How to spend a long weekend in Helsinki

Pack a pair of good walking shoes, because the best places of Helsinki are discovered on foot, no matter the season. You can also hop on a city bike in the summer or simply roam around using the city's efficient public transport, HSL.

Start by wandering through Ullanlinna, Eira and Punavuori in southern Helsinki, where pastel-hued houses and distinctive Finnish Art Nouveau architecture line the streets. Stop for a coffee and a korvapuusti, a Finnish cinnamon bun, in one of the many cafés, explore Kaivopuisto park and enjoy a delicious meal at a restaurant such as Elm, housed in an old wooden villa. End your walk by the seaside – in summer, the waterfront terraces are the city's place to be.

If you like urban, edgy vibes, the trendy Kallio neighbourhood is for you. This former working-class area is now a hipster heaven, boasting hip restaurants, busy bars, vintage shops and some of the best nightlife in town. Vallila, Kallio's calmer neighbouring area, has been named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by international outlets such as TimeOut.

Another great area to discover is Töölö. Start at Oodi Central Library, walk along Töölönlahti Bay and stop for a coffee at Finlandia Hall – one of the most famous works by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and now recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Continue west to wander Töölö's picturesque streets and parks: this historic neighbourhood is full of charm. 

Keen on architecture? Our guide to Helsinki's architecture icons covers the Töölönlahti area in more detail.

If you want to see more design and nature, hop on tram 4 and ride to Munkkiniemi. This leafy residential area is home to the Aalto House and Studio Aalto, the former home and atelier of Alvar Aalto. A stone's throw away lies Seurasaari, an open-air museum showcasing traditional wooden buildings and Finnish heritage.

You could build your entire trip around exploring the best restaurants, cafés and bars in Helsinki. Hunt for the fluffiest cinnamon buns, taste Finnish specialties and sip exquisite cocktails in rooftop bars – Helsinki truly is an underrated gem for foodies.

You have a lot options when it comes to where to eat in Helsinki, but the city's market halls are a great place to start. The most famous one, Vanha Kauppahalli, the Old Market Hall, is a charming red-brick building right by the Market Square, where you can find specialties from across Finland. Hietalahti Market Hall, with its small restaurants and cafés, is a great lunch stop, while Hakaniemi Market Hall offers an authentic, local experience.

For more elegant fare, try Finnish fine dining. Helsinki has several Michelin-starred restaurants where seasonal local ingredients and Nordic traditions are celebrated year-round.

If you want to taste authentic Finnish food, book a table at one of Helsinki's classic, traditional eateries. These timeless favourites include the iconic Sea Horse in Ullanlinna district, the traditional artist's haunt Restaurant Elite in Töölö and family-run Kosmos, which has been feeding Helsinkians for over a hundred years on Kalevankatu.

If you travel to Helsinki in summer, keep your eyes open for the canopy kiosks, lippakioskit. These vintage kiosks have been transformed into lovely little summer wine bars and cafés, and you can find them scattered across town. Our guide to Helsinki's beloved cafés rounds up some of the best.

No weekend in Helsinki is complete without an authentic Finnish sauna experience.

The most famous one might be Löyly, known for its striking architecture and great on-site restaurant. Traditionalists will love Kotiharjun Sauna in the trendy Kallio neighbourhood. This old public sauna has separate saunas for men and women, and you can often see bathers cooling down in their towels right on the street. The location is perfect for grabbing a post-sauna drink or two.

Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall (renovated in 2026) is an Art Deco gem hidden right in the city centre. This public swimming hall offers a pool, traditional saunas and even small relaxation cabins to rent on the upper floor, where you can order drinks and light bites. As nude swimming is allowed, there are separate days for men and women.

Fancy something special? Saunasaari offers a traditional smoke sauna experience on a small island, with the Helsinki skyline as a backdrop. In summer, their Sauna & Dine experience combines a boat trip, a sauna session and a multiple-course meal cooked over an open fire. You only need to bring a towel and a swimsuit.

Fancy more options? Helsinki has saunas for every mood, from floating water parks to lakeside smoke saunas in nearby Vantaa. See our full guide to saunas in the Helsinki region for the complete lineup. 

Not sure how the Finnish sauna culture works? Here are our 10 sauna tips for beginners.

