Helsinki reveals a unique mix of design, tradition and quiet confidence. The further you explore, the more depth you uncover.
With Ari’s Finnish-Canadian background and years of visits, we’re excited to share our favourite experiences in the city.
From wood-fired saunas by the sea and design boutiques to Finnish classics and local hot spots, we’ve rounded up 22 unique things to do in Helsinki.
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22 Cool Things to Do in Helsinki
1. Shop and eat Finnish specialties at Market Square
Start your morning at Helsinki’s waterfront Market Square, where ferries pull in behind rows of food stalls and vendors set up along the harbour.
Join the locals in the bright orange tents and order a lihapiirakka with a hot coffee. This classic pastry is deep-fried donut dough wrapped around a savoury meat-and-rice filling. Ari adds a frankfurter to his with mustard.
Also try a karjalanpiirakka - a traditional Karelian rice pastry with a thin rye crust and creamy rice porridge centre. It’s usually topped with munavoi, an egg-butter spread that tastes like a simple egg salad.
From the market, we brought home wool-lined leather gloves, winter landscape artwork, a reindeer rug, and a set of antler coat hooks for our cabin in Canada.
2. Sauna and lunch on Lonna Island
Just a 10-minute ferry ride from the harbour beside Market Square, Lonna Island feels like a quiet escape from the city.
Once a base for storing and clearing sea mines, it’s now where people come to sauna, eat and spend a relaxed afternoon by the water.
The ferry ride costs around €9 return. You can check the schedule and buy your ferry tickets online through FRS Finland.
Start with the sauna. It’s mixed-gender and right on the water. You can rent towels and buy drinks to enjoy between sauna sessions. Steam properly, then plunge into the cool Baltic.
Afterwards, head to Lonna's Restaurant, which serves seasonal Nordic dishes. Everything we had tasted incredibly fresh and just picked, especially the veggie and fish dishes garnished with bright herbs.
Seasonal hours: The sauna and restaurant are typically open from the second week of May to the last week of September.
3. Wander through Old Market Hall
Nordic Caviar House and salmon soup from Story at Old Market Hall
Just south of Market Square, we always duck into Old Market Hall, a red-brick indoor market that’s been operating since the 19th century.
Wooden aisles are lined with seafood counters, bakeries, cheese shops and specialty stalls selling smoked fish, rye bread and Finnish pantry staples.
Treat yourself to a caviar tasting served on blinis at Nordic Caviar House, and pair it with a glass of wine.
For lunch, order the classic salmon soup at Story, with chunks of salmon and potato in a creamy broth, finished with fresh dill and dill oil.
4. Watch a film at Helsinki's lounge-style indie cinema
Riviera Cinema's Kallio location
Book a comfy sofa seat at Riviera, Helsinki’s lounge-style indie cinema.
We went to the Kallio location, where red lounge chairs, neon accents and house plants gave it more of a retro living-room feel than a theatre.
You can pre-order food and cocktails so they're ready for you when you arrive.
Many films screen in English with Finnish subtitles, and it books up quickly, so reserve ahead.
5. Shop Helsinki's Design District
Shopping Finnish brands and vintage glassware in the Design District
Helsinki takes its design seriously. Named a World Design Capital, the city has long shaped modern Nordic aesthetics.
Helsinki's Design District is where you'll find small boutiques and heritage brands within 25 walkable streets.
These are our favourite Finnish brands and boutiques:
Lapuan Kankurit - Sustainably made linen and wool textiles in soft tones. We left with dish towels, a blanket and sauna robes.
Nomen Nescio - Minimal, mostly black unisex clothing with sharp tailoring and strong fabrics. Ari bought two black hoodies with different textures here.
Iittala - Finland’s iconic glass brand, refined and sculptural. We love their candle holders.
Sauso - Exceptionally soft leather gloves. They measured my hands and custom-made a pair, then shipped them to me in Canada.
marimekko - Bold prints and one of Finland’s most recognizable brands.
OMA puoti - Traditional Finnish handicrafts by local artisans.
6. Take a shopping break at Fazer Cafe Kluuvikatu
When your arms are full of shopping bags, stop by Fazer Cafe Kluuvikatu, the original 1891 cafe that locals have been returning to for generations.
