramatic and moody works of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, inspired by the national epic, The Kalevala. The rustic portraits by Albert Edelfelt are enchanting, and many contemporary Finnish artists are well-represented. The two other museums that make up the National Gallery are Kiasma and Sinebrychoff.

The train station—the terminus for routes all across the country—and its adjoining Railway Station Square are the city's bustling commuter hub. The station's huge, iconic granite figures clutching illuminated globes are by Emil Wikström; the solid granite building they adorn was designed by Eliel Saarinen, one of the founders of the early-20th-century National Romantic style. The complex of tunnels underneath the station lead to a variety of shops and the city's most central Metro station.

Finnish design tradition is showcased in the Design Museum in the heart of Helsinki's Design District. The best of Finnish design can be seen here in displays of furnishings, jewelry, ceramics, and more. Changing exhibitions supplement the absorbing history of one of Finland's proudest traditions presented in the permanent displays and archives. The museum also houses a cozy café and shop with a good selection of design-related books and souvenirs.

In winter, Finns walk, ski, skate, and even cycle with dogs and even strollers across the frozen sea here to the nearby islands. Visitors should take local advice about where it is safe to do this, though. On the land side, the facades of the Eira and Kaivopuisto districts' grandest buildings form a parade of architectural splendor. One tradition that remains, even in this upscale neighborhood, is rug washing in the sea—an incredibly arduous task. You may be surprised to see people leave their rugs to dry in the sea air without fear of theft.

This fountain's brass centerpiece, a young woman perched on rocks surrounded by dolphins, was commissioned by the city fathers to embody Helsinki. Sculptor Ville Vallgren completed her in 1908 using a Parisian girl as his model. It's a well-known landmark and meeting place for locals, marking the eastern end of the Esplanade and the edge of the South Harbour. Partying university students annually crown the Havis Amanda with their white caps on the eve of Vappu, the May 1 holiday.

The resident Amur tigers, snow leopards, and reindeer are familiar with the cold winters here, one of the world's northernmost zoos, but there are all sorts of other animals to view, including pygmy marmosets and bison. Korkeasaari has a good reputation for breeding and conserving endangered species and is home to a wildlife hospital. Entirely within the limits of this small island, the winding paths make the zoo seem larger than it actually is. Between May and September, ferries depart from the Market Square and from a quay in the Hakaniemi district. Tickets, which can be bought on the ferry, cost €7 round-trip and are free for children under 18. Zoo tickets are sold at the zoo entrance. The trip takes 15 minutes; arrival and departure times are posted at the harbor. Alternatively, you can take the metro to the Kulosaari stop, cross under the tracks, and follow the signs for a 20-minute walk to the zoo, crossing the island of Mustikkamaa. Bus 16 runs to the zoo from the Central Railway Station.

Helsinki's amusement park, to the north of the city center, is a great option for families and one of the most popular attractions in the whole country. Linnanmäki includes a unique "heritage" wooden roller coaster and the Sea Life aquarium, and even stages an annual Carnival of Light to brighten up the onset of fall in October. Other attractions include a horror festival in September that amplifies the children's yells that are always audible anywhere near the park, as well as Ferris wheels, bumper cars, a water-rafting track, an "octopus" ride, a viewing tower, a freewill ride, various carousels, a clowns' house, and a minitrain. The park's season opens on the May Day holiday and continues through September, with the October Light event in the second half of that month. No summer is complete for Helsinki children without a visit to Linnanmäki.

Eclectic contemporary art is on show behind the shiny, reflective exterior of Kiasma, one of a cluster of modern buildings opposite the sterner edifice of the Parliament House. Praised for the boldness of its curved steel shell conceived by American architect Steven Holl, but initially scorned for its encroachment on the territory of the iconic Mannerheim statue, this striking museum displays a wealth of Finnish and foreign art from the 1960s to the present and stages often provocative changing exhibitions. Extensive external renovations were due to be completed by the end of 2022. Look for the "butterfly" windows, and don't miss the view toward the Parliament House, the Finlandia Hall, and the Oodi Central Library from the north side of the fifth-floor gallery.

