Things to Do in Helsinki
Discover 63 activities and experiences in Helsinki, Finland — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Linnanmäki
The oldest amusement park in Finland, famous for its wooden roller coaster. Entrance to the park is free of charge, all-day passes €35 (adults) and €22 (children). Open only during the summer, however the adjacent '''[http://www.sealifehelsinki.fi Sea Life]''' aquarium and the '''[http://www.peacockteatteri.fi/www/index.php Peacock theater] ''' (not a traditional theater but rather a venue for musicals and slightly Las Vegas-like shows) at Tivolikuja 1 is open throughout the year.In middle October, the amusement park holds a week-long closing ceremony where just about everything, particularly the rides, is illuminated with colourful lighting. The ceremony holds live music events in late evening and there is a fireworks show at the very end just before the park closes down for the winter. This entire ceremony is free of charge but you still have to pay to go on any of the rides.
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Vappu
Originally a north European pagan carnival, Vappu is an excuse for students to wear brightly colored overalls and for everybody to drink vast amounts of alcohol. At 6PM on April 30, the statue of Havis Amanda at the Market Square is crowned with a student's cap and the revelry begins in the streets. Things can get a little ugly outside as the night wears on, so it's wiser to head indoors to the bars, clubs and restaurants, all of which have massive Vappu parties. The following morning, the party heads to the Kaivopuisto and Kaisaniemi parks for a champagne picnic, regardless of the weather. If the weather is good, up to 70,000 people will show up. Left-wing parties hold rallies and speeches, but the event is increasingly non-political.
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- April 30-May 1
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Lautapelaamaan
Finland's biggest board game event, hosted by the Finnish Board Game Society. Held on a weeked in early November. A whole hall at the Helsinki Cable Factory is available to play board games for the entire weekend, from Friday evening to Sunday evening (the event closes for the nights though). Hundreds of board games available provided by the organisers (note that to loan a game to play, you must leave something valuable as a pawn token, such as your phone or wallet). You can also bring your own board games to play. Suitable for people of all ages, both adults and children.
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- Tallberginkatu 1
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- 10 AM to 6 PM mostly
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- Free of charge
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Joulu
In the weeks before Christmas, Aleksanterinkatu is festively lit up, the Christmas lights of the street are ceremonially lit on the last Sunday in November. The open-air Christmas market formerly held in the Esplanadi Park is nowadays held at the Senaatintori (Senate Square). The Stockmann department store sets up a Christmas themed exhibition with mechanic dolls and animals in their windows at the corner of Keskuskatu and Aleksanterinkatu. Christmas itself is a family event, so on the 24th, everything shuts down and stays closed until December 26.
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Yrjönkadun Uimahalli
An art-deco bath house with three types of saunas and a swimming pool. Take a sauna and swim in the nude. There are separate days for women and men. Bathing suits are not banned, but almost everyone goes without one. Men's swimming days are: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; Women's days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. 1st Floor €5 (or €5.40 with a lockable stall or 'cabin'), 2nd Floor €14. The second floor (accessible only the afternoons from Tuesday to Sunday) includes access to a steam sauna and a wood-heated sauna, as well as a café.
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- Yrjönkatu 21b
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Liquorice and salmiak festival
Finns are known for their taste for liquorice flavoured with the salt ammonium chloride, popularly known as salmiak or ''salmiakki'' in Finnish, even if many foreigners may find the taste strange and even repulsive at first. Wanha Satama in Katajanokka holds an entire festival for salty liquorice candy on a weekend in middle November. More liquorice candy than you can shake a stick at, both with salmiak and without. Several vendors offer their candy for sale and give you free samples.
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- Pikku Satamakatu 3-5
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- 11 AM to 5 PM mostly
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- 12 €
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Tennispalatsi
The Tennispalatsi ("Tennis palace") was originally built to house tennis events for the 1940 and 1952 Olympics. Nowadays, it retains no trace of its Olympic past. Instead, it functions primarily as Helsinki's biggest movie theatre, with more than ten halls on two floors, showing movies both from Finland and abroad. As well as functioning as a movie theatre, Tennispalatsi also houses cultural exhibitions, small stores, restaurants (including Pizza Hut and Hesburger) and cafés.
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- Salomonkatu 15
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Helsinki Festival
Multi-week annual arts festival in the latter half of August. The peak of the festival is Taiteiden Yö, "Night of the Arts" called "little ''vappu''" by many as the streets are full of revelers. The official event is marked by performing arts through the night. The Night of the Arts was originally organized by local bookstores in the 1990s. It's now organized by the city. During the last few years, the event has slightly returned to its origin as an arts and culture event.
More info -
Huone
Huone ("Room") claims to be the world's first event hotel, providing premises and services for their customers to hold their own events. There are twelve rooms of different sizes, and each can be rented for a day, a morning or an evening. Huone can host various kinds of events such as business meetings, birthday parties or sauna evenings. The customer holds the event - Huone provides the premises and services, including catering, with alcoholic drinks or without.
