Helsinki

Helsinki - the capital of Finland

Helsinki, "the white daughter of the Baltic Sea" , is the northernmost national capital on European continent. There are 315 islands, 70 museums and 750 restaurants in Helsinki. There are 555 481 inhabitants in Helsinki (in the metropolitan area 1.2 million).

The new market town Helsinki was founded in 1550. It became the capital in 1812. The first Finnish railroad was built from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna in 1862. The 15th Olympic Games were held in Helsinki in 1952.

Helsinki has got many international awards: the 5th best city in the whole world, the best Scandinavian travel destination 2005, Dream World Cruise Destination with the best tour guides & the most improved destination, the most liveable city in the world in 2011. Helsinki was also World Design Capital 2012. Condé Nast Traveler lists "Top 15 Places to Go in 2015" and Helsinki is included.

Tip: Walk along Korkeavuorenkatu street and you will see very beautiful buildings: e.g. Erottaja fire station (address Korkeavuorenkatu 26, built in 1891, designed by architect Theodor Höijer, perhaps the most beautiful fire station in Europe), Design Museum (address Korkeavuorenkatu 23, http://www.designmuseum.fi) and St. John's Church (Johanneksen kirkko, address Korkeavuorenkatu 12, built in 1888-1891).

For details how to get from the Helsinki-Vantaa international airport to the city see our category Traveling, please.

Watch the video "Helsinki - a bit eastern, a bit western" and other Helsinki videos.

Accommodation: See our category accommodation, please.

Eating (restaurants): See our category Food, please.

Shopping: Scandinavia's largest shopping center called Itis (former Itäkeskus) with 190 shops and 27 restaurants is in Helsinki. Only 10 minutes by metro (subway) from the city centre. By car ten kilometers east of downtown along the Itäväylä highway. See also our category Souvenirs, please.

General information

City of Helsinki: http://www.hel.fi/hki/Helsinki/en/Etusivu

Capital & University City: http://www.helsinki.fi/eng/

Design Helsinki: http://www.designhelsinki.fi/

Glimpses of Helsinki: http://www.fotopedia.com/reporter/stories/Nt1aQwp2xOo

Globetrotter Girls (A first-timer's guide to Helsinki): http://globetrottergirls.com/2015/03/helsinki-guide/

Helsinki 200 years as capital: http://www.helsinki200.fi/en

Helsinki 3D Map (Virtual Helsinki: hotels, restaurants, museums, sights): http://www.virtualhelsinki.fi/

Helsinki - Finland's Capital of Style: https://youtu.be/ZXVU3Lbgt9Y

Helsinki Attractions Travel Guide: http://nomadicsamuel.com/video-blog/helsinki-attractions-travel-guide

Helsinki City Official Tourism Website: http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en

Helsinki Expert: http://www.helsinkiexpert.com

Helsinki Panoramas: http://www.visithelsinki.fi/misc/Helsinki_panoramas/Panoramas.html

Helsinki Railway Station (virtual panorama): http://www.virtualfinland.fi/Kaupungit/Helsinki/Yleiset-kohteet/Helsingin-rautatieasema/

Helsinki Region: http://www.visitfinland.com/web/guest/finland-guide/where-to-go/helsinki-region and http://www.helsinkiregion.fi

Helsinki Region Transport (timetables, routes, tickets, fares): https://www.hsl.fi/en

Helsinki Secret: http://www.helsinkisecret.com/

Helsinki Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/Visithelsinki

Helsinki Arounder: http://helsinki.arounder.com

Helsinki for young people: http://www.kompassi.info/?_lang_id=EN

Helsinki weekend with friends: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/helsinki-weekend/

Helsinki in 3D: http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/europe/finland/helsinki/helsinki.html

Helsinki - World Design Capital 2012: http://www.wdc2012helsinki.fi/en

Hel yeah!: http://helyeah.visithelsinki.fi/

Hey Helsinki - 101 reasons to visit Helsinki: https://heyhelsinki.wordpress.com/2015/11/07/101-reasons-to-visit-helsinki/

I hugged your mom in Helsinki - Indie travel guide to Helsinki: http://ihuggedyourmominhelsinki.tumblr.com

Photos: http://www.hel-looks.com and http://taivasalla.net/english/ and http://www.bilderbook.org/finland/ and http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/extras/photogallery and http://www.helsinki360.fi and http://www.locationguide.fi

Route planner (journey planner) for public transport in Helsinki: http://www.reittiopas.fi/en/

Route planner (journey planner) for biking and walking in Helsinki: http://kevytliikenne.ytv.fi/en/

Search addresses & maps: http://kartta.hel.fi/

TripAdvisor Helsinki tips and reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g189934-Helsinki_Southern_Finland-Vacations.html

What to do and see in Helsinki: http://www.suomi-holiday.fi/helsinki.php

Why Helsinki takes the crown as Scandinavia's food capital: http://grownuptravelguide.com/helsinki-takes-crown-scandinavias-food-capital

Yelp Helsinki reviews: http://www.yelp.com/helsinki

Midnight in Helsinki in June

Sightseeing, events & activities

Adventure Park Huippu (Espoo): http://www.seikkailupuistohuippu.fi/cms/en

Adventure Park Korkee: http://korkee.fi/

Adventure Park Zippy: http://zippy.fi/en/ and http://blog.visithelsinki.fi/en/up-in-the-air-at-adventure-park-zippy/

Aerohot (hot-air balloon flights): http://www.aerohot.fi

Allas Sea Pool: http://www.allasseapool.fi/en/

Amos Anderson Art Museum (address Yrjönkatu 27): http://www.amosanderson.fi

Arabia Helsinki (the old part of Helsinki): http://www.arabiahelsinki.fi/en

Arabia's Museum (history of Arabia porcelain factory, factory's retail shop, address Hämeentie 135): http://www.arabia.fi

Bicyclean Helsinki (bike rental service, route recommendations): http://www.bicycleanhelsinki.com/

Bike rental: http://www.greenbike.fi/index_en.html

Cable Factory (the biggest cultural centre in the Nordic countries): http://www.kaapelitehdas.fi/en

Culture: http://www.hel.fi/hki/Kulke/en/Etusivu

Design Forum Finland (address Mannerheiminaukio 3): http://www.designforum.fi

Escape Room Running Rabbit: http://www.roomescaperunningrabbit.fi/index.php

Feel The Nature Treks (Helsinki & Lapland): http://feelthenature.fi/en/

Finnish Museum of Natural History: http://www.luomus.fi/en and http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi

Finnish National Gallery Ateneum: http://www.ateneum.fi/en

Fishing: http://www.fishinginhelsinki.com

Food Sightseeing in Helsinki: http://www.foodsightseeing.com/ and http://www.foodsightseeing.fi/

From Helsinki to Lapland: https://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/travelling/from-helsinki-to-lapland

Galleries in Helsinki: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/touring-helsinkis-galleries/

Gardenia (tropical garden): http://www.gardenia-helsinki.fi

Green Hearts - Park Walks in Helsinki: http://www.vihreatsylit.fi/en/

Guided tours to Finnish architecture: http://www.archtours.fi

Happy Guide Helsinki: http://www.hassutourshelsinki.com/

Hawkhill Nature - Cottages and hiking by the beautiful Nuuksio National Park (a 45 minute drive from Helsinki): http://www.hawkhill.fi/en

Helsinki Archipelago: http://www.fotopedia.com/reporter/stories/_a7XEM_N1Ms

Helsinki Card (your key to Helsinki with almost 100 benefits including free travel on public transport, free admittance to 43 museums and main sights, free boat trips to the Zoo and Suomenlinna sea fortress etc.): http://www.helsinkiexpert.fi

Helsinki City Museum: http://www.hel.fi/hki/Museo/en/Etusivu

Helsinki Expert (city tour guidance in English, Finnish, French, Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, German, Italian, Russian and Lingua Latina, half-day tours to old wooden town of Porvoo, Finnish lakes and forests, the home of the composer Jean Sibelius and Fiskars ironworks village, one day tours to Tallinn in Estonia, city packages to St. Petersburg in Russia, also "Helsinki this week" PDF magazine): http://www.helsinkiexpert.com/

Helsinki Festival: http://www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi/en

Helsinki For You Tours (very good!): http://www.helsinkiforyou.com

Helsinki Icepark: http://icepark.fi/ and http://jaapuisto.fi

Helsinki This Week: http://www.helsinkithisweek.com/

IHA-Lines (archipelago cruises, guidance on request in six languages): http://www.ihalines.fi

Kaikuva Tours: http://www.kaikuva.fi

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art (address Mannerheiminaukio 2): http://www.kiasma.fi

Kontiki Finland - Finland Holidays, Helsinki Stop Overs and Guided Helsinki Day Trips: http://www.kontikifinland.com/

Let's explore nature in Helsinki: http://www.hel2.fi/ymk/julkaisut/oppaat/Lets_explore/index.htm

Linnanmäki amusement park - the largest amusement park in the Nordic countries, free admission, free Panoraama sightseeing tower, own rides for small children, teenagers and adults, many big roller coasters, 4D cinema, Sea Life aquarium etc.: http://www.linnanmaki.fi

Luxury Action (exclusive travel services in Helsinki and Lapland): http://luxuryaction.com/

Löyly Helsinki Saunas: http://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/en/front-page/

Museum of Art and Design (address Korkeavuorenkatu 23): http://www.designmuseum.fi