Our favourite snack is their open-faced shrimp sandwich on rye, paired with a coffee.
Before leaving, grab a few of their chocolates to bring back home. We love putting them out at Christmas time.
7. Hunt for vintage Finnish glassware
In Finland, glassware is a part of the country’s design identity.
Finnish designers turn everyday objects into sculpture, experimenting with light, texture and organic forms, often inspired by nature.
We love hunting for designer glassware in antique shops. These are our favourites:
- Momono - our favourite curation
- Fasaani Antiikki - large selection of well-priced second-hand glassware
- Modern Design Finland
- Retronomi Retro & Vintage Shop
- Kruuna
- Lasikammari
8. Dine at a neighbourhood hot spot
Dining at Plein, Nolla and 305.
Finnish cooking is rooted in seasonality and shaped by salting, curing and preserving traditions.
In Helsinki, that foundation shows up in sustainable, modern restaurants that feel neighbourhood-driven rather than formal.
These are our favourite restaurants that locals also love:
305 - Buzzing spot in Kallio, with seasonal plates built around small-scale producers.
Plein - Intimate and understated in Vallila. Creative dishes in a small, low-key space.
Muru - Our pick for wine lovers. A relaxed bistro atmosphere with a strong cellar and a chalkboard of daily dishes.
Nolla - Sustainable, zero-waste cooking focused on seasonal ingredients
Ateljé Finne - Set inside sculptor Gunnar Finne’s former studio, with art lining the walls and a seasonal regional menu.
9. Have cocktails with character
We like to start our night at Bar Runar, tucked inside a hotel but very much its own thing.
The neon “Bitter Beats Boring” sign glows above the bar, the cocktails are inventive and well balanced, and the music is always on point.
We're always Shazamming songs there. It sets the tone for the night.
Later, if we’re in the mood for something theatrical, we find our way to Trillby & Chadwick, a prohibition-style bar.
There’s no signage, just a blacked-out door and an old telephone you have to pick up to be let in.
Inside, it fully embraces its detective-noir mood, with dim lighting and story-driven cocktails.
See our full list of fun things to do in Helsinki at night.
10. Ride the Ferris wheel... or sauna in it
The regular ride is fun on its own, with sweeping views over the Baltic and the city skyline.
But if you’re up for it, you can book the sauna cabin and steam while rotating above the harbour.
I’m far too claustrophobic to attempt it, but we watched a group of friends doing it together, and it looked hilariously fun.
11. People-watch over Esplanadi Park at Cafe Strindberg
When we want a central spot to sit and people-watch, we head to Cafe Strindberg on Esplanadi.
It opened in the early 90s in a former art gallery, and the street-level cafe overlooks the park. It has that classic European feel.
On a sunny day, grab a terrace seat and settle in with a coffee, lunch or glass of wine.
12. Sing and dance to Finnish songs at a rowdy farm-themed bar
For something completely different, head to Zetor. The restaurant is decked out like a Finnish countryside fantasy, with actual tractors, farm tools and colourful lighting.
At dinner, it serves hearty classics like reindeer and salmon in generous portions, and then by night when the Finnish hits come on, locals start singing and dancing, and the room turns rowdy.
13. Explore Kallio's creative side
Exploring the Kallio District
Kallio is Helsinki's edgy district, where vintage stores, record shops and independent bars sit within a few walkable blocks, and the crowd skews creative.
Stop at Harju 8, which works just as well for a relaxed lunch as it does for late-night drinks. It's where Helsinki's fashion crowd gathers.
By day, the terrace fills quickly, and the seasonal menu includes plenty of vegetarian options. It’s a fun place to sit and people-watch.
By evening, the energy buildings, especially on their Sunday jazz nights, when local musicians take over for jam sessions.
Two record stores to hit up: Levykauppa Äx and Hippie Shake
14. Treat yourself to dinner at Helsinki's two-Michelin star restaurant
For a polished night out, book Palace, Helsinki’s only two-Michelin-star restaurant and the first in the city to ever receive a Michelin star.
It sits on the 10th floor of a modernist building originally built for the 1952 Olympics, with sweeping views over the Baltic Sea.
We dressed up and timed the tasting menu with sunset, watching the light change over the water. It was worth every penny.
15. Explore Teurastamo, a 1930s meat factory turned cultural hub
The former meat factory's industrial buildings are home to independent restaurants, bakeries and small-batch producers, while in warmer months, its courtyard hosts markets and pop-up events.
You'll see locals here eating, drinking, working and spending time with friends.
We enjoyed having a coffee at Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo, an on-site roastery and cafe in an exposed-brick space.
16. Take a seaside sauna with locals at Sompasauna
For an authentic, local sauna experience, head to Sompasauna. This volunteer-run, wood-burning seaside sauna is a free thing to do in Helsinki.
Steam hard, then dip into the Baltic. It’s mixed-gender and swimsuit-optional.
It’s just a 13-minute walk from Teurastamo, making the two an easy pair to combine.
Good things to know:
- Bring your own towel and water.
- Only throw fresh water on the stove - never seawater.
- Firewood and water are usually available on site, but it’s not guaranteed.
- Locals typically 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.
17. Have lunch inside Helsinki’s art-filled luxury hotel and bakery
Hotel St. George quickly became one of Helsinki’s most talked-about luxury hotels when it opened, thanks to its art-filled interiors and contemporary Finnish design.
Works by notable Finnish artists are integrated throughout the building, and the atmosphere feels creative rather than traditional.
On the street level, St. George Bakery draws a mix of stylish locals and hotel guests fuelling up on coffee, fresh sourdough sandwiches and seasonal salads.
It's a nice place to fuel up for lunch before heading back out into the Design District.
18. Explore Helsinki’s electronic music scene
Helsinki has an underground electronic music scene that draws a loyal, music-focused crowd.
Clubs like Kaiku, Siltanen and Kuudes Linja are often cited among Europe’s best underground venues.
We spent a night at Kaiku and loved the darker, hypnotic sets. The atmosphere felt welcoming rather than exclusive.
If you catch a Jungle Unit event, don't miss it. Their techno nights often take over unexpected cultural spaces - the one we attended took place in a former 1920s morgue.
19. Stay in a Finnish-designed apartment
Helsinki takes design seriously, and that extends to where you stay.
We split our time between a luxury hotel and a Finnish-designed apartment, and preferred the apartment.
We stayed at Bob W Helsinki Ullanlinna, set inside a historic building near the Design District.With herringbone parquet floors, tall original windows and Scandinavian furnishings, it felt far more local than a standard hotel room.
In a city known for design, you can stay in beautifully restored and decorated apartments at surprisingly good value.
🛏️ Browse more apartments in Helsinki.20. Discover Helsinki's contemporary art scene
Amos Rex
To get a feel for what’s shaping Finland’s art scene right now, head to Helsinki Art Museum (HAM). Its rotating exhibitions spotlight contemporary Finnish artists alongside international names.
Then there’s Amos Rex, where the architecture steals the show. The galleries sit underground beneath a former bus station, while sculptural skylights rise from the plaza above like futuristic mole hills.
21. Eat at Finland's iconic pizza chain
On bar nights, we almost always end up at Kotipizza.
It’s Finland’s largest pizza chain and became iconic for its reindeer and chanterelle mushroom pizza, created after Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi publicly mocked Finnish cuisine.
The cheekily named “Berlusconi” later went on to win an international pizza competition in New York, beating an Italian-American team.
22. Have a sundowner on a historic harbour ship
Lightvessel Relandersgrund and Bar Jan Mayan
In summer, grab a drink on one of Helsinki’s ships turned harbour bars:
Lightvessel Relandersgrund - a former lighthouse ship from 1888.
Bar Jan Mayan - a 1914 schooner with wooden decks and open-air seating.
We hope you enjoyed these 22 unique things to do in Helsinki!
Only have a couple days in Helsinki? See our top picks in our 2 Day Helsinki Itinerary.
Combine Helsinki with Estonia, it's just a 2-hour ferry ride away:
Get started on planning your trip to Helsinki
- 🌃 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🎡 Browse activities: through GetYourGuide. Most experiences offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save and pin these unique things to do in Helsinki for later:
