Helsinki is a city for architecture lovers, design enthusiasts and serious eaters. Named a World Design Capital, it has a style entirely its own.
Walk the cobblestone streets, and you’ll pass art nouveau façades, neoclassical landmarks and contemporary Nordic buildings, with glimpses of Alvar Aalto-inspired interiors behind street-level windows.
Yet beneath the design is a remarkable simplicity shaped by the Finnish way of life.
From seaside saunas to coffee shops where locals sip their third or fourth cup, even a short visit reveals why Helsinki consistently ranks among the world’s most livable cities.
Ari is Finnish-Canadian, with both parents born in Finland, so he’s been visiting for years.
In this guide, we've picked out the best experiences to fit into your 2 days in Helsinki.
Our 2 day itinerary also covers the best area to stay, our favourite apartment hotel, and the best time to visit.
Overview: 2 Days in Helsinki
Day 1: Browse local markets, eat Finnish specialties, shop the Design District and dine at a neighbourhood hot spot. Day 2: Go for a sauna by the sea and head beyond the city centre to experience Helsinki’s alternative, creative side. |
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only recommend products or services we have used or that we believe will add value to our readers. Thank you for supporting us!
2 Day Helsinki itinerary
Day 1
Browse local markets, take in Helsinki’s striking architecture, shop Finnish design brands, and dine at a neighbourhood hot spot
Shop and eat at Market Square and Old Market Hall
Start your morning at Helsinki’s seaside Market Square, where vendors line the waterfront selling traditional products and Finnish treats.
Look for the sellers from Lapland - we brought home a reindeer rug and reindeer antler coat hooks for our cabin in Canada.
Don’t miss ordering a lihapiirakka (meat pie) and hot coffee from the orange tent.
Unlike a typical meat pie, this one wraps a savoury meat-and-rice filling in donut dough, deep-fried until golden. Add a frankfurter and mustard for a hearty (not sweet) snack.
Just south of the square is Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli), a 19th-century indoor market selling Finnish specialties.
Browse baked goods, seafood, deli items and housewares. Ari bought canned reindeer meat that’s still sitting in our cupboard.
While you’re there, order the delicious salmon soup at Story, with chunks of salmon and potato in creamy broth, garnished with fresh dill and dill oil.
Right beside the hall is the wooden Helsinki Biennial Pavilion, inspired by Vallisaari Island and worth a quick walk around.
Shop Finnish brands and vintage pieces in the Design District
Shopping Finnish brands and vintage glassware in the Design District
Helsinki is called a World Design Capital for a reason. This is the first time it really felt like we "shopped 'til we dropped". There are so many unique stores to see, and the fear of missing out on something special is real.
These are our favourite shops in Helsinki for Finnish brands and vintage design:
- Lapuan Kankurit: Sells sustainably made linen and wool textiles inspired by nature and Nordic design. There are so many chic colours. We bought dish towels, a blanket and sauna bathrobes.
- Momono: Curates an amazing selection of new and vintage glassware from Finnish designers. We bought some water glasses and glass art.
- Nomen Nescio: A unisex brand selling minimalistic, alternative clothing in mostly black. There is a strong attention to detail on the quality and cut of each piece. Ari's favourite black hoodie is from here.
- Iittala: Avant-garde glassware and tableware brand that started as a glass factory back in the late 1800s in Finland. The pieces are exquisitely made and bring elegance to the room.
- Sauso: Makes the softest leather gloves. My hands are abnormally small and vary from each other, so I never fit any gloves. I picked out a style I liked, they took my measurements, and I got a custom-made pair shipped to my home in Canada.
- marimekko: Arguably Finland's most famous clothing brand - you may recognize its distinctive flower prints and patterns. You can find marimekko stores worldwide, but it's worth seeing the flagship store.
- Fasaani Antiikki: A large selection of second-hand glassware and housewares. It’s a great place to hunt for designer pieces at reasonable prices - we found vintage Iittala candlesticks here for the best price we saw in the city.
- OMA puoti: For traditional Finnish handicrafts made by artisans, this is our go-to.
Stop for a mid-shopping snack at Fazer
Take a shopping break at Fazer, Finland’s iconic confectionery company, founded in 1891.
Fazer Cafe Kluuvikatu is the original location and has been operating here ever since. It serves both savoury and sweet treats ready to enjoy.
Our favourite is the open-faced shrimp salad sandwich on rye - it’s a must! Before you leave, pick up a few of their chocolates to take back home.
Dine on seasonal dishes at a neighbourhood hot spot
Dining at Plein, Nolla and 305.
Finnish cooking is rooted in seasonality and traditional techniques like salting, curing, smoking and pickling.
