A Local’s Guide to Helsinki and what to see there

Explore Helsinki like a local with top attractions, neighborhoods, dining spots, and practical tips for your perfect trip.

Having grown up in Finland and still living there part time, Helsinki has always been a familiar city to me. I know its different neighborhoods well, and over there years it has become a place that feels both personal and ever-evolving.

But it’s only as an adult that I’ve truly started to appreciate Helsinki as a travel destination. I’ve come to realise just how much the city has to offer.

Helsinki is full of history, culture, shopping, and beautiful nature. Its restaurant scene is also incredibly diverse -arguably even more so than in many larger cities.

We return to Helsinki with our family every summer and love seeing how international it has become over the years. It feels like Finns have finally embraced what makes our culture unique and started to see it as a true strength. You can find Finnish restaurants and cultural events all over the city.

Here’s a look at some of our favorite places in Helsinki.

The layout

Helsinki can be roughly broken into three major areas; Helsinki City Centre, North Helsinki and East Helsinki. The city has around 670,000 residents, while the greater metropolitan area also includes Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen.

Helsinki is divided into 59 neighborhoods, and their names quickly become familiar when spending time in the city. You’ll also often hear the term city center (kantakaupunki), which loosely refers to the downtown area, and core center (ydinkeskusta), meaning the around the Central Raiway Station, including Kluuvi and part of Kamppi.

Helsinki was originally founded in 1550 at the mouth of the Vantaa River but was moved to its current location in 1640. It became the capital of Finland when the country gained independence in 1917.

Our favorite areas in Helsinki

Katajanokka

What to see and do:

Katajanokka’s most famous landmark is Uspenski Cathedral, the main church of the Finnish Orthodox Church. It is the largest Orthodox church in the Northern and Western Europe, and visitors can also explore the interior.

Another popular attraction is Allas Pool, a seaside spa, and in front of it, the SkyWheel -Finland’s largest Ferris wheel. From the top, you’ll get beautiful views over Helsinki, and the main photo of this post was taken from there. one of the gondolas even features SkySauna, said to be the only sauna inside a Ferris wheel in the world. As you might know, sauna’s are very important to Finns.

Ferries operated by Viking Line also depart from Katajanokka, with routes to Stockholm and Tallinn.

Where to eat:

Katajanokka is home to several excellent restaurants. Both Restaurant Nokka and Shelter have been recognised in the Michelin Guide. For families, a great option can be found at Hotel Katajanokka’s Restaurant Linnankellari, which serves both lunch and dinner as a buffet.

Where to stay:

Our of our long-time favorite hotels in Helsinki is Hotel Katajanokka, built inside a former county prison. We’ve stayed there several times, and you can more about our experience at Hotel Katajanokka here.

Kruununhaka

What to see and do:

Kruununhaka is home to perhabs Helsinki’s most famous landmark –Helsinki Cathedral. It’s open to visitors daily, with varying opening hours.

Right across from it, on Senate Square, you’ll find the Helsinki City Museum. Entry is free, and the Children’s Town section is especially popular with families.

While in the area, it’s also worth stopping by the Presidential Palace.

Where to eat:

A true local classic is Kolme Kruunua, established in 1952. It serves traditional Finnish dishes in a beautiful setting -from creamy pork stew to sautéed reindeer and fried Baltic herring.

For something lighter, Café Engel is perfect for lunch or coffee, while those looking for a fine dining experience can head to Olo Restaurant, which holds one Michelin star.

Where to stay:

Kruununhaka is home to the first Waldorf hotel in the Nordics, located in a former military officr barracks of the Uusimaa Battalion. The neo-Renaissance building was designed by Evert Lagerspetz in 1885 and has hosted notable guests, including Tsar Alexander III of Russia.

Waldorf Astoria Helsinki is a full-service luxury hotel featuring two restaurants and a spa, and it is part of the Hilton brand.

Kaartinkaupunki

What to see and do:

Kaartinkaupunki is best known for Esplanadi Park and Market Square. The park is perfect for a relaxed stroll or grabbing an ice cream and at one end you’ll find Havis Amanda statue. Every year on May Day (Vappu), the statue is traditionally “capped” with a student hat and becomes the center of celebrations.

Market Square is a great place to try out some local delicacies or find souvenirs to take home. This is also where the traditional Christmas market; Tuomaan Markkinat is in every December.

Right by Market Square, you’ll also find the Old Market Hall, which has been in operation since 1889.

Where to eat:

Located in Esplanadi Park, Restaurant Kappeli is a historic spot hat originally opened in 1867. It was once a gathering place for famous Finnish artists, who even paid their meals by painting artwork on the restaurant’s walls. Kappeli focuses on Finnish ingredients, and everytime we’ve visited, the food has been consistently good.

Kaartinkaupunki is home to many high-end and more refined restaurants, but Block by Dylan offers a more casual, home-style buffet option.

Where to stay:

There are several great hotels in Kaartinkaupunki, including Hotel Haven, Hotel Fabian, and Hotel Lilla Roberts. For families, Bob W is also a great option, especially with in-room kitchen facilities.

Kluuvi

What to see and do:

Kluuvi is a great area especially for shopping. You’ll find major department stores like Stockman and Sokos there, as well as shopping centers such as Kluuvi, Citycenter, and Kämp Galleria.

While you’re there, it’s also worth stopping by Helsinki Central Railway Station and the Ateneum Art Museum located across from it, which is part of the Finnish National Gallery.

For culture lovers, the area is packed with options, including the National Theatre, a concert and event center Musiikkitalo, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, and movie theaters like Maxim and Kinopalatsi.

The Helsinki Central Library Oodi is a must-visit, offering plenty to see and do.

Where to eat:

Bistro Vilho has wide menu with something for everyone. Another easy, family-friendly option is the Italian restaurant Olivia Central Station, located inside the railway station. If you’re craving European flavors, the Belgian restaurant Belge is a great choice.

One reliable favorite is always Strindberg, where you can either enjoy a full meal in the restaurant or opt for a lighter lunch at the café side.

Where to stay:

Our favorite hotel in this area is Scandic Grand Central, located right by the railway station. We’re also stayed at Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, which is a hight-quiality hotel in a very central location. For a more luxurious stay, Hotel Kämp is a great choice.

Töölö

What to see and do:

The Etu-Töölö and Taka-Töölö areas are packed wit things to see. This is where you’ll find landmarks like the Parliament House, the National Museum of Finland, and Finlandia Hall. The Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, is also located here.

Culture lovers can head to the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, while sport fans might want to visit the Olympic Stadium. Finland hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

On warm summer days, Hietaniemi Beach (Hietsu) fills up with people enjoying the sun.

One of the most unique sights in the area is Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the Rock Church. It’s an architectural gem, carved directly into solid rock. You can read more about our visit to Temppeliaukio Church here.

Many visitors also like to take a walk through Hietaniemi Cemetary, where numerous notable Finnish figures are buried.

Where to eat:

Messenius, open since 1937, serves clean Finnish flavors along with its legendary Vorschmack. Restaurant Lehtovaara also has a long history, originally founded in 1916 in Vyborg. One of the area’s best-known spots is Restaurant Perho, a teaching restaurant run by Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business College.

Where to stay:

Hotel Helka in Etu-Töölö is a unique and cozy option. The hotel features Finnish design throughout, and its restaurant focuses on organic food.

Kamppi

What to see and do:

Lasipalatsi in Kamppi is home to several great cafés, and its courtyard is a perfect place to relax on a sunny summer day. Right next to it you’ll also find the unique Amos Rex Art Museum.

Kamppi Chapel, located at Narinkka Square, was built in 2012 as part of the World’s Design Capital project. It’s an architectual gem -made entirely of wood and shaped like an oval.

