The Finnish capital, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, is a modern, clean and cosmopolitan city. With architecture ranging from Gothic to art deco and plenty of cutting-edge design, Helsinki's an interesting, compact place – and there's no end of things to do.
Nature never feels far away. There are dozens of parks in the city centre, the 315 islands just off the coast are unspoilt natural playgrounds and the air's unpolluted and fresh. It's a great place for outdoor activities, whether it's sailing or skating, depending on the time of year.
Helsinki's character changes dramatically with the seasons. In the summer months the sun hardly sets, while in winter the city's plunged into darkness and covered in snow, creating a different atmosphere altogether.
Getting there/around Helsinki
There are plenty of flights on schedule and no-frills airlines from across the UK, and many tour operators offer good-value city breaks.
Once there, Helsinki's extremely efficient public transport system makes it easy to get around town on trams, buses, the metro or ferries, with tourist passes allowing unlimited travel.
The city's very compact and a great place to explore on foot or by bicycle too. Helsinki's the gateway to the rest of Finland and there are lots of interesting day trips by rail or bus.
Sightseeing in Helsinki
The list of sights in Helsinki is never ending – there are over 80 museums, a great choice of galleries, awe-inspiring churches and some fantastic architecture to check out.
Among must-sees are the 150-year-old cathedral and the Temppeliaukio 'rock' church, quarried out of natural bedrock in the Toolo district in the Sixties. Senate Square in the heart of the city is brimming with neo-classical architecture, while Market Square is a great place to browse local wares in the summer. You can't miss the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress either, built in the 1700s on six islands off the shore, it's one of the most popular sights in Finland.
Top museums include the Helsinki City Museum, the Ateneum Art Museum, which houses the nation's largest art collection, and Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art, with work from the Sixties to the present day. On Seurasaari Island you can walk around the Open-Air Museum and admire Finland's traditional wooden buildings.
No trip to Helsinki would be complete without a visit to a sauna. Kotiharju, the city's last wood-heated sauna is the place to head for an authentic experience, although most hotels will have their own saunas too.
Family attractions in Helsinki
Helsinki is a great place for kids. Besides all the green open spaces, beaches and islands there are loads of attractions to keep little ones happy. Linnanmaki Amusement park offers thrills for the whole family, Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island, is another favourite, with animals from across the globe.
Sea Life teaches about everything marine-related, taking visitors on a journey from the tropical oceans to the Arctic Sea, with interactive displays and some live creatures too.
Lego Show theme park near the centre of town is a summer favourite, while Serena Water Amusement Park offers hours of fun.
Day trips in Helsinki
There's lots of choice for day trips from Helsinki, whether it's a trip to the beach, a day in the countryside or time in another Finnish city. In the winter you could spend a day cross-country skiing, skating or skiing, while in the summer the Baltic's a pleasant place to swim.
The rugged scenery of Noux National Park, with its lakes and forests, is just half an hour away and is a great place for hiking. Or perhaps visit Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland, with a medieval centre that's hardly changed over the centuries.
For a day trip that the kids will love there's always Santa Claus Village in Lapland – and you don't have to wait until Christmas, it's open all year. Santa's there preparing his gifts and meeting children and there's a SantaPark theme park too.
Shopping in Helsinki
From major shopping centres to tiny, quirky boutiques, Helsinki has top-notch shopping and it's mainly concentrated close to the city centre. Look out for good quality clothes, jewellery and leather goods.
Mannerheimintie, one of the main shopping streets, shouldn't be missed – the Stockmann department store here occupies a whole city block and its great for one-stop shopping. The Kiseleff Bazaar is a good option for handicrafts and local souvenirs.
Restaurants in Helsinki
When it comes to dining out, Helsinki has everything from Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants to Tex-Mex eateries. Finnish cuisine draws on other Scandinavian countries, with Russian influences and uses lots of fresh fish, meat, vegetables and berries. Smoked fish and reindeer are common on menus – and don't forget to try the ubiquitous Finnish vodka.
Nightlife in Helsinki
Helsinki's nightlife is buzzing – particularly in the summer when it hardly gets dark. There's a young, trendy vibe to the city and there's lots of partying to be done with some great bars and vibrant club scene.
For pub crawls, the Kallio district is the place to head, but if you're looking for something more cultural there's no end of events throughout the calendar, from theatre to opera.
If you like Helsinki, read the following travel guides to:
