Location: Helsinki
Top Things to do in Helsinki
Top Restaurants in Helsinki
What to do and see in Helsinki, Finland: The Best Places and Tips
Sitting on the edge of the Baltic, the modern, cosmopolitan city of Helsinki is the World Design Capital for 2012. The beauty of the surrounding nature blends seamlessly with high-tech achievements and contemporary trends. Walking tours of the city center show layers of history, while modern architecture and cutting-edge style stake the city's claim to the future. Choose Helsinki during its endless summer days or get adventurous on crisp, snowy winter nights.
Restaurants in Helsinki
1. Helsinki Tram System
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 958 reviews
Reviewed By Heather S - Bury
You can get around most of Helsinki on these trams and the system is much easier to understand than buses or metro. Stops are clearly marked. Find s map with the different places the tram numbers stop at. 8euros for the day which decreases the more days you buy up to 7 days.
2. Mannerheim Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 225 reviews
Reviewed By Oleg Y - Belgrade, Serbia
That is what we saw in this fascinating museum of Baron Gustav Mannerheim, former president, commander in chief of the Finnish Army and Finnish Civil War (1918 -1920) victor.
This museum is located to the south from Kauppatori ( Market Square), near the shore of Gulf of Finland.
From the outside, an appearance of an ordinary finnish house and when we entered inside, also perceived a modesty in the rooms, the belongings to this statesman, great field marshal, and an intrepid person. Here, within this museum,as the Finns call it Kaivopuisto, there are the hundreds of military medals and photographs from Mannerheim extraordinary life. There is a guided tour in English.
Not to miss, that's for sure.
3. The National Library of Finland
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 127 reviews
Reviewed By stordane - Washington DC, District of Columbia
If you are into Libraries, you will love this one. Beautifully designed, there is a ramp that goes around the outsides of the rooms. Walls are beautiful stone. The only catch-since it's the national lib of Finland, none of the books are in English! But if you go with your handy translator app, you can get by. The fun is in the architecture.
4. Kaivopuisto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 193 reviews
Reviewed By Guillaume R - Göteborg
Kaivopuisto is a large park on the shore of the archipelago. It offers great views on nearby Islands.
Most of the embassies in Helsinki are in the neighborhood, and they make for a delightful comparison. From the simple Dutch or Estonian delegations to the high tech and well protected US embassies.
The record is the Russian embassy, paid for with the war reparations from the consecutive war, on a gigantic scale.
5. Fortress of Suomenlinna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Egon70
Others may disagree but I honestly think that a trip to Helsinki isn't complete without visiting the Fortress of Suomenlinna. I went there a couple of days ago and despite the cold weather thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The ferry ride alone was very pleasant already. I could see the frozen ice and how the ferry broke it.
Upon arrival on the island, I'd a light lunch in Cafe Vanille. Then I walked around and went to the Suomenlinna Museum where I got to know more about the history of the island.
It's a very good way to spend a few hours.
6. Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Des H - Hull
This open air museum seems to be rather typical of several continental countries. The UK does not have quite the same approach although we do have Beamish. This museum contains a variety of vernacular buildings from various area of Finland to give a feeling of them in a natural setting much as they would have been originally found. We had a very good tour guide who spoke very good English and was very helpful. An enjoyable visit punctuated with a stop for tea and a pastry but nothing too dramatic or spectacular to see except – perhaps – the church.
7. Natural History Museum (Luonnontieteellinen Museo)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 402 reviews
Reviewed By Bruce M - Sydney, Australia
While the museum is relatively modest in size compared with similar national museums throughout Europe, it nonetheless has some very unique and well organised exhibits setting out important timelines in Finland dating back to the Stone Age.
Well worth a visit for several hours, and do stop over in the museum shop which has a poignant display of photos and stories from the 1918 civil war ( not sure if this is permanent or a pop-up)
8. Ateneum Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 880 reviews
Reviewed By MC0777 - Oulu, Finland
The Ateneum Art museum is located just at the front of the railway station at the heart of Helsinki. The building ifself is build on 1887. From that on is has belong to the art. The place has changing modern art Exhibitions, but also the country’s oldest and largest art collection. You can find art from three different floors. There is also a cafeteria at the museum.
9. Kamppi Chapel of Silence
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By MC0777 - Oulu, Finland
I'm not religious, but I'm interested in architecture and beautiful spaces. This is one of those. The chapel is located in the middle of the city centre, just front of the Kauppi shopping centre and bus station. Kamppi Chapel of Silence is a curved shape building made of wood. You can just walk in and enjoy the atmosphere or calm down in the middle of the city.
10. Sinebrychoff Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
The collections of the Sinebrychoff Art Museum include some of the most valuable and internationally important paintings by old European masters to be found in Finland. The collections have mainly been made up of donations. The unique house museum of Paul and Fanny Sinebrychoff, a permanent exhibition on the 2nd floor makes up the core of the museum. The art collection of the Sinebrychoffs, including furniture and other artefacts was left to the Finnish government as a bequest in 1921.
Reviewed By lmsk2014 - Helsinki, Finland
A wonderful museum for old art, a beautiful building, serene atmosphere, interesting Exhibitions.
The museum is housed in the original house of the Sinebrychoff family and the upstairs home museum is actually free of charge. You can wonder through the beautiful rooms and admire at the exquisite art and furniture and take in the atmosphere.
The actual exhibition rooms exhibit mostly "old" art from 1700 to early 1900. Often very interesting and ambitious Exhibitions. The museum also organises a lot of Concerts and other events.
The museum's cafe and restaurant is in the building next door, by the entrance to the park - and very nice.
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