Kallio
At the former slaughterhouse Teurastamo, Helsinki Distillery Company produces unique spirits using Finnish ingredients, including single-malt and rye…
Must-see attractions in Helsinki
Helsinki
Housed in a Jugendstil-style building dating back to 1928, Kunsthalle Helsinki hosts up to seven major, mostly contemporary exhibitions every year. Recent…
Helsinki
From the kauppatori walk up the cobbled Sofiankatu to Senaatintori, Helsinki's majestic central square. Surrounded by early 19th-century buildings, the…
Helsinki
Mustard-coloured Ruiskumestarin talo is central Helsinki’s oldest wooden townhouse, built in 1818. The charming cottage, with hardwood floors, fireplaces…
Kallio
In a charming wooden house built in 1909, this delightful museum shows how industrial workers lived in the early 20th century, with nine rooms decorated…
Helsinki
Helsinki has several city beaches, but this one is considered the best. It’s a wide stretch of golden sand just west of the city centre, ideal in summer…
Helsinki
Transport enthusiasts and kids will especially enjoy checking out the vintage trams at this engaging museum, which depicts daily life in Helsinki’s…
Kallio
Close to Linnanmäki, Sea Life is an enjoyable aquarium complex with walk-through tunnels that let you spot sharks, rays, octopuses and myriad fish up…
Helsinki
In the leafy, waterfront Sibelius Park (Sibeliuksen puisto, or just 'Sibban'), this famous, striking sculpture was created by artist Eila Hiltunen in 1967…
Punavuori & Ullanlinna
Operating as an observatory from 1834 to 2010, this CL Engel–designed building within pretty Observatory Hill Park now contains an astronomy museum with…
Helsinki
Near the kauppatori, this bronze statue is the symbol of the city. Sculpted by Ville Vallgren in 1906 in Paris, and installed here in 1908, the nude…
Helsinki
Boardwalks lead you through one of Helsinki’s best-kept secrets. The Rhododendron Park is a wonderland of the eponymous bushes, trees and other flora…
Punavuori & Ullanlinna
In the Kaivopuisto park, this charming dome-topped observatory was built in 1926. During the darker months, it opens of an evening, while on summer…
Helsinki
Helsinki’s most venerable church is this white wood 1826 beauty, designed by CL Engel. Opposite the church is a memorial to Elias Lönnrot, compiler of the…
Helsinki
The heart of central Helsinki is the harbourside kauppatori (market square), where cruises and ferries leave for archipelago islands. It's completely…
Helsinki
Rautatientori (Railway Sq) flanks the eastern side of Helsinki's glorious National Romantic art nouveau train station. Designed by Finnish architect Eliel…
Kallio
Carved in red granite in 1931, this statue in the small park of Karhupuisto depicts Finland's national symbol, a bear, trying to prise open an anthill…
Helsinki
Finland's national poet and composer of the Finnish national anthem, Johan Ludvig Runeberg, is commemorated by a statue in the city's central Esplanadin…
Helsinki
Architect CL Engel designed these naval barracks for the Russian military garrisoned here from 1816 to 1820 – the first of his many works in Helsinki. The…
Helsinki
On the Suomenlinna island of Iso Mustasaari, Sotamuseo Maneesi has a comprehensive overview of Finnish military hardware, from bronze cannons to WWII…
Kallio
The work of Russian sculptor Oleg Kirjuhin (1929–91), this striking bronze statue stands 6.5m high and was installed in 1990 as a gift from Moscow to…
Kallio
In the heart of Kallio, this small park is lined by maple trees and has beautiful floral displays in spring and summer. Look out for the Bear on the…
Helsinki
Across from the Vanha Kirkko is this memorial to Elias Lönnrot, compiler of the Kalevala epic, depicting the author flanked by his most famous character, …
Kallio
Made from glass plates set between polished aluminium, this 1977 sculpture by Helsinki artist Risto Salonen (1945–2001) stands on the Merihaka waterfront…
Helsinki
The gleaming glass headquarters of the main daily newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, is an iconic modern Helsinki building, designed by Finnish architects Jan…
Helsinki
Famous Finns buried at this sprawling 1829-established cemetery include architect Alvar Aalto and military leader and statesman Carl Gustav Emil…
Kallio
Made from steel and measuring 3m in diameter, this minimalistic, mirror-like sphere was created by Helsinki sculptor Hannu Sirén (b 1953) in 1985 and…
Helsinki
Overlooking the kauppatori, the striking neoclassical Presidentinlinna was designed by CL Engel and is one of the head of state's official residences. The…
Helsinki
Host of the 1952 Summer Olympics, this still-attractive functionalist stadium is a city landmark. The complex is closed for major renovations and will…
Helsinki
This equestrian statue of Finland's most famous military commander stands next to the Kiasma museum.
Helsinki
This impressively functional posse of around six heavy-duty ships is moored off the northern side of Katajanokka island.
