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capital and most populous city of Finland
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Europe > Nordic countries > Finland > Southern Finland > Uusimaa > Helsinki

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.

Districts

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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 is to the north and east. The Capital Region has a population of about 1.2 million, 650,000 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.

Helsinki districts
 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.

Understand

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Helsinki's symbol, the Lutheran Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko)

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 city of the country, that it started growing. Today, this hustling and bustling city has more than 658,000 inhabitants (2021), and it is the northernmost capital of an EU member state.

History

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See also: Nordic history

As Finland became part of the Swedish kingdom in the 13th century with Turku as its regional capital, Helsinki was founded in AD 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden 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 (ie. Helsinge rapids). Never becoming the trading post Gustav Vasa envisioned and largely bypassed by the King's Road — the major road along the coast at that time — 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 in the front of Helsinki. The now world heritage-listed fortress archipelago features some of the oldest standing buildings in the city.

City Hall Square in 1820, before the rebuilding of Central Helsinki

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 urbanization 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. Architectonically 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.

Tourist information

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There is also another one right in the Central Railway Station.

Climate

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Helsinki
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
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Imperial conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

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. 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 are usually around 20 °C (68 °F) and July and August afternoons often see temperatures above 25 °C, 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. 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. The autumn slowly develops throughout September with autumn foliage and moderate temperatures; snow and seriously cold weather before early November is very uncommon.

Talk

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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 practice 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 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.

Get in

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By plane

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Main article: Helsinki Airport
For most of the day, the Helsinki Airport is a cosy place resembling a large living room with a view, due to its wood-panelled flooring.

All international and domestic flights land at the compact, modern and airy 1 Helsinki Airport (HEL IATA). Helsinki Airport (Q215327) on Wikidata Helsinki Airport on Wikipedia , which is in Vantaa, 20 km to the north of central Helsinki.

The airport is well served from across Europe, from East Asia and (in normal times) from neighbouring Russia. There are also flights from some airports elsewhere in Asia and a few airports in the USA.

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's a grocery store in the airport open 24 hr daily, like one at Elielinaukio at the north-western corner of Helsinki Central Railway Station (next to tracks 13–19). Shops under the railway station also have long hours.

By train

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Central Railway Station

Being the national capital, Helsinki has direct services from all major train stations in Finland. The connections from Russia are suspended because of the Russian war on Ukraine. All long-distance trains to the city terminate at the 2 Central Railway Station. Helsinki Central Railway Station (Q1044613) on Wikidata Helsinki Central railway station on Wikipedia  which provides easy interchange to metro, bus, tram and local train lines. The train station offers bars, currency exchange, kiosks, fast food restaurants, luggage boxes and many other amenities, in addition to a central location. All trains except the Allegro trains to and from St. Petersburg also stop at 3 Pasila station (Böle station). Pasila railway station (Q801316) on Wikidata Pasila station on Wikipedia (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.

By car

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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.

By bus

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Long-distance national and international coaches terminate at the new underground 4 Central Bus Station (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.

For travel from St. Petersburg (Russia), there are ordinary buses and minibuses. Ordinary buses are operated by Lux Express, Ecolines and Sovavto. Russian minibuses depart from the Oktyabrskaya Hotel (opposite the Moskovsky train station) around 22:00 and arrive behind Tennispalatsi at Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 8, one block away from Kamppi, early in the morning. Departures back start around 10:00 in the morning. The minibus trip costs around €15, making this by far the cheapest option, but the buses are cramped and uncomfortable and some of them stop at numerous supermarkets on the way so that Russian passengers can go for tax-free shopping. One of the operators is Transgold.

By boat

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See also: Baltic Sea ferries, Boating in Finland
M/S Silja Symphony of the Stockholm line in Eteläsatama; the major ferries are made to go through even thick sea ice.

Helsinki is well connected with ferry services from Tallinn, Estonia, and Stockholm, Sweden, and there are limited services from Travemünde and Rostock, Germany. Service from St. Petersburg (Russia) are suspended because 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 three harbours with six terminals:

  • 5 West Harbour, Terminal 1 (Länsisatama, Terminaali 1), Hietasaarenkuja 8. The old terminal of the western harbour nowadays only serves St. Peter Line from St. Petersburg. The terminal has luggage lockers, café, a trolley rental, kiosk, a restaurant, public transport ticket machine, bank and an ATM. Accessed by tram 7; tram 9 is about 500 m away. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 6 West Harbour, Terminal 2 (Länsisatama, Terminaali 2), Tyynenmerenkatu 14. Opened in early 2017 on reclaimed land south of the older Terminal 1, Tallink's and Eckerö Line's ferries from Tallinn dock here. Accessed by trams 7 and 9. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 7 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 a money exchange, an ATM, luggage lockers, a trolley rental, a restaurant, kiosk, and the Silja Line service point. The terminal was built for the 1952 Olympic Games, hence the name. Trams 2 and 3 stop almost right outside the terminal. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 8 South Harbour, Katajanokka Terminal (Katajanokan terminaali), Katajanokanlaituri 8. East shore of the bay. Viking Line ships (M/S Gabriella, M/S Mariella, M/S Viking XPRS) arrive at Katajanokka Terminal. The terminal has a restaurant, kiosk, an ATM, a currency exchange, luggage lockers, 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 Oct 2017)
  • 9 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 Oct 2017)

See the Port of Helsinki site[dead link] for the latest details.

By ferry from Tallinn

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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). Particularly popular are day cruises, which can go for as little as €15 return. 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, . Operates only one ship, the 2000-passenger Finlandia (three times daily, travel time 2½ hr). Often has cheap fares. (updated Feb 2019)
  • Tallink Silja, ☏ +372 640 9808, . Up to 6 departures daily on large Shuttles Star and Superstar (2 hr). Discounts are available to Eurail pass holders. As this company has more departures you will have more flexibility planning your day trip. (updated Mar 2015)
  • Viking Line. Large Viking XPRS ferry (2½ hr, 2 sailings a day). Usually cheapest. (updated Feb 2020)

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.

Arriving by yacht

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Beware of the very busy ferry traffic, especially the fast ferries from Tallinn. Use boating routes if possible. There are guest harbours in Katajanokka in central Helsinki; Pihlajasaari and Suomenlinna in the southern islands and Iso Vasikkasaari in Espoo. If you need customs clearance you should use the customs route from Helsinki lighthouse past Harmaja to the coast guard station at Katajanokka.

Get around

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Caution Note: From 6 March 2023 to the end of 2025, the Mannerheimintie street between Töölö and Kamppi will be dug up for renovation works on water pipes and electricity and telecommunication cables. Be prepared for its effects on public traffic and for the noise and dust caused by the construction site. See the website of the city government for more details.
(Information last updated 06 Mar 2023)
Matkakortti reader

All public transport within the Capital Region is coordinated by HSL[dead link], which is divided into four zones. 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, and including eastern Espoo and the southern rim of Vantaa.
  • Zone C – The rest of Espoo and Vantaa.
  • Zone D – Sipoo in the east, Kerava and Tuusula in the north, Kirkkonummi and Siuntio in the west.

Tickets can be purchased from several different places — by using the preloaded travel card (see below), from R kiosks, sales points or ticket machines or in the HSL app. Tickets are not sold on board of trains, buses, or trams. Save for trips in the D zone, 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, children travel for half the fare):

  • AB, BC or D zones: €2.80 (travel card, pre-purchased from kiosks, ticket machines or in the HSL app)
  • ABC: €4.60 (travel card, pre-purchased from kiosks, ticket machines or in the HSL app)
  • ABCD: €6.40 (travel card, pre-purchased from kiosks, ticket machines or in the HSL app)

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

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. Unlike public transportation tickets in many other cities the ticket is not invalidated if you exit the vehicle before the time has expired. Children under the age of seven travel free, while tickets for children under the age of 17 are half price.

Readers that support direct tap-and-go credit/debit card payments are set to roll out from the end of 2023. For time being, likely the most convenient way to buy tickets is the official HSL App[dead link], which lets you pay for tickets by card, includes a handy journey planner, and does not require a Finnish phone number for registration.

Alternatively, the 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. 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 (including multiple people sharing the card), or are here for 14 days and can get the 14-day season ticket for non-residents instead of weekly day passes. The travel card readers are inside buses, trams and trains, and before the platform areas for metro and Suomenlinna ferry.

In addition to a day ticket, you can also opt for a Helsinki Card, that also offers free admission to a number of museums and other attractions. The regular Helsinki City Card is valid for travel within the A and B zones, the more expensive Helsinki Region Card also covers the C zone.

The very useful HSL Journey Planner[dead link] will get you from a street address, place or sight to another by suggesting possible public transport connections, covering the entire metropolitan Helsinki region. Try e.g. "Airport" or "Railway station" for place names.

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.

By tram

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Beers on wheels

The SpåraKOFF Bar Tram is a bright red tram converted into a pub on wheels. The tram runs during the summer only from Tuesday to Saturday, once an hour from 14:00 to 20:00 in a counterclockwise circle, with stops at the Linnanmäki amusement park, Opera House, and the Market Square. The tour lasts about 50 minutes. The price of €12 does not include any drinks.

