Helsinki

Helsinki is a huge city with several district articles that contain information about specific sights, restaurants, and accommodation.

Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors) is Finland's capital and largest city. Helsinki combines modern and historic architectural styles with beautiful open spaces. The city is surrounded by hundreds of tiny islands, and is a cultural bridge between the East and West. The "Pearl of the Baltic Sea" is easy to explore on foot or on bike, and it has a laid-back vibe.

The city of Helsinki forms the core of Finland's largest urban area, known in Finnish as the "capital area" (pääkaupunkiseutu). Helsinki is bordered by the Gulf of Finland to the south, while the posh suburban city of Espoo, with the embedded tiny enclave city of Kauniainen, is to the west. The more industrialized city of Vantaa (where the airport is) is to the north and east. The Capital Region has a population of almost 1.3 million, 700,000 of them living in Helsinki proper. Beyond these, the suburbs rapidly give way to small towns, farms and forests, most notably Nuuksio National Park at the intersection of Espoo, Vihti and Kirkkonummi. On the eastern side, at the tri-point of Helsinki, Vantaa and Sipoo you can find the Sipoonkorpi National Park.

Helsinki's city centre is on the southern peninsula at the end of the city's main thoroughfare Mannerheimintie (or just Mansku). The central railway station and the main bus terminal are in the city centre. Shopping streets Aleksanterinkatu (or Aleksi for short) and Esplanadi (or Espa) connect to Senate Square (Senaatintori), the historical centre of the city. See the Helsinki Guide Map for an interactive searchable map of the city.

Central The very core of Helsinki is, as one might expect, a lively part of the city with many attractions including the great art museums of Ateneum and Kiasma and the impressive central railway station. The district has many places to eat, drink and shop – streets are lined with these kinds of establishments, particularly the pedestrianised Aleksanterinkatu. For some relaxing greenery, two of the city's most notable parks are here, Esplanadinpuisto and Kaisaniemenpuisto.

Kruununhaka and Katajanokka The Lutheran Cathedral at the Senate Square with the surrounding buildings, dating from the early 19th century when Helsinki was made capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, can be found here. One block south is the iconic waterfront with the Market Square, continuing east into Katajanokka. This can be considered the most "touristy" part of Helsinki, with many of the city's most famous buildings almost next to each other. The rest of Kruununhaka and Katajanokka are mainly residential.

South In the calm and affluent southern part of Helsinki you can enjoy the greenery of the parks and drop into a nice café for a cuppa coffee. Southern Helsinki also has its share of interesting museums, and if you're into fashion and design shopping, head to the district of Punavuori and along Fredrikinkatu. Suomenlinna, the fortress on an island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there are also some other islands just south of the mainland accessible to visitors.

Kamppi and Southwest For some great places for eating and drinking, head across Mannerheimintie and continue through Kamppi. Further west the former industrial part of the city, watched over by the cranes of the shipyard and industry chimneys you can nowadays glance over the modern architecture and out to the sea.

West The western part of the city is a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. If you have the time, take a leisurely seaside stroll along the shores of Laajalahti bay, or if you're a sports buff, visit the great summer and winter sports venues which are concentrated in this part of the city. The list cultural and historical sights of western Helsinki isn't bad either - it hosts the National Opera, Hietalahti cemetery, the Church in the Rock, the museums of Natural History, Finland's National Museum and the home of the long-time president Urho Kekkonen as well as functionalist architecture.

Inner East If you, on the other hand, are interested in the more bohemian part of Helsinki and/or love to party you'd better head to the Inner East and districts like Kallio. The former working class part of the city is still associated with counterculture and to some extent left-wing politics and is largely inhabited by students. Kallio is as close as one could come to a "red light district" in Helsinki. However, the Inner East part of the city also hosts the amusement park Linnanmäki and the old wooden neighbourhoods of Vallila and Käpylä. The area also includes the increasingly populous district of Kalasatama, known for Finland's first skyscrapers.

Eastern suburbs The eastern parts of Helsinki is mostly residential and probably the most culturally diverse part of the city, as immigrants from many parts of the world live here. In this part of Helsinki you can find the Helsinki Zoo, the huge shopping complex Itis in Itäkeskus, as well as the northernmost metro station in the world in Mellunmäki. The Sipoonkorpi National Park spreads into the very easternmost parts of Helsinki.

Northern suburbs The northern parts of Helsinki, which was once known as a separate rural municipality of Helsinki, now consists of highways, shopping malls, industries and residential buildings, plus quite a bit of greenery in-between. It connects seamlessly to the next city north of Helsinki: Vantaa. While not as culturally interesting as the other parts of Helsinki, it offers some natural attractions like the Central Park and Helsinki's highest point Malminkartanonhuippu.

Helsinki was established as a trading town by the Swedish Empire in 1550, but it wasn't until 1812, when the Russian Empire made it the capital of Finland, that it started growing. Today, this hustling and bustling city has 690,000 inhabitants and the capital area 1.36 million (2025). It is the northernmost capital of an EU member state. Helsinki metro is the northernmost subway in the world.

Helsinki was founded in AD 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, of which Finland was the eastern part, as a trading post to compete with Tallinn to the south in Estonia, which was Danish at that time. Helsinki was established about 5 km north-east of the current centre in the area today known as Vanhakaupunki ("the Old Town"), at the rapids where Vantaa river (at that time known as Helsinge river) flows into the Baltic Sea, which in turn gave the city its Swedish name Helsingfors ("Helsinge rapids"). Never becoming the trading post Gustav Vasa envisioned and largely bypassed by the King's Road — the major road along the coast — the village faced some hard times during its first centuries with fires and diseases; today there is but a few stones left of the original Helsinki. Eventually the city was moved further south to its current location, and in the middle of the 18th century, the maritime fortress Sveaborg (nowadays Suomenlinna in Finnish) was established on a handful of islands just in front of Helsinki, the fortress and the city together being nearly as populous as the regional capital Turku. The now world heritage-listed fortress archipelago features some of the oldest standing buildings in the city.

In 1809, through the Finnish War (a part of the Napoleonic Wars), Finland was annexed by Russia and the capital of Finland moved from Turku to Helsinki in 1812, away from Sweden. The Czar felt the Grand Duchy of Finland needed a capital of grand proportions, and this was a major turning point in the history of Helsinki. The architects Johan Albrecht Ehrenström, a native Finn, and Carl Ludwig Engel, from Germany, were given the task of rebuilding the city in the Empire style. This can be seen today around the Lutheran Cathedral, which was completed in 1852. The same style, and even architects, is also a part of Saint Petersburg's history.

Growing steadily during the 19th century, with the population exceeding 100,000 by the turn of the century, Helsinki established itself as the largest city and the political and cultural capital of the country. The city was a battleground in the Finnish Civil War in 1918, and was bombed by the Soviets in the Second World War. Until the 1950s Finland was largely an agricultural country, but the industrialisation and urbanisation that happened during the following decades meant an influx of new inhabitants from the rural parts of the country and Helsinki started becoming the metropolis it is today, with suburbs, superhighways and even a small subway system. Architecturally a young city, many of the monumental buildings erected since the independence have a stark modernist style and the rest of the city's architecture is made up of National Romantic style buildings from the early 20th century and the aforementioned Empire style buildings in Central Helsinki. Though thoroughly a Nordic capital, Helsinki today reflects the influences gained from the Western and Eastern cultures.

• 60.1689524.952261 City of Helsinki Tourist Information Office, Aleksanterinkatu 24 (southern side of the Senate Square), ☏ +358 9 3101-3300, helsinki.touristinfo@hel.fi. May–Sep: Mon–Sat 09:00–17:30, Sat–Sun and public holidays 09:00–16:00, phone service daily 09:00–16:00); Oct–Apr: Mon–Fri 09:30–17:00, Sat–Sun and public holidays 10:00–16:00 (Phone service Mon-Sat 09:00-16:00). A fount of information with helpful, multilingual staff.  (updated Oct 2026)

Additionally, the tourist information service offers a virtual guide chatbot called Lokki (“seagull” in Finnish).

Helsinki is among the world's northernmost capitals and the lengthy winter is dark and chilly. Winter temperatures average −5 °C (23 °F), but the wind chill and humidity makes it feel even colder and the mercury can plunge below −20 °C (−4 °F) on a particularly cold day. Days are short. In general snow falls only intermittently and often melts into grey slush. However lake-effect snowfalls dropping copious amounts of snow during a few hours (and messing up the traffic) is not unheard of in the early winter. The odds of a snowy white Christmas is only around 50%. Since the Helsinki peninsula juts into the sea, there is often a cold sea wind, and the climate is more maritime than inland, with snow and −5 °C (23 °F) replaced by slush, sleet and 0 °C (32 °F). This is especially apparent in November and December, but the first months of the year almost always have colder temperatures and clear skies.

The spring brings clear skies but the temperature doesn't increase as fast as the sunshine hours; even in April you may experience sub-zero nights, even as the afternoon temperatures raise above 10 °C (50 °F). The summer is often pleasant. Daytime temperatures average around 21 °C (70 °F) and drop to around 13 °C (55 °F) at night. Parks burst into green, sunbathers dot the city's beaches and restaurants and bars deploy their terraces and patios, making the streetscape look more Central European for a couple of months. Some July and August afternoons see temperatures around or above 26 °C (79 °F), with warmer nights around 16 °C (61 °F), and unlike the rest of the year you don't need a jacket or sweater even in the night. The sun sets late in the night and even then dusk turns into dawn without any real darkness in between. The autumn slowly develops throughout September with autumn foliage and moderate temperatures; snow and seriously cold weather before early November is very uncommon.

The city is officially bilingual, with an 86% Finnish-speaking majority and a visible 6% Swedish-speaking minority. Many in the Finnish-speaking majority only know the basics of Swedish, which they learned in school, while some speak it fluently.

Most people, especially in the younger generations, speak very good English. Although locals will appreciate an effort to say a few words in Finnish, they know very well how difficult Finnish is and will readily switch to English – many people also like the chance to practise their language skills.

Street signs and most other signs are usually in both Finnish and Swedish. In tourist-oriented areas, English signage is also prevalent. The Finnish and Swedish names of streets and places may differ significantly, for example Suomenlinna/Sveaborg for the fortress and Pasila/Böle for one of the train stations.

Being Finland's most cosmopolitan area by a fair margin, Helsinki also houses people from different parts of the world. While strolling around, you may hear people converse in, e.g., Estonian, Russian, German, and Somali.

Authorities are required to give service in Finnish and Swedish, while many will speak English with foreigners and you may have luck with other languages. In touristy places, some staff will speak four or five languages.

All international and domestic flights land at the compact, modern and airy 60.31722224.9633331 Helsinki Airport (HEL ^IATA).  , which is in Vantaa, 20 km to the north of central Helsinki.

The airport is well served from across Europe, from East Asia and was also well served from neighbouring Russia before Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022. There are also flights from some airports elsewhere in Asia and a few airports in the USA. Finnair used to use Helsinki's position to the north-east of Europe to offer competitive travel times to East Asia. However, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian airspace cannot be used, which has nullified the advantage.

Coming from across the Baltic Sea, you may also consider flying to some regional airport with budget flights, such as Turku or Tallinn, if their connections happen to suit. You can take a ferry from Tallinn or an intercity bus or train from the other cities, which generally have excellent connections to Helsinki (connecting flights are sparse, and you'd miss the city visit).

Helsinki Airport is on a commuter train loop, with trains every 10–30 minutes from 04:30 until 01:15, taking about 30 min to the centre. There are buses to the centre, to Vantaa, to Itäkeskus (with metro connection) in the eastern suburbs, and to other cities. Taxis are available. See Helsinki Airport#Ground transportation for details.

There are 24-hour grocery stores both at the airport (Alepa) and at Elielinaukio (S-Market), close to the Central Railway Station.

Being the national capital, Helsinki has direct services from all major train stations in Finland. The services from Russia stopped with the war on Ukraine. All long-distance trains to the city terminate at the 60.17194424.9413892 Central Railway Station.  (updated Oct 2026) which provides easy interchange to metro, bus, tram and local train lines. The train station offers bars, cafés, currency exchange, kiosks, fast food restaurants, luggage boxes, a pharmacy, and many other amenities, in addition to a central location. The Scandic Grand Central Helsinki hotel is also located within the station.

All trains also stop at 60.198624.93363 Pasila station (Böle station).  (updated Oct 2019), some 4 km north, which might be a good option if you're going elsewhere than central Helsinki. This is also where cars are loaded on trains to Lapland. Directly connected to the station is Mall of Tripla, one of the largest shopping centres in the Nordic countries, featuring a wide range of shops, cafés, restaurants, grocery stores, a pharmacy, a cinema, and other services and entertainment options.

For other stations, you may want to transfer to a local train before arriving in Helsinki; you can get that local train included on your ticket.

Motorways connect Helsinki to Turku to the west, Tampere and Lahti to the north, and to Porvoo and to Saint Petersburg in the east. The south and west of Finland are mostly surrounded by water, but you can bring your car on ferries from Tallinn (south, many daily connections), Stockholm (west, daily), or even Germany (south-west). See "By boat" below. There are ferries from Sweden also to Turku and Vaasa on the west coast of Finland.

Long-distance national and international coaches terminate at the underground 60.16924.93214 Kamppi Bus Station (Kampin linja-autoasema) in the basement of the Kamppi mall (Kampin Keskus). The station is adjacent to Mannerheimintie, directly connected to the Kamppi metro station and within a short walking distance from the Central Railway Station. The main connections are served both by traditional coaches and low-cost Onnibus double-deckers.

Helsinki is well connected with ferry services from Tallinn, Estonia, and Stockholm, Sweden, and there are limited services from Travemünde and Rostock, Germany. Services from St. Petersburg (Russia) haven't sailed since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine. There are occasional cruises from other ports.

For those continuing directly from Helsinki, many coaches to elsewhere start from the port and then continue via Kamppi, possibly with a transfer.

Ferries arrive at four harbours around the city:

• 60.149824.91465 West Harbour, Terminal 2 (Länsisatama, Terminaali 2), Tyynenmerenkatu 14. Opened in 2017 on reclaimed land south of the older Terminal 1 that was demolished in 2025. Tallink's and Eckerö Line's ferries from Tallinn dock here. Easy access by trams 7 and 9.  (updated Apr 2025)
• 60.160824.95896 South Harbour, Olympia Terminal (Eteläsatama, Olympiaterminaali), Olympiaranta 1. West shore of the bay. Tallink Silja's overnight cruise ferries from Stockholm, M/S Silja Serenade and M/S Silja Symphony, dock at Olympia Terminal. The terminal has an ATM, luggage lockers, a cafe-kiosk, and the Silja Line service point. The terminal was built for the 1952 Olympic Games, hence the name. Trams 2 and 3 stop right outside the terminal.  (updated Apr 2025)
• 60.163924.96827 South Harbour, Katajanokka Terminal (Katajanokan terminaali), Katajanokanlaituri 8. East shore of the bay. Viking Line ships (M/S Gabriella, M/S Cinderella, M/S Viking XPRS) arrive at Katajanokka Terminal. The terminal has a restaurant, kiosk, an ATM, and the Viking Line service point. The terminus of tram 5 (only operates around departures and arrivals of ferries) is in front of the terminal, while tram 4 stops a few blocks towards the centre.  (updated Apr 2025)
• 60.221625.1768 Vuosaari Harbour, Hansa Terminal (Vuosaaren satama, Hansaterminaali), Provianttikatu 5. Mainly a cargo port, but used also by Finnlines services from Travemünde. Take bus 90 to Vuosaari and continue by metro.  (updated Apr 2025) ^{[dead link]}

See the Port of Helsinki site for the latest details.

The ferry route from Tallinn, Estonia to Helsinki has upwards of 20 departures daily. Depending on the ferry, journey time is anywhere from 1½ to 3½ hours. Prices average €16–30 one way, depending on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fridays and Saturdays cost more) and time of day (out in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). The route is among the most popular international ferry routes in the world (7.3 million passengers in 2025). Particularly popular are day cruises, which can go for as little as €15 return. Booze is significantly cheaper in Estonia than in Finland so a significant share of passengers will take advantage of the price difference by getting drunk in Tallinn or already on the way there. All ferries also carry cars, from €25 one way. Bicycles can be taken for around €5 one way. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.

The following companies operate ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki:

• Eckerö Line, ☏ +372 664 6000, info@eckeroline.ee. Operates only one ship, the 2000-passenger Finlandia (three times daily, travel time 2½ hr). Often has cheap fares. (updated Oct 2026)
• Tallink Silja, ☏ +372 640 9808, booking@tallink.ee. Up to 8 departures daily on the large shuttle ferries MyStar and Megastar (2 hr). Discounts are available to Interrail pass holders. As this company has more departures you will have more flexibility planning your day trip. (updated Oct 2026)
• Viking Line. Large Viking XPRS ferry (2½ hr, 2 sailings a day). Usually cheapest. Overnight sailings may also be available, allowing passengers to spend the night on board and arrive in Tallinn the following morning. (updated Oct 2026)

Eckerö and Viking usually have the cheaper fares, as they are more geared towards day-trippers and the party crowd who come to have a great time on board and tend to spend more in the bars, restaurants and shops on board.

Viking Line and Tallink Silja have daily ferry routes from Stockholm. The journey takes 18 hours. Usually Viking has cheaper fares.

Beware of the very busy ferry traffic, especially the fast ferries from Tallinn. Use boating routes where possible. If you need customs clearance you should use the customs route from Helsinki Lighthouse past Harmaja to the coast guard station at Katajanokka. The city maintains info for visiting vessels, including a list of free short-visit berths. Guest harbours include a range of archipelago harbours and at least the following:

• 60.16924.96349 MarinaBay, Kanavaranta 4 (northern shore of Katajanokka). Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Guest harbour in the centre. Sheltered and quite little traffic noise. Pier behind locked gate. Electricity, water, septic drainage, Wi-Fi, laundry room, showers and sauna included. Boat maintenance and repair services available. Shops and fuel nearby. 0–32 ft €45, 45–49 ft €80, 60–69 ft €120; 6-hr day stays 10:00–20:00 half fee.  (updated Feb 2026)
• 60.146224.982710 Suomenlinna Guest Harbour, Suomenlinna B 13 (Valimo, Suomenlinna). Guest harbour at the Unesco heritage. Electricity, water, laundry, shared sauna (male/female shifts), waste management and septic emptying included. 1-km walking distance to the ferry pier that connects the island to Helsinki Market Square with a 15-minute ferry ride. The ferry is part of the HSL public transit system and uses the same tickets. Day visit (6 hr) €10; night stay €38–45 depending on width.  (updated Feb 2026)

All public transport within the Capital Region is coordinated by HSL. This means that all public transport, such as trains, trams, buses, ferries and the metro all use the same ticketing scheme. You only need to know which zones you will travel through (see below).

Tickets cannot be bought with cash on board of trains, buses, or trams. There are card readers (for dedicated cards and for NFC payment) inside buses, trams and regional trains, and before the platform areas for metro and the Suomenlinna ferry.