Tennispalatsi now serves as a movie theater.

Where to eat:

Kamppi has endless restaurant options for every taste. If you’re looking for traditional Finnish flavors then Restaurant Lappi is a must. Our go-to lunch whenever we return to Finland is traditional salmon soup at Fazer Café.

We’ve also dined at Restaurant Lia, which serves Georgian cuisine. The food there was absolutely delicious.

Where to stay:

There are plenty of great hotels in this area. One standout is Lapland Hotels Bulevardi, with its cozy Lapland-inspired design and a breakfast full of Finnish flavors. We’ve also stayed multiple times at Scandic Simonkenttä, which is a solid and reliable option.

On our last visit, we stayed at Bob W on Lönnrotinkatu. It’s especially great for families, as the rooms are apartment-style and include a small kitchen.

Another favorite of ours is Radisson Blu Aleksanteri. We once stayed in they fun themed room -Rock’n Rose suite designed by a musician Remu Aaltonen.

Jätkäsaari

What to see and do:

Jätkäsaari doesn’t have many sights, but it’s known for having Finland’s busiest passenger harbor. From the West Harbour, ferries depart to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

Near the harbor, you’ll also find the sculpture Bad Bad Boy by Tommi Toija -often referred to as the “peeing boy”.

Where to eat:

The restaurant scene in Jätkäsaari isn’t the storngest, but Konttiravintola Morton which is built in a shipping container, located between Jätkäsaari and Hietalahti, is a good option for families. Urbane – Café, Bar & Kitchen also offers a variety of tasty dishes.

Where to stay:

Top hotel choices in the area include Clarion Hotel Helsinki and the unique art hotel Hotel Ax. At Clarion, you can swim in the rooftop pool with amazing views over the city, while Hotel Ax stands out with its artistic concept. Read our full review of Hotel Ax here.

Other places worth mentioning in Helsinki

Other notable spots include Linnanmäki amusement park in Alppiharju, the UNESCO World Heritage site Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari Zoo.

getting around in Helsinki

Getting around in Helsinki is very easy. Many attractions are within walking distance, and public transportation is excellent -even in the surrounding areas. With a single ticket, you can use trams, the metro, local trains, buses, and even the ferry to Suomenlinna.

Local trains also connect the city center to nearby municiapalities and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Different routes can be found from HSL website.

The HSL app is the easiest way to buy tickets, including single, day, and season tickets. However, for foreign visitors the app can sometimes be tricky, as it hasn’t always accepted our foreign credit cards. In those cases, tickets can be purchased from ticket machines or R-kioski. Thankfully, many vehicles now have contactless payment options onboard that accept all cards.

Children under 7 travel free on public transportation in Helsinki, and those under 17 receive discounted fares.

For those focusing on sightseeing, Helsinki also has a Hop-On Hop-off bus that makes getting around easy.

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There’s plenty to see and do in Helsinki for a longer stay. And the more time we spend time there, the more new places we discover that we still want to visit.

Beyond Helsinki, there are also great nearby attractions, such as the Fazer Experience Visitor Centre in Vantaa and the Heureka Science Centre just nearby.

What are your best tips to Helsinki?

🇫🇮 OUR FINLAND TRAVEL RESOURCES 🇫🇮
If you are visiting Helsinki read about our favourite hotels or the day trips you should make from there!
And if you are heading to Lapland, here is everything you should know about Santa Claus Village or SantaPark in Rovaniemi.

🗝 We use this site to book hotels rooms and this site to book apartments when ever we travel.
🚗 For car rentals we use DiscoverCars everywhere in the world.
📞 If you need data during your stay then Yesim works well in Finland.
✈️ With a Priority Pass you can access over 1300 airport lounges around the world, also in Helsinki.
🗺 When looking for tours we use either Viator or GetYourGuide. They are both great.
🩹Always protect yourself with an insurance. We use SafetyWing when we travel.