The spire of the National Museum is a landmark on the main Mannerheimintie thoroughfare and towers above absorbing exhibits of Finnish history and culture. The handsome stone bear at the top of the steps leading the main door is an example of how architect Eliel Saarinen and his partners combined the language of Finnish medieval church architecture with elements of art nouveau to create this vintage example of the National Romantic style. The result resembles something from a Tolkien fantasy, with granite embellishments and that sturdy bear guarding the steps to the main entrance. The museum's collection of archaeological, cultural, and ethnological artifacts gives you an insight into Finland's past, while changing exhibitions delve into other cultures. Be sure to admire the fabulous fresco in the entrance hall, depicting scenes from the national epic, The Kalevala, painted by Akseli Gallen-Kallela.

This obelisk with a double-headed golden eagle, used by Imperial Russia, was erected in 1835, toppled during the Russian Revolution in 1917, and fully restored in 1972.

The Senate Square is the heart of neoclassical Helsinki, dominated by the Lutheran Cathedral. On the square's west side is one of the main buildings of Helsinki University, and up the hill is the university library. On the east side is the pale yellow Council of State, completed in 1822 and once the seat during Russian rule of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland's Imperial Senate. At the lower end of the square, stores and restaurants now occupy former merchants' homes. The harmony of the three buildings flanking this spacious square exemplifies one of the purest styles of European architecture, as envisioned and designed by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel. 

The Sibelius Monument is the main feature of the Sibelius Park on the shoreline of a Baltic inlet in the Töölö district northwest of the center. This imaginative tribute to Finland's great composer Jean Sibelius, designed by Eila Hiltunen and unveiled in 1967, resembles a cluster of soaring silver organ pipes—600 of them—accompanied by a slightly sinister silver bust of the composer and is a popular stop on coach tours of the city. It's in a beautiful park close to the sea, surrounded by rhododendron blooms in spring.

A branch of the Finnish National Gallery, the Sinebrychoff Museum occupies a 19th-century landmark building at the western end of leafy Bulevardi. The wealthy Russian Sinebrychoffs owned a brewing company (the Koff beer for sale throughout Helsinki is their legacy) and lived in this splendid yellow-and-white, 1840 neo-Renaissance mansion filled with wildly opulent furniture. The family's former home on the second floor is now a public museum containing old European collections. Dutch, Swedish, Italian, and French works are on show, with a mixture of 17th- and 18th-century portraits, landscapes, miniatures, porcelain, and the mansion's original decorative furniture.

From June through August, guided English-language tours leave daily at 11 am and 2 pm from the Suomenlinna Visitor Centre; call to arrange tours at other times. The center, which is in the same building as the Suomenlinna Museum, is on the shore of Tykistölahti Bay, about 400 yards south of the main ferry terminal

This unique place of worship is one of Helsinki's top architectural wonders, occupying a semi-subterranean location in the midst of residential apartment blocks. A magnet for tour coaches throughout the year in the Töölö district, this church with a copper roof, often referred to as "the Church in the Rock," was unveiled in 1969 and resembles a half-buried spaceship from the outside. It's really a modern Lutheran church carved into the rock outcrops below. The sun shines in from above, illuminating a stunning interior with birch pews, modern pipe organ, and cavernous walls. Ecumenical and Lutheran services in various languages are held throughout the week; during services the church is closed to tourists.

The grand house overlooking the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum from the mainland is where the late Finnish president Urho Kekkonen lived from 1956 to 1986. Originally known as Villa Nissen, Tamminiemi was built in 1904. Inside are the scores of gifts presented to Finland's longest-serving president by leaders from around the world. His study is the most fascinating room, with its gift from the United States: a cupboard full of National Geographic maps of the world. To ensure an English-speaking guide, call ahead. There's a pleasant café, Cafe Adjutant, in the expansive grounds.

Helsinki's Orthodox cathedral is its most conspicuous reminder of its historical connections with Russia. Perched atop a small rocky cliff in Katajanokka, it is the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church in Finland. Its brilliant gold onion domes are its hallmark, but its imposing redbrick edifice, with an interior decorated elaborately by 19th-century Russian artists, is no less distinctive. The cathedral was built and dedicated in 1868 in the Byzantine-Slavonic style and remains the biggest Orthodox church in Scandinavia.