helsinki itinerary: how to spend a day in Helsinki, Finland
If you’re spending time in Helsinki, this guide will help you plan the ultimate trip. In it, you’ll find the details of Helsinki’s top attractions, activities, and dining options to make the most of your limited time in the Finnish capital.
I don’t actually enjoy putting together day guides since I typically spend a minimum of a week anywhere I go. A day anywhere doesn’t seem like nearly enough, but sometimes that’s all you have. Which was exactly the case with my trip to Helsinki. Having spent time in Tallinn, Luke and I had one day left of our summer travels and we thought why not spend it in Finland?! But, how do you spend one perfect day in Helsinki?
The night before we were to arrive, we watched 48-Hour Travel Man’s Helsinki episode {with my two dream men, Paul Rudd and Richard Ayoade}, booked a ferry ticket online, and readied ourselves for an early morning trip across the water to Helsinki. While onboard the ferry, I bookmarked some interesting spots, found a free tour of the city, and did some light research. We figured it wouldn’t be too hard to have a great time in Helsinki, as Finland has been repeatedly named the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report.
Was it the perfect day? Yes. Did we see everything Helsinki has to offer? Not even close, and too claim so would be incredibly misleading. But we squeezed in a lot. Probably more than we should have. Our sunny 24-hours in Helsinki were filled with food, architecture, history, and coastal views. Keep reading this guide to a day in Helsinki to find out just how yours can too!
quick facts about helsinki
Language | Finnish Currency | Euro Population | 631,695
when to visit Helsinki ↴
June to August is the best time to visit Helsinki, simply due to the warmer weather conditions. It’s not surprising that winters in Scandinavia are pretty brutal, albeit beautiful. Of course, a visit during this time means traveling during peak season which, in turn, means more people to contend with. Still, midsummer is the ideal time for a Helsinki trip.
If you’re willing to brave colder weather, you can absolutely head to Helsinki in the wintertime. Just know, the temperatures really do take a plunge and stay constantly below freezing from mid-November through late March.
how to get to Helsinki ↴
Of course, your first point of order is figuring out how to get to the city.
By ferry | Ferrying to Helsinki is easy, affordable, and the perfect option for day-trippers. It’s extra easy to visit Helsinki from Tallinn, Estonia, by boat.
By air travel | Helsinki is just a few hours from London by plane and a number of budget airlines operate flights to and from the Finnish capital, including: Finnair, British Airways, and Lufthansa.
To the city from the airport | The airport has access to an underground train station, which runs directly to the city center using the I or P train lines. You can buy an HSL card {good for any public transport} or pay for a single ride. You’ll need contactless card or cash to buy a ticket inside the train.
how to get around Helsinki ↴
A majority of Helsinki’s sights are easy to get to on foot, which is a great eco-friendly way to get around. Alternatively, the city’s public transportation is easy to use and affordable. Buses run regularly and are pretty comprehensive of the city. However, if your feet need a break, my personal pick are the Helsinki trams. You can pay per ride or you can buy an HSL card. HSL cards can be purchased, topped up, and used on all forms of public transport. There are even day travel cards available for €12.
what to see + do in Helsinki ↴
visit Hakaniemi Market
Hakaniemi Market is a traditional Finnish food market that runs 6 days a week. There are indoor and outdoor stalls that sell fruit, vegetable, fish, meat, and cheese. The market is a great way to taste Finnish foods without the high markup prices at Helsinki restaurants.
explore the city center
Any of the main landmarks and must-sees in Helsinki’s city center are located close enough to one another that visitors can see them on foot. The attractions you can’t miss include:
Senate Square
Uspenski Cathedral
SkyWheel Helsinki | fun fact: there is a VIP sauna carriage that makes for total travel dream material
take a free walking tour of the city
If you’re already looking to explore Helsinki on foot, why not do it with a guide who can give you all kinds of history and local insight? We took {yet another} awesome free walking tour with Green Cap Tours around Helsinki. The free walking tour of the city takes approximately 2 hours and the terrain is relatively flat. You’ll learn all about what foods Finns eat, funny things to say in Finnish, and all kinds of interesting trivia.
Book your spot in advance online and bring some cash as a tip at the end for your guide.
have a Finnish sauna experience
For the Finnish, sauna is a way of life; something deeply cultural. It is a quintessential Finnish experience you must make time for on a trip to Helsinki since the hot, wooden steam rooms are practically part of the Finnish DNA. Saunas are both a place to relax and socialize. They have been proven to improve health and make people feel more connected to nature. The Finns have even been known to give birth in a sauna {how badass, right?}.
Some of the best saunas in Helsinki include:
Allas Sea Pool
Burger King Sauna | as seen in the aforementioned 48-Hour Travel Man episode with Paul Rudd in Helsinki
SkyWheel Sauna
Lähteen Sauna
Sauna Saari
Löyly
Museum of Finnish Architecture
One of the first things I noticed about Helsinki was the amazing architecture. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan accordingly. The Museum of Finnish Architecture is home to a collection of Finnish architectural exhibits, just as its name suggests.
take the ferry to Suomenlinna fortress island
The first thing we did when we arrived off the ferry boat in Helsinki was grab a coffee and hop on another ferry boat, this time to Suomenlinna Fortress Island.
Suomenlinna has been marked a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Once a sea fortress, it now sees tourists and locals alike keen to spend their time in the summer months wandering the island, taking advantage of the green spaces, and learning about the history in the Suomenlinna Museum.
The island is open the all year round for visitors, though I can imagine it being much more enjoyable in the summer. We purchased our tickets at in the Market Square next to the harbour. The ferry to Suomenlinna runs 1-4 times a day depending on the season {a timetable can be found here}.
grab a coffee at The Moomin café {Mumin Café}
I couldn’t write a guide to Helsinki and not include a stop at the café home of the famous Finnish exports— the Moomin characters. For many kids around the globe, the Moomins are a nostalgic part of childhood.
admire Helsinki’s Design District +/or visit its many art museums
There are a bevy of art galleries and design museums sprinkled throughout the many green spaces of Helsinki. Some of the most widely raved about art museums in the city are:
Amos Rex | this art museum opened in 2018 and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
take a trip to the Sibelius Monument
Located in the Töölö district of Helsinki, the Sibelius Monument is a sculpture created by Eila Hiltunen dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Erected in 1967, the sculpture’s namesake and honouree famously said, “Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.”
awesome “insta” spots in Helsinki↴
Helsinki is incredibly photogenic. Have I mentioned the architecture? Right, I have. Cool. What about the cafés? Have I mentioned them? Yeah? Okay, cool. All of this and more make Helsinki a photographer’s dream. Some of the photo spots you won’t want to miss include:
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress | beautiful coastline, soft pink fortress walls, and bright yellow buildings
Kaisa-talo | the Helsinki University Library has such a sleek, contemporary design with lots of natural light
Central Railway Station Helsinki | the railway station looked like something right out of Gotham
Huvilakatu | this street lined by pastel coloured Art Nouveau buildings
Sibelius Monument | the Sibelius Monument makes for a sharp photo op, especially if you’re into texture
what to eat + where to grab coffee in Helsinki ↴
Yes Yes Yes | a delicious bar and restaurant that’s super photogenic
Ekberg 1852 | the oldest café and bakery in Scandinavia. Ideal fro snacks, a light lunch, or a bread-y breakfast
Café Regatta | great coffee and Instagram-worthy views
Levain | delicious baked goods {their sweet pastries are out of this world} and coffee
Fishmarket | {located inside the Stockmann store} for traditional Finnish soups, which we probably would have enjoyed more had it not been for the freak blazing autumn rolling in.
Mumin Kaffee | I stopped in only to take a photo for a Mumin-obsessed friend, but I actually ended up ordering a black coffee and it was delicious.
suggested 1-day itineraries in Helsinki ↴
With only a single day in Helsinki, you might be wondering how to spend your 24 hours. We spent our time running around like mad men so, to help you out I’ve created a few different options for day itineraries based on what you might be interested in.
option #1: a classic taste of Finnish culture
Grab a breakfast pastry + coffee at Ekberg 1852
Head to the Designmuseo for a look at delicate Finnish design
Quick soup for lunch at Fishmarket or Hakaniemi Market
Walk around Huvilakatu street for colourful photos of the Insta-famous pastel buildings
Enjoy the Löyly sauna
Pre-dinner coffee at Moomin Café
Dinner at Restaurant Savoy* recommended by our tour guide, we didn’t eat here since it wasn’t super veggie-friendly and it was super expensive, but I thought I’d put it on here as it was a local recommendation
option #2: an outdoor lover’s tour of Helsinki
Grab coffee and breakfast on the go at Ekberg 1852
Purchase your ferry ticket and hop over to explore Soumenlinna Fortress Island
Free walking tour around Helsinki with Green Cap Tours
Late lunch at Hakaniemi Market
Second coffee surrounded by Mother Nature at Café Regatta
Picnic dinner in the park with goodies from the local supermarket or produce from Hakaniemi Market
option #3: exploring modern, artsy Helsinki
Breakfast at Levain
Visit Amos Rex art museum
Drop by the Helsinki Art Museum
Lunch at Shelter
Head to the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Be amazed at the Design Museum of Helsinki
Stop by the Helsinki University Library
Dinner and cocktails at Yes Yes Yes, a modern bar with delicious drinks and an interior that’s super photo-worthy
map ↴
Find everything you need a spend the perfect day in Helsinki, Finland on the map below.