Nordic Oddity: http://www.visithelsinki.fi/sites/visithelsinki.fi/files/files/Esitteet/EN/no_2012_lores.pdf

Nuuksio National Park: http://www.outdoors.fi/nuuksionp

Paulo's Tours - Helsinki Guide Service: http://www.paulostours.com/

Port of Helsinki (cruises to archipelago, Tallinn in Estonia, Stockholm in Sweden etc.): http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/frontpage

Railcar from Helsinki to Porvoo and back (relax on a genuine Finnish railcar of the late 50's, enjoy the beautiful scenery during the trip to the old wooden town of Porvoo, the charming medieval town): http://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/

Royal Line (Helsinki by sea): http://www.royalline.net/ and http://www.royalline.fi

Sauna bathing: https://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/sauna

Sea Life Aquarium Centre: http://www.visitsealife.com/Helsinki/en/

See Finland (nature trips): http://www.seefinland.com

Serena (the biggest indoor water amusement park in Europe, many kind of waterslides, even 140 meters long, pools, saunas etc., also a large outdoor section, open every day, 20 kilometers from Helsinki): http://www.serena.fi

SkySauna Helsinki: http://skysauna.fi/en/

Sun Lines (Helsinki archipelago): http://www.sunlines.fi/en/home.html

Suomenlinna Island Fortress (the island fortress no visitor to Helsinki should miss, included in the list of World Heritage Sites of the United Nations, the biggest sea fortress in Scandinavia and one of the largest in the world, founded in 1748, many museums, beaches for swimming, a wonderful "Suomenlinna Experience" multi-image show, guided tours, boats from the Market Square): http://www.suomenlinna.fi and http://skyview.fi/panorama/52f0fdc12892839330000029 and http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162945&contentlan=2&culture=en-US and http://www.suomenlinnatours.com/frontpage and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/finland/helsinki/sights/military/suomenlinna and http://www.visitfinland.com/article/fortress-by-the-water/

Taidehalli Exhibitions of Art (address Nervanderinkatu 3): http://www.taidehalli.fi/

Taxi Kovanen (24 h taxi vans, VIP buses, limousine services in Helsinki and the airport): http://www.kovanen.com/en/

Theatre Museum (Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1 G): http://www.teatterimuseo.fi/en

The RIFF Rock 'n' Roll Bar (the rock bar owned by Jussi69 of The 69 Eyes rock band): http://www.theriff.fi/

Top attractions (most of them are in Helsinki): http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/top-sights

Tropicario - the Tropical Animal House: http://www.tropicario.com/eng/index.html

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival: http://www.tuska-festival.fi/en/

Unique Lapland Helsinki Igloo Hotel (the only all-year-round igloo hotel in the world): http://www.uniquelapland.com/en/lapland-in-helsinki/

Unique Lapland Winter Wonderland in Helsinki - in the middle of the summer!: http://uniquelapland.com/winter-world-helsinki/

Verkkokauppa.com (Europe's largest home electronics store and Blackstorm Gaming Café, Helsinki's largest sightseeing terrace with MIG-21 BIS fighter plane 50 meters over the sea, free entrance, address Tyynenmerenkatu 11 / Hietasaarenkuja 7, Jätkäsaari): https://foursquare.com/v/verkkokauppacom/4adcdb27f964a520cc6121e3 and http://www.verkkokauppa.com/fi/myymalat/jatkasaari

Winter Fun Helsinki: http://winterfun.visithelsinki.fi/en/

Winter World Helsinki: http://www.winterworld.fi

Visit Helsinki Blog: http://blog.visithelsinki.fi/?lang=en

See our category Traveling for details about one day cruises to Tallinn, Estonia's beautiful capital! Passport needed!

Towns near Helsinki

Espoo (the studio-castle of Finland's national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Nuuksio national park, the biggest indoor water amusement park in Europe, Family entertainment center Huimala, Villa Elfvik, the Garden Town of Tapiola etc.): http://www.visitespoo.fi/visitors_guide

(See also Hotel Siikaranta in Nuuksio national park, Espoo: http://www.hotellisiikaranta.fi and http://www.hotellisiikaranta.fi/?page_id=180)

(Hotel Korpilampi - a wilderness hotel in Espoo, only 400 meters from Serena Water Park and 30 minutes from the city centre of Helsinki, not beautiful building but very beautiful surroundings near a pond, good walking routes, a nice indoor swimming pool department: http://www.korpilampi.fi)

Järvenpää (the home of Jean Sibelius): http://www.jarvenpaa.fi

Tuusula (the cultural town with many museums, cultural events etc.): http://www.tuusulanrantatie.fi/en/ and http://www.tuusula.fi/sivu.tmpl?sivu_id=2640

Vantaa (Heureka Science Centre, shopping centre Jumbo and many museums): http://www.vantaa.fi/en/tourism