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- Länsisatamankatu 16
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- 8 AM to midnight mostly
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- 44 € to 59 € per person
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Flow Festival
Is a music and arts festival in early August at Suvilahti. Noted for its high-end arrangements marrying music to design and gourmet food and drink, Flow has expanded to include installations, arts and workshops in the past few years. The music presented at Flow is a strong and varied selection of up and coming and established artists from indie-rock to soul and jazz and from folk to contemporary club sounds, both from the Finnish and the international scene.
More info -
Kasinonranta Beach, Lauttasaari
A popular place in summer with a large playground for children and a pleasant café [http://www.kasinonranta.fi/ Kasinonranta] (in summer season open M-F 15:00-19:00, Sa-So 10:00-19:00). At the beach and the park around you can picnic, kick a ball, play a beach volleyball, swim, canoe or skatefurf. In winter it is possible to snowkite here or hike, skate or cross country ski on frozen sea around Lauttasaari island and even reach some nearby islands.
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- Tiirasaarentie
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The Cable Factory
The former cable factory in Ruoholahti is nowadays a multi-purpose culture center. It hosts concerts, fairs, art workshops and odd/original museums like the restaurant museum and photography museum. There is a Restaurant/Café/Bar [http://www.himasali.com/english/ Hima & Sali] in the building. At lunch time you can choose your meal from a daily menu or watch the cook prepare your wok from ingredients you selected. Good place for vegetarians.
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- Tallberginkatu 1
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National Opera
Lavishly subsidized, but it's still easy to get good seats. Tickets €14-84. Students can buy discount tickets for performances on the same day for €10 if there are still seats left, but these tickets have to be bought in person. An international student card is valid. Pensioners get €5 off, and children get their tickets at half regular price. Also runs the '''National Ballet''' (''Kansallisbaletti'').
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- Helsinginkatu 58
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Korjaamo Cultural Factory
Situated in the old tram depot, Korjaamo is made up of galleries, a café, bar, club space, a theatre, shop, and even the Tram Museum is still here. Since the Vaunuhalli was opened in the summer of 2008, Korjaamo is now the biggest cultural centre in the country. While the work is diverse, you could say that the kind of art on offer at Korjaamo is independent, different, and worth keeping an eye on.
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- Töölönkatu 51
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Helsinki Burlesque Festival
Finland's biggest burlesque show. Held on a weekend in late February/early March. Although most of the performers are female, the Finnish burlesque scene has more male performers than that of any other country. Many visitors come in fancy dress costumes, and there is even a prize awarded for the best dressed man and the best dressed woman in the audience. For adults only.
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- Pikku Roobertinkatu 12
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- 7 PM to 4 AM
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- 83 € for a two-day pass
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Casino Helsinki
Finland's only gambling casino. Located right next to the railway station. The only gambling casino in the world to donate 100% of its profits to charity. 2600 square metres of floor space on two floors. About 300 slot machines and 20 gaming tables and several bars. Also includes a luxurious Show & Dinner restaurant, with prices ranging from 70 € to 90 € per person.
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- Mikonkatu 19
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- 12 PM - 04 AM
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Outdoor Icepark skating in winter
A pair of skates can be rented for an additional fee. The connected Café offers the opportunity of defrosting with a cup of hot glögi. There are also dozens of other places to go skating in Helsinki, including natural and indoor skating rinks. Their list is available at the city's [http://www.hel.fi/hki/Liv/en/Sports+facilities/Artificial+skating+rinks website].
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- Railway Station Square
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Hietaniemi Beach
It's safe to say that most people don't come to Helsinki for the beaches, but on a hot summer day in July ''Hietsu'' (as it is known to locals) is a good place to be. Beach volleyball, swimming and various events are popular. It's wide city center sand beach and morover, surrounded with large park area, where people sunbathe and picnic in the summer time.
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- Hietaniemenkatu
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World Village Festival
Is annual multicultural weekend festival in late May. The event is free to all and a meeting place offering tastes of different cultures and surprises from all over the world, music, dance, food, art, market, information. Several hundred organizations are involved and the main organiser KEPA works under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
More info -
Juhannus
Although a large bonfire is lit in Seurasaari, the celebration is low key as the tradition is to celebrate "the nightless night" at summer cottages in the countryside. Although some celebrate Juhannus in Helsinki as well, the streets are often eerily empty and the doors of the shops closed, making it the most quiet time of year in Helsinki.
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- Friday between June 19 and June 25
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Kallio Kukkii
A cultural summer festival held in the bohemian district of Kallio not very far from the city centre. Held over a week in middle May. Various art galleries, workshops and street art performances. Culminates in a samba parade on Sunday, held by Império do Papagaio as their final practice before the main Samba Carnaval in the city centre.
