Best Day Trips from Helsinki by a Local

Best day trips from Helsinki based and how to book them based on our experiences. There are so many to choose from and they are all great!

When people ask me what the best day trips from Helsinki are, I always tell them that my Top 3 is Porvoo, Tallinn in Estonia and Suomenlinna Fortress. But it really depends on what you are interested in and there is definitely something for everyone!

Since I grew up in Finland and we travel back there every year, we have been able to test out them all. There is everything from medieval castles to old wooden towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and hiking trails in beautiful Finnish forests. But they are all different and you will have to pick what interests you the most.

All these day trips are all suitable for families, and there are many ready tours for those who don’t want to drive or deal with booking all the tickets separately.

And the best of all, Finland is very safe for travellers and most people there can speak English!

Day trips from Helsinki and how to book them

Porvoo

Porvoo is one the oldest cities in Finland and has probably the most picturesque Old Town in the whole country. The wooden buildings by the river, the medieval church and old cobble stone streets attract tourists from all over the world. It is definitely worth a visit! According to my American husband, it is the most interesting place in Finland.

Porvoo is historically important as, after Sweden had to cede Finland to Russia in 1808, tsar Alexander I made Finland autonomous in Diet of Porvoo in 1809. While in Old Porvoo, you will be able to visit the exact spot where it happened!

Even though the Old Town is not huge, there is still plenty to see and do in Porvoo.

If you have a rental car it is very easy to get to Porvoo from Helsinki. The drive is only about 50 minutes. Otherwise I would recommend taking a bus or purchasing a ready tour.

Suomenlinna Fortress

Suomenlinna (Sveaborg) is a sea fortress located in 8 little islands in front of Helsinki. The Swedish grown gradually started building the fortress in 1748 as defence of the Russian Empire. It has served over time for different purposes for the Kingdom of Sweden, the Russian Empire and the Republic of Finland.

Today Suomenlinna is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While you visit, you can see the forstress wall, Great Courtyard, King’s Gate and the Suomenlinna Church.

It is advised to wear comfortable shoes on your visit since the roads are mostly cobble stone and the trails can be uneven and slippery. There are no cars on the islands.

There are about 850 inhabitants in these islands so please be respectful of their privacy. There are few restaurants (our favorite is Restaurant Adlerfelt) and shops there, and it is just in overall a beautiful place to spend a day. It is a popular place for locals to go for a picnic.

There is no fee to visit Suomenlinna but you will need a ticket to access the ferry. Ferries leave from Helsinki Kauppatori (Market Place).

Tallinn, Estonia

One of the local favorites for day trips from Helsinki is going to Tallinn, Estonia.

A ferry ride takes only about two hours and is very easy to do. You can often find very good deals while searching for ferry tickets especially if you are not bringing a car with you. And there are several different ferry companies to choose from.

Even though Estonia in general might look a lot like Finland, Tallinn Old Town is like another world! It is said to be the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can stroll around inside the Tallinn’s city walls that date back all the way to the 13th century or even go underground to Bastion Tunnels. Viru Gate is a common meeting point and a great spot to start your tour in old town.

There is definitely a lot to do in Tallinn for a day and you can experience a whole new culture and cuisine while you are there. Last time we were there we decided to stay over night and we had a family room in Sokos Hotels Viru which is in a walking disctance from Tallinn Old Town.

Before booking your cruise, make sure to check the passport requirements for your respective nationality. Starting in the last quarter of 2026, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need to apply for ETIAS authorisation to enter a Schengen country. If you require a Schengen visa, travel insurance is also mandatory, and honestly, we recommend it to every traveler regardless. For example, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance offers coverage for medical treatment, motor accidents, lost luggage, and much more.

Stockholm, Sweden

A day cruise to Stockholm is an easy and popular way to visit Sweden. The time in the ferry is longer than when visiting Tallinn, so you will be spending the night at the ferry.

You can enjoy the beautiful scenery at the archipelago, do some tax free shopping and have a nice dinner before going to bed. When you wake up in the morning you will be in Sweden.

In Stockholm I highly recommend venturing into the Stockholm Old Town (Gamla Stan) where you can visit places like the Main Square (Stortorget), the Royal Palace or the Royal Chapel. You can eat lunch in one of the cute cafes there and then head out to Vasa Museum to see the resurrected 17th century sunken warship or maybe you will be more interested in the Abba Museum.

After seeing the city you will return to the ferry and head back to Finland. Again, when you wake up you will be back in Helsinki.

Different ferry lines offer different kinds of cruises to Sweden depending on the season. If you want, you can stay there even longer; there is plenty to see and do in Stockholm for a weekend. We’ve sailed with both Silja Line and Viking Line, and in my opinion, Silja is more kid friendly.

Turku and Turku Castle

Turku is the oldest city in Finland and has many historical things to see. The most popular attraction is Turku Castle which dates back to the 13th century.

A visit to Turku Castle will take you back to mediaval times and it is quite interesting. The castle is quite big so you might want to reserve several hours for this visit. They also have a nice program for kids.

