Helsinki Travel Guide

When to visit Helsinki: June to August, when nearly endless daylight fills terraces and island ferries run at full schedule

When is the best time to visit Helsinki?

Avg Temp

15–22°C

Rainfall

Moderate, ~60mm/month

Best Time

June to August, when nearly endless daylight fills terraces and island ferries run at full schedule

Packing Tips (3)

Layers, since evenings cool down even in summer
A light rain jacket for sudden showers
Comfortable shoes for cobblestones in the Design District and Suomenlinna's paths

Show in

Local currency: EUR

Story
Nordic/Finnish · $$$
A relaxed neighborhood restaurant near Töölö known for seasonal Finnish-Nordic dishes told through a rotating narrative menu.
Kolme Kaverbrista (Ravintola Sea Horse)
Finnish · $$
A historic Kaartinkaupunki restaurant since 1934, famous for Baltic herring and unpretentious Helsinki charm.
Olo
Contemporary Nordic · $$$$
A two-Michelin-star restaurant on the Market Square waterfront serving refined Nordic tasting menus.
Kappeli
Finnish/Cafe · $$$
An elegant glass-pavilion restaurant and cafe on Esplanadi park, a Helsinki institution since 1867.
Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall)
Market food · $$
A 19th-century market hall by the harbor with stalls selling reindeer, salmon and Karelian pastries.
Zetor
Finnish · $$
A tongue-in-cheek tractor-themed restaurant serving hearty Finnish farmhouse dishes in the city center.
Ateljee Bar
Rooftop bar
A rooftop bar atop the Hotel Torni with sweeping views over Helsinki's rooftops, a classic spot for evening drinks.
Kaiku
Nightclub
A club and live-venue in a former sausage factory known for electronic and alternative music nights.
Bar Loose
Bar
A long-running rock bar near Iso Roobertinkatu with a jukebox and biker-bar atmosphere.

Ateneum Art Museum
Art
Finland's national gallery on Railway Square, holding the country's largest collection of classical Finnish art including Gallen-Kallela.
Design Museum
Design
Located in the Design District, tracing Finnish design history from Aalto furniture to Marimekko textiles.
Kiasma
Contemporary Art
Helsinki's contemporary art museum in a curved steel-and-glass building near the Parliament House.
Suomenlinna Museum
History
Set on the UNESCO-listed sea fortress island, explaining the history of the 18th-century Swedish-built fortifications.
Bio Rex
A restored 1936 Functionalist cinema on Lasipalatsi square, hosting festival screenings and design events.
Helsinki Festival
August
The city's largest annual arts festival, spanning music, dance, theatre and visual arts across venues citywide.
Juhannus (Midsummer)
June
Finland's biggest midsummer celebration with bonfires and long daylight, though many Helsinki residents leave for the archipelago.

Hietaniemi Beach
Sandy urban beach · 3 km from city center
Helsinki's main sandy city beach, a short walk from the center and popular for evening swims in summer.

SATS Kamppi
Full gym with pool
A large fitness club in the Kamppi shopping center with pool and extensive group class schedule.
Allas Sea Pool
Outdoor sea-water pool · In city center
A harborside pool complex by the Market Square with sea-water pools, saunas and city views.
Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall
Indoor historic pool · In city center
Helsinki's oldest public pool, a beautifully restored 1928 Art Deco hall in the city center.
Linnanmäki
Amusement park
A beloved amusement park on a hill near Alppila, funding Finnish child welfare work since 1950, with a classic wooden roller coaster.