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- Parade at 1 PM - 2 PM
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- Free of charge
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Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Performances have recently moved to the Music House, a brand new visually questionable but acustically excellent concert hall. Tickets €20. On selected Wednesdays you can go see dress rehearsals for as little as €3 per person. The rehearsals start 9.30 AM. Check availability on the site before showing up at the Music House!
More info -
Kotiharjun sauna
This is the last wood burning public sauna in Helsinki. Separate saunas for men and women. There's a good chance you'll find a top level chess match in the dressing room. Don't miss cooling off outside, especially in winter. On Saturdays you'll find bachelor partiers (Kotiharju is pretty near to Kallio's nightlife).
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- Harjutorinkatu 1
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- €12 for adults, students & pensioners €8.5, towel €3 extra.
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Söderskär Lighthouse
An old secluded lighthouse island out at sea, in the middle of a bird reserve. Day trips are arranged by [http://www.royalline.fi/articles/1221/ Royal Line], including lunch, a guided tour of the lighthouse (Finnish/English) and a couple of hours to linger on the island, but it is also possible to stay the night.
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- Boat at 11AM on Tue, Thu, Sat (29.6.-14.8.2010)
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- Day cruise €52/25, hostel starting at €40/person
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Helsinki Fair Grounds
For many business travelers the reason to visit Helsinki, but there are also some events around the year that aren't exclusively geared towards professionals like the American car show in April, the Book fair in October, Ski expo in November and of course the Travel expo in January!
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- Messuaukio 1
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Finland-Sweden athletics competition
A yearly athletics international competition held between these two neighboring countries since 1925 – the only one still existing of this kind of two-country competition. The two-day event, held in alternate years in Finland or in Sweden, attracts significant audiences.
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- biannually held in Finland, next event Aug 30-31, 2014
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Helsinki International Film Festival
Also known as ''Rakkautta & Anarkiaa'' (''Love & Anarchy'') and held annually in September, HIFF features a wide selection of films from all over the world. Asian films have been a special focus in the history of the festival that celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012.
More info -
Helsinki-päivä
This is the birthday of the city. It traditionally starts with the mayor's morning coffee and is celebrated throughout the day with a variety of concerts, performances, exhibitions and guided tours around the city. Nowadays special event program even for several days.
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- Jun 12
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Natura Viva - Vuosaari Paddling Center
Vuosaari Paddling Center is the leading organizer of kayaking activities in the Helsinki region. The kayak rental is open from the beginning of June until the end of August every day. In May and September on demand. Guided tours, trips and courses are also possible.
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- Ramsinniementie 14
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- Rentals start at 14 € per 2 hours
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Helsinki Samba Carnaval
The biggest samba show in Finland, inspired by the famous Rio de Janeiro Carnaval in Brazil. Held on a Saturday in early June. A great samba parade fills the streets of central Helsinki, with dancers and music players from practically every samba school in Finland.
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- 3 PM to 5 PM
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- Free of charge
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Lux Helsinki
Beginning of January. Lux Helsinki is an annual event of light installations to cheer residents' and visitors' minds during the darkest time of the year. They are on display over several nights. Lux Helsinki can also be enjoyed as part of a guided walking tour.
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- 5 PM to 10 PM
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- Free of charge
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Kulttuuritalo
The Helsinki Hall of Culture is a concert hall designed by Alvar Aalto in the 1950's. Since it's opening many world famous artists and groups such as Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Tina Turner, Iron Maiden and Lady Gaga have held concerts there.
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- Sturenkatu 4
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Tokoinranta
A park northwest of Hakaniemi, which in August turns into an outdoor scene during the Helsingin Juhlaviikot cultural festival. Check out the City theater, and if you understand Finnish or Swedish, go see a theater performance.
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New Year's Eve
Like in many other major cities, thousands of Helsinkians gather at Senaatintori next to the Cathedral to welcome the New Year. The event is shown on live television and there is a free outdoor concert as well.
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- Dec 31-Jan 1
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Mäkelänrinteen uimahalli
Indoor swimming pool which has also been used for international competitions. Great if you feel like swimming in the winter but don't care for the traditional Finnish "hole in the ice" swimming.
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- Mäkelänkatu 49
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Brahenkenttä
An open sports pitch in northern Kallio where you can play football (soccer) in the summer and ice hockey or bandy in the winter or watch a home game of the Finnish bandy league team HIFK.
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Sonera Stadium
The home of football (soccer) team [http://www.hjk.fi/ HJK]. Tickets for matches start from €12. ''Name changed from Finnair Stadium in August 2010 due to corporate sponsorship change''
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- Urheilukatu 5
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Suvilahti
A former power plant, nowadays a center for alternative culture that hosts a circus and some exhibitions. The electronic music festival Flow each August are held on the premises.