Turku also has some other interesting museums such as Aboa Vetus Ars Nova. The museum is partly underground as they showcase a town quarter discovered from under the city of Turku.

The ruin area of Aboa Vetus includes some remains of medieval houses. As a contrast to medieval times, another part of the museum exhibits modern art. Our kids loved this museum as they had many interactive things including play areas.

Turku has a nice downtown area and there are many great restaurants and cafes along the Aura River. If you want to keep the mediaval theme going you can even have Viking dinner at Restaurant Harald.

The easiest way to get to Turku is by a car or by train. The travel time is less than two hours.

Rauma

Rauma is the only city in Finland to have two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so it is a great place for visitors who enjoy historical places. These sites are only about a 20 minute drive from each other so you can make your stay a little shorter in each and combine them into the same day trip if you want.

Old Rauma is the largest wooden city from the Middle Ages in the Nordic countries. There are more than 600 wooden buildings in Old Rauma; homes, shops, museums and restaurants. You can jump back in history and spend day by strolling around the tiny cobble stone streets, shopping and trying out some local delicacies.

Rauma also has an annual festival called Rauma Lace Week which showcases the old tradition of lace making in the area. The event is held at summer time with many exhibitions, performers and programs for the whole family.

The second UNESCO site of Rauma is called Sammallahdenmäki. More details about it below.

Sammallahdenmäki

Sammallahdenmäki is a prehistoric archaeological site with Bronze Age Burial Cairns. The area consists of 36 burial cairns, which makes it the biggest burial site in Scandinavia. It is also one of the Finland’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In the past, Sammallahdenmäki would have been right by the Gulf of Bothnia but over time, uplift of the land has moved it deep in the forest.

Sammallahdenmäki is about 20 minutes drive from Old Town Rauma and about three hours from Helsinki. It is an intriguing place to all those who are interested in history and love being in nature.

Visiting Sammallahdenmäki requires little bit of hiking but is totally doable with kids too.

Nuuksio National Park

Nuuksio National Park is a great place if you want to get out of the city and enjoy some Finnish nature. There are many trails in many different levels in Nuuksio as well as a nature center and some camping areas. You can bring your own lunch for the day or try out the restaurant close to Nuuksio Reindeer Park.

Finnish people are spoiled by the law called “everyman’s right” which gives them a permission to pick berries and mushrooms in forests. There might be some restrictions in some parks, but in Nuuksio National Park berry and mushroom picking is allowed. The most common berries are the delicious bilberries and lingonberries.

Nuuksio is only about half an hour drive from Helsinki. If you don’t have a car you can also get there by bus or by booking a ready tour.

Ice Fishing

If you are visiting Finland during winter why not experience something more unique? Ice fishing is part of Finnish culture and I even remember my dad taking us fishing when we were little.

During the cold winters the lakes and the sea by Finland will freeze over. You can walk over them and in some places even drive your car over the ice roads. Ice fishing is a fun experience and can be done at Lake Bodom. The Ice Fishing tour comes with a light lunch cooked over a fire pit.

Fazer Experience Visitor Center

If you ask any Finn what the best chocolate in the world is, they will most likely all give the same answer: Fazer! Everything started in 1891 when Karl Fazer opened a pastry shop in Helsinki. They later expanded into manufacturing chocolates, candies and cookies.

Fazer Experience Visitor Center is a fun place for the whole family. Their tour showcases how the chocolate products are made and what ingredients they use, and goes through the history of Fazer. There are many interactive exhibits. One of the favourite especially for kids is the candy forest.

After the tour you can have lunch at Fazer Cafe or buy some of their products from their souvenir store.

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It is very easy to do day trips from Helsinki but Helsinki itself also has a lot to offer. Our favourites there are for example Amos Rex Museum and Temppeliaukio Church. They also have a free kids museum; Children’s Town which is quite nice.

If you are looking for a place to stay they also have something for everyones needs. These are the best hotels in Helsinki based on our experiences.

🇫🇮 OUR FINLAND TRAVEL RESOURCES 🇫🇮

🚋 Visiting Helsinki? Check out our full guide, favorite hotels, and the best day trips nearby.
🎅 Heading to Lapland? Here’s everything on Santa Claus Village and SantaPark in Rovaniemi.
🗝 Hotels & Vacation Rentals: We usually find the best hotel deals here and also check this site.
Vacation homes and condos we book through VRBO.
🚗 Car Rentals: We compare rental car prices on DiscoverCars to find the best deals worldwide.
🗺 Tours & Activities: We usually book tours through Viator or GetYourGuide.
Both have huge selections and easy cancellation.
🎟 Concerts & Events: We buy event tickets through Ticketmaster, one of the most reliable platforms.
✈️ Flights & Online Security: We use this VPN when searching for flights.
It can sometimes help finding better prices and also protects Wi-Fi when traveling.
📞 Travel eSIM & Data: For mobile data in Finland, we used Yesim and it worked well for that.
🩹 Travel Insurance: We always travel with insurance and use SafetyWing on our trips.