In Helsinki, those methods are reworked in a modern, sustainable way, with dishes built around forest mushrooms, wild berries, fish and game.
We’ve eaten at all of these neighbourhood hot spots below and recommend booking one of them for your first evening:
Best for wine lovers: Muru
This bistro has a cozy atmosphere with dim lighting, a chandelier made of wine bottles and a bar built from wine crates. It’s ideal for date night or if you love wine - check the blackboard for the daily dishes.
Best for thoughtful, zero-waste cooking: Nolla
“Nolla” means zero, which sums up their ethos. The restaurant runs on a zero-waste philosophy, from sourcing hyper-local ingredients to tracking energy use.
Best for art lovers: Ateljé Finne
Set in sculptor Gunnar Finne’s former studio, this spot pairs regional, seasonal dishes with his artwork displayed across three levels.
Best for creative neighbourhood energy: 305
In Kallio, 305 is set in a 19th-century building with high ceilings, forest green panelling and candlelit tables. The crowd and atmosphere give the room a steady buzz, and the seasonal menu highlights ingredients from small-scale producers.
Best for an understated local favourite: Plein
Located in the up-and-coming Vallila neighbourhood inside a former butcher shop, Plein is intimate and low-key, with just a handful of tables. The dishes were some of the most creative we tried in Helsinki.
Drink handcrafted cocktails at one of Helsinki's unique bars
Enjoy a nightcap at one of these atmospheric cocktail bars:
This eccentric, Prohibition-style cocktail bar is themed as a 1920s detective agency, and it fully commits to the story.
No photos are allowed, and guests exit through a back door, adding to the intrigue.
Each cocktail comes with its own backstory, and the moody lighting and vintage furnishings feel exactly right for a secret investigator’s office.
To get in: find the unmarked blacked-out door and step into the foyer. Inside, pick up the old-school telephone and ask to be let in.
Runar may be located in a hotel, but this funky bar has an identity of its own with its innovative cocktails, awesome music selection and large neon-lit "bitter beats boring" sign.
It's our favourite spot for both the cocktails and music, so we always start the night here before heading out dancing.
See our list of 9 fun things to do in Helsinki at night.
Day 2
Go for a sauna by the sea and head beyond the city centre to experience Helsinki’s alternative, creative side.
Have breakfast at Teurastamo, a former meat factory turned cultural hub
Today, you’ll explore Helsinki’s alternative side beyond the downtown core.
Start your morning at Teurastamo, a 1930s industrial complex that’s been transformed into a lively gathering space, where creative locals come to eat, drink and hang out.
The brick courtyard often hosts markets and events in warmer months.
Walk the grounds and stop at Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo, the on-site roastery and cafe. Its exposed brick walls and concrete floors give it a relaxed, industrial feel.
See our full list of 22 Unique Things to Do in Helsinki.
Go for a sauna by the sea
Just a 13-minute walk from Teurastamo is Somapauna, an off-the-radar local favourite.
This self-service public sauna is as authentic as it gets, with wood-burning stoves, birch trees and open views over the sea.
The saunas are free to use and maintained by local volunteers. Have a proper steam, then cool off with a dip in the Baltic.
A few things to know:
- The saunas are mixed-gender (rare in Finland) and swimsuit-optional.
- Bring your own towel.
- Don’t throw seawater on the stove - only fresh water (there’s a gas station nearby where you can buy some if needed).
- Firewood and water are usually available on site.
- Locals tend to heat the saunas in the morning, so early afternoon onwards is your best bet for a proper steam.
Review Sompasauna's rules before you go.
If you arrive and it hasn’t been heated yet, head to Kotiharjun Sauna instead. This traditional wood-heated public sauna has been operating since 1928.
Entry is €16, towels are available to rent, and the saunas are separated by gender. It’s located in Kallio - your next stop.
Explore the bohemian Kallio district
Exploring the Kallio District
Kallio is known as Helsinki’s bohemian neighbourhood, where young creatives and unconventional types live and hang out.
You’ll find everything from dive bars to buzzy restaurants, along with quirky cafes, vintage shops, record stores and clubs playing underground music.
Stop for lunch at Harju 8, a neighbourhood hangout that attracts a stylish crowd.
On warm days, the terrace fills quickly, and the menu features seasonal Nordic dishes with plenty of vegetarian options.
Afterwards, walk the streets of Kallio and browse vintage shops and record stores like Hippie Shake and Levykauppa Äx.
See a contemporary art exhibition
Helsinki has a thriving contemporary art scene. Head back to the downtown core and visit one of these prominent art museums, or both if you have time.
Helsinki Art Museum (HAM)
HAM manages over 9,000 works of art across the city, from public installations to pieces housed inside the museum.
It’s a good stop if you’re curious about Finland’s contemporary art scene, with rotating exhibitions that highlight both emerging and modern artists.
Amos Rex
Amos Rex
The building of Amos Rex is a sight to see in itself. They recently expanded by renovating a former bus station into a two-story underground art exhibition space.
The roof of the building serves as a futuristic public square where angled skylights poke out like alien mole hills.
See what exhibitions are coming up.
Dine out at another Helsinki hot spot
Pick from one of these neighbourhood restaurants you didn't get to on your first night:
- Plein - understated local favourite
- 305 - creative, buzzy atmosphere
- Muru - for wine lovers
- Nolla - thoughtful, sustainable cooking
- Atelje Finne - for art lovers
Or, dine on Finnish classics in a casual, yet rowdy atmosphere at Zetor.
The rustic "tractor restaurant" is where you will find hearty Finnish specialties and Finnish music playing.
It's a fun spot that gets wild by night with Finns partying and dancing.
Go dancing at one of Kallio's alternative clubs
Head back to the Kallio district to dance the night away at Siltanen, Kaiku or Kuudes Linja, known as some of the top nightclubs in Europe. They are all in the same complex.
We partied at Kaiku and loved the darker underground electronic music that played. The crowd was a mix of edgy locals and Europeans. They were very welcoming.
🎶 Top Tip: Look up the DJ playing that night to see if it’s your kind of vibe. Most have sets online you can listen to on SoundCloud.
See who's playing at:
Where to stay in Helsinki
Best area to stay in Helsinki
When choosing where to stay in Helsinki, look for somewhere within walking distance of the Design District and the central Kamppi and Kluuvi areas.
We recommend staying in Kaartinkaupunki (southeast) or Punavuori (southwest). Both neighbourhoods put you close to stylish shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants, while still feeling residential and local. And the architecture is stunning.
We don’t suggest staying in Kluuvi or Kamppi, since they feel more commercial, with department stores and larger hotels.
Kallio is a great district to explore, but since it sits across the bridge from the downtown core, it's a better place to visit rather than base yourself.
Best place to stay in Helsinki
We stayed in both an apartment and a hotel in Helsinki, and highly recommend going the apartment route. The design capital has many impeccably decorated apartments available at a great value.
We first stayed at Bob W Helsinki Ullanlinna on the border of the Kaartinkaupunki neighbourhood. The stylish apartments have a Scandinavian design with contemporary furnishings, a fully equipped kitchen and luxurious bathroom. We stayed in the "Classic Plus" apartment, which had lovely details with its herringbone parquet floors, classic Finnish fireplace and tall, original windows. The Marshall speaker, Nespresso machine and coffee from a local roaster were the cherry on top.The location was perfect - it's next door to the Design District and under a 10 minute walk to the centre of downtown.
The second place we stayed was Hotel St. George, a new luxurious art & design hotel with a lot of hype. But honestly, it wasn't worth the price when you can stay in spacious and stylish apartments for half the price. We've now stayed at Bob W Helsinki Ullanlinna three times. 🛏️ Browse more apartments in Helsinki.Best time to visit Helsinki
Helsinki's striking architecture
Although Helsinki sits by the sea, it gets quite chilly during the winter months.
Because it's near the Arctic Circle, temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November - March.
For milder weather, visit between June and September. Summer brings long daylight hours and average highs of around 17–21°C, making it the most comfortable time to explore the city on foot.
If you’re planning to visit saunas on the small islands around Helsinki, note that some only open during the summer season.
Getting around Helsinki
Since Helsinki is a compact city, it's easy to get around to different districts.
The best way to get around Helsinki is by walking, riding city bikes or renting electric scooters. e-scooters are allover the city and available through the Lime, TIER, Voi or Bird app.
If you don't want to cycle or take an e-scooter, Uber is also an easy way to get around.
5 Tips for having an authentic Finnish Experience
- Take some steam with locals in a wood-fired sauna on the sea.
- Try reindeer meat.
- Stay in an apartment.
- Drink cups of light filter coffee like a local. Finns drink more coffee per capita than any other country in the world.
- Shop unique Finnish brands in the Design District.
Enjoy your 2 days in Helsinki!
Combine Helsinki with a trip to Estonia - it's just a two hour ferry ride away.
Get started on booking your trip to Helsinki
- 🌃 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
See more of Scandinavia:
Looking for more cool European cities to explore?
If you love Helsinki's design scene, you'll likely fall for Antwerp - a fashionable and creative city that still flies under the radar.
Save and pin this 2 day Helsinki itinerary for later:
