About Helsinki
Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden as a trading rival to Tallinn across the Gulf of Finland, but for its first two centuries it remained a small, fire-prone town. Its transformation came after 1812, when Finland had become an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire and Tsar Alexander I made Helsinki the capital. The German architect Carl Ludvig Engel then designed the monumental neoclassical centre around Senate Square, with the white, green-domed Helsinki Cathedral at its heart. Finland declared independence in 1917.
Today Helsinki is a city of sea and design. It is built on a peninsula and some 300 islands, so the Baltic is always close, whether you are taking a ferry to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna or swimming at a harbour sauna. Finnish design, from Alvar Aalto to Marimekko and Iittala, is everywhere, and the city was World Design Capital in 2012. Recent landmarks such as the Oodi Central Library, the Amos Rex museum and the Löyly sauna show its contemporary confidence. Above all, Helsinki embraces sauna culture, listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of Finland in 2020.
Read our guides to find the best area to stay, things to do and practical tips on transport, prices and the seasons.
Helsinki city guides
- Where to stay in Helsinki
Helsinki's centre is compact and pleasant to explore on foot, and trams make it easy to reach outer neighbourhoods. Hotels are usually modern, efficient and include generous Nordic breakfast buffets. The core around the railway station, Esplanadi park and Aleksanterinkatu is the most practical base. Eliel Saarinen's Art Nouveau Central Railway Station, the Stockmann department store and the Oodi library are all within minutes. Many large hotels are here, including historic ones like Hotel Kämp. It's convenient for the airport train. Kruununhaka, the oldest part of the city, sits behind Senate Square and the cathedral. It is quiet and residential, with antique shops and cafés, and offers easy walks to the Market Square and the harbour. It suits travellers who prefer calm.
- Things to do in Helsinki
Helsinki's attractions combine history, design, nature and sauna culture. Carl Ludvig Engel's neoclassical ensemble includes the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki's main building and the Lutheran cathedral, completed in 1852. Climb the steps for views and see the statue of Tsar Alexander II, a reminder of the Russian era. The sea fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built on six islands from 1748 by the Swedes to defend against Russia. Today it is a district with about 800 residents, museums, a submarine, tunnels and picnic spots. A public HSL ferry from the Market Square takes about 15 minutes and is included in regular transport tickets.
- Practical tips for visiting Helsinki
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) is about 17 kilometres north. Commuter trains I and P run to the Central Railway Station in about 30 minutes; you need an ABC zone ticket. Finnair City buses and taxis are also available; taxis cost €40 to €50. HSL operates trams, buses, the metro, commuter trains and the Suomenlinna ferry. Use the HSL app for tickets or tap a contactless card on readers in trams and buses. Day tickets are available. The centre is walkable and bike-friendly, with city bikes from April to October. June to August brings long days, white nights and outdoor life, with temperatures around 20°C. Midsummer is celebrated on the weekend nearest 24 June, when many Finns head to summer cottages and the city empties. Winter is cold, dark and snowy, with temperatures often below -5°C and just six hours of daylight in December, but saunas and Christmas markets make it cosy. Northern lights are occasionally visible in Helsinki, but rarely.
Destination overview · Helsinki
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What to see in Helsinki
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What to do
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