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Helsinki

Finland travel guide

What to see in Helsinki

The capital of Nordic design: harbourside squares, Art Nouveau architecture, public saunas and a sea fortress a ferry ride away.

Updated 15 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 7 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to October
  • Typical food: Lohikeitto
Photo: Michal Pise, kallerna, Alvesgaspar, Janne Hellsten, Johannes Jansson/norden.org, · CC BY-SA 3.0

Helsinki highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Helsinki Cathedral

    The white Lutheran cathedral presiding over Senate Square.

  2. Suomenlinna

    An 18th-century sea fortress spread over several islands, a World Heritage Site, a ferry ride from the centre.

  3. Uspenski Cathedral

    The red-brick Orthodox cathedral with golden domes, on a hill by the harbour.

  4. Temppeliaukio Church

    A church carved into the rock and topped with a copper dome.

  5. Market Square

    By the harbour: stalls of fish, berries and crafts, with the Old Market Hall next door.

  6. Oodi Library

    A design-led public library, open to everyone, opposite Parliament.

  7. Design District

    A neighbourhood of Finnish design shops, galleries and studios.

Day trips from Helsinki

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Helsinki

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Helsinki are from March to October.

  1. Jan with warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec with warnings
  • from December to February

    Intense cold

    In midwinter, temperatures in Lapland are usually well below zero, with very few hours of daylight.

    What to do: Thermal layers, a hat, gloves and snow boots; many places to stay rent out thermal suits. It’s the season of Father Christmas and the northern lights.

  • November

    Grey November

    In the south of the country November tends to be dark and damp, still without the snowy winter landscape.

    What to do: If you want snow and northern lights, head up to Lapland or go between December and March.

Typical food of Helsinki

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Helsinki from your kitchen).

Lohikeitto
Photo: Tuijasal · CC BY-SA 3.0

Lohikeitto

Creamy salmon soup with potato, leek and dill, the comfort dish of Helsinki’s winters. It’s eaten at the harbour market hall with rye bread.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g skinless salmon, diced
  • 600 g potatoes
  • 1 leek
  • 1 carrot
  • 800 ml fish stock
  • 200 ml cream
  • 1 bunch of dill
  • Butter, allspice, salt

How to make it at home

  1. Soften the sliced leek in butter.
  2. Add the diced potatoes and carrot, the stock and a few allspice berries, and cook for 15 minutes.
  3. Stir in the cream and let it simmer gently.
  4. Add the salmon and cook for 5 minutes, without stirring too much.
  5. Finish with plenty of chopped dill and salt.

The trick: The salmon goes in last: it’s done in five minutes.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a covered market (kauppahalli) or a lunch buffet (lounas). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Finland guide.

Frequently asked questions about Helsinki

What to see in Helsinki?

Helsinki Cathedral, Suomenlinna, Uspenski Cathedral, Temppeliaukio Church, Market Square and Oodi Library.

What to see in Helsinki in one day?

Don’t miss Helsinki Cathedral, Suomenlinna, Uspenski Cathedral, Temppeliaukio Church, Market Square and Oodi Library. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Helsinki?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Helsinki are from March to October.

What day trips can you take from Helsinki?

Tallinn from Helsinki, Suomenlinna, Nuuksio National Park and Porvoo.

What is the typical food of Helsinki?

Lohikeitto. Creamy salmon soup with potato, leek and dill, the comfort dish of Helsinki’s winters. It’s eaten at the harbour market hall with rye bread.

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Guide reviewed 15 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.