Helsinki tram lines as of 2020 (click to enlarge)

For tourists, the most convenient and scenic means of travel is the extensive tram network, though the last of the practical circular routes 7A and 7B were discontinued in August 2017. For an up-to-date route map and additional information check out HSL's website[dead link].

There is also a free Helsinki Sightseeing 3T Tram Audio Guide available for downloading here[dead link]. It follows the route of now-discontinued tram 3T, that you will be able to replicate by taking trams 2 and 3, transferring at the Olympiaterminaali and in Taka-Töölö or on Nordensköldinkatu.

By bus

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See also Finland#By bus.

While the trams operate in the city center, 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 Center, adjacent to the Kamppi metro station.

You usually need to show you ticket to the driver (or the machine by the driver). Tickets are not sold on HSL buses since the spring of 2020.

By metro

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Rapid transit map, including Helsinki metro, VR commuter rail and bus rapid transit (runkolinjat). For 2023

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.

With the western extension opening in November 2017, and the second phase of it in December 2022, there are now two lines, but for the most part they run next to each other so they can be considered one single line. Both start in Espoo, M1 in Kivenlahti and M2 in Tapiola three stations along the line, proceeding through central Helsinki to the eastern suburbs. At Itäkeskus M1 forks south to Vuosaari and M2 north to Mellunmäki.

By train

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VR's suburban trains operate north from the Central Railway Station, branching out in three directions. HSL city tickets are valid within city limits, regional tickets on suburban trains to Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.

All carriages on local trains have the electronic readers which allow you to buy a fare with a travel card. Ticket sales on board trains on the HSL network have been discontinued, and you have to buy a ticket before you board the train. Some stations have ticket vending machines, or you can buy a ticket with your phone [dead link], from R-kioski kiosks, or HSL service points.

By ferry

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The HSL ferry to Suomenlinna from the Market Square (Kauppatori) is a cheap and popular summer getaway. Another HSL operated ferry, mostly used only by the island's residents, leaves from the eastern end of Katajanokka. In addition, private operators provide ferries to Suomenlinna and various other islands during the summer; however, schedules can be sparse. HSL's Day Ticket and mobile-phone ticket are both valid also on the Suomenlinna ferry.

By taxi

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Taxi stand by the Central Railway Station

Taxis in Finland are expensive. As fares were deregulated in 2018, prices have risen significantly, especially in Helsinki. Taxis are now free to set the prices as they like, and at popular taxi ranks (such as the airport and the railway station), inflated prices are common. Still, prices must be told and you have to be warned if the price may turn out to be more than €100.

Comparing prices is not straight forward, as some companies have higher flag-fall price, some give more weight to time, others to distance, some have minimum prices, and a few do not use taximeters at all, but offer fixed prices. Still, the price logic has to be clearly told, with an example voyage of 10 km and 15 min in the night, which should cost about €35. If you order per app or web, you usually get a fixed-price offer based on distance and estimated time.

During weekend nights and some popular events or holidays, it can be difficult to find a free taxi. Walk to the nearest taxi stand or try to book one by phone from Taxi Helsinki ☏ 0100-0700 (non-geographic number) or Lähitaksi ☏ 0100-7300 (non-geographic number) (€2+1.5/min). If it's a very busy night, try calling Taksione at ☏ +358 50-545-5454 or Kajon at ☏ 0100-7070 (non-geographic number). To pre-order a taxi for a given time, call ☏ 0100-0600 (non-geographic number) (€2.76/call+0.35/min) for Taxi Helsinki, the normal number for the others. A pre-order for a taxi should be made at least half an hour, preferably a day or two, beforehand. A pre-order fee of €7–14 will be added to the taxi fare with most call centres.

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 very near by with available taxis waiting for customers. If you are not near a taxi stand, you will very likely be able to hail a passing taxi with the light on. If the queues at night seem frustratingly long in the city centre and you are willing to walk a bit, try heading towards Hakaniementori or Lauttasaari Bridge, where you can often hail a returning taxi (however, do not bother if the light is not on).

Some taxis are equipped with child safety seats or other special equipment, ask when booking if you need them. safety seats are legally required also in taxis for children under 3 years.

The biggest players are Taxi Helsinki and Lähitaksi (beware of companies using similar names).

  • Taxi Helsinki, ☏ +358 100-0700 (extra charge?), +358 100-0600 (pre-order; €2.76/call+0.35/min). The traditional call centre for Helsinki. Valopilkku is their app . 
  • Lähitaksi, ☏ +358 100-7300 (extra charge: €1.92+€2.5/min+pvm). Traditionally the main taxi dispatch service in the capital region outside of Helsinki. Smartphone app: Taksini Daytime M–Sa €3.90+€1/1.45/km+0.90/min, nights and holidays €7.90+1.05/1.55/km+0.99/min; prebooking €7/14; the lower km and prebooking fees for 1–4 persons. (updated Jul 2020)
  • Uber. Uber has resumed its business in the capital region after the reform. They now use licensed vehicles and drivers like everybody else, although the vehicle standard may differ more than what is otherwise common. Prices vary in unpredictable ways, but you get an offer when ordering. (updated May 2019)
  • Yango. Yango is a Russian company which offers cheap fares. M–F €3.00+€1.10/km+€0.25/min, Sa-Su 05:00-21:59 €3.00+€1.10/km+€0.25/min, F–Su 22:00-04:59 €6.00+€1.10/km+€0.25/min (Starting fare includes 4 min and 1.5 km). (updated Jul 2020)
  • Menevä Helsinki, ☏ +358 50-471-0470 (head of office), toll-free: 0800-02120 (booking). Also bookable by app or web. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app or web. Flag fall M–Sa 06:00–18:00: €4, other times and holidays: €7; 1–4 persons €0.90/km + €0.90/km, 5–8 persons minimum €20, €1.60/km + €0.90/min (July 2020). (updated Jul 2020)
  • iTaksi, ☏ +358 10-212-0000 (check cost), . Also bookable by app or web. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app or web. €4.00/6.00+€0.90/km+€0.85/min. 
  • Fixutaxi, ☏ +358 100-6060 (check cost), . Also bookable by app. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app. M–Su 06:00–18:00 €0.99/km+0.90/min, evenings and nights €1.17/km+0.99/min, minimum fare €10; prebooking €10. 
  • Helsinki Limo, ☏ +358 20-787-0360 (pvm/mvm), +358 20-787-0360 (pvm/mvm), . Premium taxi service. Will provide airport pick-ups, private car services as transfers and longer trips. Their vehicles are always new and black with leather interior. Drivers speak English and can even, by order, give short sightseeings. 
  • 02 Taksi. Smart phone app offers address based routing and gives price offers from different taxi companies. Pricing not told on the web. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Bolt

By bike

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Helsinki's City Bike [formerly dead link] bike-sharing system was relaunched in 2017. The system offers 4600 bikes spread across 460 stations in Helsinki and the neighboring 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.

Downtown bike lanes 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. There is also a journey planner for cycling[dead link]. 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.

Public libraries often have free biking maps for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. If they are not visibly displayed on tables, ask for one from the staff.

If an ordinary bike isn't enough for you, you can also rent a cyclerickshaw (riksa) large enough for three from Riksavuokraus [dead link] (☏ +358 50-5582525) in Eiranranta near Kaivopuisto. Prices start at €9/30 min, driver not included but available on request.

Baana

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Baana

Baana – Helsinki's new "Low Line" (as opposed to NYC's High Line) opened on June 12, 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.

By electric kick scooter

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See also: Finland#By motorised scooter

It is possible to rent Swedish Voi, German Tier, American Lime, Dutch Dott and Norwegian Ryde electric kick scooters for use in the centre.

By foot

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The Kluuvikatu street at Christmas

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.

By car

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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 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.

Car rental

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Cars can be hired from the usual suspects.

24Go, OmaGo and AIMO offer web or app based self-service car hire, handy for short drives. Cars can be picked up and dropped off in public car parks. You may need a driving licence recognised by their server. Any service needed (oil etc.) is probably on paid time.

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. Classical Helsinki's sights can be divided into an eclectic set of churches and a wide variety of museums. For a coastal amble past some of Helsinki's minor and major sights, see the itinerary A seaside stroll in Helsinki.

For the most part, Helsinki lacks the monumental historic architecture of Copenhagen and Stockholm. However, what sets it apart from other Nordic capitals is the Russian-influenced architecture from the 19th century, which resembles that of Saint Petersburg.

Museums and galleries

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Many of Helsinki's museums are as interesting from the outside as from the inside. Architecture buffs will get a kick out of Helsinki's Neo-Classical center, centered around Senate Square (Senaatintori), where a statue of the liberal Russian czar Alexander II stands guard. Aleksanterinkatu and the Railway Station square also have some beautiful neo-classical buildings – look for the Romantic Kalevala-esque themes – but unfortunately these areas also have many concrete monstrosities mixed in.