Finland is known for its simple, modern design and iconic brands such as Artek, Iittala, Arabia and Marimekko. If you are just getting to know Finnish design, visit the Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki at Korkeavuorenkatu 23 to learn more about Finland's design history. Looking for stylish, timeless souvenirs? Browse the flagship stores of the famous Finnish brands.

Finns love to shop second-hand, and hunting for vintage Finnish design is a great way to find something unique to take home. Look out for Arabia ceramics, Iittala glassware and Marimekko prints in vintage boutiques and flea markets around the city – check out our guide to the best second-hand shops in Helsinki.

For something more contemporary, discover smaller Finnish fashion, jewellery and design brands in the boutiques of Helsinki Design District. This area south of the city centre spans several neighbourhoods and is known for its design boutiques, shops and galleries.

The Baltic Sea and the Helsinki archipelago deserve a day in your (summer) itinerary. There are over 300 islands in Helsinki alone, and the city is also a gateway to the wider Gulf of Finland. Extensive ferry connections make it easy to hop from one island to another – though it's worth knowing that only the Suomenlinna ferry runs year-round. The routes to Vallisaari, Lonna and Pihlajasaari are seasonal water buses that typically operate from May to September.

The fortress island of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO site, is the most popular attraction for a reason, and it's reachable whatever the season. Nearby Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari are for those looking to explore the archipelago beyond Suomenlinna. These former military islands offer nature trails, old fortifications, beaches and cafés. You can even spend the night in a tree tent.

Another island en route to Vallisaari is Lonna. This tiny, picturesque island is home to a public sauna and a restaurant – perfect for a laid-back summer day out.

For a beach day, Pihlajasaari is a local favourite, especially among families. The island is only a 10-minute ferry ride from the mainland in summer, but its beautiful sandy beaches, old wooden villas and nature trails feel like a world away.

Helsinki's summer island restaurants are worth building a trip around. Take a short ferry to Skiffer Liuskaluoto for wood-fired pizza with a sea view, or head to HSS Paviljonki on Liuskasaari, a beloved terrace restaurant that's welcomed guests since 1949. For something grander, book a table at Restaurant NJK on Valkosaari, an early 1900s villa famous for its summer crayfish parties. Most of these restaurants run their own seasonal ferries from central piers, so check ahead before you go. 

See MyHelsinki's guide to island restaurants for more options.

Helsinki is a great destination for fans of art and culture, with plenty of museums and galleries to discover within a short distance from each other.

Don't miss the National Gallery Ateneum and its masterpieces from the Golden Age of Finnish art. The works of artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Pekka Halonen helped shape Finland's national identity. For more contemporary art, head to Amos Rex or Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art – the striking architecture alone is worth a visit. Just next door, Musiikkitalo, Helsinki Music Centre, offers a range of concerts catering to all tastes.

If you want to learn more about Finland's cultural history, adventure outside Helsinki to Lake Tuusula. This is where Finland's artistic elite established their homes and studios at the turn of the 20th century. Visit Ainola, the home of composer Jean Sibelius, and Halosenniemi, the wilderness studio of painter Pekka Halonen. The atmospheric studio home of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, the famous 20th century artist and a leading figure of Finnish romantic nationalism, is even closer in Espoo. You can easily reach it by bike along the waterfront, the ride takes about 30 minutes.

Hvitträsk in Kirkkonummi, built by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen, is another gem of National Romantic architecture and a perfect destination for fans of arts and architecture.

Nature is never far in Finland, and you can get a taste of Nordic wilderness even in the capital.

Helsinki's Keskuspuisto, or Central Park, is a vast forested area that stretches from the Töölönlahti Bay area all the way to the Vantaa border in the north. This wild forest is full of trails perfect to exploring by bike, on foot or skis in the winter. Start from the traditional Maunulan maja café or head all the way north to Paloheinä, an outdoor sports hub, to discover forests, rapids and Haltiala Farm by the Vantaa River.

In Eastern Helsinki, the Uutela area in Vuosaari offers beautiful forest trails, rocky shoreline and stunning sea views that locals love. For a different perspective, explore the surrounding archipelago by kayak: rent one or join a guided tour to discover hidden gems along Helsinki's coastline.