The easiest way to buy tickets is to use contactless NFC payments. Visa and Mastercard cards, including Apple and Google Pay are accepted, while American Express is not. However, only single adult fare tickets are available by this method, and tickets are slightly more expensive. Starting November 2, 2026, HSL’s contactless payment system will introduce an automatic price cap, which prevents the combined cost of single tickets from exceeding the price of an equivalent 24-hour ticket. Other methods of purchasing a ticket are by using the preloaded travel card (see below), from R-kiosks, official sales points, HSL ticket machines, or the HSL mobile app. The app can be used for buying tickets, for route planning, for news on service disruptions, and for showing where the bus is at the moment.

For people staying in Helsinki for multiple days, a separately purchased multi-day ticket is almost certainly the best way to go, unless you mostly stay in the centre and like walking. Multi-day tickets for 2–13 days are available only in the app.

The Helsinki metropolitan area is divided into 5 HSL zones from A to E. Your ticket price will differ based on what zones you travel through. Tickets are not sold for single regions A, B, or C, meaning you need to get an AB ticket even if you only travel inside the city centre in zone A.

Here's a rough description of the zones.

• Zone A – Central Helsinki and as far as the tram goes.
• Zone B – The rest of Helsinki minus the far eastern suburbs. Includes eastern Espoo and the southern rim of Vantaa.
• Zone C – The rest of Espoo and Vantaa, most of the rest of Helsinki. Helsinki Airport is in zone C, so to get from the airport into the city centre by train or bus, you need an ABC ticket (there is no separate airport supplement, just the normal ABC fare).
• Zone D – Sipoo in the east, including the part taken over by Helsinki; Kerava and southern Tuusula in the north; Kirkkonummi and Siuntio in the west.
• Zone E – Northern Tuusula and Järvenpää in the north.

Only tickets for two, three or four zones are sold. The price of the ticket depends on the method of purchase. The following fares are the most common (fares given for adults purchasing by NFC card/via the app or a loaded HSL card; children travel for half the price; as of July 2026, see current fares):

• AB or BC: €3.50/3.30, valid 80 minutes
• CD or DE: €3.50/3.30, valid 90 minutes
• ABC, BCD or CDE: €4.80/4.50, valid 90 minutes
• ABCD or BCDE: €5.30/5.00, valid 110 minutes
• ABCDE: €6.50/6.10, valid 110 minutes

Alternatively, you can opt for a HSL Day Ticket or the Helsinki Card (see below), both of which offer unlimited travel within the zones included.

All tickets are valid on all types of transport, and allow unlimited transfers within their validity period (between 80 min and 110 min depending on ticket) and regions. Children under the age of seven travel for free, while the fare for children aged 7–17 is half that for adults.

The HSL Travel Card (matkakortti) is an RFID card sold at R-kioskis and HSL offices, very similar to London's Oyster card. The Travel Card costs €5 (non-refundable) and gives a discount on fares (see above). Hold the card on the reader without pressing anything to see the remaining value or to register a transfer. A travel card for non-residents can be bought at most R-kioski stores, and can be cost-effective if you are using many single tickets, or are here for 14 days and can get the 14-day season ticket for non-residents (€9.22/day) instead of weekly day passes.

In addition to a day ticket, you can also opt for a Helsinki Card or a Helsinki City Pass. These are offered by private companies and are separate from HSL's official ticketing system. Public transport is not automatically included in either pass's basic version, so check the specific product and select a version with HSL transport if available. The Helsinki Card CITY covers zones A and B, while the REGION version also covers zone C, including Helsinki Airport. Check the providers' websites for current terms and inclusions before purchasing.

The very useful HSL Journey Planner will get you from one street address, place or sight to another by suggesting possible public transport connections, covering the entire metropolitan region. Try "airport" or "railway station" for place names. The HSL app has an integrated route planner. Another app you can use is the Reitti app available on Google Play, which, like the HSL app, provides real-time tracking of HSL buses, trams, metro, ferries and trains and also displays the routes and stops of all vehicles.

Getting around at night can be a bit tricky (or expensive), as most trains and trams stop before midnight and the buses before 02:00. A limited night bus network, all leaving from either Elielinaukio or Rautatientori next to the railway station, runs on weekends and public holidays after 02:00, at the same price as a normal ticket.

There are no ticket checks when getting on the metro, trains, trams or the Suomenlinna ferry, but ticket inspectors perform random checks on board. If you ride without a ticket and get caught by inspectors, you will be fined €100 plus the price of a ticket.

For tourists, the most convenient and scenic means of travel is the extensive tram network. Trams run frequently and are clean and reliable even in wintertime. Tram lines in the city centre are numbered from 1 through 13, with the orbital line 15 running separately from the other lines outside the immediate city centre.

Tickets are sold onboard only by NFC card payments, not in cash.

Tram lines 2 and 3 are particularly useful for sightseeing, passing many of Helsinki's main attractions and offering a convenient way to explore the city centre.

See also Finland#By bus.

While the trams operate in the centre, buses cover the rest of the city. The main stations for northbound and eastbound buses are on the two squares adjacent to the Central Railway Station: Eliel Square (Elielinaukio) and Railway Square (Rautatientori). Westbound buses operate from the underground bus station in the Kamppi Centre, adjacent to the Kamppi metro station.

There are two different types of buses in Helsinki: the so-called trunk routes (coloured orange) and default local buses (coloured blue). The difference is that for orange buses, you may board from any door without contacting the driver. For blue buses, you must board from the front door and show your ticket to the driver. If you have your ticket in the HSL app, you must show the ticket on your phone as you board. You must wave to stop a bus at your stop.

Tickets are sold onboard only by NFC card payments, not in cash.

Helsinki's metro holds the minor distinction of being the northernmost subway system in the world, with Mellunmäki being the northernmost station. The distinct orange metro cars are worth a ride, although the network caters primarily to commuters and is of limited use for most visitors.

You must have a valid ticket before going down the escalators to the platforms. Ticket inspections at the bottom of the escalators are common.

There are two metro lines, M1 and M2. They share the same route between Tapiola and Itäkeskus, branching off towards different destinations at both ends. In the city centre, you can generally travel east (itään) or west (länteen), but check the train's destination to make sure you're boarding the right one.

The Junatie metro bridge between Kalasatama and Sörnäinen will be replaced between 2026 and 2028. From May to December in 2027, the metro stations of Sörnäinen, Kalasatama and Kulosaari will be shut down for repairs, temporarily cutting the metro line in half. Metro trains coming from the west will turn back at Hakaniemi and metro trains coming from the east will turn back at Herttoniemi.

Suburban trains operate north from the Central Railway Station, branching out in three directions. All local trains use the same HSL ticket and zone scheme as other forms of public transport. NFC onboard payment is possible.

Note that you may not board VR-branded green long-distance trains with an HSL ticket, even though they may depart right next to HSL suburban trains and could route-wise take you where you are going. Nevertheless, an HSL train leg may be included on your long-distance ticket. The Interrail tickets are valid on both kinds of trains, but you may not want to spend travel days on local journeys.

Construction work on the Espoo Rail Line is expected to continue until 2029, causing occasional service interruptions on the coastal railway west of Helsinki, particularly on some weekends. There are replacement buses and other arrangements, but you may want to check whether your train will actually be running.

The HSL ferry to Suomenlinna from the Market Square (Kauppatori) is a cheap and popular summer getaway and part of the HSL fare scheme in zone A. There are also private operators that operate from the Market Square to Suomenlinna for a separate fare, usually more expensive. There is also a separate HSL-operated service ferry, mostly used only for cargo transport and the island's residents, that leaves from the eastern end of Katajanokka.

Other ferries in the Helsinki area include the ferry to Korkeasaari Zoo and dedicated sightseeing and dinner ferry cruises. Most of these ferries leave from the Market Square or its vicinity.

Taxis in Helsinki can be expensive, and fares vary considerably between companies. At busy locations such as Helsinki Airport and the Central Railway Station, always check the fare before starting your journey to avoid unexpected costs. However, taxi fares must be disclosed in advance, either explicitly or via a black-and-yellow sticker on the side window. You must also be informed if the fare could exceed €100. The window sticker gives the price of an example voyage of 10 km and 15 min in the night, which should cost about €35. Some taxis have a minimum fee of €10–20. Beware of fixed prices unless you have an idea of what the metered price would be or can compare offers.

Taxi stands are common in the city centre. Drivers are not required to pick up a person hailing them on the street. If their light is on, and they pass a person hailing them, it is usually because there is a taxi stand nearby with taxis waiting for customers.

The largest taxi companies (call centres) are Taksi Helsinki and Lähitaksi. Beware of companies using similar names, playing on the reputation of those companies. Uber and Bolt work just like they do anywhere else, although legally regarded as normal taxis. They may or may not be cheaper. Also the other companies offer booking by app, or through their web page.

• Taxi Helsinki, ☏ +358 100-0700 (€2.96 + €1.54/min + local/mobile network charges). The traditional call centre for Helsinki. Their app is called Taksi Helsinki. (updated Oct 2026)
• Lähitaksi, ☏ +358 100-7300 (€2.96 + €0.29/10 s + mvm/pvm). Traditionally the main taxi dispatch service in the capital region outside of Helsinki. Their app is called Lähitaksi. (updated Oct 2026)
• Uber.  (updated May 2025)
• Bolt.  (updated May 2025)
• Menevä, toll-free: +358 800-02120 (booking).  (updated May 2025)
• iTaksi, ☏ +358 10-212-0000 (€0.08 + €0.17/min), info@itaksi.fi.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Fixutaxi, ☏ +358 100-6060 (€3.09 + €0.99/min), info@fixutaxi.fi.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Helsinki Limo, ☏ +358 100-3000 (€1.75 per call +pvm/mvm?), info@helsinkilimo.com. Premium taxi service. Their vehicles are always new and black with leather interior. (updated Oct 2026)

Helsinki's City Bike bike-sharing system offers 4600 bikes spread across 460 stations in Helsinki and the neighbouring city of Espoo. Users may buy passes good for one day (€5), one week (€10), or the full season (€35), which provide access to the bikes. Use of a bike for up to 60 minutes is free, with increasing charges for longer rides. Avoid these charges by returning the bike to a station within the 60-minute window – and checking it out again if you wish.