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- Sörnäisten rantatie 22
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Metro
A little known fact is that Helsinki Metro is the world's northernmost metro system. Why not ride all the way to Mellunmäki, which is the world's northernmost metro station?
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Aurinkolahti Beach
Spacier and calmer than Hietsu in Western Helsinki, the Aurinkolahti Beach is frequented by everyone from youth to families. It is located in the neighbourhood of Vuosaari.
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- Solvikinkatu, Vuosaari
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Annantalo
Feel creative? Annantalo, a multimodal "house of art" arranges art workshops and courses for both kids and grownups, as well as performances and exhibitions.
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- Annankatu 30
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- Mo-Fr 8–20, Sa-Su 10–16
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Mustavuori forest and Östersundom bird waters
The area is protected under the European Union's Natura 2000 ecological network program. There are many different forest types and bird species here.
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UMO Jazz Orchestra
An important part of Finnish jazz life, known for performing new Finnish music alongside interesting shows, such as with new circus. Various venues.
More info -
Skippered Day Sailing
Visit the coastal archipelago on a 35 ft sailboat, for two hours or full day trips with an experienced skipper. Island hopping is also possible.
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- Laivastokatu 1, Katajanokka
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- leaves daily 10AM
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- from €60
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Hartwall Areena
The largest indoor arena in Finland, the home of ice hockey team ''[http://www.jokerit.com/ Jokerit]'' and also a popular venue for concerts.
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- Areenankuja 1
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Helsinki Pride
Finland's biggest and most famous LGBT pride event. Held over a week in late June, culminates in a parade and open-air party on Saturday.
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- Parade 1 PM–2 PM, party 2 PM–6 PM
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- Free of charge
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Arlan sauna
Old public sauna in Kallio. Separate saunas for men and women. Washing service and traditional bloodletting (''kuppaus'') also available.
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- Kaarlenkatu 15
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- €9 for adults, students €7
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Kontufestari
Yearly music festival in Kontula with performances by Finnish 80's rock artists and hip hop crews from Eastern Helsinki among others.
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- Kelkkapuisto
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- free
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Helsinki City Marathon
The name says it all. Not as famous as the one in New York, but with over 6,000 participants the largest marathon race in Finland.
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- Next event: Aug 15, 2015
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Kämp Spa
Kämp Spa is located in the heart of Helsinki. In addition to the spa treatments, the Spa counts with a gym and 3 different saunas.
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- Kluuvikatu 4 B, (Kämp Gallery 8th floor)
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- Mon–Fri 9AM - 8PM, Sat 9AM - 8PM, Sun 9AM - 1PM and 4PM - 8PM (gym and sauna area)
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Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus
New sports mall in Helsinki, includes indoor beach, bowling, ice hockey, wall climbing, gym, Megazone, restaurant and lots more...
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- Energiakatu 3
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Beach of Uunisaari
One of the better kept secrets of Helsinki is the beach on Uunisaari, an island a short ride away from the south coast.
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- Uunisaari island
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Jääherne
Try some ice hockey with your friends in the Jääherne ice hall on the southwesternmost tip of Helsinki.
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- Hernematalankatu 6
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tiketti
There are many lives of many genres. So you must browse what show will be held and buy ticket.
More info -
Tuska Open Air
An annual, 3-day heavy metal festival, featuring acts from all over the world, held in July.
More info -
Helsingin Jäähalli
The home of ice hockey team [http://www.hifk.fi/ HIFK]. Tickets for matches start from €10.
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- Nordenskiöldinkatu 11-13
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Outdoor skating Lauttasaari
Two outdoor skating rings, open approximately between 2.1 - 24.2, depending on weather.
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- Lahnalahdentie 2
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- M-Su 8:00-21:00
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Helsinki City Run
A running event in central Helsinki where you can run the length of a half marathon.
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- Next event May 16, 2015
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Ramsinniemi protected area
A small nature reserve about halfway between Itäkeskus and Vuosaari.
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Hoplop activity hall for kids
8 meters tall adventure maze, slides etc. Cafe.
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- Savikiekontie 4
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Exploring Helsinki: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Helsinki rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 63 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Helsinki and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Helsinki's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Helsinki has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Helsinki, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Helsinki's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 63 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Helsinki's Activities
Timing matters in Helsinki. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Helsinki has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Helsinki is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Helsinki offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Helsinki coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Helsinki's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Helsinki's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 63 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Helsinki
One of the best things about traveling to Helsinki is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Helsinki right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Helsinki to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Helsinki often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Helsinki?
Helsinki offers 63+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Linnanmäki, Vappu, Lautapelaamaan, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Helsinki?
Yes — Helsinki has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Helsinki?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Helsinki. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Helsinki use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Helsinki?
Helsinki has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Helsinki with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Helsinki right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
