Tourist Attractions in Helsinki

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Helsinki

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Helsinki

Finland’s capital doesn’t boast pompous opulent architecture, a large number of historical landmarks or any particularly outstanding cultural heritage. However, Helsinki is a distinctive, atmospheric city and it definitely has its own charm.

The city authorities welcome modern architectural projects. Thanks to this, tourists can admire the unusual Temppeliaukio Church and Kampi Chapel of Silence. The granite-clad promenades of the Finnish capital turn into restrained and majestic panoramas of the Baltic Sea, where cruise liners and ferries bob on the waters.

Helsinki is a good, solid and prosperous city. There are no spectacular Gothic cathedrals and castles here, but there is the incomparable Kiasma, austere northern nature and the triumph of common sense.

Top-25 Tourist Attractions in Helsinki

Senate Square

 4.5/5

18832 reviews

Senate Square is one of the three central squares of the Finnish capital. It is centred around it, where the main tourist routes and attractions are concentrated. The place is decorated with the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral, which was erected in the first half of the 19th century after Helsinki was proclaimed the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Inside the cathedral there is a monument to M. Luther, the founder of the Reformation.

Open time

Sibelius Monument

 4.3/5

6062 reviews

A monument dedicated to the famous and revered Finnish composer Jan Sibelius. Several streets, a music academy and a city park are also named in honour of this outstanding historical figure. The monument was erected in 1967 to a design by E. Hiltunen. It is an abstract composition, which is a pile of metal pipes and a bas-relief of the composer at the foot.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Havis Amanda

 4.4/5

1033 reviews

City fountain, one of the symbols of the Finnish capital. It was designed by sculptor V. Wallgren at the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the sculptural group there is a statue of a female “sea nymph”, flanked by fairy-tale sea lions. It is hard to believe, but before the monument was erected, for more than two years there were heated discussions about the propriety of installing a nude figure in the city centre.

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Suomenlinna

 4.6/5

23032 reviews

A sea fort located on rocky islands near Helsinki. It is a quick ferry ride from the city centre. Sveaborg is the Swedish name, while the Finns call the fortress Suomenlinna. It was built in the middle of the 18th century when Finland was part of Sweden. The fortress was a base for the Swedish navy and defended the approaches to Helsinki.

Open time

Temppeliaukion Church

 4.4/5

12007 reviews

An original temple located in a natural rock. The church is considered one of the most striking sights of Helsinki. Thanks to its unusual architecture, the church hall creates a stunning acoustic effect. The idea of the progressive design belongs to the Suomalainen brothers. The temple was built in the 70s of the XX century and quickly gained fame and popularity. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the church every year.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:50 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 4:50 PM

Uspenski Cathedral

 4.5/5

6313 reviews

An Orthodox temple built according to the project of A.M. Gornostayev in the middle of the 19th century. The architectural style of the cathedral is a mixture of Byzantine style and traditions of Russian temple architecture. In 1872 it was given the status of a cathedral. At present, the Cathedral of the Assumption in Helsinki is the largest Orthodox church in Western and Northern Europe.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Kallio church

 4.5/5

1132 reviews

The granite hulk of Kallio Church is often referred to as a striking work of so-called Finnish Art Nouveau or National Romanticism. This rather original building appeared in 1912 and soon became the main attraction of the Kallio neighbourhood. It is believed that the architect L. Sonk took the description of the Old Testament Temple of Solomon (including its impressive size) as a model when designing the building.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

St. John's Church

 4.6/5

1201 reviews

Lutheran church of the late 19th century, a grandiose creation of Swedish architect A. Melander. It was built on the place where the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala was always celebrated. The church is characterised by very impressive size – 2600 people can be accommodated inside at a time. The structure is built in the “reference” neo-Gothic style, the interior space is decorated with wooden decorations, worked on by the best Finnish craftsmen.

Open time

Monday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Kamppi Chapel

 4.4/5

3086 reviews

This modern building, erected in 2012, designed by M. Summanen, N. Sirola and K. Lintula, is an interesting and striking example of Helsinki’s latest architecture. The chapel is not a temple in the usual sense, no services are held here, but on its territory you can get psychological help or simply relax from the bustle and pressurised urban space.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

The National Museum of Finland

 4.4/5

6207 reviews

The Museum of Finnish History, where you can trace the development of the land of Suomi (as the Finns call their state) from ancient times to the modern period. Museum expositions are quite extensive – from clay shards to thrones of rulers, from medieval weapons to technical achievements of the Nokia company. The museum was opened to the public in 1916.