Several businesses also offer bicycle rentals.

If you bring your own bike, use City Bikes, or rent a bike, you'll find an extensive network of bike routes within the city. Cyclists are required by law to ride on the street next to cars unless a bike lane or integrated pedestrian-cyclist pavement runs next to it, and the police ticket cyclists breaking this rule. Bike lanes are clearly marked by street markings and blue traffic signs. Cycling is also allowed on pedestrian streets.

Bike lanes in the centre are typically on the pavement (instead of next to car lanes on the street) so be aware of pedestrians. Don't be afraid to ring your bell! Review your bike map carefully, as some bike routes will stop and require you to walk your bike or drive next to cars. Once you get out of the city centre, cycling is less complicated and there are great, well-labelled paths.

Bikes can be taken on the metro and regional trains free of charge, but only if there is enough space. On buses and trams only folding bikes are allowed. Use the lifts and walk your bike on the stations.

Baana – Helsinki's "Low Line" (as opposed to NYC's High Line) opened in 2012, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a 1.3 km long connector from the Western Harbour area to Kamppi and Töölö Bay. At the Harbour end, you can see all the international cruise ships that stop in Helsinki and visit a free sightseeing terrace with MiG-21BIS fighter jet on display, at the Verkkokauppa.com electronics store. On the Kamppi end, there's bicycle hire centre and cultural activities and sights.

Electric kick scooters can be rented through smartphone apps in central Helsinki. During the 2026 season, the operators are Voi, Dott and Ryde. If you plan to use an electric kick scooter during your visit, check the traffic rules and local restrictions on the City of Helsinki website.

Don't forget walking! The central part of Helsinki is compact and easily walkable. There is no need for public transportation in the main Kamppi–Central railway station area where many attractions are, and even anywhere on the main peninsula (south of the train station) is within 30 minutes at a nice leisurely pace.

There is an extensive but poorly signposted network of underground passages between and around the Kamppi and Rautatientori metro stations in central Helsinki, which is useful for escaping the winter weather. The City of Helsinki has an English pamphlet with a rough map and key attractions.

Car is not a particularly good way of getting around central Helsinki. If you have your own, consider not using it more than necessary. If you are going to rent a car, consider postponing it until you are going to leave the town.

Central Helsinki is rather difficult to get around by car due to restrictions (one-way streets, as of the 2020s several major street construction projects etc.), and is congested in the morning 06:30–08:30 towards the city and in the afternoon 15:00–17:00 towards the suburbs – the ring roads are congested both directions at both times. For instance, if driving from Porvoo to central Helsinki at around 16:00, one can expect to spend half an hour driving 47 km to the end of the motorway and another half an hour to drive 7 km to the Kamppi centre.

Also parking is limited and expensive. Most street-side parking in the city centre is in "Zone 1" and costs €4/hour during working hours, although Saturdays (mostly) and Sundays (always) are free. There are also several large underground car parks at the Kamppi and Forum shopping centres.

Cars can be rented from major international and local car rental companies, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt. Rental offices are available at Helsinki Airport and in the city centre.

See #Districts for listings.

Surrounded by sea and a vast archipelago, Helsinki is at its best in the summer when the dialogue between the city and nature is at its fullest. The city’s main sights include a variety of churches, museums and historic buildings, reflecting its Swedish and Russian influences as well as its development into Finland’s capital.

Helsinki’s appeal lies in its blend of architectural styles, islands and green spaces, combined with a lively urban culture. The compact city center makes it easy to explore the historic landmarks on foot. For a coastal amble past some of Helsinki's minor and major sights, see the itinerary A seaside stroll in Helsinki.

Architecture buffs will get a kick out of Helsinki's Neo-Classical centre, centred around Senate Square (Senaatintori), where a statue of the liberal Russian czar Alexander II stands guard. The square and its surroundings form part of the city center that architect Carl Ludvig Engel was commissioned to develop in the early 19th century. Notable buildings in the area include Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace and Helsinki City Hall, as well as the nearby Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral.

Art Nouveau architecture, known in Finland as Jugendstil, can be found throughout the city, particularly in the neighbourhoods of Katajanokka and Ullanlinna. Helsinki has hundreds of buildings in this style, many featuring decorative details inspired by the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. To experience Jugendstil interiors, visit Jugend Hall, which houses a Robert’s Coffee café, or stay in a historic building such as Home Hotel Jugend in Kamppi.

Another landmark is Helsinki Central Railway Station, designed by Eliel Saarinen and completed in 1919. Its distinctive architecture marks a transition from Finnish National Romanticism towards modernism. Heading north from the station towards Töölö Bay, visitors can find examples of Nordic Classicism and early modernism, including Parliament House. A short walk away, the National Museum of Finland is a prominent example of Finnish National Romanticism and is worth admiring from the outside, even if you do not visit the exhibitions.

Across Mannerheimintie stands Finlandia Hall, one of the best-known buildings designed by Alvar Aalto. His human-centred approach to modernist architecture can be seen throughout Helsinki. Several buildings designed by Aalto are part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Aalto Works, which recognises the work of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto. In Helsinki, these include Finlandia Hall, the Aalto House, Studio Aalto, the House of Culture and the main building of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). Other notable Aalto-designed buildings include the Academic Bookstore, where Café Aalto offers a place to take a break while enjoying the interior and furniture by Finnish design company Artek. Tram 4 passes close to several buildings designed by Aalto, making it a convenient way to explore some of his architectural works.

Contemporary architecture is also well represented in Helsinki. Oodi, the central library, is a major public space and an architectural landmark, while Amos Rex art museum combines underground domed galleries with the historic Lasipalatsi building. The Kamppi Chapel of Silence offers an interesting example of contemporary wooden architecture in the city centre.

Other notable buildings include St John's Church, built in the Gothic Revival style; Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the Rock Church, which is excavated directly into solid rock; and the historic buildings around the Central Railway Station, including the Ateneum art museum and the Finnish National Theatre.

Finland’s most famous art museum, the Ateneum, houses an extensive collection of Finnish art from the 18th century to the modern era, including works by celebrated artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Helene Schjerfbeck. The Wounded Angel by Hugo Simberg and Lemminkäinen’s Mother by Gallen-Kallela are among the most famous paintings in the museum’s collection of nearly 30,000 works. For a more European art collection, visit the Sinebrychoff Art Museum in Punavuori.

Helsinki is also known for its contemporary art scene, with several museums offering different perspectives on modern and contemporary art. HAM Helsinki Art Museum focuses on Finnish artists and has a collection that includes the city’s public sculptures. Kiasma, part of the Finnish National Gallery, is the place to explore contemporary Finnish and international art, while Amos Rex combines experimental exhibitions with immersive installations in underground galleries. All three museums regularly host changing exhibitions and are located within walking distance of each other in the city centre.

Other museums and art galleries worth a visit include the Didrichsen Art Museum and Villa Gyllenberg, both in Kuusisaari, and Kunsthalle Helsinki in Etu-Töölö.

Indoor art not your vibe? The Pasila neighbourhood is known for its large collection of graffiti, making it a popular destination for street art enthusiasts. If you want to take things one step further, you can leave your mark on the Suvilahti Graffiti Wall, a 100-metre-long wall where graffiti is legally permitted and the artwork is constantly evolving.

If you see only one place in Helsinki in the summer, make it Suomenlinna. Entry to the island is free, but you have to pay for the 15-minute ferry ride: Suomenlinna ferries leave from the Market Square. In the summer, HSL ferries run every 20–30 minutes (with a Zone A ticket) with private ferry companies competing with them at slightly more expensive prices (May 2025). There are no ferries at night between 02:00 and 06:00.

On summer weekends the island is a popular picnic destination and you may have to wait for a long time as hundreds of people crowd the ferry terminal. Consider arriving outside of the usual tourist rush hours or using private ferry companies instead.

Suomenlinna is far from the only island, a beautiful archipelago (saaristo) surrounds the Helsinki city centre. The major islands are Korkeasaari with the eponymous zoo, Seurasaari with its open air museum and Pihjalasaari with its beach. In addition to these, there are scheduled services to many smaller islands such as Vallisaari, and you can also tour islands by sightseeing cruises. Most of the cruises depart from the Market Square and last from one to several hours. Most ferries and cruises operate only in the summer high season.

• Along Mannerheimintie, as the name says, what you can see if you travel the main street end to end
• A seaside stroll in Helsinki, an easy half-day walk along Helsinki's west coast
• Helsinki itineraries, several suggested itineraries for different lengths of stay

See #Districts for listings.

While sauna bathing is a traditional practice throughout Finland, Helsinki is particularly well known for its public saunas. Originally serving as washing facilities, public saunas in Helsinki are experiencing a revival as places to relax and socialize, with many combining traditional sauna bathing with contemporary architecture and design. There are around 60 public saunas in the city. The oldest, Kotiharjun Sauna, in the Kallio neighborhood, opened its doors in 1928 and still offers the traditional wood-fired sauna experience.

Some of the most popular saunas among tourists are Löyly, a design sauna complex featuring three saunas, including a smoke sauna, a restaurant and access to the sea; and Allas Sea Pool, located in the heart of Helsinki next to Market Square. Allas combines the sauna experience with warm and cold pools, a restaurant, a bar and a venue for concerts and other events.

Other saunas offer a more local experience. Sompasauna, a communal sauna on the island of Mustikkamaa, is open 24/7 and maintained by its users. Sauna Hermanni is another Helsinki institution, where traditional treatments such as cupping are still practiced. Lähde Sauna is a laid-back sauna housed in a building designed by Carl Ludvig Engel that once served as a psychiatric hospital.

Newer public saunas include the ones on the island of Lonna, which offer modern facilities with views of the archipelago; Uusi Sauna, a lively venue that combines sauna bathing with a bar and occasional live music; and Kulttuurisauna, a minimalist sauna heated with wood pellets.

If you prefer a more private sauna experience, you can also book accommodation with a private sauna. Lapland Hotels Bulevardi has more than 100 rooms with private saunas, while Bob W offers apartment rentals with saunas in some units. For a no-fuss option, many hotels and some hostels in Helsinki have communal saunas available to guests.

There is no single right way to enjoy a sauna. The basic rule is to be respectful, and it is best to check each sauna’s website for specific rules. Some saunas are separated by gender, and swimsuits may be optional or prohibited, while others are mixed-gender and require swimsuits. Wearing a towel is generally acceptable everywhere. Staying hydrated is very important, but check the sauna’s policies on bringing your own drinks and consuming alcohol.

The most common sport by attendance is ice hockey: the season starts in September and ends between March and early May (depending on the playoffs). Football (soccer) is also very popular, with the domestic season starting in March and ending in October (unlike in most of Europe).

For ice hockey, there are two top-level teams in the Helsinki area: HIFK (capacity 8,200) and Kiekko-Espoo (in the neighbouring city of Espoo but easily accessible, capacity 7,000). Tickets start at roughly €25 (May 2025), and the matches are very safe and quite tourist-friendly, assuming you know the rules of the game. Food and beer are available at the concession stands, but can be expensive. A second-level team, Jokerit, also plays in Helsinki, with some games played in the same arena as HIFK. A good option if the other two teams don't play on your dates.

Helsinki has two football clubs playing in the top-level Veikkausliiga: HJK (capacity 10,700) and IF Gnistan (capacity c. 2,000). HJK, playing at Bolt Arena near the centre, is historically the best team in Finland and usually a cup contender, while Gnistan is significantly smaller but a good underdog. Gnistan plays in Oulunkylä, some 7 km north of the centre, reachable by bus. However, Finland is not known for its football: while the games can be fun and exciting, don't expect Premier League or even Swedish Allsvenskan atmosphere.

The men's national soccer team play home games at Olympic Stadium, capacity 36,000, 3 km north of city centre. The women's national team usually play at Bolt Arena, just next to the Olympic Stadium. National games are played sporadically year-round, even in freezing weather. Men's national games are often sold out in advance.

Helsinki Cup, the third largest international youth football tournament in Europe, is held each year in Helsinki during mid-summer.

The situation with cinemas in Helsinki has deteriorated, as one by one small cinemas have closed their doors.

Foreign films are mostly shown in the original language with Finnish (and usually Swedish) subtitles.

There are two large cinema complexes in Helsinki centre: Tennispalatsi at Salomonkatu 15, Kamppi and Kinopalatsi at Kaisaniemenkatu 2, Kaisaniemi, both run by Finnkino, the dominating cinema chain in Finland. Prices vary between €6.50 and €17.50 depending on location, time and 2D/3D.

Cinemas concentrating on classic and art house films are few and far between in Helsinki today. The cinema Orion, Eerikinkatu 15, run by the Finnish National Audiovisual Archive, displays a wide variety of films, including classics. Tickets €6 for non-members and €4.50 with a membership card. Kino Engel, Sofiankatu 4 near Senaatintori, concentrates on European and world cinema. Tickets €9. In Summers, Kesäkino (Summer Cinema) is held in the inner court of Café Engel, Aleksanterinkatu 26. Tickets (€12) can be bought from the Kino Engel counter and for the same night also from the Kesäkino door 45 minutes before the screening.

There are also some (small) independent movie theatres in neighbouring Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen showing mainly the bigger blockbusters. Many of them have a matinée series of cheaper, more art house screenings supported by the local culture board.

Luckily, several film festivals enrich the cinema culture in Helsinki region. The biggest is the Helsinki International Film Festival - Love and Anarchy held annually in September. Espoo has its own international film festival Espoo Ciné held every August in Tapiola and Leppävaara. In January, Helsinki Documentary Film Festival Docpoint^{[dead link]} takes over. Some of the smaller film festivals include (to name few) Lens Politica^{[dead link]} showing political films and art, and Night Visions^{[dead link]} focusing on horror, fantasy, science fiction, action and cult cinema. The Cinemania^{[dead link]} website collects at least some of the festivals together and also sells passes of 5 or 10 screenings that may be used in several festivals. However, check the site for the most up-to-date information as the ticket policy varies from festival to festival.

Helsinki has an active cultural life and tickets are generally inexpensive.

Important performing groups include:

• Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (Kaupunginorkesteri). Performances have moved to the Music House, a brand new visually questionable but acoustically excellent concert hall. Tickets €20. On selected Wednesdays you can go see dress rehearsals for as little as €3 per person. The rehearsals start 09:30. Check availability on the site before showing up at the Music House! 
• 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. 

Helsinki is on the Finnish Gulf, and several cruise liners arrange trips out to the archipelago ranging from short hops lasting only an hour or two to trips ranging a full day.

• Söderskär Lighthouse (m/s Söderskär from Kauppatori or Nordsjö), ☏ +358 400-502-771, majakka@soderskar.fi. May–Sep daily with start 09:00, back 16:00. An old secluded lighthouse island out at sea, in the middle of a bird reserve. The lighthouse may have inspired Tove Jansson's Moominpappa at Sea. Day trips with an hour on the skerry. Cancelled in high seas. Day cruise €65, children 6–12 €33. 
• Skippered Day Sailing, Laivastokatu 1, Katajanokka, ☏ +358 50-592-9141, toimisto@tulepurjehtimaan.com. leaves daily 10:00 (May–Sept). 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. from €60.  ^{[dead link]}

Helsinki's celebrations are among the most exciting in the country.

• Lux Helsinki. 17:00-22:00. 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. Free of charge. 

• Vappu (Walpurgis Night). April 30-May 1. Vappu began as a north European pagan carnival, and is now an excuse for students to wear brightly colored overalls and for everybody to drink vast amounts of alcohol. At 18:00 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. 
• Helsinki Coffee Festival is one of the trendiest events of the Helsinki spring. Held at the Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas), this huge pop-up café offers a chance to sample a wide variety of coffees, as well as tea and kombucha. DJ sets and parties add to the experience. The ticket also includes entry to the Ice Cream and Chocolate Carnival, held at the same venue at the same time. Tickets: €10–23.

• World Village Festival (in Finnish Maailma Kylässä). An 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. 
• Helsinki City Run. A running event in central Helsinki where you can run the length of a half-marathon. (updated May 2015)
• Helsinki City Marathon. Early May. Not as famous as the one in New York, but with over 6,000 participants the largest marathon race in Finland. (updated Oct 2021)

• Helsinki-päivä (Helsinki Day). Jun 12. 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. 
• 60.168924.94441 Helsinki Pride. Parade 13:00–14:00, party 14:00–18:00. 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. Free of charge.  (updated Mar 2023)
• 60.167824.948552 Helsinki Samba Carnaval. 15:00–17:00. 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. Free.  
• Juhannus (Midsummer Festival). Fri between 19 and 25 June. 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 are closed, making it the most quiet weekend of the year in Helsinki. 

• Teurastamo Jazz:  – July. A jazz happening in the Teurastamo area in Helsinki with free outdoors concerts every Wednesday from June to August. (date needs fixing)
• Hori Smoku Summer Bugaloo: July. Punk and alternative rock festival in Ääniwalli, Helsinki (date needs updating)
• Jazz-Espa: . A jazz happening on Espa stage in late July. Free concerts. (date needs fixing)
• Tuska Open Air. An annual, 3-day heavy metal festival, featuring acts from all over the world, held in July. 
• Weekend Festival (WKND): . Techno and dance oriented festival in early July. (date needs fixing)

• Visio Festival:  – July. New electronic music festival in mid-August. (date needs fixing)
• Flow Festival. 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. 
• Finland-Sweden athletics competition. biannually held in Finland. 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. 
• Helsinki Festival (Helsingin Juhlaviikot). 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 first 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. 

• 60.17083324.93753 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 began in 1987.  
• Helsinki Comics Festival. Finland’s main international comics event is held over a weekend every September. The festival brings together artists, publishers and fans for a local celebration of graphic storytelling. Expect the traditional ingredients of comic cons: exhibitions, interviews, panel discussions, workshops and a comics market. Suitable for all ages, with a program mainly in English and Finnish. Held at Stoa Cultural Centre in eastern Helsinki. Free admission.

• 60.16736124.95254 Baltic Herring Market (Silakkamarkkinat) (at the Market Square). Taking place in early October, the event sees a large number of islanders arriving at Helsinki's South Harbour to sell fish and other archipelago products. The event has been held since 1743.  

• 60.1620524.904155 Lautapelaamaan, Tallberginkatu 1. 10:00-18:00 mostly. Finland's biggest board game event, hosted by the Finnish Board Game Society. Held on a weekend 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 (to borrow 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. Free of charge.  
• 60.1656224.96746 Liquorice and salmiak festival, Pikku Satamakatu 3-5. 11:00-17:00 mostly. 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, with salmiak and without. Several vendors offer their candy for sale and give you free samples. €12.  
• Slush. Mid-November or early December. Big event where start-ups meet possible investors from all over the world, arranged mostly by volunteer students. Expect hotels to be sold out, and paying a premium if booking early. (updated Oct 2021)
• Viaporin Kekri. An autumn festival inspired by Finland’s ancient harvest traditions. The event brings the island of Suomenlinna to life after dark, with all kinds of activities, performances, special guided tours, and food from the island’s restaurants and cafés, prepared especially for the occasion. It’s usually celebrated on the first Saturday of November, but there are exceptions, so it’s best to check the exact date each year. Access to the island is free, but some activities require a ticket. Check the official website for program details.

• Joulu (Christmas). 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 is a family event, so on the 24th, everything shuts down and stays closed until December 26. 
• New Year's Eve. Dec 31–Jan 1. 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. 

Most of Finland's exchange students end up in Helsinki's universities.

• University of Helsinki (Helsingin Yliopisto). With over 40,000 students, this is Finland's largest university and the only bilingual one (Finnish/Swedish). Its alumni include Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel. 
• Aalto University (Aalto-yliopisto). Formed from three leading universities in their respective areas: Helsinki University of Technology (Teknillinen korkeakoulu) — Considered "Finland's MIT", this university is in Otaniemi, Espoo, just across the municipality border, University of Art and Design Helsinki (Taideteollinen korkeakoulu)—The biggest art university in Scandinavia with the highest rate of exchange students of all Finnish universities and Helsinki School of Economics (Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu) — The country's largest institution for university level business education. The Aalto University was named after architect and designer Alvar Aalto. (updated Apr 2026)
• Hanken, Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration.  
• Sibelius Academy. The only music university in Finland and one of the largest in Europe. 

As the Alexander University, now the University of Helsinki, was a legal deposit repository also during the Russian time, Helsinki has the largest collection of Russian printed material from the 19th century outside Russia. For many people, studying it here is far easier than the alternative.

The University of Helsinki offers a highly popular Finnish for Foreigners program at six different skill levels, ranging from absolute beginner to advanced courses ending with language certification. Spring and Fall classes are offered in standard 1 unit (3 hr/wk, €135) and intensive 2 unit (8 hr/wk, €310) versions.

Summer courses^{[dead link]} on Finnish language and culture are available at the major universities including Helsinki Summer University.

See #Districts for listings.

Shopping in Helsinki is not cheap, but fans of Finnish and Nordic design will find plenty of things of interest. The frugal shopper can find some good bargains, particularly during the sale seasons in January and July. If you live outside the EU and spend more than €40 on a single receipt at any participating store, you can save a pretty penny by getting a refund for the hefty 24% VAT (ALV).

Since 2016, opening hours have been fully liberalized, but most large shops and department stores still have the normal hours: M–F 09:00–21:00, Sa 09:00–18:00, Su 12:00–18:00. A notable exception is the Asematunneli complex, underground adjacent to the Central Railway Station, most shops here are open daily until 22:00, except on a few holidays.

All S-markets are open until 22:00 daily. At least the major supermarkets K-Supermarket and Lidl in the Kamppi Center (see below) are open until 22:00, and the S-Market supermarket below Sokos, next to the railway station, is open around the clock. Small grocery stores and the R-Kioski convenience store chain are open until 22:00 or 23:00 (or later). A handful of small Alepa grocery stores are open 24 hours daily. In the centre you will also find small Delish and Pick A Deli convenience stores, open 24 hours daily, but more expensive than regular grocery stores. On holidays, many stores are closed, but at least the central S-supermarket (Sokos) and K-supermarket (Kamppi) are historically barely affected by holidays. Other centrally located small grocery stores and R-kioskis are open some hours in holidays, too.

In the neighbouring cities of Vantaa and Espoo you can also find big shopping malls. Vantaa has Jumbo^{[dead link]} (including Flamingo) and Myyrmanni, while Espoo has the centres of Sello and Iso Omena. All of these are easily accessible by public transport or by car (free parking).

There are high-end design stores around Aleksanterinkatu and Etelä-Esplanadi. The Design District Helsinki area around Uudenmaankatu and Iso Roobertinkatu is full of design and antique shops, fashion stores, museums, art galleries, restaurants and showrooms. Here you can find the most interesting names, classics, and trend-setters. Visit Design Forum Finland^{[dead link]} at Erottajankatu 7 to get a map of shops and galleries.

Most outdoor markets in Helsinki are open only in summer, but the market halls are open all year round. They are great places to taste Finnish delicacies. The three major market halls are the Old Market Hall, Hietaniemi and Hakaniemi.

Helsinki has a selection of great "underground" record stores with a greatly varying selection of both Finnish and international music. Most of them also sell vinyl (12, 10 or 7 inch). Prices aren't cheap, but the selection may be worth it. Some of the more collectible stuff may even be cheaper than elsewhere. Price range is vinyl €20 ±€5 and CD €10 ±€5.

If you have only a limited amount of time, check out the record stores around Viisikulma, a brisk walk from the city centre.

In addition to Aleksanterinkatu, various fashion boutiques can be found along Fredrikinkatu, a 10- to 15-minute walk south from the railway station. Of course you can also head to department stores and malls like Stockmann, Kamppi and Forum.

See #Districts for listings.

Helsinki has by far the most cosmopolitan eating options in Finland, with eight Michelin-starred restaurants (Palace on Eteläranta got a second one in 2022), and is a good place to enjoy a good meal – if you can foot the bill, that is. As usual in Finland the best time to eat out if you are on a budget is lunch, when most restaurants offer lunch sets for €8–21. Lunch sets are typically served 10:30–14:00 or 11:00–15:00, but the times vary between venues. In the evening, only budget places are less than €10, while splurges cost well over €30 per head. Almost every place will have at least one vegetarian option.

A surprisingly large number of restaurants close down for a month or more in summer (July–August) to give their employees vacation, so call ahead to avoid disappointment.

Budget choices other than the lunch offers are largely limited to fast food, although there are a couple of workaday Finnish eateries in the mix. In addition to McDonald's and its Finnish imitators Hesburger/Carrols, Helsinki is also full of pizza and kebab places, where a meal typically costs around €7–8 (sometimes as low as €4, especially in Kallio).

For lunch, a good budget option is Unicafe, a chain of restaurants owned by the Helsinki University student union, which has around 10 outlets in central Helsinki and offers full meals from €5.70, including vegetarian options (some with longer hours). There are also many other lunch restaurants for students that serve affordable food also for non-students. A good active listing of Helsinki's student restaurants and their menus as well as opening hours can be found at lunchmenu.fi. Another list of lunch restaurants in Helsinki can be found at lounaat.info.

In Helsinki, fine dining represents mainly pure Nordic touch with some unusual and surprising exceptions. A so called "pure Nordic touch" is usually represented with local products like local fresh seafood or some local vegetation. There are also other classes of fine dining that are pretty popular. For example a mixture of traditional Finnish or Nordic and something else is getting more and more attention nowadays. You can find a nice touch of French, German, Slavic and even Asian cuisine in your fine dining menu. For example a very fancy restaurant Demo is where French and Finnish cuisines are merging together, creating a "Nordic-French" touch. For something more different in Helsinki, try Vorschmack, an unusual but surprisingly tasty mix of minced lamb and herring, served with chopped pickles and sour cream (smetana); variants of this dish have survived also in some Eastern European countries and among Ashkenazi Jews.

See #Districts for listings.

Finland is the largest coffee consuming nation per capita and coffee breaks are written into law. However, in Finland most coffee is filter-brewed from a light, more caffeinated, roast that is quite different to what the rest of the world drinks. Finns often enjoy a bun (pulla) or cinnamon bun (korvapuusti) with their coffee.

In Finland commonly espressos and lattes are called "special coffees" and a large number of establishments that make such coffees have popped up all over town ever since the 1990s when they arrived. One which will give any Italian cafeteria a go for their money is La Torrefazione next to Stockmann. In the more common cafeterias the normal light brew coffee is sold by self-service at the counter even at some more expensive cafeterias (there is only a handful of cafeterias serving to the table in Helsinki - this shows how commonplace coffee drinking is considered).

Helsinki has plenty of hip places for a drink. The main nightlife districts, all in the city center within crawling distance of each other, are around Iso-Roobertinkatu, the Central Railway Station and Kamppi. Helsinki's busy gay nightlife is centered mostly around Iso-Roobertinkatu and Eerikinkatu and surrounding streets.

Going out is not cheap, and complaining about the prices is a popular Finnish pastime, but compared to (say) London or New York City the prices aren't that bad. If you are on a budget and intent on getting plastered, follow the Finns and drink up a good "base" at home or hotel before going out on town. Alternatively, you can start the night outside the city centre area and head to the district of Kallio where bar prices are significantly lower and you can find a plethora of drinking places.

While entry to bars and clubs is often (but not always) free, in club-type places and proper restaurants you must use and pay for the coat check (narikka), usually around €2, if you're wearing anything more than a T-shirt. In some places you must pay even if you don't leave anything at the cloakroom. The bouncer will be very strict with this as the much of the narikka-money goes into his pocket. If a ticket price is advertised, it usually does not cover the coat check.

The drinking age is 18, and this is rather strictly enforced, so bring along ID. Underaged drinking is still a huge problem, and many bars and clubs apply house limits of 20–24 years, but these are enforced less strictly and a patron of younger age will some times be let in if one fits the clientele, especially women.

Information on clubs and live performances can be found in free, Finnish-language tabloids such as City^{[dead link]}, which can be picked up at many bars, cafes and shops.

In Helsinki, the most popular nightclubs have long queues starting to form around 23:30. Get in early to avoid standing, although it can be a nice way to meet people. After around 01:00-02:00 it might be impossible to get in anymore. You may try to just walk past the queue looking important, but a more efficient strategy is to discreetly tip the bouncer (€10-20). The larger group you are, the more difficult things get. Look smart!

See #Districts for listings.