Islands

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Suomenlinna fortress, seen from a passing ferry

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 ferry ride. The HSL ferry from Market Square is the cheapest and most convenient way of getting there at €9 for a 12-hour tourist return. The ferry is a part of the Helsinki local transit system, so if you have an HSL Day Ticket it includes ferry travel. The ferry runs approximately every half hour. 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. In this case it may be worth it to use the more expensive private ferry company at the other end of the Market Square.

Suomenlinna is far from the only island, a beautiful archipelago (saaristo) surrounds the Helsinki city center. 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, and you can also tour them by sightseeing cruise. Most of the cruises depart from the Western corner of the Market Square and last from one to several hours. Most ferries and cruises operate only in the summer high season.

Itineraries

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See #Districts for listings.
  • Football: The men's national soccer team play home games at Olympic Stadium, capacity 36,000, three km north of city centre. Helsinki has two clubs playing soccer at Bolt Arena two km north of the centre: HJK and IF Gnistan play in the Veikkausliga, the top tier. The domestic playing season is April-Oct. Helsinki Cup, the third largest international youth football tournament in Europe, is held each year in Helsinki during mid-summer.

Cinema

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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[dead link], 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.

Concerts

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The Tavastia Club at night

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. 

At sea

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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, . 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, . 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. 

Events

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

January

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An illuminated artwork at Lux Helsinki 2016, in the Ateneum art museum.
  • 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. 

April

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Vappu
  • 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. 
  • 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)

June

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Helsinki Samba Carnaval
  • 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. 
  • 1 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. Helsinki Pride (Q4134784) on Wikidata Helsinki Pride on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2023)
  • 2 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 of charge. 
  • Juhannus (Midsummer Festival). Friday 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 closed, making it the most quiet time of year in Helsinki. 

July

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  • 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)

August

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  • 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. 

September

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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 began in 1987. Helsinki Film Festival (Q5710494) on Wikidata Helsinki International Film Festival on Wikipedia 

November

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  • 3 Lautapelaamaan, Tallberginkatu 1. 10:00-18:00 mostly. 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 (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. 
  • 4 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)

December

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Senate Square on a snowy December morning
  • 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. 

Learn

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The main building of the University of Helsinki at the Senate Square, the four sides of which represent the Church, the worldly power, the scholarship and the bourgeoisie

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. 
  • 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.

Finnish

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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.

Work

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See also: Finland#Work
Aleksanterinkatu shopping street and Stockmann department store
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).

Design

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Old Market Hall

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.

Markets

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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.

Records

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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.

Clothing

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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.
This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
BudgetUnder €10
Mid-range€10–30
SplurgeOver €30
Restaurant Basilica in Ruoholahti

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.

Drink

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See #Districts for listings.

Cafés

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Café Ekberg, the oldest coffeehouse of Helsinki

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).

Bars and pubs

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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, which can be picked up at many bars, cafes and shops.

Nightclubs

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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!

Sleep

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See #Districts for listings.
Grand Hotel Kämp by night

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

Budget

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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.

Mid-range

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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.

Splurge

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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.

Stay safe

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Risks in Helsinki


Crime/violence: Low
Drunk people on weekend nights, bouncers in clubs, pickpockets
Occasional violence in rail transport
Certain suburbs may have street gangs
Authorities/corruption: Low
Security guards and nightclub bouncers might be rude and/or violent
Transportation: Low
Occasional delays in rail traffic
Traffic culture may be sometimes aggressive
Health: Low
Infectious tick bites in the archipelago
Nature: Low

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.

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

Emergency Social Services

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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.

Crime

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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.

Here's a tip by the locals: don't encourage a beggar by giving money.

Especially in the summer you will encounter Roma beggars from Eastern Europe sitting on the streets in the city centre. Most locals would prefer your not encouraging them by giving money, and donating to a charity instead.

Pedestrian safety

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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.

Excavations

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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.

Visa agencies

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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).

Respect

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The seagull is a very common sight in Helsinki and it knows very well how to get its food there – by any means.
  • 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.

Connect

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Internet access

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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, 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.

Cope

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Embassies

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Embassy of the United States
Embassy of the United Kingdom

Places of worship

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  • 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. 

Go next

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Lake in Nuuksio

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 to 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:

  • In Russia, Saint Petersburg, "the Venice of the North", is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Accessible by St. Peter Line's overnight cruise ferry departing a few times a week – or by train (service suspended since 2022)
  • 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.
Routes through Helsinki
Tampere ← Hyvinkää ←  N  S  → END
Turku ← Espoo ←  W  E  → Porvoo → Saint Petersburg
END ←  N  S  → → Tallinn → Riga
Lahti ← Vantaa ←  N  S  → → Gdańsk


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