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Design Museum

 4.2/5

3344 reviews

The museum’s exhibitions showcase the achievements of Finnish applied arts. Exhibitions, international events and fashion shows by young designers are often held here. The museum was established in 1873 as a workshop for teaching applied arts. Now it is considered one of the best modern creative venues in Europe.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Finnish Museum of Natural History

 4.6/5

5333 reviews

One of Finland’s three largest national museums. The exhibition on natural history and evolution is spread over four floors. Particularly valuable artefacts include fossil exhibits that are more than a thousand years old. The collection is divided into four parts: “History of Life”, “Nature of Finland”, “History of Bones” and “Nature of the World”.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Heureka

 4.4/5

8847 reviews

The museum is located in the city of Vantaa near the Finnish capital. It is an interactive play, learning and entertainment centre where visitors of different ages can perform experiments, explore the nature of physical phenomena and simply have a good time. More complex experiments can be carried out in the museum’s “laboratories” under the guidance of experts.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Art Museum Ateneum

 4.5/5

7476 reviews

An art gallery with a rich collection of artworks. A special place is reserved for paintings by Finnish artists, representatives of the Golden Age of national art. There are also works by recognised world classics such as Van Gogh, P. Gauguin, Modigliani, Degas, F. Goya, Cézanne and others. The collection contains a large number of canvases by Russian artists: Levitan, Shishkin, Repin, Polenov.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma

 4.2/5

7077 reviews

A grand museum of contemporary art housed in a monumental building of modern architecture. The museum specialises in collecting works by Finnish masters and artists from surrounding countries. It is often commissioned by Kiasma to create many of the works. Currently, the museum’s collection totals about 9,000 items, but the collection is constantly being added to and the exposition is growing.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

 4.6/5

1653 reviews

The museum is located on an island of the same name west of Helsinki. There are similar expositions in many European countries, they are designed to familiarise tourists with the traditional life and life of the local population. In Seurasaari you can see wooden villagers’ dwellings, Finnish saunas, farm buildings, mills, and religious buildings brought from all over the country.

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Free Walking Tours Helsinki

 4.3/5

25136 reviews

The square was established in the early 19th century. Since then, it has been home to a market popular with visitors and locals alike. You can buy souvenirs, fresh produce, excellent fish and a delicious lunch. Ferries to Suomenlinna depart from here. There is an obelisk in honour of the Russian Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Vanha kauppahalli

 4.4/5

1381 reviews

Shopping rows on the shore of the South Bay, located in a smart brick building of the XIX century. The market offers a large selection of meat, fish, seafood, bread and various baked goods. There is also a shop of local delicacies and a sushi restaurant. The old covered market is quite an atmospheric place with carved wooden stalls, small shops and friendly vendors.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Helsingin päärautatieasema

 4.2/5

1602 reviews

The relatively small building of the capital’s railway station is an architectural monument of the early 20th century. It was erected according to the project of architect E. Saarinen. The Art Nouveau facade is decorated with figures of stone giants created by E. Wikström. Numerous suburban trains and long-distance trains to various European countries and Russia depart from the railway station.

Open time

Serena Water Park

 4/5

3328 reviews

A water park in the suburbs of Helsinki that is open all year round. Quite a few of the slides are open-air, and you can often see children frolicking in the water at a temperature of only +19 °C during the cool Finnish summer. If you buy an All Inclusive ticket, you can access all the rides, the bar and the restaurant (alcohol is available for a fee).

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

SEA LIFE Helsinki

 4.3/5

6234 reviews

An oceanarium located in the northern part of the Finnish capital. Sea Life’s aquariums feature a wide variety of marine life: stingrays, sharks, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, exotic tropical fish and inhabitants of the harsh northern seas. Group tours are available in Finnish, Swedish and English. There is also information in Russian in the guidebook.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Linnanmäki

 4.5/5

26262 reviews

An amusement and amusement park that is quite popular with tourists and locals. Linnanmäki attracts up to one million visitors every year. The carousels and park rides are made in leading European countries and meet the latest safety requirements. There are several free rides for children in the park.

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Korkeasaari Zoo

 4.3/5

12507 reviews

The zoo is located on the island of the same name. It was founded in 1889 by A. Fabricius. The first inhabitants of the zoo were bears. The territory of Korkeasaari is home to snow leopards, which are nowadays on the verge of extinction. In addition to the magnificent northern animals, the zoo offers reptiles, tropical birds and exotic fauna.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Kaisaniemi botanic garden

 4.5/5

2124 reviews

The garden is located near the central part of Helsinki. The park features rose gardens, greenhouses and a system of artificial ponds. In summer, the garden turns into a magnificent flowery and fragrant canvas. The park regularly hosts themed events, exhibitions, competitions and events in defence of nature.

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Esplanadi

 4.5/5

12042 reviews

City Park, Finland’s “Elysian Fields” and one of the favourite places for strolling for locals and visitors to Helsinki. Here you can have a great rest in between visiting the many shops and sights of the Finnish capital. At the eastern end of the Esplanade, there is a small concert venue where progressive music groups perform in the summer.

Open time