Accommodation is generally quite expensive, but of a high standard. Hotels are usually cheaper on weekends, when business travellers are away.

There are quite a few budget hotels in Helsinki, the cheapest being youth hostels. Many student dormitories turn into youth hostels during the July–August school break, which happily coincides with peak season for tourists. The Finnish Youth Hostel Association^{[dead link]} can provide further information.

In a real pinch, the (by far) cheapest option can actually be to book a "last-minute" or "red-ticket" return cabin (from around €20) on an overnight cruise to Tallinn, and spend the night (and part of the next day) on the boat, rather than sleep in the city.

Hotels of national and international chains usually fall in this segment. Prices are usually above €100 per night. In addition, many apartments are rented for about €90–100 per night.

The upscale hotels are in the city centre and in the western parts of the city. Hotel Kämp right at the Esplanade park is definitely the most luxurious choice, and usually the place where actors, pop stars and other celebrities stay when they come to Helsinki.

Helsinki is a safe city for its size.

Helsinki has problems with drug trafficking and use, although this seldom affects visitors. Violent crime targeting strangers seems to be on a rise, but severe incidents are few enough to often reach the headlines.

On weekend nights, intoxicated people wandering around city streets may be an annoyance, especially during summer festivals and on New Year's Eve and April 30, the eve of May Day, which is the most important beer-drinking festival in the Finnish calendar. Warm summer nights always gather a drunken crowd in the centre. Intoxicated Finns tend to be rather noisy (in stark contrast to sober Finns) and admittedly sometimes picking a fight with just about anyone. Just use your common sense, and steer clear of overly loud groups of young men.

There are rare health hazards, although the winter weather should be borne in mind by visitors, especially those planning outdoor activities (or being out late). In midwinter the temperature can even drop to −25°C (−13°F), though this is increasingly rare. If you forget to bring winter clothing, you may want to visit local shops for appropriate apparel. Also, watch out for slippery pavements; thousands of people slip and injure themselves every winter! There are slip preventers for sale in the shoe repair shops and elsewhere.

• 60.18824.91832 Yliopiston Apteekki pharmacy, Mannerheimintie 96 (Taka-Töölö district), ☏ +358 300-20200. 24 hr daily. The pharmacy with the most central location and the best hours.  
• 60.190724.90723 Haartman hospital emergency, Haartmaninkatu 4 (Meilahti hospital area), ☏ +358 9 310-63231. 24 hr daily. Emergency department of Helsinki Municipal Health Center.  
• 60.160424.94114 Viiskulma Health Centre, Pursimiehenkatu 4 (near Viiskulma), ☏ +358 9 310-45930, fax: +358 9 3104 5333. Mon–Fri 8–16. Municipal health centre for minor health problems.  

In emergencies, ☏ 112 (free from all phones).

You can contact the social service, when you need urgent help or advice for:

• child protection
• other social work
• family crises
• domestic violence
• life management or housing
• matters related to mental health or substance abuse.

Emergency Social Services are available around the clock : ☏ +358 9 3104-4222. Emergency Social Services can also be contacted by calling the emergency number 112.

The crime rate in Helsinki is generally low – Helsinki being maybe one of the safest capitals in Europe – although locals grumble that things have gotten worse since the EU removed restrictions on movement, and even more so since the mid-2010s. Pickpockets target crowds and bicycles are prone to petty theft. Walking in the streets after dark is generally safe and the city centre is indeed quite lively until the early hours of the morning. However, it's best to steer clear of obviously drunk people looking to pick a fight, the traditional trouble spots being the frustratingly long queues for late night snack food or taxis. Getting mugged for money in the streets of central Helsinki is almost unheard of. Traditionally violent crime mostly takes place between people who know each other; strangers are rarely targeted. However, in the 2020s, there have been several incidents of robbery by youth gangs, which have got much publicity.

Crimes in city centre concentrate around the central railway station and Kamppi shopping centre. The Kaisaniemi park behind the main Railway Station is possibly best avoided at night, and the area of Kalasatama, Kallio and Sörnäinen (north-east from the Pitkäsilta bridge) may be somewhat rougher than other parts of the centre. There's a somewhat higher likelihood of running into people high on drugs or alcohol and intimidating and anti-social behaviour here than elsewhere in the inner city, even in broad daylight. Relatively high-crime neighbourhoods are found in the 1970s concrete-built suburbs of Eastern Helsinki, Northwestern Helsinki and Northern Helsinki, mainly in the extreme reaches of the metro and local train, such as Kontula, Itäkeskus, Mellunmäki, Vuosaari along metro; Pukinmäki, Malmi, Puistola and Kannelmäki along local train.

Especially in the summer you will encounter beggars sitting on the streets in the city centre. Virtually all of them come from other countries, and most locals would prefer your not encouraging them by giving money, and donating to a charity instead.

In winter, try to keep a steady footing: despite the use of vast quantities of gravel and salt, pavements can be quite slippery when the temperature hovers around zero and near-invisible black ice forms.

Helsinki's bedrock is close to the surface, so new building works invariably involve some dynamite to build foundations, and it's thus quite common to hear explosions around the centre. Blasting is often preceded by a loud sequence of warning beeps, which speed up as they count down. There is no danger to anyone, as the builders are experts (and the solid granite bedrock is very, very strong), but now you know where that "BOOM!" came from.

If you are just passing through and choose Helsinki to apply for a Russian visa, be careful when choosing a travel agency: some may charge a lot extra for "express service" (although applying for one yourself at the consulate will take weeks).

• When using escalators, people in Helsinki usually reserve the right side of the moving staircase for standing and the left side for people walking up or down the stairs. Standing still on the left side will certainly make people irritated and flag you as a tourist or a fool.
• It would be wise to use common sense when entering the metro car: do not block people when the doors open, but take one step back and let people get off first. Also, it is often customary to enter a tram from the right side of the doors while people exiting use their right side.
• Avoid walking in the cycle lane. Dedicated cycle paths are clearly marked, but sometimes run directly next to the sidewalk. Helsinki cyclists are subject to a comparatively hilly landscape and are unwilling to slow down and lose momentum. However, they are usually careful, signal clearly and use their bells, meaning that straying tourists most often are just sworn at.
• When waiting in lines, be patient and polite. Finns rarely cross queues but make sure you actually stand in the line. If you are not sure whether there is a queue, ask others.
• Finns usually do not address people who are doing things (in their opinion) wrong. They will just look at your foolish behavior and swear silently to themselves. You might embarrass yourself but addressing it will make an even bigger scene.
• Do not feed seagulls or pigeons (especially in the city center). Seagulls taking people's ice creams or sandwiches is a real problem in some areas, and feeding them is encouraging that behaviour. Feeding birds is also officially prohibited in many areas.

Much of Helsinki is blanketed with Wi-Fi hotspots, and the City of Helsinki maintains a handy map. Cafés and restaurants also often have Wi-Fi hotspots, but these are intended for paying customers.

There are a large number of locations in Helsinki that offer free public Wi-Fi for those needing to connect to the office while outside of the country. Many public libraries^{[dead link]}, including the Oodi central library, have computers and Wi-Fi networks so you can get online for free. If you are staying in a hotel, they usually have free Wi-Fi in the rooms and a computer in the reception for the guests.

• Argentina, Bulevardi 5 A 11, ☏ +358 9 4242 8700, fax: +358 9 4242 8701, embajada_efinl@mrecic.gov.ar.  
• Austria, Unioninkatu 22, ☏ +358 9 68 18 600, fax: +358 9 66 50 84, helsinki-ob@bmeia.gv.at.  
• Belarus, Unioninkatu 18, 00130, ☏ +358 9 4247 2056, finland@mfa.gov.by.   ^{[dead link]}
• Belgium, Kalliolinnantie 5, 00140, ☏ +358 9 170 412, fax: +358 9 628 842, belgia@elisanet.fi.  
• Brazil, Itäinen Puistotie 4 B 1 , 00140, ☏ +358 9 6841500, fax: +358 9 650084, brasemb@brazil.fi.  
• Bulgaria, Kuusisaarentie 2 B , 00340, ☏ +358 9 458 40 35, +358 9 458 40 55, fax: +358 9 458 45 50, embassy.helsinki@mfa.bg.  
• Canada, Pohjoisesplanadi 25 B , 00100, ☏ +358 9 228 530, fax: +358 9 2285 3385, hsnki@international.gc.ca.  
• Chile, Erottajankatu 11 A 17 , 00130, ☏ +358 9 612 67 80, fax: +358 9 612 67 825, info@embachile.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• China, Vanha Kelkkamäki 9-11 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 228 90 110, +358 9 228 90 167, +358 9 228 90 129, fax: +358 9 228 90 168, +358 9 228 90 155, consulate_fin@chinemb.fi.  
• Colombia, Unioninkatu 18, 2nd fl, 00130, ☏ +358 9 615 00 172. Mon-Fri 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00.  (updated Jan 2018)
• Croatia, Kruunuvuorenkatu 5, 4th fl. , 00160, ☏ +358 9 622 22 32, +358 9 685 01 70, fax: +358 9 622 22 21, croemb.helsinki@mvpei.hr.   ^{[dead link]}
• Cuba, Fredrikinkatu 61, 3rd Floor, 00100, ☏ +358 9 680 20 22, fax: +358 9 64 31 63, cuba@cuba.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Cyprus, Bulevardi 5 A 19 , 00120, ☏ +358 9 6962820, fax: +358 9 677428, mail@cyprusembassy.fi.  
• Czech Republic, Armfeltintie 14 , 00150, ☏ +358 9 6120 8811, +358 9 6120 8812, fax: +358 9 63 06 55, helsinki@embassy.mzv.cz.  
• Denmark, Mannerheimintie 8, 6 fl. , 00100, ☏ +358 9 684 10 50, fax: +358 9 698 5156, helamb@um.dk.  
• Egypt, Kasarmikatu 44, 3rd floor, 00130, ☏ +358 9477 7470, fax: +358 9 4777 4721, secretaryofembassy@hotmail.com.   ^{[dead link]}
• Estonia, Porkkalankatu 22A, 00180, ☏ +358 9 622 02 60, fax: +358 9 622 02 610, Embassy.Helsinki@mfa.ee.  
• France, Itäinen Puistotie 13 , 00140, ☏ +358 9 618 780, fax: +358 9 618 78 342, ambassade@france.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Germany, Krogiuksentie 4 B , 00340, ☏ +358 9 45 85 80, fax: +358 9 458 582 58, info@helsinki.diplo.de.  
• Greece, Maneesikatu 2 A 4 , 00170, ☏ +358 9 622 97 90, fax: +358 9 278 12 00, gremb.hel@mfa.gr.  
• Hungary, Kuusisaarenkuja 6 , 00340, ☏ +358 9 484 144, +358 9 484 145, +358 9 484 167, +358 9 484 007, fax: +358 9 480 497, mission.HEL@mfa.gov.hu.  
• Iceland, Pohjoisesplanadi 27 C , 00100, ☏ +358 9 612 24 60, fax: +358 9 612 246 20, icemb.helsinki@utn.stjr.is.   ^{[dead link]}
• India, Kulosaarentie 32 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 228 9910, fax: +358 9 622 1208, embassyofindia@indianembassy.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Indonesia, Kuusisaarentie 3 , 00340, ☏ +358 9 477 03 70, fax: +358 9 458 28 82, info@indonesian-embassy.fi.  
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Iran, Kulosaarentie 9 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 686 92 40, fax: +358 9 686 92 410, embassy@iran.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• ^{[dead link]} Iraq, Lars Sonckin tie 2 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 68188727, fax: +358 9 6848977, info@iraqiembassy.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Ireland, Erottajankatu 7 A , 00130, ☏ +358 9-6824240, fax: +358 9-646 022, helsinkiembassy@dfa.ie.  
• Israel, Yrjönkatu 36 A , 00100, ☏ +358 9 681 20 20, fax: +358 9 135 69 59, info@helsinki.mfa.gov.il.   ^{[dead link]}
• Italy, Itäinen Puistotie 4 , 00140, ☏ +358 9 68 11 280, fax: +358 9 69 87 829, ambasciata.helsinki@esteri.it.  
• Japan, Unioninkatu 20-22, 5th fl , 00130, ☏ +358 9 6860 200, fax: +358 9 633 012, inquiry@hk.mofa.go.jp.  
• Latvia, Armfeltintie 10 , 00150, ☏ +358 9 476 472 44, fax: +358 9 476 472 88, embassy.finland@mfa.gov.lv.   ^{[dead link]}
• Lithuania, Rauhankatu 13 A , 00170, ☏ +358 9 68 44 880, fax: +358 9 68 44 88 20, info@lithuania.fi.  
• Malaysia, World Trade Center Helsinki, 00100, ☏ +358 10 320 2030, fax: +358 10 320 2041, chancery@malaysianembassy.fi.  
• Mexico, Simonkatu 12 A 12 , 00100, ☏ +358 9 586 04 30, fax: +358 9 694 94 11, mexican.embassy@kolumbus.fi.  
• Morocco, Unioninkatu 15 A , 00130, ☏ +358 9 6122 480, fax: +358 9 63 51 60, embassy.of.morocco@co.inet.fi.  
• Netherlands, Erottajankatu 19 B 00130, ☏ +358 9 228 920, fax: +358 9 2289 2228, hel@minbuza.nl.   ^{[dead link]}
• Norway, Rehbinderintie 17 , 00150, ☏ +358 9 686 01 80, fax: +358 9 65 78 07, emb.helsinki@mfa.no.  
• Peru, Lönnrotinkatu 7 B 11 , 00120, ☏ +358 9-759 9400, fax: +358 9-759 940 40, secretary@embassyofperu.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Poland, Armas Lindgrenintie 21 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 618 28 120, fax: +358 9 684 74 77, helsinki.amb.info@msz.gov.pl.   ^{[dead link]}
• Portugal, Unioninkatu 22, 2nd fl. , 00130, ☏ +358 9 682 4370, +358 9 6824 3715, +358 9 6824 3718, fax: +358 9 66 35 50, emb.port@portugal.fi.  
• Romania, Stenbäckinkatu 24 , 00250, ☏ +358 9 241 3624, +358 9 241 4414, fax: +358 9 241 32 72, helsinki@mae.ro.  (updated Dec 2021)
• Russian Federation, Tehtaankatu 1 B , 00140, ☏ +358 9 661 876, +358 9 661 877, fax: +358 9 66 10 06, rusembassy@co.inet.fi.  
• Saudi Arabia, Stenbäckinkatu 26 , 00250, ☏ +358 9 477 8870, fax: +358 9 454 3060, secretary@saudiembassy.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Serbia, Kulosaarentie 36 , 00570, ☏ +358 9 6848 522, +358 9 6847 466, fax: +358 9 6848 783, serbia@kolumbus.fi.  
• Slovakia, Vähäniityntie 5, 00570, ☏ +358 9 6811 7810, fax: +358 9 68117820, emb.helsinki@mzv.sk.  
• South Africa, Rahapajankatu 1 A 5, 00160, ☏ +358 9 6860 3100.  
• Republic of Korea, Erottajankatu 7 A, 00130, ☏ +358 9 251 5000, fax: +358 9 251 50055, koreanembassyhelsinki@gmail.com.  
• Spain, Kalliolinnantie 6, 00140, ☏ +358 9 6877 080, fax: +358 9 17 09 23, emb.helsinki@maec.es.  
• Sweden, Pohjoisesplanadi 7 B, 00170, ☏ +358 9 68 77 660, fax: +358 9 65 52 85, +358 9 17 64 16, ambassaden.helsingfors@gov.se.  
• Switzerland, Kalliolinnantie 16 A 2a, 00140, ☏ +358 9 622 95 00, fax: +358 9 6229 5050, hel.vertretung@eda.admin.ch.  
• Taiwan, Aleksanterinkatu 17, 4th Floor, 00100, ☏ +358 9 68293800.  
• Thailand, Eteläesplanadi 22 C, 00130, ☏ +358 9 6122 6415, fax: +358 9 6122 64 66, chancery@thaiembassy.fi.   ^{[dead link]}
• Tunisia, Liisankatu 14 B 31, 00170, ☏ +358 9 680 39 614, fax: +358 9 680 39 610, at.helsinki@kolumbus.fi.  
• Turkey, Puistokatu 1 b A 3, 00140, ☏ +358 9 6122 6100, fax: +358 9 6122 6150, embassy.helsinki@mfa.gov.tr.   ^{[dead link]}
• Ukraine, Vähäniityntie 9, 00570, ☏ +358 9 228 90 00, fax: +358 9 228 90 01, embassy@ukraine.fi.  
• United Kingdom, Itäinen Puistotie 17 , 00140, ☏ +358 9 2286 5100, fax: +358 9 2286 5262, +358 9 2286 5272.  
• United States of America, Itäinen Puistotie 14 A, 00140, ☏ +358 9 61 62 50, fax: +358 9 17 46 81.  
• ^{[dead link]} Venezuela, Bulevardi 1 A 62, 00100, ☏ +358 9 686 0440, fax: +358 9 9 640 971, embavenefin@embavene.fi.  
• Vietnam, Kulosaarentie 12, 00570, ☏ +358 9 622 9900, +358 9 562 6302, fax: +358 9 6229 9022, vietnamfinland@gmail.com.   ^{[dead link]}

• United Community Church (UCC), Annankatu 7. International, bible-based and nondenominational church that welcomes Finns and foreigners to attend. Services in Helsinki and Espoo on Sundays. Free. 

In Finland, the following make good day trips:

• Nuuksio National Park in Espoo, a piece of untamed wilderness ca 25 km from Helsinki city centre. Accessible by bus from the city.
• Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland is just 60 km away. It has a charming old town of wooden houses. Much more lively in the summer.
• Tampere, the second largest city region in Finland, and the birthplace of Finnish industry, boasting one of the last Lenin museums left in the world as well as a spy museum. 180 km north of Helsinki, one and a half to two hours by train.
• Hämeenlinna, 100 km north is famous for the Häme castle, a large medieval castle, and the beautiful park area Aulanko. One hour by train.
• Turku, the oldest town in Finland, the main one into the 19th century, now third largest city region. The cathedral and the medieval castle are well worth visiting. Two hours by train.
• Hanko, the southernmost spot in Finland, 140 km west of Helsinki. This town of less than 10,000 people is famous for its summer activities, including sandy beaches, sailing, tennis, art, theatre, etc.
• Oulu, the biggest city in Northern Finland (as well as the whole Northern part of the Nordics). Known as the biking and IT capital of Finland and easily accessible from Helsinki, only an hour's flight away. Flights start from €30 if bought months in advance. The fastest day train takes 6 hours, from €25 if bought in advance, sleepers available in the overnight trains.

As a coastal city, Helsinki has good connections to some fine international destinations nearby:

• Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is somewhat like Helsinki but more Scandinavian and bigger. Accessible by Viking Line's and Silja Line's overnight cruise ferries departing late in the afternoon around the year.
• Tallinn in Estonia is known for its medieval city centre and is easily accessible even as a day trip.

Tampere ← Hyvinkää ←	N  S	→ END
Turku ← Espoo ←	W  E	→ Porvoo → Saint Petersburg
END ←	N  S	→ → Tallinn → Riga
Lahti ← Vantaa ←	N  S	→ → Gdańsk